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〃The admiral's extrasensory perception must be working overtime。〃
〃Oh； no；〃 she said。 〃I don't mean the admiral。〃
Pitt frowned quizzically。
〃A Dr。 Jonsson from a little vilage to the north called and gave the consulate very explicit instructions regarding your convalescence。〃
〃Convalescence； crap！〃 Pitt snapped。 〃Which reminds me。 What in hell are you doing in my bedroom？〃
She looked hurt。 〃I volunteered。〃
〃Volunteered？〃
〃To sit with you while you slept；〃 she said。 〃Dr。 Jonsson insisted。 There's been a consulate staff member sitting in this room every minute since you closed your eyes last evening。〃 Our 〃What time is it？ 〃A few minutes past ten…A。m。 I might add。〃
〃God； I've wasted Nearly fourteen hours。 What happened to my clothes？〃
〃Thrown out in the trash； I should imagine。 They weren't fit for rags。 You'll have to borrow some from a staff member。〃
〃In that case； how about rounding up something casual while I take a quick shower and shave。〃 He tossed her his bite…is…worse…than…bark look and said； 〃OK； dearheart； face the wall。〃
She remained facing the bed。 〃I've always wondered what it would be like to see you wake up in the morning。〃
He shrugged and threw back the covers。 He was halfway through the motion of pushing himself to his feet when three things happened： his eyes suddenly saw three Tidis； the room swayed as though it was made of rubber； and his head began to ache with the mother of all aches。
Tidi stepped forward abruptly and clutched his right arm； her face reflecting the Florence Nightingale concern again。 〃Please； Dirk； your head isn't ready for your feet yet。〃
〃Nothing； it's nothing。 I stood up too fast。〃 He made it to his feet and lurched into her arms。 〃You'd make a lousy nurse； Tidi。 you get too involved with Your patients。〃
He held onto her for several moments until the triplets became one and the bedroom stood at rigid attention； only the ache in his head refused to diminish。
〃You're the one Patient I'd love to get involved With； Dirk。〃 She held onto him tightly and made no attempt to remove her arms。 〃But you never seem to entice me。 You'd stand next to me in an empty elevator and never recognize me at all。
There are times when I doubt whether you know I exist。〃
〃Oh； I know you exist all right。〃 He pushed himself away and started slowly for the bathroom； refraining from facing her as he talked。 〃Your vital statistics are five foot seven； one hundred thirty…five pounds； thirty…six inches around the hips； an astonishing twenty…three inches at the waist； and the bust； a probable thirty…six； C…cup。 All in all； a figure that belongs on the centerspread of Playboy。 There is also the light…brown hair framing an eager； bright face enhanced by sparkling brown eyes； a pert little nose； a perfectly formed mouth flanked by two dimples that only show when you smile。 Oh； yes； I almost forgot。 Two moles behind the left ear and； at this moment； your heart is beating at approximately one hundred and five thumps per minute。〃
She stood there like a stunned winner on a TV quiz show momentarily at a loss for words。 She reached up and touched the two moles。 〃Like wow！ I can't believe I heard you。 It's unreal。 You like me…you really care for me。〃
〃Don't get carried away。〃 Pitt hesitated in the bathroom doorway and faced her。 〃I'm very attracted to you； as any man would be to a pretty girl； but I'm not in love with you。〃
〃You 。 。 。 you never gave me any indication。 You've never even asked me for a date。〃
〃Sorry； Tidi。 You're the admiral's personal secretary。 I make it a rule never to play games that close to him。〃 Pitt leaned against the doorframe for support。 〃I respect that old guy； he's much more than just a friend or boss。 I won't cause plications behind his back。〃
〃I understand；〃 she said humbly。 〃But I certainly didn't figure you for the modest hero who sacrifices the heroine to a typewriter。〃
〃The rejected virgin who throws herself into a convent isn't exactly your bag either。〃
〃Must we get nasty？〃
〃No；〃 Pitt said approvingly。 〃Why don't you be a good girl and scrounge me up a change of clothes； Let's see if you're as observant of my dimensions as I am of yours。〃
Tidi said nothing in reply； just stood there looking forlorn and curious。 Finally she shook her head 'm a feminine display of irritation and left。
Exactly two hours later； clad in surprisingly wellfitting slacks and sport shirt； Pitt sat across a desk from Admiral James Sandecker。 The admiral looked tired and old； far beyond his years。 His red hair was tousled in a shaggy unkempt mane； and it was obvious from the stubble on his chin and cheeks that he hadn't shaved for at least two days。 He held one of his massive cigars casually in the fingers of his right hand； stared at the long cylindrical shape for a moment； and then set it in an ashtray without lighting the end。 He granted something about being glad to see Pitt alive and still connected in all the right places。 Then the weary； bloodshot eyes studied Pitt intently。
〃So much for preliminaries。 Your story； Dirk。 Let's have it。〃
Pitt didn't give it to him。 Instead； he said： 〃I just spent an hour writing a detailed report of what occurred from the time Hunnewell and I lifted off from the NUMA pad at Dulles International until the farmer and his boy brought us to the consulate。 I also included my personal opinions and observations。
Knowing you； Admiral； I'venture to guess you've read it at least twice。 I have nothing to add。 All I can do now is answer your questions。〃
What little of Sander…ker's face was open for expression seemed to indicate a certain interest； if not downright curiosity at Pitts flagrant； insubordinate behavior。 He stood up； all five foot six inches of him； revealing a blue suit that cried out for a pressing； and peered down at Pitt； a favorite tactic when he was ready to orate。
〃Once was all I needed； Major。〃 No 〃Dirk〃 this time。 〃When I want sarcastic remarks； I'll book Don Rickles or Mort Sahl and be assured of a professional job。 I appreciate the fact that you've been harassed by the Coast Guard and the Russians； had your butt frozen off on an iceberg looking at incinerated cadavers； not to mention getting shot at； crashing in the Atlantic Ocean； and having a man die in your arms since I pulled you off that nice warm beach in California just seventy…two hours ago。 But that does not give you the unmitigated right to hard…ass your superior。〃
〃I apologize for the disrespect； sir。〃 The words were there； but the tone was sadly lacking。 〃If I seem a bit testy； it's simply because I smell a put…on。 I have the distinct impression that you dropped me into an intricate maze without benefit of a road map。〃
〃So？〃 An eighth of an inch lift of the heavy red eyebrows。
〃To begin with； Hunnewell and I were on damn thin ice when we swindled the Coast Guard into using its finest cutter for a refueling base； or at least I thought we were。 Not Hunnewell。 He knew the whole setup was fixed from beginning to end。 I thought we'd bought a jail cell when mander Koski signaled Coast Guard mand in Washington for confirmation of our presence。 I studied Hunnewell； he pored over his charts as if nothing was happening。 No quiver of the hand； no indication of sweat on the brow。 He was pletely at ease with the situation； knowing that you had taken care of everything before we left Dulles。〃
〃Not quite。〃 Sandecker picked up the cigar and lit it and gave Pitt a shrewd look。 〃The mandant was inspecting a damn hurricane warning facility in Florida。
You were already crossing Novascotia before I could get to them。〃 He blew a huge cloud of smoke toward the ceiling。 〃Please continue。〃
Pitt slouched back in his chair。 〃A dim； nearly undistinguishable outline of a ship turns up in an iceberg。
The Coast Guard doesn't have the slightest idea what registry it is。 Yet four days go by and there is no investigation。 The Catawaba is only hours away but is never notified of the sighting。 Why？ Somebody in the capitol with the authority； high authority； ordered hands off； that's why。〃
Sandecker toyed with the cigar。 〃I suppose you know what you're talking about； Major？〃
〃Hell；