The Englishman was still unimpressed. His long nose sniffed the air as if he smelled an unpleasant odor. “You were originally talking of years to gain the monopoly on the world's water supply. That has been changed to months, I take it?”

“No, Lord Grimley. I'm talking a target date of days.”

There was a low murmur around the table.

An unctuous smile crossed Grimley's face. “Disregard my earlier comment,” he said. “Please go on.”

“I'd be happy to,” Brynhild said. “As you know from my monthly reports, our plans have been moving smoothly but slowly. Every day we have acquired another water source, but it has taken time to build up our tanker fleet. The huge storage bags that would be used to transport water across oceans have been a problem. Only now has the technology to construct the bags been achieved. And most recently our project has elicited interest from the National Underwater and Marine Agency.”

An American real estate baron named Howes was the first to pounce on the significance of her last sentence. “NUMA? How did they come to know about us?”

“It's a complicated story. You will all be provided with reports detailing NUMA's interest. Suffice it to say for now that their people are very persistent and lucky.”

“This is serious,” said the American. “First the newspaper investigation, now this.”

“The newspaper will not be running the story, nor will any one else. All the investigative records have been destroyed. In regard to NUMA, that situation, too, has been neutralized.”

“It's still damned worrisome,” Howes said. “We've spent millions keeping our activities secret. This whole thing could unravel in no time.”

“I agree wholeheartedly,” Brynhild replied. “We have done everything possible to preserve our privacy, but an operation of this size and duration could not go undetected forever. The facade we erected to hide our activities from public view is be ginning to crack. It was only a matter of time, so I'm not surprised, but it did suggest the need for haste.”

“Are you saying that you are rushing our plans because of NUMA?”

“No. Only that there has been a fortunate turn of events.”

A German banker named Heimmler was the first to catch on. “There is only one way the plan can be advanced so dramatically,” he said with the expression of a boa constrictor presented with a live rabbit. “You have perfected the Cabral desalting method.”

Brynhild waited for the buzzing around the table to die down. “Better still,” she said triumphantly. “Dr. Cabral is perfecting the process for us.”

“Cabral,” the German said. “I read press reports that she was still alive, but-”

“Alive and quite well. She has agreed to work with Gogstad since we control the only supply of anasazium. At this moment she is in our laboratory where she is preparing a demonstration. In a short time I will show you this miracle. I spoke to Dr. Cabral before our meeting. She said she would be ready in an hour. In the meantime you are invited to enjoy the refreshments we have prepared for you in the dining room. I must check on transport arrangements and will see you shortly.”