The lead ultralight roared so low over the speeding Chris-Craft, the draft from its propeller blades whirled a cloud of spray that dampened the occupants of the boat. Pitt expected to hear gunshots, see holes appear in the smoothly varnished mahogany, but the aircraft passed on without attacking. It pulled up sharply, its tricycle landing wheels missing the runabout's windshield by no more than five feet.

Kung Chong sat strapped into the rear seat of the ultralight bringing up the rear and gazed with smug satisfaction at the speeding runabout below. He spoke into the transmitter attached to his crash helmet. "We have the boat in sight," he reported.

"Have you commenced your attack?" asked Lo Han from the mobile security vehicle.

"Not yet. The lead plane reports our quarry is not alone."

"As we suspected, there were two of them."

"Not two," said Kung Chong. "More like ten or twelve. The boat appears crowded with old people and young children."

"The devil must have found a family camping along the river and forced them into the boat to act as hostages. Our adversary, it seems, will stop at nothing to preserve his life."

Kung Chong raised a pair of binoculars with one hand and peered at the passengers huddled in the dual cockpits. "I believe we have an unforeseen problem, Lo Han."

"We've had nothing but problems for the past twelve hours. What is it now?"

"I can't be certain, but it appears the occupants of the boat are immigrants."

"Impossible, the only aliens brought ashore are either confined, on their way inland or dead."

"I could be mistaken."

"Let's hope you are," said Lo Han. "Can you fly close enough to identify their nationality?" asked Lo Han.

"For what purpose? For me to eliminate the devil responsible for the destruction of Qin Shang's yacht and the infiltration into the alien holding cells, those who are with him must die too. What difference if they are Chinese or American?"

"You are right, Kung Chong," acknowledged Lo Han. "Do whatever you must to protect the enterprise."

"I shall give orders to launch the attack."

"Be certain there are no spectators in the vicinity."

"The river is clear of recreational craft, and the shorelines are empty of people."

"Very well, but keep a sharp eye. We cannot afford eyewitnesses."

"As you command," said Kung Chong. "But time is running out. If we do not destroy the boat and those in it within the next few minutes, all opportunity will be lost."

"Why didn't he fire?" asked Julia, squinting against the glare from the morning sun on the surface of the river.

"A hitch in their assassination plans. They thought I worked alone. He's reporting to his boss that I'm loaded to the gunwales with passengers."

"How far to Grapevine Bay?"

"A good twelve or thirteen miles."

"Can't we pull onto shore and take cover in the trees and rocks?"