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She blushed and said； 〃Oh； yes。 I will show you。〃 She clapped her hands for attention。 〃The tour is about over。〃 She handed everyone a sample package of tortillas and conducted them back to the reception area。 As the cars and tour buses left； Austin and Zavala pared notes。
〃From the look on your face I'd guess your little exploration was successful。〃
〃I found something。 I just don't know what it is。〃 Zavala laid out a quick summary of his findings。
〃The fact that they hid something underwater indicates that they don't want anyone to know what they are doing；〃 Austin said。 〃Let's take a walk。〃
They strolled around the side of the factory but only got a short distance toward the water before they encountered a high mesh fence topped with razor wire a few hundred feet short of where the cliff dropped off。
〃So much for an ocean view；〃 Zavala said。
〃Let's see if we can get around to the other side of the cove。〃
The two men returned to the pickup and drove back onto the road。 Several tracks led down to the sea； but the fence blocked each potential access。 They were just about to give up when they saw a man with a fishing pole and a basket full of fish ing from a path that led toward the water。 Zavala called him over and asked if they could get to the water。 The man was wary at first； apparently thinking they had something to do with the tortilla place。 When Zavala extracted a twenty…dollar bill from his wallet； the man's face lit up； and he said yes； there was a fence； but there was a place to crawl under it。
He led them on a narrow path through the shoulder…high bushes； pointed to a section of chain…link fence； and left clutching his windfall。 A section of fence was bent back from the ground and a hole scooped out underneath。 Zavala easily slithered under to the other side； then held the fence for Austin。 They followed the overgrown path until they came to the edge of a cliff。 They were near the tip of the southernmost promontory enclosing the lagoon。
A trail that must have been worn by the feet of fishermen descended down the less steep side of the point。 The NUMA men were more interested in the unimpeded view across the cove。 From this angle the dark metal structure looked like a sinister re doubt out of a Conan movie。 Austin scanned the building through his binoculars； then pointed them at the side of the cliff。 Sunlight glinted off metal about where Zavala had described the elevator track。 He let his eyes sweep out to the wide entrance of the lagoon where surf broke on the rocks； then back to the factory。
〃Ingenious；〃 Austin said with a chuckle。 〃If you stuck a big facility out here in the boonies； everyone； like our fisherman friend back there； would talk about it。 But put it in plain sight； invite the public to e tramping in and out every day； and you've got an unbeatable cover for some kind of clandestine operation。〃
Zavala borrowed the binoculars and scanned the opposite cliff。 〃Why a waterproof elevator？〃
〃I don't have an answer；〃 Austin said with a shake of his head。 〃I think we've seen all we're going to see。〃
Hoping to detect signs of activity around the building or cliff； they lingered a few more minutes； but the only movement they saw was the soaring sea birds。 They headed away from the sea and minutes later were crawling under the fence。 Zavala would have liked to ask the fisherman if he knew about the elevator or whether he had seen anything unusual in the lagoon； but the man had taken his money and run。 They got back into the pickup and headed north。
Austin drove without talking。 Zavala knew from past experience that his partner was chewing over a plan and when he had it fully formulated he would spill the details。 Just beyond Ensenada； Austin said； 〃Is NUMA still running those field tests off San Diego？〃
〃As far as I know。 I was planning to check in after the race to see how things were going。〃
Austin nodded。 During the drive back they exchanged small talk； trading war stories about past adventures and youthful indiscretions in Mexico。 The long line of traffic at the border crossing was moving at a snail's pace。 They flashed their NUMA IDs to save time and were whisked through customs。 Back in San Diego they headed toward the bay until they came to a sprawling municipal marina。 They parked and made their way along a pier past dozens of sail… and power boats。 At the end of a dock reserved for larger craft they found a stubby； wide…beamed vessel about eighty…five feet long。 Painted in white on the greenish…blue hull were the letters 〃NUMA。〃
They stepped across the catwalk and asked one of the crew men puttering on the deck if the captain were aboard。 He led the way to the bridge； where a slim； olive…skinned man was going over some charts。 Jim Contos was considered one of the best skippers in the NUMA fleet。 The son of a Tarpon Springs sponge fisher man； he had been on boats since he was able to walk。
〃Kurt。 Joe；〃 Contos said with a wide grin。 〃What a nice surprise！ I heard you were in the neighborhood； but I never suspected you'd honor the Sea Robin with a visit。 What are you up to？〃 He glanced at Zavala。 〃Well； I always know what you've been up to。〃
Zavala's lips turned up in his typical slight smile。 〃Kurt and I were in the offshore boat race yesterday。〃
A dark cloud crossed his brow。 〃Hey； I heard about that thing with your boat。 I'm really sorry about that。〃
〃Thanks；〃 Austin said。 〃Then you must know about the dead gray whales。〃
〃I do…a very strange story。 Any idea what killed them？〃
〃We might be able to find out with your help。〃
〃Sure； anything I can do。〃
〃We'd like to borrow the Sea Robin and the mini and do a little diving south of the border。〃
Contos laughed。 〃You weren't kidding about a big favor。〃 He paused in thought； then shrugged。 〃Why not？ We're just about through with our field tests here。 If you can get an oral authorization to work in Mexican waters； it's fine with me。〃
Austin nodded and immediately called NUMA。 After a few minutes of conversation he passed the cell phone to Contos。 He listened； nodded； asked a few questions； then clicked off。 〃Looks like we're heading south。 Gunn gave his okay。〃 Rudi Gunn was NUMA director of operations in Washington。 〃Two days at the most。 He wants you and Joe back so he can put you to work again。 One thing； though。 He says he won't have time to get clearance from the Mexican government on short notice。〃
〃If anyone asks； we can say we were lost；〃 Austin said with feigned innocence。
Contos gestured at the glittering array of lights and dials on the ship's console。 〃That might be a tough story to sell with all the electronics this vessel carries。 The Sea Robin may be ugly； but she sure knows what's going on in the world。 We'll let the State Department iron out any problems if we're boarded。 When do you want to leave？〃
〃We'll pick up our gear and get back as soon as possible。 The rest is up to you。〃
〃I'll schedule a seven A。M。 departure for tomorrow；〃 he said； and turned away to give the crew its new orders。
As Austin was walking back to the