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Taking the bin, Pitt walked to the side rail and stopped. He returned to Zhou and stuck out his hand. Zhou stared at Pitt a moment before grasping his hand and shaking it vigorously.
“Thanks for saving my life,” Pitt said. “Twice.”
Zhou nodded. “I may come to regret the first instance,” he said with the faint hint of a smile.
Pitt returned to the rail and climbed up a ladder on the side of the chamber, carefully holding the bin. When he reached the top, he waved his thanks to the Navy sailors across the dock—and then was promptly arrested by the Canal Authority security force.
EPILOGUE
RED DEATH
82
LOOKS LIKE WE’VE GOT COMPANY, BOSS.”
Seated in a lounge chair under an umbrella, Al Giordino kicked open a cooler and tossed an empty beer bottle inside. He closed the lid, placed his bandaged leg atop the cooler for support, and eyed the approaching speedboat. He was dressed for a day at the beach in shorts and a Hawaiian shirt, although he was sitting on a barge in the middle of the Panama Canal.
“I hope it’s not another representative from the Canal Authority.” Pitt was kneeling on the deck nearby, checking an assortment of dive equipment.
“Actually, it looks to be our man from Washington.”
The speedboat pulled alongside, and Rudi Gu
“It’s not that bad,” Giordino said, fishing a cold beer out of the cooler for him. “The alligators are smaller here.”
“You didn’t really have to fly down and check on us,” Pitt said.
“Believe me, I’m only too happy to get out of that town. You created a public relations nightmare with the demolished dam and sunken ships all over the place.”
Gu
“Yes,” Pitt said. “And we’re parked over the Salzburg.”
Gu
“It’s still a bargain, considering what we almost lost.”
“I can’t disagree. Sandecker’s pleased as Punch, and the President is extremely grateful. However, for security reasons, he can’t divulge what was at stake. He’s taking lots of heat for what Panama is calling reckless American adventurism.”
Giordino yanked another beer from the cooler and popped its cap. “Reckless American adventurism? I’ll drink to that.”
“Of course,” Gu
“I have my best team working on it as we speak,” Pitt said.
Gu
“The Spruance,” Pitt said. “Our security escort and lift vessel, if we’re fortunate.” Pitt looked Gu
“Hiram and I saw the events unfolding on the canal’s video system. The Spruance happened to be heading in for a canal transit, so we accelerated her passage. Or Vice President Sandecker did, I should say.”
He looked over the side rail and saw air bubbles popping on the surface from the divers below. “How did the cruise ship make out?”
“The Sea Splendour? Her captain figured he was history, but a fu
Gu
The bubbles beneath him grew larger until the two divers appeared. Gu
“Hi, Rudi,” Dirk said. “Come to dive with us? The water’s warm.”
“No, thanks.” Gu
“We found it sitting intact, still strapped to the flatbed truck,” Summer said. “It was somehow tossed clear of the other containers, and the Salzburg as well.”
“The flatbed’s pretty mangled, but I didn’t see any damage to the motor itself,” Dirk said. “The Spruance should easily be able to hoist it up.”
Gu
“Not our area of expertise,” Pitt replied with a laugh. “The Canal Authority did agree to let us supervise the removal of the Salzburg from the ditch, so it looks like we’ll be enjoying the balmy local weather for some time.”
Gu
He rummaged in his bag and retrieved a thin box, which he handed to Summer. She opened it and removed a lengthy handwritten letter clipped to a leather-bound journal.
As she skimmed the letter, Dirk eyed the box and noted the return address. “It’s from Perlmutter. What does St. Julien have to say?”
“He says we’re not going back to Washington with Rudi,” Summer said, looking at her father with persuasive eyes. “Instead, we’re to take a trip to Tierra del Fuego.”
83
THE MOUNT VERNON TRAIL WAS A PICTURE OF tranquillity south of Alexandria, with only the muted whir of light highway traffic nearby intruding its peacefulness. Just a few early-morning joggers and bikers were scattered along its riverfront route, pushing to complete their daily workouts before the business day began.
Dan Fowler pushed himself to sprint the last few steps of his three-mile run, crossing an imaginary finish line before slowing to a walk. He ambled to a nearby drinking fountain, where he lapped up a stream of cool water.
“Good morning, Dan. How was your run?”
Fowler choked, whirling around as water dribbled down his chin. His shock at hearing the familiar voice was evident as he turned to find A
“A
“Just fine.”
“Where have you been? We’ve all been worried sick.”
“I had to take a little trip.”
“But you didn’t tell anyone. We’ve had the police searching for you. Is everything all right?”
“Yes. A personal matter came up rather unexpectedly.”
Fowler glanced around nervously, spotting only a few joggers and a man repairing a flat tire on his bicycle. “Are you alone? I feared you were in danger.”
“I’m fine. I just wanted to talk to you in private.”
“Sure.” Fowler eyed a grove of trees near the Potomac River that offered some seclusion. “Why don’t we walk?” He gently guided her off the trail.