“I cheated, Hank. When I programmed all of Karpov's games into Max's data banks, I set up an array of responses based on Bobby Fischer's strategy. Fischer simply overrode any dumb move I made.”

“It all sounds like magic to me,” Hank Reed replied. “Speaking of vanishing acts, I wonder where our pastrami sandwiches are.” He licked his lips. “I think I'd work for NUMA even if they didn't pay me, just so I could use the cafeteria.”

Yaeger nodded in agreement. “Let's get back to work. If the delivery guy doesn't arrive in five minutes, I'll call again.”

“Sounds good,” Hank said. “Did Austin ever say why he wanted this stuff?”

Yaeger chuckled knowingly. “Kurt's the ultimate poker player. He never shows his cards until he lays down his hand.”

Austin had called Yaeger earlier in the day with a cheery “Good morning.” Getting right to the point, he'd said, “I need some help from Max. Is she in a good mood?”

“Max is always in a good mood, Kurt. As long as I ply her with electronic cocktails, she'll do anything I ask.” In a stage whisper, he said, “She thinks I want her for her mind and not her body.”

“I didn't know Max had a body.”

“She has her pick of bodies. Mae West. Betty Grable. Marilyn Monroe. Jennifer Lopez. Whatever I program in.”

“Please soften her up with a few drinks and ask her to dig up what she can on the subject of methane hydrates.”

Austin had been thinking about methane hydrates since the Trouts had told him Ataman Industries was attempting to mine them from the ocean floor.

“I'll have a package for you later today, if that's okay.”

“Fine. I'll be pretty much tied up with Admiral Sandecker this morning.”

Yaeger made no attempt to ask when Austin wanted the information. If Austin wanted it, it was important. And if it was important, he wanted it immediately.

People who met Yaeger for the first time sometimes found it difficult to reconcile the scruffy-Levis-and-T-shirt look with his reputation as a computer whiz. It only took a few minutes of watching him at work to see why Admiral Sandecker had made him the head of NUMA's oceans data center. From his console, he had access to vast resources of data on ocean technology and history and every related bit of information on and under the seas.

Finding his way through the massive amount of data at his command required a deft hand. Yaeger knew that if Max searched out every mention of methane hydrates recorded, he would drown in the digital deluge. He needed someone to point the way. Hank Reed immediately came to mind.

Reed was in his lab when Yaeger called. "Hi, Hank. I could use your geochemical expertise. Any chance you could break away from your Bunsen burners for a few minutes?”