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"Of course, Senor Trout," the police "I assure you, this is not a case of manana Simply common sense I, too, wish to locate your wife However, it will be dark before long"

"How ht do we have?"

"One, two hours, maybe"

"Finest kind, Cap," Trout said, answering in fisher "We can cover a lot in two hours"

Morales saw there was no use trying to put off the tall American

Bueno, Dr Trout The helicopter is this way"

The Bell 206 JetRanger helicopter ar slowly, as Trout eased into the three-passenger backseat and Morales slid in next to the pilot Seconds later the turbo motor kicked into action and the runners lifted off the tarmac The helicopter leaped into the air and climbed in two minutes to an altitude ofout over the water and headed inland fro the railroad tracks that snaked into the interior

Morales gave the pilot directions, frequently consulting from a folded-up hway runningat a speed of 125 miles per hour until they ell into the interior The dense woods were broken here and there by a village or occasional town There were few paved roads Occasionally they passed over a Mayan ruin But for the most part the landscape was the same unbroken flatness Trout had noted on the way from Cancun

The aircraft swung onto a more southerly course Morales was a co land the infor in the sky

"How far?" Trout said with unveiled impatience

Morales held up five fingers He jabbed a point on the map for the benefit of the pilot "Aqui!"

The pilot nodded so slightly Trout wasn't sure he heard Morales until the chopper cut speed and described a wide circle that transfor spiral

Morales pressed against the plexiglass and pointed down Trout caught a gli and a crude structure before both quickly passed out of view The chopper caet was directly under the As the treetops grew closer, the chopper seeunned the onfly

The pilot and Morales had a quick conversation in Spanish

"What's wrong?" Trout strained to see into the forest