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〃I wonder when she was built。〃
〃Long before you or I were born；〃 said Smith。
The helmsman swung the launch alongside the hull； once painted a dark orange but now discolored by rust； as revealed by the running lights on the masts and the glow from the starboard navigation light。 There was no gangway； only a rope boarding ladder with wood rungs。
〃After you； pretty boy；〃 said Smith； gesturing topside。
Pitt went first； trailed by Giordino。 On the way up； Pitt wiped his fingers across a large scale of rust。 The patch felt smooth； and no smudge dirtied his fingertips。 The hatches on the deck were closed and the cargo booms sloppily stowed。 Several large wooden crates stacked on the deck looked like they had been secured by untrained chimpanzees。 To all appearances the crew ran what was often called 〃a loose ship。〃 None of them were seen； and the decks seemed deserted。 The only indication of life was a radio playing a Strauss waltz。 The music was inconsistent with the ship's overall appearance。 Pitt thought an ode to a trash dump would have been more appropriate。 He saw no sign of the Sea Dog II。 〃Did our submersible arrive？〃 Pitt asked Smith。 〃She's stowed in that large crate just behind the forecastle。〃 〃Which way to the captain's cabin？〃 The mangy escort lifted a plate in the deck that revealed a ladder leading into what seemed a cargo partment。 〃You'll find him down there。〃
〃Ship captains aren't generally quartered in concealed partments。〃 Pitt looked up at the superstructure on the stern。 〃On any ship I've known the captain's cabin is below the wheelhouse。〃
〃Down there； pretty boy；〃 Smith repeated。 〃What in hell has Sandecker gotten us into；〃 murmured Giordino suspiciously as he turned his back to Pitt's and instinctively went into a fighting crouch。
Calmly； as if it was the most natural thing in the world； Pitt laid his tote bag on the deck； unzipped a pocket and retrieved his old 。45 Colt。 Before Smith knew what was happening the muzzle was jammed under his chin。 〃Forgive me for not mentioning it； but I blew the head off the last jerk who called me pretty boy。〃
〃Okay； pal；〃 Smith said without a hint of fear。 〃I recognize a gun when I see one。 Not one in mint condition； but obviously well used。 Please point it somewhere else。 You wouldn't want to get hurt now； would you？〃
〃I don't think it's me who's going to get hurt；〃 Pitt said conversationally。
〃You might be wise to look around you。〃
It was the oldest trick in the book； but Pitt had nothing to lose。 He glanced around the deck as men stepped out of the shadows。 Not two men； nor four； but six men every bit as disreputable as Smith； each holding automatic weapons pointed at Pitt and Giordino。 Big； silent men dressed as mangily as Smith。
Pitt pulled back the hammer and pressed the Colt another quarter inch into the flesh under Smith's chin。 〃Would it matter if I said； if I go； you go with me？〃
〃And allow your friend to be killed too？〃 said Smith with an ungodly grin。 〃From what little I know about you； Pitt； you're not that dumb。〃
〃Just what do you know about me？〃 〃Put the gun away； and we'll talk。〃 〃I can hear you perfectly well from where I stand。〃 〃Relax； boys；〃 said Smith to his men。 〃We must show a little class and treat our guests with respect。〃
Incredibly； the crew of the Oregon lowered their guns and began laughing。 〃Serves you right； skipper；〃 one of them said。 〃You said they were probably a couple nerds from NUMA who drank milk and ate broccoli。〃
Giordino smoothly joined the act。 〃You guys got any beer on this tub？〃
〃Ten different brands；〃 said a crewman； slapping him on the back。 〃Glad to have passengers with a little guts on board。〃
Pitt lowered the gun and eased the hammer back in the safety position。 〃I get the feeling we've been had。〃
〃Sorry to inconvenience you；〃 said Smith heartily； 〃but we can't let our guard down for even a moment。〃 He turned to his men and issued an order。 〃Weigh anchor； boys； and get under way for Hong Kong。〃
〃Admiral Sandecker said this was a singularly unmon ship；〃 said Pitt； replacing the automatic in his tote bag。 〃But he didn't say anything about the crew。〃
〃If we can dispense with the theatrics；〃 said Smith； 〃I'll show you below。〃 He dropped down the ladder through the narrow hatch and disappeared。 Pitt and Giordino followed； finding themselves in a brightly lit； carpeted hallway whose walls were painted in pastel colors。 Smith opened a smoothly varnished door and nodded inside。 〃You can share this cabin。 Stow your gear； get fortable； use the head and then I'll introduce you to the captain。 You'll find his cabin behind the fourth door on the port side aft。〃
Pitt stepped inside and switched on the light。 This was no Spartan cabin on a decrepit freighter。 It was every bit as swank as any stateroom on a luxury cruise ship。 Ornately decorated leading to a private veranda。 The only suggestion of the outside world was a porthole painted black。 〃What；〃 exclaimed Giordino； 〃no bowl of fruit？〃
Pitt stared around the cabin in fascination。 〃I wonder if we have to dress formal when we dine with the captain。〃
They heard the anchor chain rattle up out of the water and felt the engines begin to throb through the deck under their feet as the Oregon began beating her way across Manila Bay toward her destination in Hong Kong。 A few minutes later they knocked on the door to the captain's cabin。 A voice on the other side responded。 〃Please e in。〃
If their cabin resembled a deluxe stateroom； this one would have easily rated as the penthouse suite。 It resembled a decorator showroom on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills。 The furniture was expensive yet tasteful。 The walls； or bulkheads in nautical terms； were either richly paneled or covered by curtains。 The carpet was thick and plush。 Two of the paneled walls were covered by original oil paintings。 Pitt walked up to one and studied it。 The painting inside an ornate frame was a seascape depicting a black man lying on the deck of a small； demasted sloop with a school of sharks swimming around its hull。
〃Winslow Homer's Gulf Stream；〃 said Pitt。 〃I thought it was hanging in a New York museum。〃
〃The original is；〃 said a man standing beside a large antique rolltop desk。 〃What you see are forgeries。 In my line of business no insurance pany would insure the real thing。〃 A handsome man in his mid…forties with blue eyes and blond hair in a crewcut stepped forward and stuck out a manicured hand。 〃Chairman Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo； at your service。〃 He pronounced Cabrillo as Ka…bree…yo。
〃Chairman； like in chairman of the board？〃
〃A departure from maritime tradition；〃 Cabrillo explained。 〃This ship is run like a business； a corporation if you will。 The personnel prefer to be assigned corporate titles。〃
〃That's a twist；〃 Giordino said equably。 〃Don't tell me； I'm keen to guess。 Your first officer is president。〃
Cabrillo shook his head。 〃No； my chief engineer is president。 My first officer is executive vice president。〃
Giordino lifted an eyebrow。 〃This is the first I've heard the Kingdom of Oz owns a ship。〃
〃You'll get used to it；〃 Cabrillo said tolerantly。
〃If I recall my California his