e shelves..."

'Just thought I'd remind you - in case you were trying to put one over

on me."

'On the contrary. This is a chance for you to look good in front of

your new friends."

'Don't tell me. Let me guess. Jodi wants to try to get back on board

The Lady - and she's going to take Kelso with her."

'Very good. Flushing that sake out of your system has really sharpened

you up."

'Okay. That gets rid of Kelso but how does it benefit us?"

'Jodi is going to swear, hand on heart, that she saw the three of us

caught by a big posse of Mutes while we were on our way back from a

hunting trip. She wasn't spotted because she'd stayed under cover with

Kelso but she had the 'scope on us. We were cut down and stabbed

repeatedly then our naked bodies were carried away slung on poles."

Cadillac and Clearwater exchanged loaded glances.

Sensing there was something going on that he wasn't part of, Steve

tried to feel them out. 'You're probably wondering if Kelso can be

relied upon to corroborate her story. It's not a problem. Since you

left we've been keeping him heavily sedated. He doesn't know what day

it is." He studied their faces but neither was giving anything away.

'So it's down to her. And since she was a trusted member of the crew

for five years..."

'They'll believe her..."

'Sure,' continued Steve. 'When the news gets back to Grand Central,

they'll tell Hartmann to pull out. You can take the credit and

everyone'll be able to go back to sleep again."

Cadillac mulled it over. Brickman had handed him the opportunity he'd

been looking for. The plan began to crystallize in his mind.

'Neat...

I like it."

'Good. 'Cos you're going to have to sell it to those twelve guys over

there. We don't want 'em going apeshit when those planes come in for

the pickup."

'I'm not a total idiot, Brickman."

Steve rolled his tongue around a tart reply then decided to swallow

it.

There would be time enough to nail this grass-monkey to the wall.

When Hartmann came on screen to announce that an eight-figure serial

number had been sighted stamped in the snow one hundred and forty miles

east of their present position, the news was greeted with a spontaneous

cheer. Since the crew had been told they were searching for five

Trackers, everyone was genuinely pleased they'd been found but the real

excitement was generated by the prospect that their successful recovery

would mean an early return home.

Summoned to the saddle, Trail-Boss McDonnell recognized the serial

tapped onto the screen by the RadCommTech who had received the

message.

Hart-mann, who knew there were more to serials than met the eye, had it

run through the computer.

Sure enough, up it came: 2096-5341 KAZAN, JODI, R. MUSTERED ABOARD THE

LADY FROM LOUISIANA, 5 APRIL 2984. PROMOTED FLT.

SEC/LDR 1 MAY 2986. MIA/BELIEVED KILLED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO LAND ON

DURING STORM NEAR NAVREF CASPAR, WYOMING, 12

JUNE 2989. FILEXTRANS ENDS Nobody who was on board at the time was

likely to' forget the 12th of June.

Hartmann had known Jodi was out there since being ordered to change

course at Trinidad but he was genuinely surprised to have been handed a

positive ID and a precise location on a plate just when the search,

after a promising start, had entered a needle-inthe-haystack [hase.

He turned to McDonnell. 'That's incredible..."

'Doesn't surprise me at all, sir. That is one tough hombre." Coming

from the lips of Big D, the term applied regardless of the recipient's

gender - was the ultimate accolade. And one that was rarely

bestowed.

Hartmann turned to the execs and technicians on duty in the saddle.

'Well, there it is, gentleman. Our first contact - and she belongs to

The Lady."

Everybody within earshot gave an exultant yell and punched air.

'YO!"