Paul felt guilty about putting the son of his old colleague in harm's way. He and Gamay owed Yuri an explanation, but too much knowledge could be just as dangerous. Communicating with her eyes, Gamay silently sent a message saying that she knew what to do.

“Yuri, we've got a favor to ask,” she said. “We'd like you Ito say nothing about what happened back there to anyone.”

“I guess your visit to my father wasn't entirely social,” Yuri said.

Gamay nodded. “We've been asked by NUMA to check out Ataman Industries. They're suspected of being involved in some shady business. We had planned to do so from a safe distance. We never dreamed that they would be, well, so touchy.”

“It was like something out of James Bond!” Yuri had a broad smile on his face.

“Except that this isn't fiction. It's very real.”

Gamay's calming tone got through to Yuri far more effectively than any bombast Paul might have been able to summon up.

Yuri tried to look serious. “I'll be quiet, but it's going to be hard not to tell my friends.” He sighed. “They wouldn't believe me anyhow.”

Paul said, “We'll fill you in as soon as we know what this is all about. We can assure you that you'll be one of the first to know. Deal?” He stretched his hand forward.

“It's a deal,” Yuri said, pleased to be in on the conspiracy. They shook hands all around.

The sun had dropped toward the horizon, and shadows were gathering as they saw the lights of the camp glimmering on shore. They all breathed a sigh of relief as the boat drew nearer the beach. They would have been less assured if they knew that a birdlike speck in the sky high above them was a helicopter equipped with high-powered optics.

PROFESSOR ORLOV WAS waiting on the beach. He waded into the water and pulled the boat into shore. “Hello, my friends. I see that you've met my son, Yuri.”

“He was kind enough to take us on a sightseeing tour,” Gamay said. She slipped over the side and used her body to hide the hole gouged out by the bullet. “We had a nice talk about now and the future.”

“The now is that you go back to your cottage and get ready for dinner. The future is a wonderful meal and talking about old times. Our accommodations are primitive, but we feed ourselves well.” He patted his expansive stomach.

The professor ushered the Trouts back to the main clearing and instructed them to return in a half hour with their appetites. Then he hustled off with his son. As he walked away, Yuri looked back over his shoulder and winked. The silent message was clear. Their secret was safe with him.