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〃He means well；〃 Pitt sighed as the tension inside the sub eased。 He lay there idly； his hands loosely holding the handgrips of his now nonfunctioning controls； staring through the transparent canopy at the bottom of the launch； wondering what cards Cabrillo was about to deal。
〃They mean business；〃 Cabrillo said to Eddie Seng； the Oregon's former CIA agent who was their man in Beijing for nearly twenty years before he was forced to make a sudden departure back to the States and retirement。 Cabrillo peered through a small； single…lens telescope at the rapidly approaching cabin cruiser。 Its configuration reminded him of a U。S。 Coast Guard rescue boat； except that this one was not in the business of saving lives。 〃They figured the game when they detected the submersible； but they can't be sure we're tied in until they board and investigate。〃
〃How many do you make out？〃 asked Seng。
〃About five； all carrying arms except the helmsman。〃
〃Any good…sized weapons mounted on the boat？〃 asked Seng。
〃None that I can make out。 They're on a fishing expedition and not looking for trouble。 They'll leave two men behind to cover us； while the other three e on board。〃 Cabrillo turned to Seng。 〃Tell Pete James and Bob Meadows to slip over the unobserved side of the launch。 They're both strong swimmers。 When the boat es alongside； tell them to swim under our craft and hang in the water between the hulls。 If my plan works； the two guards remaining behind on their boat will instinctively react to an unexpected situation。 We've got to take all five without guns。 Nothing that makes noise。 There'll be enough prying eyes on the dock and ship as it is。 We'll just have to tough it out the best we can without drums and bugles。〃
James and Meadows slipped over the side under a tarpaulin and waited in the water for the signal to swim under the launch。 The rest of Cabrillo's men lounged around the decks as if dozing。 One or two acted as if they were fishing off the stern。
Now Cabrillo could plainly see that Qin Shang Maritime's security men were wearing showy； dark maroon uniforms that were better suited for a Gilbert and Sullivan operetta。 Four of them clutched what looked to Cabrillo like the latest…model machine pistols manufactured by the Chinese。 The boat's captain wore the indecipherable； hard expression of a Chinese in authority。
〃Remain where you are！〃 he shouted in Mandarin。 〃We are ing aboard！〃
〃What do you want？〃 Seng yelled back。
〃Dockyard Security。 We want to inspect your boat。〃
〃You're not the Harbor Patrol；〃 said Seng indignantly。 〃You have no authority over us。〃
〃You have thirty seconds to ply or we shoot；〃 the captain said with icy persistence。
〃You'd shoot poor fishermen？〃 Seng said bitterly。 〃You're mad。〃 He turned to the others and shrugged。 〃We'd better do as they say。 They're just crazy enough to do what they threaten。〃
〃All right；〃 he said to the Qin Shang Maritime security captain； 〃e aboard。 But don't think I'm not going to report you to the People's Republic harbor authorities。〃
Cabrillo leaned over the helm； shielding his face with a straw hat so the security guards couldn't see his Western eyes。 He casually flipped a few coins over the side as the signal for James and Meadows to swim under the launch。 Slowly； one of his hands snaked onto the throttle lever。 Then； just as the captain of the security boat and his men were in the midst of leaping across the narrow gap separating the two craft； Cabrillo cracked the throttle open and just as quickly pulled it back； abruptly widening the gap between the two boats。
As if the action was a rehearsed edy routine； the security cruiser captain and his two men fell into the water between the two boats。 Acting on impulse； as Cabrillo predicted； the two men still on the security boat dropped their weapons and fell to their knees； reaching out to their superior in an attempt to haul him out of the water。 Their rescue attempt failed as two pairs of arms reached up out of the water； grabbed them each by the throat and pulled them overboard with a wild splash。 Then； taking one man at a time by the feet； James and Meadows hauled them under the launch to the opposite side； where they were rendered unconscious by a none too gentle rap on the back of the head before being pushed aboard and roughly dumped in a small cargo hold。
Cabrillo scanned the stern of the United States and the end of the dock for witnesses。 He counted no more than three or four shipyard workers who had paused to watch the activity on the two boats。 None appeared unduly concerned。 The cabin on the security cruiser had blocked off most of the view the workers had from the dock and the liner。 As far as they could see； it looked like a normal investigation by the security force。 All they could see was Cabrillo's crew still dozing and fishing off the stern of the launch。 The shipyard workers soon returned to their jobs； showing no signs of alarm。
James and Meadows climbed back on board and； along with Eddie Seng； quickly stripped the security mander and two of his men of their clothes。 A few minutes later all three reappeared on deck wearing the security guards' uniforms。
〃Not a bad fit；〃 said Eddie； modeling his damp attire for Cabrillo； 〃considering that the suit is soaking wet。 〃
〃Mine is about four sizes too small；〃 grumbled Meadows； who was a big man。
〃Join the club；〃 said James； holding out an arm and demonstrating a sleeve that barely passed the elbow。
〃You don't have to walk down the runway at a fashion show；〃 said Cabrillo while jockeying the launch next to the security boat。 〃Jump over and take the helm。 As soon as we've got the submersible under tow； follow along in our wake as though you were escorting us to the Hong Kong Harbor Patrol dock。 Once we're out of sight of Qin Shang's shipyard； we'll cruise around until dark。 Then we'll head back to the Oregon and scuttle the security boat。〃
〃What about the five drenched rats in the hold？〃 asked Seng。
Cabrillo turned from the helm and leered。 〃We'll enjoy seeing the expressions on their faces when they wake up and find they've been abandoned on an island off the Philippines。〃
Not having enough oxygen supply to remain underwater； the Sea Dog II was towed on the surface with the upper hatch partially open。 Pitt and Giordino remained inside while the security boat cruised alongside and screened any view of it from passing ships and shore。 Thirty minutes later the Sea Dog II was quickly lifted back onto the deck of the Oregon。 Cabrillo was there to help Pitt and Giordino out of the submersible。 With muscles stiff and numb from the many hours of tight confinement； they were grateful for his help。
〃I apologize for leaving you cooped up like that； but as you know； we ran into a little difficulty。〃
〃And you handled it very well；〃 Pitt plimented him。
〃You boys did a pretty fair job of fighting off the bad guys yourselves。〃
〃We'd still be sitting on the bottom if you hadn't lobbed those grenades。〃
〃What did you find？〃 asked Cabrillo。
Pitt shook his head wearily。 〃Nothing； absolutely nothing。 The hull below the waterline is clean； no modifications； no concealed hatches or pressuri