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〃Another hour and forty minutes to go before Kelly's deadline。〃
〃Don't you think I should be sent in the game now？ You're not leaving me much time to spot the killers 。 。 。 if I can spot them。〃
〃Between my men； the park security staff and agents from the F。B。I there must be close to forty people concentrating every effort on stopping the assassination。 I'm saving you for when we e down to the wire。〃
〃Scraping the bottom of the barrel for a last…ditch attempt。〃 Pitt leaned back and relaxed。 〃I can't say I agree with your tactics。〃
〃You're not working with amateurs； Major。 Every one of those people out there are pros。 Some are dressed in costumes like you； some are walking hand in hand like lovers on a holiday； some are playing the part of families enjoying the rides； others have taken over as attendants。 We even have men stationed on roofs and in the dummy second…story offices with telescopes and binoculars。〃 Kippmann's voice was soft； but it carried total conviction。 〃The killers will be found and stopped before they do their dirty work。 The odds we've stacked against Kelly meeting his goal and deade are staggering。〃
〃Tell that to Oskar Rondheim；〃 Pitt said。 〃There's the flaw that knocks the hell out of your good intentions…you don't know your adversary。〃
The silence lay heavy in the small room。 Kippmann rubbed his palms across his face； then shook his head slowly； as if he were about to do something he intensely disliked。 He picked up the ever…present briefcase and handed Pitt a folder marked simply 078…34。
〃Granted； I haven't met him face to face； but he is no stranger to me。〃 Kippmann read from the folder。
〃'Oskar Rondheim； alias Max Rolland； alias Hugo von Klausen； alias Chatford Marazan； real name Carzo Butera； born in Brooklyn； New York； July 15； 1940。 I could go on for hours about his arrests； his convictions。
He was pretty big along the New York waterfront。 Organized the fishermen's union。 Got muscled out by the syndicate and dropped from sight。 Over the past few years we kept close tabs on Mr。 Rondheim and his albatross industries。 We finally put two and two together and came up with Carzo Butera。〃
A sly grin crept across Pitts face。 〃You've made your point。 It would be interesting to see what your scandal sheet has to say about me。〃
〃I have it right here；〃 Kippmann said； matching Pitts grin。 〃Care to see it？〃
〃No； thanks。 It couldn't tell me anything that I don't already know；〃 Pitt said flatly。 〃I would be interested though in seeing what you have on Kirsti Fyrie。〃
Kippmann's expression went blank and he looked as if he had been shot。 〃I was hoping you wouldn't get around to her。〃
〃You have her file also。〃 It was more statement than question。
〃Yes；〃 Kippmann answered briefly。 He saw there was no way out； no argument that would stand。 He sighed with uneasiness and handed Pitt rUe number 883…57。
Pitt reached out and took the folder。 For ten minutes he examined the contents； leafing very slowly； almost reluctantly from documents to photos； from reports to letters。 Then finally； like a man in a dream； he closed the folder and gave it back to Kippmann。
〃I can't believe it。 It's ridiculous。 I won't believe it。〃
〃I'm afraid what you read is true； all of it。〃 Kippmann's voice was quiet； even。
Pitt pulled the back of his hand across his eyes。
〃Never； never in a thousand years would I have His voice faded away。
〃It threw us out of gear too。 Our first hint came when we could find no trace of her on New Guinea。〃
〃I know。 I'd already pegged her for a phony on that score。〃
〃You knew？ But how？〃
〃When we had dinner together in Reykjavik； I described a recipe that called for shark meat wrapped in a seaweed known as echidna。 Miss Fyrie accepted it。
Rather strange behavior from a missionary who spent years in the jungles of New Guinea； don't you think？〃
〃How the hell should I know。〃 Kippmann shrugged。 〃I don't have the vaguest notion as to what an echidna is。〃
〃An echidna；〃 Pitt said； 〃is an egg…laying spiny anteater。 A mammal very mon to the landscape of New Guinea。〃
〃I can't say I blame her for missing the catch。〃
〃How would you react if I said I was going to barbecue a New York cut steak wrapped in porcupine quills？〃
〃I'd say something。〃
〃You've got the idea。〃
Kippmann stared at Pitt with an admiring look。
〃What put you on to her in the first place？ You wouldn't have tricked her without a nudge； without a suspicious hint。〃
〃Her tan；〃 Pitt answered。 〃It was shallow…not burned deep like one acquired after years and months spent in a tropic jungle。〃
〃You； sir； are very observant；〃 Kippmann murmured thoughtfully。 〃But why 。 。 。 why bother to trip up someone you barely knew？〃
〃Partly for the same reason I'm standing here in this ridiculous wolf suit；〃 Pitt said grimly。 〃I volunteered for your little manhunt for two reasons。 One； I've got a score to even with Rondheim and Kelly； no more； no less。
Second； I'm still Special Projects Director for NUMA； and as such； my primary duty is to obtain the plans for Fyrie's undersea mineral probe。 That's why I conned Kirsti…she knows where the blueprints are hidden。 Boy something I shouldn't have； it gave me a wedge； to her。〃
Kippmann nodded。 〃Now I understand。〃 He sat on a desk and toyed with a letter opener。
I have Kelly and his group in custody； I'll r to you and Admiral Sandecker for quesgood enough；〃 Pitt snapped。 〃If you want my cooperation as an identifying witness； then promise me a few minutes alone with Rondheim…And full and plete custody of Kirsti Fyrie。〃
〃Impossible！〃
〃What does Rondheim's future physical condition mean to you？〃
〃If I turned my back so you could kick him in the teeth； I couldn't let you have Kirsti Fyrie。〃
〃You could；〃 Pitt said positively。 〃Mostly because she isn't yours to give。 If you're lucky； you might pin an acplice charge on her。 But that might strain our relations with Iceland； in event that wouldn't make our State Department exactly jump for joy。〃
〃You're wasting your breath；〃 Kippmann said impatiently。 〃She will be convicted of murder along with all the rest。〃
〃Yours is not to convict； yours is to apprehend and arrest。〃 Kippmann shook his head。 〃You don't understand…〃 He broke off as the door opened wide。 Lazard stood framed in the doorway； his face ashen。
Kippmann stared at him curiously。 〃Dan； what is it？〃 Lazard wiped his brow and slumped into an empty chair。 〃De Croix and Castile have suddenly changed their planned excursion。 They've shaken their escort and disappeared somewhere in the park。 God only knows what can happen before we find them。〃
Frowning； baffled； Kippmann's face expressed a moment of utter unprehension。 〃Christ！〃 he exploded。 〃How could it happen？ How could you lose them with half the federal agents in the state guarding their party？〃
〃There are twenty thousand people out there in the park right this minute；〃 Lazard tone。 〃It doesn't take any great magician to replace two of them。 feat of cleverness to Croix and Castile bitched。 He shrugged helplessly。 〃Deal about our heavy security precautions from the second they stepped through the main gate。 They went to the john together and gave us the slip by ducking out a side window； just like a pair of kids。〃
Pitt stood up。 〃Quickly； do you have their tour and scheduled stops？〃
Lazard stared at him for a moment。 〃Yes； here； each amusement and exhibit and their time schedules。〃 He handed Pitt a Xeroxed sheet of paper。
Pitt rapidly glanced at the schedule。 Then a slow grin cut his face as he turned to Kippmann。 〃You'd better send me into the game； coach。〃y 'Major；〃 Kippmann said unhappily。 〃I have the feeling I'm about to be blackmailed。
〃As they say during campus riots； why won't you meet our demands？〃
The slump of Kippmann's shoulders displayed as sure a sign of defeat as if he'd waved a white flag。 He stared at Pitt。 The eyes that stared back were disconcertingly steady。
Kippmann nodded。 〃Rondheim and Miss Fyrie are yours… They're staying in the Disneyland Hotel across the street。 Adjoining rooms； 605 and 607。〃
〃And Kelly； Marks； Von Hummel and the rest？〃
〃They're all there… Hermit Limited reserved the entire sixth floor。〃 Kippmann rubbed his face unfortably。 〃Just what do you have in mind？〃
〃Rest easy。 Five minutes with Rondheim。 Then You can have him。 Kirsti Fyrie I keep。 Call her a little bonus from the N。I。A。 too。 Kippmann gave up pletely。 〃You win。 Now where are De Croix and Castile？〃
〃The obvious。〃 Pitt smiled at Kippmann and Lazard。
The most obvious place where any two men who passed their childhood near the Spanish Main would head。〃
〃God； you've hit it；〃 Lazard said almost bitterly。
〃The last stop on the schedule…The Pirates of the Caribbean。〃
Next to the cleverly engineered apparitions in the Disneyland Haunted House； The Pirates of the Caribbean is the most popular attraction in the world…famous park。 Constructed on two underground levels that occupy nearly two acres'。 the quarter…of…a…mile boat ride carries awed passengers through a maze of tunnels and vast rooms decorated as roving pirate ships and pillaged seaside towns； manned by almost a hundred lifelike figures that not only match the best of Madame Tussaud's； but who also sing； dance and loot。
Pitt was the last one up the entrance ramp to the landing where the attendants assist the paying customers into the boats at the start of the fifteen…minute excursion。 The fifty or sixty people waiting in line waved to Pitt and made smiling remarks about his costume as he made his way behind Kippmann and Lazard。 He waved back； wondering what the expressions on their faces would be if he were to suddenly whip off his wolf's mask and display his bandaged face。 He could see at least ten small children who would never again want the Three Little Pigs read at bedtime。
Lazard grasped the managing attendant by the arm。 〃Quickly。 you must stop the boats。〃
The attendant； a blond； lanky boy no more than twenty years of age； simply stood there in mute unprehension。
Lazard； obviously a man who disliked wasted conversation； moved hurriedly across the landing to the controls； disengaged the underwater traction chain that pulled the excursion boats； set the handbrake and turned to face the stunned boy again。
〃Two men； two men together； have they taken the ride？〃
〃Don't know for sure； sir。 There 。 。 。 there's been so many。 I can't recall them all…〃 Kippmann stepped in front of Lazard and showed the boy the photographs of Castile and De Croix。 〃Do you recognize these men？〃
The boy's eyes widened。 〃Yes； sir； now I remember。〃 Then a frown spread across his youthful face。
〃But they weren't alone。 There were two other men with them。〃
〃Four！〃 Kippmann shouted； turning about thirty heads。 〃Are you sure？〃
〃Yes； sir。〃 The boy nodded his head violently。
〃I'm positive。 The boat holds eight people。 The first four seats held a man and woman with two kids。 The men in the photographs took the rear seats with two other men。〃
Pitt arrived just then； his breath ing in short pants； his hand clutching the handrail as he fought off the pain and exhaustion。 〃Was one of them a big guy with a bald head； hairy hands？ A…nd the other； red…faced with a huge mustache and shgulders like an ape？〃
The boy stared dumbly for a moment at Pitts disguise。 Then his expression took on a half smile 〃You hit them exactly。 A real pair。 Like tough…looking Mutt and Jeff characters。〃
Pitt turned to Kippmann and Lazard。 〃Gentlemen；〃 he said； his voice slightly muffled under the rubber wolf's head； 〃I think we've just missed our boat。〃
〃For God's sake！〃 Kippmann murmured in exasperation。 〃We can't just stand here。〃
〃No。〃 Lazard shook his head。 〃We can't do that。〃
He nodded at the boy。 〃Call extension 309。 Tell whoever answers that Lazard has relocated the missing party in The Pirates of the Caribbean。 Tell them it's a red situation…the hunters are in there too。〃 He turned back to Kippmann and Pitt。 〃The three of us can work along the catwalks and the backdrops until we reach them； and only hope we're not too late。〃
〃How many boats ago did they board？〃 Pitt asked the boy。