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Cabral took the microphone "This is Captain Cabral of the NUMA ship Throckmorton We have received your Mayday What is your current status?"

"This is the Franklin's captain We're okay now, but the ship was al I've ever seen"

"Anyone injured?"

"So with them"

Austin borrowed the ot a couple of friends aboard your ship Could you tell ?"

There was a heavy silence, and at first it seeain been cut short Then the voice ca a plankton survey in the Zodiac inflatable when the whirlpool pulled theot in trouble"

"Did you actually see them in the whirlpool?"

"We were pretty busy, and the visibility is practically nil"

"How close are you to the whirlpool now?"

"We're about aaround that thing are still pretty strong What do you want us to do?"

"Stay as close as you're able We're co over to take a look"

"Will do Good luck"

"Thanks," Austin said, turning to Cabral "Pete, I'd like to borrow the ship's helicopter How soon can you have it ready to fly?"

Cabral are of Kurt's reputation at NUMA He knew that despite Austin's easy smile and casualram shoulders and pale hair could handle whatever weirdness was going on Cabral was a seasonedsituation was beyond his ken He would keep the ship going and let Austin deal with the rest

"It's all fueled and ready to go I'll tell the crew to meet you there" He picked up the intercom microphone