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McKendry and Keene walked confidently along the docks in Puerto La Cruz, fostering the i At the terh offshore that the long ay looked like a tiny bridge that extended hundreds of yards out into thefro towers, and the smelly refinery equiple coastline into an industrial nightas flaasoline trucks drove around, taking a small fraction of the production to Venezuelan markets Other tankers came into the port to fill up and redistribute the petroleum products, but theYucatan used the facilities in reverse It brought fresh crude fro separated petroleurades away frouarded chain-link gate, McKendry strode behind Keene down the ay, listening to the water lap against the pilings - a peaceful sound coet this set up as soon as we can," Keene called out "We&039;ve got better things to do"

McKendry marched forith determined strides He saw his partner look back and cover a smile, doubtless Keene&039;s response to the way he always took everything so seriously

On the way out to the deck of the tanker, a bored-looking security guard stopped them, probably more suspicious of the two because they hite-skinned Americans than for any other reason Keene invoked the only name that would uel Calisto El capitan? Couard scowled, but waved the as several football fields and cliside the crew housing and habitation areas, McKendry and Keene stood on the bridge deck

Within moments, the first mate approached theain that they had ascheduled with the captain Eventually, the mate conceded and led theuel Calisto was a ruddy-skinnedpad of a beard A ri bald spot on the back of his head like a crown He listened to what the two men had to say, but exhibited no patience with them whatsoever

"Your request isto speak English He narrowed his eyes and sat down at his se "TheYucatan is not a passenger ship We don&039;t give rides to curiosity seekers My crew is not here to pamper A the too-soft beds and too-garish nightclubs they had endured in Caracas "We don&039;t want to be pampered"

"Amen," Keene muttered

"In fact, we don&039;t even want the rest of your crew to knoe&039;re aboard We&039;d rather find a corner down in the puine control room Keep ourselves out of the here no one can see us We&039;re investigating a potentialthreat"

"Top secret," Keene added

"I&039;m afraid that is not possible," the captain said His lips became thin and hard, like the slash of a scowl "Yes, indeed Most i to discern whether he was opening a door to a large bribe or if he siet Calisto seee for the two ardless of the circu in the e "We understand your position, Captain However, this is a serious political matter I&039;eovern should happen to interfere with thatrelationship, many people could be out of jobs"

"Show him the faxes," McKendry said

Keene took out letters froa Bruzual for the Security Ministry, and Fredrick Van Alman for Oilstar, both of which firentlehed "Politics!" He practically spat out the word

"If you wish, ill pass on your reluctance to Minister Bruzual" - McKendry could see by his flinch that Calisto recognized the security e for you to discuss the matter with him However, he&039;s a busydisturbed"

"I&039;d prefer to know more about youractivities," the captain said "What are you trying to do?"