Free The Pharaoh's Secret by Clive Cussler Page A

Sandecker immediately dialed thecommunications officer. “Get me in touch with NUMA headquarters.”
    It took only seconds for the transfer to go through and in short order Sandecker was speaking with Rudi Gunn, who was NUMA’s Assistant Director.
    â€œRudi, this is Sandecker,” he said. “I understand we’re involved with an incident in the Mediterranean.”
    â€œThat’s correct,” Rudi said.
    â€œIs it Dirk?”
    Dirk Pitt was now NUMA’s Director, but during Sandecker’s term as Director Pitt had been his number one asset. Even now, he spent more time in the field than the office.
    â€œNo,” Rudi said, “Dirk’s in South America on another project. It’s Austin and Zavala this time.”
    â€œIf it’s not one, it’s the other,” Sandecker lamented. “Give me the details as you know them.”
    Rudi explained what they knew and what they didn’t and then indicated he’d already had a conversation with a ranking officer in the Italian Coast Guard and the director of one of the Italian intelligence agencies. Other than that, he had little to go on.
    â€œI haven’t heard from Kurt or Joe either,” Rudi admitted. “The captain of the
Sea Dragon
said they went ashore hours ago. Nothing since then.”
    Another man might have wondered why two men would be crazy enough to enter a toxic zone with only makeshift protective gear, but Sandecker had recruited Austin and Zavala precisely because that’s the kind of men they were. “If anyone knows how to take care of themselves, it’s those two,” he said.
    â€œAgreed,” Rudi said. “I’ll keep you posted, if you’d like, Mr. Vice President.”
    â€œI’d appreciate that,” Sandecker said as the engines started towind up. “Looks like we’re moving here. When you speak to Kurt and Joe, tell them I’m heading that way, and if they don’t get themselves squared away double-quick, I may have to check in on them myself.”
    It was all in jest, of course, but it was the kind of subtle boost Sandecker had always been great at providing.
    â€œI’ll tell them, Mr. Vice President.” The tone in Rudi’s voice was noticeably more positive than it had been at first.
    Sandecker hung up as the plane swung onto the runway and began to accelerate with its engines roaring. A mile and a half later, the nose came up and Air Force Two lifted off, beginning its long journey to Rome. As it climbed up, Sandecker sat back in his seat, wondering for quite a while just what Kurt and Joe had stumbled upon. He never imagined that he’d find out the answer in person.

11
    Hospital Ship
Natal
    Mediterranean Sea
    Kurt, Joe and the other survivors from Lampedusa sat in the open air on the deck of an Italian supply ship with a big red cross on its funnel. They’d been evacuated by soldiers in full chemical gear, loaded aboard military helicopters and flown east. The operation went smoothly. The most difficult part was prying Joe off the MRI scanner, but as the metallic sections of his gear were cut away, they were able to pull him free.
    After decontamination showers and a battery of medical tests, they were given new clothes in the form of spare military uniforms, put out on deck and offered the best espresso Kurt could remember drinking.
    After a second cup, he found he literally could not sit still.
    â€œYou’ve got that look in your eye,” Joe said.
    â€œSomething’s bugging me.”
    â€œIt’s probably the caffeine,” Joe said. “You’ve had enough to give an elephant the jitters.”
    Kurt glanced down at his empty cup and then back up at Joe. “Take a look around,” he said. “Tell me what you see.”
    â€œNothing better to do,” Joe replied. He glanced in every direction. “Blue skies, shimmering water. People happy to be alive. Though I’m sure