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The wave tore Butera's grip fro his body against the wheelhouse bulkhead He lay there totally sub for air, his brain sluggishly taking strength froines that transh the deck When the water finally drained away, he struggled to his feet and retched his stomach empty

He clawed his way back into the safety of the wheelhouse Butera, his senses stunned by the reat black apparition that was the Titanic slide by astern until she disappeared again in the shroud of hipped rain

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"Leave it to Dirk Pitt to pick up a da a hurricane," Sandecker said "What's your secret?"

"The Pitt curse," Pitt answered, as he tenderly bandaged the swelling on Dana's head "Women are forever attracted to me under impossible circumstances when I'm in no mood to respond"

Dana began to moan softly

"She's co around," Gunn said He was on his knees next to a cot they had wedged between the gymnasium's old exercise equip

Pitt covered her with a blanket "She suffered a nasty tap, but herworse than a concussion"

"How did she coht she was babysitting the news people on board the Alhambra "

"She was," Admiral Sandecker said "Several television network correspondents requested permission to cover the Titanic's haul to New York froave authorization on the condition that Dana accompany them"

"I ferried theram disembark when I landed on the Capricorn It's anoticed"

"Yeah, a mystery," Woodson repeated caustically "Don't you bother checking your cargo cohts?"

"I'is snapped back He looked as though he was about to hit Woodson He glanced at Pitt and wasstare Then, with a visible effort, he reined in his e that bird out there steady for twenty hours straight I was tired I easily convinced o-compartment check because I was certain it was eram would sneak on board?"

Gunn shook his head "Why did she do it? Why would she?"

"I don't knohyhow the hell should I?" Sturgis said "Suppose you tell h my rotor blades, wrapped herself up in a tarpaulin, and then clouted herself on the head? Not necessarily in that order"