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“Not exactly brain surgery, is it?” Austin observed as he listened to the buzz of power saws echoing off the metal walls of the warehouse
“No, sir,” the sailor said “And I’ll be glad when it’s over”
“Let’s hope it’s soon, sailor”
Austin pondered why he had left his cohoulish watch If the race hadn’t been a flop, win or lose he would have been guzzling chane in celebration with the other racers and the coterie of lovely women who hovered around the race circuit like beautiful butterflies A respectable number of bottles were popped, but the festivities had been dampened for Kurt and Ali and their crews
Ali showed up with an Italian model on one arm and a French mademoiselle on the other Even so, he didn’t look particularly happy Austin elicited a sainst hiain soon Zavala upheld his reputation as a ladies’ roupies on hand for the race finale They were going out for dinner, where Zavala proale his date with the details of his narrow escape
Austin stayed long enough to be polite, then left the party to phone the owner of the Red Ink Austin’s father was expecting his call He had watched the race finale on TV and knew Austin was safe and the boat lay at the bottom of the ocean
The elder Austin was the wealthy owner of a e company based in Seattle “Don’t worry about it,” he said “We’ll build another one, even better Maybe with a periscope next ti and unnecessary detail the night a teenage Austin had brought his father’s Mustang convertible home with a crumpled fender
Most grand prix races were held in and around Europe, but Austin’s father wanted an American-built boat to win in An and construction of a fast new boat he called the Red Ink because of the ether a top-notch pit crew and support team His father put it with his typical bluntness: “Tiuys that we can ith American parts, American kno, and an American driver You”
He forlo a er for the opportunity to tap into the vast potential of the A the first SoCal Grand Prix had become a reality
NUMA director Adrun runs Sandecker said he orried about Austin being injured in a race Austin had politely pointed out that for all its dangers, racing was a canoe paddle coned hinments Team As a trump card he played on the adave Austin his blessing and said it was about time the United States showed the rest of the world that they could compete with the best of them
Austin returned to the party after talking to his father He quickly tired of the false hilarity and was happy to be invited aboard the Nepenthe to meet Gloria Ekhart, anted to thank him The actress’s mature warmth and beauty enchanted hiht away They talked awhile and es of mutual interest Austin briefly entertained the fantasy of having a fling with so and little screens It was not to be Apologizing profusely, Ekhart was dragged off by the demands of her children
Figuring it just wasn’t his day Austin went back to the hotel and answered calls froues and friends He had dinner sent up and enjoyed filet non as he watched TV reruns of the race The stations were running slow-ain Austin was more interested in the fate of the dead whales One reporterto be examined at the naval station Austin was curious as well as bored From what he had heard and seen the whales didn’t have a mark to indicate what killed them The incompleteness of the situation went beyond the loss of his father’s boat It rankled his sense of orderliness
The autopsy see down Austin asked the seae The seaman returned with a sandy-haired man in his forties who stripped off his blood-soaked foul-weather gear and gloves but kept his surgical mask on
“Mr Austin,” he said, extending his hand “Jason Witherell, EPA Pleasure to ht need to utilize your resources”
“We’re always ready to help the EPA,” Austin said “My interest is more personal than official I was in the race today when the whales made their appearance”