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The captain's eyes narrowed NUMA or not, he was still annoyed at the directive to change course and head back to the island The order from Naval Command had been to accommodate his visitors in whatever way they asked, but he didn't have to be happy about it

"Yes, of course, if we increase speed," he said "But I a me how fast to run my ship"

Austin couldn't miss the sour note in the captain's tone "Maybe we'll take that vodka after all What do you say, Joe?"

"Sun's over the yardarm somewhere," Zavala said

The captain poured three shot glasses full to the brilasses, and the NUMAthe captain, who had expected-even hoped-that his guests would gag on the high-octane liquor

Austin coize for diverting your ship, Captain, but it's iet to Ivory Island as soon as humanly possible"

"But if you are in a hurry, why didn't you just fly there in the seaplane?"

"We'd like to arrive without our presence being detected," Austin said

Ivanov responded with a loud guffaw "The Kotelny is not exactly invisible"

"A valid point It's ie of the island We'll go the rest of the way on our own"

"As you wish Ivory Island is a remote place The only people you will see are some scientists on a crazy expedition to clone woolly mammoths"

"We know about the expedition," Austin said "That's the reason we're here One of the scientists is a young woer"

"Miss Janos was a passenger on the Kotelny What sort of danger is she in?"

"We believe there may be people on the island ant to kill her"

"I don't understand"