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“Nothing in the news and nothing on the cruise line’s internal conized the hesitation in Eddie’s dark eyes “If it helps, Linda, Eric, and Mark have all volunteered They’re already packing”

“If the ship is hit with a cheical attack, they’ll be at risk as much as anyone else,” Eddie reminded

“This is too et our hands on soence will be invaluable” Hali had put into words the other half of a dangerous equation

Balancing risk versus reas the most difficult of allin the balance

“They can get to shore on the Rigid Inflatable Boat The jet’s waiting at Nice Tiny can file an eht plan, and our people can be in Turkey as the Golden Sky arrives It isn’t likely the Responsivists will attack while they’re in port, so we can at least sneak aboard and have a look-see”

“Okay,” Eddie agreed, and then stopped Hali as Hali turned to go “But under no circumstances are they to remain on that ship when she sets sail”

“I’ll make sure they understand Who do you want to send?”

“Linda and Mark Eric is a first-rate navigator and researcher, but Mark’s weapons background will give hiical-dispersal system”

“You got it”

“By the way,” Eddie said, to stop Hali fro off a second ti?”

An hour before sunset, the Matryoshka, Ivan Kerikov’s luxury yacht, had eased out of Monte Carlo’s harbor with Ibn al-Asi Saudi financier who had begun funneling roups, with an eye toward linking up with al-Qaeda The CIA was particularly interested in hi with the Russian arms dealer because there was a chance he could be turned, and thus give access to the upper echelons of the terrorist world

Nothing of any great importance had been discussed while the yacht was in port Most of the men’s afternoon had been taken up by the women Kerikov had provided But when the Matryoshka slipped out of the harbor and headed into the waters of the Mediterranean, everyone on the Oregon knew the real negotiations were going to take place far fro eyes

With her running lights doused, the Oregon had followed the Matryoshka, staying low over the horizon so that just the tip of her tallest mast peeked above the earth’s curvature The Russians went out twentycomfortable that they had the seas to the in earnest over an al fresco dinner on the boat’s back deck

Using the Global Positioning Systeraon dead even in relation to the drifting Matryoshka, while, high atop the trahter’sstate-of-the-art parabolic receivers, high-resolution cameras to read lips, and a focused-beam laser that could sense the faint vibration of a conversation taking place on the other side of a , they were able to eavesdrop on everything

“Last I heard, al-Asi about SA-7 Grail missiles”