“I can see him quite clearly,” the gray-eyed man said. His silky voice was quiet and cultured, but it had the sullen menace of a rattle- snake. “Who is this person who violated our security so easily?”

“His name is Kurt Austin.” A pause. “The same Austin who rescued the Danish sailors from their sunken ship?”

“Yes, great Toonook. He is a marine engineer with the National Underwater and Marine Agency.”

“Are you certain ? A mere engineer wouldn't have been so bold or resourceful as to penetrate our facility. And why would NUMA be interested in our operation?”

“I don't know, but our watcher has verified his identity.” “And the yacht that picked him up and drove off your men. Is it a NUMA vessel?”

“As far as we know, it is private, of Spanish registry. We're check- ing on the ownership through our sources in Madrid.”

“See that it is done speedily. What is the latest damage report at our facility?”

“One guard dead. We were able to repair the damaged pipes and save the prime specimens.”

“The guard deserved to die for being careless. I want the speci- mens moved to Canada immediately. Our experiments are too vital to be jeopardized.”

“Yes, great Toonook.”

“An idiot can see what has happened. Mr. Austin has somehow drawn a connection between Oceanus and the collision we so con- veniently arranged.”

“That's impossible-”

“The evidence is in front of your eyes, Umealiq. Don't argue with it. You must deal with the situation!”

The pilot tightened his grip on the controls, ready to send the hel- icopter swooping down like an eagle. The cruel eyes watching the monitor screen followed the figure making its way from the fish pier to the parked car. Within seconds, he could launch his rockets or spray the target with flesh-shredding machine-gun fire and obliterate the life of a bothersome man. The thin lips widened in a cruel smile.

“Should we kill Austin while we have him in our sights?”

“Do I detect a yearning to avenge the damage to your precious nose?” The voice had a mocking tone to it. Without waiting for an answer, he said, “I should kill him for the trouble he has caused me. Had he allowed the Danish sailors to die, the revulsion of the world would be directed at SOS and the attention of the press diverted away from Oceanus.”

“I will do it now-”

“AW Don't be impatient. We must not attract any more attention to his demise than necessary.”

"He is staying at an isolated cottage. It would be the perfect place.

We could drop his body off a cliff."

“Thenjw to it. But make it look like an accident. Austin must not be allowed to broadcast his findings to the world. Our plans are at a critical stage.”