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we can. From there, they'll be transported to a unit specializing in nuclear medicine." |
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Marina Suslova sat up straighter, her mind made up. This whole affair was more than she had bargained for. Had Kondratiev sent her here to her death? She would do her best to carry out his wishes, but she must be on that press plane leaving at 0600 tomorrow. |
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What was happening in Moscow? She was afraid to ask the Western reporters for fear they would wonder why she didn't know, and she couldn't ask the Russians. Damn Kondratiev, damn them all, what had gone wrong? A deep anger stirred in her. She felt sweaty, uncomfortable, and pushed her hair away from her damp forehead with both hands. Was she too warm, or was it fear? |
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The audience had grown increasingly restless with the end of the briefing, gathering in small groups, comparing notes. One of the reporters asked Commander Hebert, "When are the divers expected?" |
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She raised her voice to be heard by all. "The divers arrive at 2130 hours. Weather permitting." |
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"Fuck the weather," murmured Ave Peters. He was right, of course, Morgan thought. The diving teams were being flown in on a Starlifter, an aircraft already shown to be far too large for the primitive steel mesh strip. And the plane was comingand would landregardless of the weather. The warhead in the bay offered no options. |
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Major Harris took over from Commander Hebert, thanking her for "a superb job of briefing us all." She nodded with relief and headed for the table in the comer holding a giant coffee urn and stacks of paper cups. |
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Harris said over the din, "Please, please, ladies and gentlemen, I realize we are all concerned about the arrival of the diving teams, but Ops informs me that the Starlifter is on time and not encountering too much bad weather. But this is the Northwest Territories, after all. I suggest you television people set up now at the airstrip. You will want good photos of the |
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