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“Yes, it is,” Dino said, shaking with laughter.
“If you’re going to shake, put down that weapon!” Stone said.
Dino set his rifle on the table with the other weapons. “Sure thing, pal. I wouldn’t want you to shoot me.”
The phone rang again and Stone answered it. “You again?”
“I had hoped you might have cooled down a bit by now,” Lance said.
“Well, you can hope.” Stone hung up again.
Dino opened the upper-deck bar cabinet. “How about a Knob Creek. With no lime?” He put some ice in a glass and poured one.
“Sold,” Stone said, reaching for the drink.
53
Stone’s phone rangagain.
“Lance?” Dino asked.
“Yes.” Stone picked up the phone. “Now what?”
“Calm down, Stone,” Lance said soothingly. “Anger is self-destructive.”
“Well, I’m looking for somebody else to destroy,” Stone said. “Have you got any suggestions as to who or how we’re going to be attacked?”
“Well, you’re pretty exposed out there. You could take the tourist plane back, I guess. No, wait. It’s always fully booked.”
“Anything else?”
“A moving target is harder to hit. Why don’t you weigh anchor and get the hell out of there?”
“Finally, a sensible suggestion from somebody! Captain!” Stone shouted into the intercom. “Weigh anchor and sail for Key West and the sub base! Warp speed!”
“Yes, sir!” Engines were started, and a grinding noise signaled the anchor coming up. They moved toward the channel and sailed around the fort, then headed east.
“Let’s get back to the main deck,” Stone said, gathering up a couple of the rifles. “We’re too noticeable up here.”
They all clambered down the stairs and disported themselves around the fantail. Vanessa stripped off her bikini top, and Viv got Dino with a backhand when he turned to look at the half-naked woman. Stone enjoyed the view.
Captain Todd came to them. “We’re making fifteen knots through the water,” he said, “but we’re using a hell of a lot of fuel. Shall we bear the expense?”
“Damn the torpedoes and the expenses,” Stone said, “full speed ahead!”
“I think we’ve got enough fuel to make the sub base,” the skipper said.
“Think?”Stone said. “I think we’d betterknow! There’s no fuel between here and Key West.”
“Okay, I know,” Todd said. “We’ll have an hour’s fuel when we get there.”
“You’d better arrange for the oiler to meet us at the sub base, in case we have to run for it again.”
“Done.” The skipper beat a retreat before Stone could think of other orders.
“This is just wonderful,” Vanessa said, leaning back to get the most sun. Stone was hoping she’d take off the bikini bottom, too, but he didn’t want to rile Viv further by asking her to.
“Wonderful,” Vanessa said again.
