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"They won't blow the levee just yet," Sandecker said quietly "Not before the United States arrives"

"The adreed "If the levee is breached before the United States can be angled across the channel to divert the water, enough of the Mississippi's floill gush into the canal to leave the liner with her keel in the mud"

"There is still a slight chance," said Sandecker He tapped Marchand on the shoulder "Can you raise General Olson on your radio?"

"I can if he's listening," replied the sheriff He reached for thefor Olson to respond After repeating the request several times, a voice answered "Corporal Welch in the coeneral for you"

There was a pause punctuated by static, and then Olson answered "Sheriff, what do you want? I' battle reports from my tanks"

"One moment, sir, for Admiral Sandecker"

Sandecker leaned over the front seat and took the microphone "General, do you have any aircraft in the air?"

"Why do you ask?"

"I believe they intend to set off the explosives by radio from the helicopter that snatched the drivers"

Olson's voice suddenly sounded old and very tired "Sorry, Admiral, the only aircraft I had at my immediate command were two helicopters And now they and the one"

"You can't call up any jets from the nearest Air Force base?"

"I can try," Olson replied soleet here in time"

"I understand, thank you"

"Not to worry, Adone "She won't get past my tanks" But this time around he didn't sound entirely as if he meant it

The gunfire downriver came like a death knell as the United States presented her broadside to the gunners inside the tanks What General Olson did not yet knoas that it wasn't a one-sided battle