Page 105 (1/2)

“What’s the h those straits?”

“I can It’s just that the weather over the next week or so is going to be unpredictable there”

“Storms?”

“No, but the conditions will be perfect for low cloud cover and thick fog The as paused as she searched for it “Ah, yes Topography Theis rolling in It could happen very suddenly, and then ould have to laciers in the area, so we could run into calving bergs”

“Then the sooner we start, the better,” Jefferson said “After you stow your belongings, I’d like you back here in fifteen ” She ordered her XO to ready the ship for departure

As Vargas hefted her duffel and walked toward the bridge door with the creas to show her to her quarters, she turned to Jefferson and said, “There’s one advantage that will ate your route”

“What’s that?” Jefferson asked

“We’ll be in a very reas said “I doubt we’ll see another ship”

52

CAPE HORN

Two days after hijacking the missile boat, the Portland passed the tiny Isla Hornos,the transition fro behind, crashing repeatedly through thirty-foot waves, while the Portland’s powerful engines and larger size ine Durchenko clutching the bridge console of his s crest The Russian was actually lucky It could have been far worse The Drake Passage had a well-earned reputation for wicked gales and rogue waves that raveyard

Their target, the Deepwater, had left Punta Arenas a day earlier than expected, but it didn’t change the schedule by much They would simply seize her crew farther north in the National Reserve, where the research ship had been planting webcams Tate had even watched the webcast froliround In fact, that location would be even better Less chance of running across a random fisherman or tourist boat The tracker they’d installed made the future interception a done deal The crosshairs indicating the Deepwater’s position pulsated on the main view screen

Ballard, who looked a little seasick froot a call co in on Overholt’s phone It’s Juan Cabrillo”

Tate frowned Not because he orried that the phone was being tracked Its signal was being routed through a series of internet connections through a satellite feed that made it impossible to trace

He was frowning because he was planning to call Juan later that day for another round of taunting and to lure him into the planned ambush