“I know what’s going through your mind,” he said gently. “You’re wondering what life would be like with an unemployed presidential press secretary, right? Well, rest your fears. I have it on good authority the party leaders want me to run for senator from my home state in the next election.”

“In that case,” she said resolutely, “the ayes have it.”

Sawyer did not see the uneasiness in Loren’s eyes. He took her head in his hands and gently kissed her on the lips. The room seemed to blur and the female scent that emanated from her body closed over him. He felt strangely at peace as he buried his face in her breasts.

Afterward, when Sawyer lay spent and asleep, Loren’s tears stained the pillow. She had tried desperately, with all her soul. She had loved hard; even forcing the expected animal sounds from her throat. But nothing worked. Throughout their violent lovemaking she found herself comparing Sawyer to Pitt. There was no way of logically explaining the difference. They both felt the same inside her, and yet Pitt turned her into a savage, demanding animal, whereas Sawyer left her empty and unfulfilled.

She pressed the pillow against her face to muffle the sobs. Damn you, Dirk Pitt, she said silently. Damn you to hell!

“I’m not sure whose story comes off the craziest, Pitt said, “yours or mine.”

No Return Ticket I 209

Jarvis shrugged. “Who can say. The horror is that it’s just possible your Quick Death warheads and my Operation Wild Rose might prove a match.”

“An attack on a major coastal city with a battleship by South African blacks posing as terrorists of the AAR. It’s lunacy.”

“Wrong,” said Jarvis. “The plan smacks of genius. A few bombs placed here or there, or another skyjacking, would hardly move an entire nation to see red. But an old battleship with flags flying, raining explosives on a helpless population, that’s sensationalism at its best.”

“What city?”

“None was specified. That part of the plan remains a mystery.”

“Fortunately, the prime ingredient is missing.”

“A battleship,” Jarvis said.

“You said they’ve all been removed from active status.”

“The last one was sold for scrap months ago. All the rest are nonopera-tional memorials.”

Pitt stared off into space for a moment. “I recall seeing a capital ship docked on an inlet in Chesapeake Bay only a few weeks ago.”

“More than likely a heavy-missile cruiser,” said Jarvis.

“No, I’m certain it had three massive gun turrets,” Pitt said firmly. “I was on a flight to Savannah and the plane flew right over it before turning south.”

Jarvis remained unconvinced. “I have no reason to doubt the accuracy of my information; however, in the interest of security, I’ll have your sighting checked out.”