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ou down here？〃
Britton looked around； her intelligent green eyes taking in everything。 They froze when they saw the meteorite。
〃Good God；〃 she said； her step suddenly faltering。
Glinn smiled。 〃It's always a shock at first sight。〃
She nodded wordlessly。
〃Nothing great can happen in this world； Captain； without some difficulty。〃 Glinn spoke quietly； but with great force。 〃It's the scientific discovery of the century。〃 Glinn did not particularly care about its value to science； his interest was solely in the engineering aspects。 But he was not going to eschew a little drama； if it served his purposes。
Britton continued staring。 〃They said it was red； but I had no idea。。。〃
The roar of heavy machinery echoed down the ice tunnel as she stared： one minute； then two。 At last； with obvious effort； she took a breath； pulled her eyes away； and faced him。
〃Two more people have been killed。 But what news we've had from you has been slow in ing； and rumors are everywhere。 The crew are nervous； and so are my officers。 I need to know exactly what happened； and why。〃
Glinn nodded； waiting。
〃That meteorite is not ing on board my ship until I'm convinced it's safe。〃 She said it all at once and then stood firm； her slim； small form planted on the gravel。
Glinn smiled。 This was one hundred percent Sally Britton。 Every day he admired her more。
〃I feel exactly the same way；〃 he said。
She looked at him； off balance； obviously having expected resistance。
〃Mr。 Glinn； we have a dead Chilean naval officer to explain to the authorities。 We have a warship out there somewhere； a destroyer that likes to train its guns on us。 Three of your people are dead。 We have a twenty…five…thousand…ton rock that； when it isn't crushing people； blows them to bits； and you want to put it inside my ship。〃 She paused a moment； then continued； her voice lower。 〃Even the best crews can get superstitious。 There's been a lot of wild talk。〃
〃You are right to be concerned。 Let me brief you on what happened。 I apologize for not ing to the ship myself； but as you know we've been fighting the clock。〃
She waited。
〃Two nights ago； during the storm； we had an intruder from the Chilean ship。 He was killed by an electrical discharge from the meteorite。 Unfortunately； not before he murdered one of our men。〃
Britton looked at him sharply。 〃So it's true？ Lightning shot out of the meteorite？ I didn't believe it。 And I sure as hell don't understand it。〃
〃It's actually quite simple。 It's made of a metal that is a superconductor of electricity。 The human body … human skin … has an electrical potential。 If you touch the meteorite； the meteorite discharges some of the electricity circulating inside it。 Like a blast of lightning； only greater。 McFarlane has explained the theory to me。 That's what we believe killed the Chilean； as well as Nestor Masangkay； the man who first discovered the meteorite。〃
〃Why does it do that？〃
〃McFarlane and Amira are working on that question now。 But moving the rock is the priority now； and they haven't had time for further analysis。〃
〃So what's to prevent this from happening on my ship？〃
〃Another good question。〃 Glinn smiled。 〃We're working on that one too。 We're taking great precautions to make sure no one touches it。 Indeed； we had instituted such a policy even before we realized that touch could trigger an explosion。〃
〃I see。 Where does the electricity e from？〃
Glinn's hesitation was very brief。 〃That's one of the things that Dr。 McFarlane is studying right now。〃
Britton did not respond。
Quite suddenly； Glinn took her hand。 He felt a brief； instinctive resistance。 Then she relaxed。
〃I understand your concerns； Captain；〃 he said gently。 〃That's why we are taking all possible precautions。 But you must believe we will not fail。 You must believe in me。 Just as I believe in you to maintain discipline aboard your ship； despite the nervousness and superstitions of the crew。〃
She looked at him； but he could see her eyes irresistibly drawn back to the great red rock。
〃Stay a while；〃 said Glinn softly； smiling。 〃Stay and watch us bring the heaviest object ever moved by mankind to your ship。〃
She looked from the rock toward him； then back to the rock； hesitating。
A radio on her belt chirped。 She immediately freed herself and stepped away。 〃This is Captain Britton；〃 she said。
Watching the change in her face； Glinn knew precisely what she must be hearing。
She replaced the radio。 〃The destroyer。 It's returned。〃
Glinn nodded。 The smile had not left his face。 〃No surprise；〃 he said。 〃The Almirante Ramirez has lost one of her own。 Now she's e to get him back。〃
Rolvaag；
July 24； 3：45 P。M。
NIGHT wAS falling over Isla Desolacion。 Coffee cup in hand； McFarlane watched the twilight gather from the solitude of the fly deck。 It was a perfect evening： clear； cold； windless。 In the distance； there were some remaining streaks of clouds： mare's tails of pink and peach。 The island lay etched in light； unnaturally clear and crisp。 Beyond； the glossy waters of Franklin Channel reflected the last rays of the setting sun。 Farther still lay Vallenar's destroyer； gray； malevolent； the name Almirante Ramirez barely legible on its rust…streaked sides。 That afternoon it had moved in closer； nosing into place at the entrance to Franklin Channel … their only route of exit。 Now it looked as though it planned to stay。
McFarlane took a sip of coffee； then impulsively poured the rest over the side。 Caffeine was the last thing he needed right now。 There was already a tremendous tension in his gut。 He wondered just how Glinn was planning to deal with the destroyer； on top of everything else。 But Glinn had seemed calm that day； exceptionally calm。 He wondered if the man was having a nervous breakdown。
The meteorite had been moved … painfully； centimeter by centimeter … through the icefield and down the sunken roadway to the edge of Isla Desolacion。 It had finally reached a bluff overlooking Franklin Channel。 To hide it； another of Glinn's corrugated metal shacks had gone up。 McFarlane examined the shack from the deck。 As usual； it was a masterpiece of deception： a rusty contraption of secondhand metal that listed dangerously。 Bald tires had been piled in front。 He wondered how they planned to lower it into the hold； Glinn had been exceptionally cagey。 All he knew was； it was going to happen in a single night： that night。
The hatch opened and McFarlane turned at the sound。 He was surprised to see Glinn； who hadn't been on board the ship； as far as he could tell； for almost a week。
The man sauntered over casually。 Although his face remained gray； there was an easiness to his movements。 〃Evening；〃 he said。
〃You seem awfully calm。〃
Instead of replying； Glinn removed a pack of cigarettes and； much to McFarlane's surprise； slid one into his mouth。 He lit it； the match flaring against his sallow face； and took a long drag。
〃Didn't know you smoked。 Out of costume； anyway。〃
Glinn smiled。 〃I allow myself twelve cigarettes a year。 It's my one foolishness。〃
〃When was the last time you slept？〃 McFarlane asked。
Glinn gazed out over the peaceful waters。 〃I'm not sure。 Sleep is lik