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Page 380
people who will be diving tomorrow."
Anna, who had been refusing any interviews, sat slouched in her chair behind her three companions until the noisy group of reporters and technicians had pushed their way out of the hut. To Morgan's surprise, Arkady Karmann stayed as well. When their little group walked out, he went with them, saying, "I think I try to sleep for few hours." He raised his steel hook in mock salute. "Mrs. Neville, gentlemen," he said politely, and strode off.
Ave Peters said, "You know, they call the hotdog stand in the middle of the Pentagon's courtyard Ground Zero. Always gets a big laugh when you show it to the tourists. It doesn't strike me so funny tonight, somehow." He sighed. "Well, three's a crowd. See you first light." He waited a moment, then followed Karmann.
Morgan and Anna stood in the icy wind, looking at the northern stars.
"So beautiful," Anna whispered. "So cold. So close."
Morgan put his arms around her and held her, feeling the warmth of her body under the heavy parka she wore.
She asked, "Do you need to meet the aircraft coming with the divers?"
Morgan shook his head.
Anna said, "They gave me a tent to myself. Come."
They undressed quickly and stood in the half-light that shone through the Dacron fabric of the tent. In spite of the biting cold Morgan held Anna by the shoulders and said, "Wait. Let me look at you." As if it were for the last time, he thought.
She stood with her hands at her sides, her face lifted to his. He ran his hands down her flanks. He could feel the ribs under her skin, the flare of her hips, the soft, fleshy curve of her buttocks and thighs. He drew her against him, feeling the soft breasts of a mature woman against his skin. Such a human thing, lovemaking, he thought. When we are most threatened,

 
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