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"Nearly forty percent of NUMA's projects are designed and planned around mining the sea floor. Russia leads us by a wide margin in surface programs, the science of her fishing fleet far surpasses anything we've got. But she lags badly in
deep submersibles-a damned vital piece of equipment for undersea mining. This is our strong point-We want to maintain this advantage. Our Country has the resources, but Fyrie Limited has the technical knowledge. With Kristjan Fyrie we had a good, close working association. No, now that he's only a memory, I don't care to see the results of our efforts lost just when our programs are on the verge of hitting paydirt. I've talked to Miss Fyrie. All of a sudden she's very noncommittal-says she has decided to reevaluate her firm's Programs with our country. "You said she's shrewd," Pitt said. "Maybe she's holding out to the highest bidder. There's nothing in the book that says she has to be as magnanimous as her brother."
"Dammit," Sandecker said irritably. "Anything is Possible. Maybe she hates Americans."
"She's not alone."
"If so, there must be a reason, and we've got to find it."
"Enter Dirk Pitt, stage left."
"Precisely, but no hanky-panky. I'm taking you off the Pacific Oceanlab project definitely and putting you on this one-Forget playing secret agent while you're at it. Leave the intrigue and the dead bodies to the National Intelligence Agency.
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You're to act in your official capacity as special projects director for NUMA. No more no less. If you stumble onto any information that might lead to the people who killed Fyrie, Hunnewell and Matajic, you're to pass it on."
"Pass it on to whom?"
Sandecker shrugged. "I don't know. The N.S.A didn't see fit to tell me before I left Washin-ton."
"Great, I'll take out a full-page ad in the local newspaper," Pitt said sourly.
"I don't recommend it," Sandecker said. He took a long swallow from his glass and mide a wry face. "God, what do they see in this stuff?" He took another swallow from a glass of water. "I have to be in Washington the day after tomorrow. That gives me enough time to smooth the way for you."
"With-ah-Miss Fyrie?"
"With Fyrie Limited. I've arranged an exchange program. I'm taking one of their top engineers with me to the States to observe and study our techniques while you're to stay here and report on theirs. Your primary job will be to restore the close relationship we once enjoyed with the Fyrie's management."
"If this Fyrie broad has been so cool toward you and NUMA. why did she consent to meet us tonight?"
"Out of courtesy. Dr. Hunnewell and her brother were good friends. His death and the fact that you made a gallant but losing attempt to save his life played on her feminine emotions. In short, she insisted 'On meeting you "She's beginning to sound like a cross between Catherine the Great and Aimee Semple McPherson," Tidi said sarcastically.
"I can't wait to meet my new boss face to face," Pitt said. Sandecker nodded. "You can in precisely five seconds-she just walked in."
Pitt turned, and so did every other male head in the restaurant. She stood in the foyer very tall and very blond, like a fantasy of womanly perfection, incredibly beautiful, as if caught in the perfect pose by the lens of a fashion photographer's camera. Her statuesque figure was encased in a long violet-colored dress of velvet with peasant embroidery on the sleeves and hem. Now she caught Sandecker's wave. and she walked over to the table, moving with a graceful flowing motion that possessed all the suppleness of a ballerina and more than the suggestion of a natural athlete. By this time all the women in the restaurant were eyeing her with instinctive envy.
Pitt pushed back his chair and rose and studied her face as she approached. It was her tan that intrigued him. The delicately clear tanned complexion somehow seemed foreign to an Icelandic woman, even one who spent a good portion of her life in the back country of New Guinea. The total effect was striking. The blond hair, a carefree casual look with a controlled tousled effect, the deep violet eyes tbal matched the color of her dress, she was hardly what Pitt had imagined, to say the least.
"My dear Miss Fyrie, I'm honored that you could dine with us." Admiral Sandecker took her hand and kissed it. Then he turned to Tidi, who wore a mask of friendliness. "May I introduce my secretary, miss Tidi Royal."
The two women exchanged polite but typically cool feminine greetings.
Then Sandecker turned to Pitt. "And this is Major Dirk Pitt, the real driving force behind my agency's projects."
"So this is the brave gentleman you've told me so much about, Admiral." Her voice came across husky and terribly . sexy. "I am deeply sorry for the tragic loss of Dr. Hunnewell. My brother thought very highly of him."
"We're sorry too" Pitt said.
There was a pause while they looked at each other, Kirsti Fyrie with a touch of speculation in her eyes, and with what might have been more than friendly interest.
Pitt with analytical male appraisal.
He was the first to break the silence. "If I sit here staring, Miss Fyrie, it's because Admiral Sandecker failed to warn me that the head of Fyrie Limited had such mystic eyes."
"I have been paid compliments by men before, Major Pitt, but you are the first to describe my eyes as mystic."
"Purely academic," Pitt said. "The eyes are doors to the secrets a person hides from within."
