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“Co that the wind had picked up and that snow flurries had begun to fall “We have less than eighteen hours”

Gregorovich directed Zavala into one helicopter with Kirov and ordered Kurt and Hayley into the other He climbed inside with them

“How ht and the engines began to wind up

“Ten, not counting the pilots,” he said “You three Myself, Kirov, and five commandos”

Kurt noticed three snow equipment in the rear section of the cavernous helicopter “Are we riding or walking?”

“Both,” Gregorovich said “We’ll take the snowlacier the sound of the engines will carry through the cavern At that point, we’ll go on foot”

As if on cue, the whine of the turbines reached a fever pitch, and the howl of the rotors’ doash began to shake the heavily laden copter It rocked back and forth for a few seconds and then slowly began to rise Kurt stared out theas a crosswind caught them

Still rising, they were blown sideways The pilot corrected just in ti containers After cliher, they peeled away to the port side, accelerating as they passed the bow of the Rama

Since they ithout headsets, the thundering sound of the rotors made it necessary to shout just to be heard “Think she’ll be here e get back?” Kurt yelled, taking one last look at the Rama

Gregorovich shrugged “I really don’t care one way or another”

At least three co those ere sick with food poisoning Kurt hoped they would honor the uneasy peace, and he figured Captain Winslow and his XO would put up a stiff fight if they didn’t, but there was nothing more Kurt could do to protect the the mission ahead

“So how do you plan to stop him?” Kurt asked

“Take his coorovich said, and then pointed to a hard-shell suitcase strapped to the back of one snowmobile and marked with the international symbol for radiation “And then detonate it”

“Is that what I think it is?” Hayley asked

“Afraid so,” Kurt said