Page 117 (1/2)

"Is he okay?"

"Yeah, he's in here with me Scared brainl

ess, but he's fine"

"You and Jack sit tight," Austin advised "McGinty, how soon can you yank the bell to the surface?"

"I've got my hand on the switch"

"Then start hauling"

"It's on its way D'you want me to call the Coast Guard?"

"A squad of navy SEALS would coal Lancers for all the good it will do This thing will be over before help gets here We'll have to deal with it ourselves"

"Austin, you watch your ass! Haven't been in a donnybrook in ages Wish I could get down there and break a few heads"

"So do I Don't o Ciao"

Behind the dark plexiglass shielding Austin's face the pale blue-green eyes were as hard as turquoise stones Most mortals placed in'Austin's situation would have reacted with alarood case that his hair had turned platinum white from the healthy scares he'd received in his career Had he seen six white sharks bearing down he would have been wishing he'd renewed his life insurance The forces of nature were unthinking and relentless Despite the fearsome picture the intruders presented, Austin knew that under their aluminum skins were men, with all their frailties

A replay flashed through his eyes of the attacks in Morocco The only difference was the underwater setting They wanted the talking stone, and the NUMA divers were in the way Further intellectualizing was dangerous Thoughts could be like slippery banana peels What was needed was cunning rather than intelligence A wolf doesn't think about its prey before it pounces Austin let hisinstincts dictate hiswarripped his body when he'd first seen the attackers His breathing becaular, almost slow, his heart beat at an even pace At the sa himself A wolf had claws and teeth

Zavala had heard the radio exchange with McGinty "What's the gaed with anxiety

"We'll let them come to us We know the territory They don't We'll need weapons"

"My specialty I'll see what I can dig up"