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man； no flicker of emotion。
Now the slender thread holding LeBaron on to life was about to break。 He leaned over and placed his lips close to the old power broker's ear。
〃La Dorada；〃 Pitt whispered。 〃What did you do with her？〃
LeBaron looked up； and his eyes glistened for an instant as his clouding mind took a final look at the past。 His voice was faint as he summoned up the strength to answer。 The words came almost as he died。
〃What did he say？〃 asked Giordino。
〃I'm not sure；〃 replied Pitt； his expression bewildered。 〃It sounded like ‘Look on the main sight。' 〃
To the Cubans across the bay on the main island the detonations sounded like distant thunder and they paid no attention。 No spouting volcano of red and orange lit the horizon； no fiery column of flame reaching hundreds of feet through the black sky attracted their curiosity。 The sounds came strangely muffled as the pound was destroyed from within。 Even the belated destruction of the great antenna went without notice。
Pitt helped Jessie to the staging area on the beach； followed by Giordino and Gunn； who was carried on a stretcher by the Cubans。 Quintana joined them and dropped all caution as he shined a pencil thin flashlight in Pitt's face。
〃You'd better get a patch on that ear。〃
〃I'll survive until we reach the SPUT。〃
〃I had to leave two men behind； buried where they'll never be found。 But there are still more going out than came in。 Some of you will have to double up on the water Dashers。 Dirk； you carry Mrs。 LeBaron。 Mr。 Gunn can ride with me。 Sergeant Lopez can〃
〃The sergeant can ride alone；〃 Pitt interrupted。
〃Alone？〃
〃We left a man behind too；〃 said Pitt。
Quintana quickly swept the narrow beam at the others。 〃Raymond LaBaron？〃
〃He won't be ing。〃
Quintana gave a slight shrug； bowed his head at Jessie； and said simply； 〃I'm sorry〃 Then he turned away and began assembling his men for the trip back to the mother ship。
Pitt held Jessie close to him and spoke gently。 〃He asked you to take care of his first wife； Hilda； who still lives。〃
He couldn't see the surprise on her face； but he could feel her body tense。
〃How did you know？〃 she asked incredulously。
〃I met and talked with her a few days ago。〃
She seemed to accept that and did not ask him how he came to be at the rest home。 〃Raymond and I went through the ceremony and played out our roles as man and wife； but he could never pletely give up or divorce Hilda。〃
〃A man who loved two women。〃
〃In different； special ways。 A tiger in business； a lamb on the home front； Raymond was lost when Hilda's mind and body began to deteriorate。 He desperately needed a woman to lean on。 He used his influence to fake her death and place her in a rest home under a former married name。〃
〃Your cue to walk on the scene。〃 He did not like being cold； but he was not sorry。
〃I was already part of his life；〃 she said without hurt。 〃I was one of the senior editors of the Prosperteer。 Raymond and I had carried on an affair for years。 We felt fortable together。 His proposal bordered on a business proposition； a staged marriage of convenience； but it soon grew into more； much more。 Do you believe that？〃
〃I've no talent for rendering verdicts；〃 Pitt replied quietly。
Quintana detached himself from the shadows and touched Pitt's arm。 〃We're moving out。 I'll take the radio receiver and lead off。〃 He moved close to Jessie and his voice softened。 〃Another hour and you'll be safe。 Do you think you can hold on a little longer？〃
〃I'll be fine。 Thank you for your concern。〃
The Dashers were dragged across the beach and set in the water。 At Quintana's mand everyone mounted and set off across the black water。 This time Pitt brought up the rear as Quintana； headset in place； homed in on the SPUT from headings transmitted by Colonel Kleist。
They left an island of dead in their wake。 The huge pound was reduced to great broken slabs of concrete that crumbled inward。 The vast array of electronic equipment and the ornate furnishings smoldered like the dying core of a volcano deep beneath the sunbleached coral sand。 The giant antenna lay in a thousand twisted pieces； shattered beyond any possible repair。 Within hours hundreds of Russian soldiers； led by agents of the GRU； would be crawling over the ruins； searching and sifting the sands for incriminating evidence of the forces responsible for the destruction。 But the only bits and pieces their probing investigation would turn up pointed directly to the cunning mind of Fidel Castro and not the CIA。
Pitt kept his eyes locked on the shaded blue light of the Dasher straight in front of him。 They were going against the tide now and the tiny craft nosed into the wave troughs and bounced over the crests like a roller coaster。 Jessie's added weight slowed their speed； and he kept the accelerator pressed against its stop to keep from falling behind。
They had only traveled about a mile when Pitt felt one of Jessie's hands loosen from his waist。
〃Are you all right？〃 he asked。
His answer was the feel of a cold gun muzzle against his chest just beneath the armpit。 He dipped his head very slowly and looked down under his arm。 There was indeed the black outline of an automatic pistol pressed into his rib cage； a 9…millimeter Makarov； and the hand that held it was rock steady。
〃If I'm not being too forward；〃 he said in genuine surprise； 〃may I ask what's on your mind？〃
〃A change in plan；〃 she replied； her voice low and tense。 〃Our job is only half done。〃
Kleist paced the deck of the SPUT as Quintana's team of raiders were lifted on board and the Dashers quickly stowed through a large hatch and down a ramp to the cavernous cargo bay。 Quintana circled the ship； riding herd until there was no one left in the water。 Only then did he climb onto the low deck。
〃How did it go？〃 Kleist asked anxiously。
〃As they say on Broadway； a smash hit。 The destruction was plete。 You can tell Langley the GRU is off the air。〃
〃Nice work；〃 said Kleist。 〃You'll receive a fat bonus and long vacation。 Courtesy of Martin Brogan。〃
〃Pitt deserves a major share of the credit。 He led us straight into the parlor before the Russians woke up。 He also went on the radio and warned off the space shuttle。〃
〃Unfortunately； there are no brass bands for part…time help；〃 said Kleist vaguely。 Then he asked； 〃And what of General Velikov？〃
〃Presumed dead and buried in the rubble。〃
〃Any casualties？〃
〃I lost two men。〃 He paused。 〃We also lost Raymond LeBaron。〃
〃The President won't be happy when he hears that news。〃
〃More of an accident really。 He made a very brave but foolhardy attempt to save Pitt's life and was shot for his effort。〃
〃So the old bastard went out a hero。〃 Kleist stepped to the edge of the deck and peered into the darkness。 〃And what of Pitt？〃
〃A slight wound； nothing serious。〃
〃And Mrs。 LeBaron？〃
〃A few days' rest and some cosmetics to cover the bruises； and she'll look as good as new〃
Kleist turned briskly。 〃When did you see them last？〃
〃When we left the beach。 Pitt was carrying her on his Da