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"Will you be leaving soon?" Flidais asked Epona

"In a few days I have to take care of a little daressional co operations in Montana The state's politicians are upset because we're taking all of the iridiu none for sale to US coovernment"

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bsp; Epona leaned back comfortably in the thick pillows "And you, enda?"

"I've hired an international investigation company to track down the two men who penetrated our security and roahthouse ventilator"

"Any idea of their identities?"

"I suspect they were ency The same ones I escaped from after they destroyed our yacht"

"You think our efforts for secrecy have been compromised?"

Flidais shook her head "I don't think so At least not yet Our agents have reported no activity by US intelligence agencies to investigate the tunnels There has been a strange silence It's as if those devils from NUMA disappeared off the face of the earth"

"We need not be unduly concerned It's too late for the Americans to stop our operation And besides, it's doubtful they've discovered the tunnel's true purpose Only eightthe South Equatorial Current into the Pacific"

"I' the reason for their silence is that they haven't put two and two together and found a threat"

"That would explain their inaction"

"On the other hand," Epona said, thoughtfully, "one would think they'd seek retaliation for the murder of a member of their crew"

"An execution that was a matter of necessity," Flidais assured her

"I disagree," said Pitt "Cold-blooded murder is never a matter of necessity"