A tall, jovial-looking man with twinkling eyes stepped up to Julia and put his arm around her. The look on his face was one of compassion at seeing the bruised and swollen face with blood caked around the split lips. "Ms. Lee, I'm George Sim-mons."

"Yes, the assistant district director. I spoke to you over the phone from the cabin."

"You don't know how happy we are to see you alive, how grateful for your information."

"Not as happy as I am," she said, wincing with pain as she tried to crack a smile.

"Jack Farrar, the district director, would have greeted you himself, but he's directing the cleanup operation on Orion Lake."

"It's started?"

"Our agents dropped onto the grounds by helicopter eight minutes ago."

"The prisoners inside the building?"

"All alive, but in need of medical care."

"The security guards?"

"Rounded up without a fight. At last report only their head man had yet to be apprehended. But he should be in custody shortly."

Julia turned to Pitt, who was helping the last of the elderly immigrants out of the runabout. "Mr. Simmons, may I introduce Mr. Dirk Pitt of NUMA, who made your raid possible."

Simmons stuck out his hand to Pitt. "Ms. Lee didn't have time to fill me in on the details, Mr. Pitt, but I gather that you pulled off a remarkable achievement."

"They call it being hi the right place at the right time," said Pitt, gripping the INS agent's hand.

"Seems to me it was more like the right man being where it counts most," said Simmons. "If you don't mind, I'd like a report of your activities over the past two days."

Pitt nodded and then pointed at the Chinese who were being herded by the other INS agents to a waiting bus at the end of the dock. "These people have gone through the worst ordeal imaginable. I hope they'll be treated in a humane manner."

"I can safely say, Mr. Pitt, they will be given every consideration."

"Thank you, Mr. Simmons. I appreciate your concern."

Simmons nodded at Julia. "If you feel up to it, Ms. Lee, my boss would like your presence at the retreat to assist as a translator."

"I think I can stay awake a little longer," she said stoutly. She turned and looked up at Pitt, who stood beside her. "I guess this is good-bye." He grinned. "I'm sorry I proved to be a lousy date."

She ignored the pain and smiled. "I can't say it was romantic, but it was exciting."

"I promise to show more savoir faire the next time."

"Are you going back to Washington?"

"I haven't received my marching orders yet," he replied, "but I suspect they came with my pals, Giordino and Gunn. And you? Where will the needs of the service send you?"

"My home office is in San Francisco. I assume that's where they'll want me."