“That's no way to treat our guests,” Barker said. Turning to Joe, he said, “You're Mr. Zavala, I presume?”

Zavala's mouth turned up slightly at the ends, and the softness of his dark brown eyes couldn't disguise the contempt in his voice. “And you're Dr. Barker, the mad scientist, I presume. Kurt has told me a lot about you.”

“All good, I'm sure,” Barker said. He seemed amused as he glanced back to Austin. “Are you gentlemen on your way to a cos- tume ball?”

"Yes, as a matter of fact. If you don't mind, we'll be on our way/ Austin said.

“Don't run off so soon. You just got here.”

“If you insist. We'd like to lower our hands, if you don't mind.” “Go right ahead, but don't give my men an excuse to kill you on the spot.”

“Thanks for the warning.” Austin glanced around. “How did you know we were aboard, hidden surveillance cameras?”

“Nothing so sophisticated in this old relic. Purely as a safety meas- ure, we installed sensors around the ship. A light in the control cabin indicated a change in air temperature in the starboard engine- maintenance room. When we went to investigate, we found the hatch open. We thought it was an accident until we noticed that the coats were missing.”

“How careless of us.” “It's the kind of carelessness that can get you killed. That was a dangerous way to come aboard. If you wanted a tour, we would have been glad to accommodate you.”

“Maybe next time.”

“There won't be a next time.” Barker stepped forward and re- moved his sunglasses, revealing the pale eyes Austin had first seen at the Smithsonian reception. The irises were almost as white as the rest of his eyes and reminded Austin of a venomous snake he had once seen. “You and NUMA have caused me a great deal of trouble,” Barker said.

“Your troubles are just beginning,” Austin said.

“Brave words for someone in your position. But not unexpected. Umealiq was disappointed when you foiled his plans for you in Washington.”

“Umealiq?” said Zavala, who was hearing the name for the first time.

“That's Scarface's real name,” Austin said. “It supposedly means 'stone lance.' ”

Zavala's lips curled in a slight smile.

“You find something humorous in the situation?” Barker said. “That's funny,” Zavala said. “I thought it was Kiolyan for 'seal ma- nure/ ”

Scarface's hand went to the ivory knife at his belt, and he took a step forward. Barker stopped him with an outstretched arm. He gazed thoughtfully at the NUMA men.

“What do you know about the Kiolya?”

“I know that the Inuit consider you to be the scum of the Arctic,” Austin said.

Barker's bloodless face flushed scarlet. “The Inuit are in no posi- tion to judge. They have let the world think that the people of the north are nothing but a bunch of blubber-chewing caricatures who run around in furs and live in ice houses.”