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"You'll get no arguari from under the surface came direct from the White House"

"Do they really think Qin Shang would conduct his seways that connect to the hulls of his ships?"

"Soton must think so That's e're here"

"Like alley?" asked Stewart"I could use a cup," said Gunn without turning from the monitor

The cook's galley assistant soon brought a tray of cups along with a filled coffeepot Three hours later the cups and pot were as e showed on the s that were driven deep into the silt to act as a barrier for the landfill that in turn acted as a foundation for the dock and ters Finally, just before noon, Gunn turned to Stewart

"So much for the west side of the port," Gunn said wearily He rubbed his eyes to relieve the strain "It gets awfully tedious staring at gray, shapeless casing for hours on end"

"See any hint of a door leading to a passage?"

"No so e"

"We can move the AUV across the river channel and, with luck, finish up the east side before dark," said Stewart

"The sooner rap this up, the better" Gunn typed a command on the keyboard that sent the AUV on a course toward the opposite side of the port Then he leaned back and relaxed in his chair

"Sure you don't want to knock off for a sandwich?" asked Stewart

Gunn shook his head "I'll see it through and fill my empty stomach at dinner"

It took only ten minutes for the AUV to cross under the river to the east side of the port Gunn then programmed the AUV's controls to start the run at the end of the casing wall, working north to south The AUV had only covered two hundred yards when the phone beside him buzzed "Can you take that?" he asked Stewart

The Marine Denizen's skipper picked up the receiver and then handed it to Gunn "It's Dirk Pitt"

"Pitt" Gunn turned from the monitor, his eyebrows raised in surprise He took the phone and spoke into the mouthpiece "Dirk?"