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The doubtful look in the captain’s round brown face suggested he was starting to regret his decision to pluck his new passengers from the water, but he sensed that Austin would not be denied The captain moved the boat closer so Austin could lean over and retrieve the dive-gear bag Austin unzipped the bag and pulled out his wallet He peeled off a fifty

“This is to cover the tickets for the boat ride” He gave the captain another fifty-dollar bill, and said, “This is for asking noout a third fifty, he wrapped his ar low so he wouldn’t be heard by the other passengers, Austin said, “How er is left in the tour?”

“I dunnohalf an hour, maybe,” the captain said

“This is yours if you cut that time in half”

The captain grinned, and the third fifty-dollar bill followed the first two into his pocket

“You just bought the boat, man,” he said “You and the lady, have a seat”

Austin and Song Lee ignored the curious gazes of the other passengers and looked for a place to sit The boat had a canopy overhead to block the sun, but there were no seats and passengers sat on stacked life preservers A young Japanese couple on their honeyers

The tour boat captain was true to his word Fifteen minutes after Austin and Lee had cliers to take one last look at theof one of the twin outboards as a seat, he goosed both engines, and before long the boat was pulling up to the dock at Kolonia

While Lee went off to the restroom to freshen up, Austin ood condition but asked the crestfallen owner to coh the price was exorbitant, Austin produced a NUMA credit card and told hie the replacement cost The bean counters at NUMA who kept an eye on finances had becoe purchases He asked for a receipt anyhow

As the boat oriting out the purchase order, he said, “Your friend catch up with you?”

“What friend?” Austin asked

“Asian guy driving a pickup truck Didn’t leave his name Showed up a few oing out to the ruins”

Austin did a good job hiding his surprise He thanked the owner and went into thetrunks in a wastebasket and dug his cell phone frolad to see that it was operational He noticed that the Trouts and, most recently, the captain of the Concord had called him He returned Dixon’s call first

“This is Austin,” he said “I see that you’ve been trying to get in touch with me, Captain Dixon I’ve been away from my phone”

“Glad to hear froot some bad news Joe has disappeared He borrowed a NUMA helicopter froency’s ship and flew to the north of here to take a closer look at an atoll We lost him on radar”