The big, straight-eight Chrysler turned over slowly until the oil circulated, and then increased its revolutions. After grinding away for several seconds, Pitt disengaged the starter. As he primed the carburetors again he could have sworn that everyone in the boat was holding his breath. On the next attempt a pair of cylinders popped to life, then another pair until the engine was hitting on all eight. Pitt pushed the floor lever into forward and let the boat move only on the engine's idle speed. He steered with the little Chinese boy sitting in his lap. Still no shouts from the shore, no searchlight stabbing across the lake. He looked back at the cabin. He could see tiny figures appearing out of the forest and running into the lights he'd left on.

The first rays of the sun were spreading over the mountains to the east when Pitt turned to Julia, who was sitting beside him, her arms clasped around the young girl. He looked over at her, seeing her face in the light for the first time, shocked at the punishment inflicted on what must have been delicate features, and fully appreciating her courage and stamina in surviving her ordeal.

Cold anger suddenly overwhelmed him. "My God, those bastards really worked you over."

"I haven't looked in a mirror, but I suspect I won't be showing my face hi public for a while," she said gamely.

"If your superiors at INS give out medals, you'd rate a chestfull."

"A certificate of merit in my file is the best I can hope for."

"Tell everybody to hold on tight," he advised her. "We're coming into rapids."

"After we reach the mouth of the river, what then?" she asked.

"According to my calculations, any place on a map called Grapevine Bay must have grapes and grapes mean vineyards and vineyards mean people. The more, the merrier. Shang's mad dogs wouldn't dare attack us with a hundred U.S. citizens looking on."

"I'd better call the INS field agents again and alert them to the fact that we've left the area and give them our destination."

"A good idea," said Pitt, pushing the throttle forward to its stop with one hand while handing her the phone with the other. "They can concentrate their forces on the retreat instead of worrying about us at the cabin."

"Did you hear from your NUMA people?" Julia shouted above the increased roar of the exhaust.

"They're supposed to meet and pick me up after we reach Grapevine Bay."

"Do they use little open aircraft painted yellow?"

He shook his head. "NUMA leases executive jets and helicopters with turquoise color schemes. Why do you ask?"

Julia tapped Pitt on the shoulder and pointed over the stern at a yellow ultralight that was chasing them down the river. "If they're not friends, they must be foes."