"Sure! They don't weigh much. Might have to rig an extension boom. But with all the weight we're saving, even with the j.a.p stuff you're adding on, there'll be plenty of margin for a plane, fuel, spares and such as well!"

"And I guess you just happen to know somebody who'd volunteer to fly it, too?"

"Well . . . sure." Ben grinned.

Letts looked at Adar, then shook his head. "Great idea, Ben, but not you. We need you to train pilots, not go tear-a.s.sing off on your own. Besides, don't forget what Mr. Ellis found. What would we do about that without you?" Ben slumped, but brightened again at the prospect of an expedition to Tjilatj.a.p. Tikker grinned hugely and his tail swished expectantly. "Not you either," said Letts. "As our only other combat-experienced aviator, you'll command Big Sal Big Sal's air wing, or squadron"-he shook his head-"whatever you're going to call it."

"Then who?" Ben and Tikker demanded simultaneously.

"You said Ensign Reynolds is competent to commence independent operations. We'll ask him if he'd like to volunteer."

"This is all very excellent, but this discussion has strayed somewhat," Adar said. "You have convinced me that Walker Walker will be ready. Good. What else must we do? There are other issues at hand." will be ready. Good. What else must we do? There are other issues at hand."

"Well," said Letts, "Big Sal will soon be ready for sea. The new frigates too, as soon as we can fuel 'em. They're finished. We'll put the planes we have on will soon be ready for sea. The new frigates too, as soon as we can fuel 'em. They're finished. We'll put the planes we have on Big Sal Big Sal, and send the fleet off against the Grik. Humfra-Dar Humfra-Dar can then go in the dry dock. We'll send a couple other Homes with the troops we can't put in the frigates. Otherwise, we keep doing what we're doing." He looked around. "Making the tools for them to do the job." can then go in the dry dock. We'll send a couple other Homes with the troops we can't put in the frigates. Otherwise, we keep doing what we're doing." He looked around. "Making the tools for them to do the job."

"Indeed," said Adar, "that is as I hoped. We must push the Grik! Whatever support Captain Reddy requires in the east, Saan-Kakja has promised. Already, ships are leaving Manila to intercept and shadow this Ajax Ajax. We have finally contacted Lieutenant Laumer on Talaud-his transmitter was damaged-and Captain Lelaa's sloop will attempt to intercept Ajax Ajax as well. We have addressed all we seem capable of, yet as well. We have addressed all we seem capable of, yet one one serious issue remains." serious issue remains."

"Ah!" Courtney Bradford declared, speaking at last. He hadn't had anything to add to the military and logistical discussion, but now his turn had come. "I presume you refer to a certain . . . ticklish physical and somewhat spiritual notion?"

"It is not a notion notion!" Adar insisted. "For such a learned creature, you are so very cavalier with the most fundamental laws of things!"

"Physics," Bradford agreed. "And I a.s.sure you Mr. Chairman, I'm not in the least cavalier about that at all! The problem is, as I've so often told you-and not to put too fine a point on it or to intentionally insult you in any way-your understanding of some physical aspects of the world are . . . well . . . wrong." He pointed at the map before them. "According to Captain Reddy's last transmission, Commodore Jenks has at last freely revealed what many of us have long suspected: this Empire of New Britain Isles is centered in a chain we called the Hawaiian Islands! It is quite distant indeed. It is, in fact, according to your, um, mis misunderstanding, quite an impossible place for anyone to be, or even exist. You recognize the world is round, like a cannonball, but since gravity pulls downward downward, you believe we here stand either near or upon the very top of the world! I a.s.sume this tradition is due to our proximity to the equator and the fact that the midday sun pa.s.ses almost directly overhead. On its face, that would seem a most sensible and understandable position. I take it, however, from our discussions and a few old sayings I've heard, that you believe anyone who ventures too distant in any direction will plummet into the void of the heavens!"

"That is a simplistic summation, but essentially correct. Of course, one may venture quite far before that occurs. You have shown me maps of where this Mada-gaaskar lies. You insist it is our ancestral home and I doubt it not. The distance and description are consistent with the Scrolls. Clearly one can exist even that far away, since we once did ourselves. The Grik dwell there still, and in places even more distant. But this . . . Ha-waa-ee . . . It is so far! It is in the Eastern Sea, where monsters even more terrifying than the mountain fish dwell! You cannot lightly ask anyone to venture that far."

"We must, and so will you," Alan Letts said, "because that's where Ajax Ajax is going." is going."

Bradford pondered a moment. "My dear Adar, I know we have asked much of you and your people in matters of faith. We popped in here and, in some ways, stood many things you've always believed upon their heads. I personally apologize for that. Having one's beliefs constantly under a.s.sault is always traumatic, and I do do respect your beliefs even if they are wrong." He cleared his throat, realizing that didn't come out quite how he'd intended. "I shall ask you a rhetorical question. You are of the sea folk. You have wandered far indeed throughout your life. Perhaps, at times, you have even wandered far enough that you feared you were getting, oh, at least a little close to the dropoff point. True?" respect your beliefs even if they are wrong." He cleared his throat, realizing that didn't come out quite how he'd intended. "I shall ask you a rhetorical question. You are of the sea folk. You have wandered far indeed throughout your life. Perhaps, at times, you have even wandered far enough that you feared you were getting, oh, at least a little close to the dropoff point. True?"

"Perhaps," Adar reluctantly agreed. "Once we voyaged around the bottom of the land you call Aus-traalia. I admit I grew somewhat concerned."

"Tell me, as you drew farther south, did you notice anything extraordinary?"

"It . . . was less warm."

"Yes, yes, but what I mean is, did you notice any tendency at all to walk strangely, or lean? Did you feel any sideways pull of gravity at all?" Adar didn't answer, but he seemed frustrated and even a little irritated. "I must point out that we, these other humans and myself, have little better understanding of what gravity is is than you do. We than you do. We have have learned that it works quite well and it is surprisingly consistent wherever one goes, whether here, Australia, or even the other side of the world. No matter where one goes, gravity always pulls downward, toward the center of the world! This, sir, is a fact. When Captain Reddy told you and Keje that he was born and raised on the 'bottom' of the world, he was quite sincere. Most of our American friends are from a land situated on the far side of this globe. I have never been to America, but I can a.s.sure you the Americans have, and they did not have to hang upside down, clinging to their land with their fingers!" He looked thoughtful. "Your beliefs are correct in the respect that the sea returns to the sky, but it does not pour off the side of the world to do it; it evaporates and travels upward, much like the smoke of your pyres carries the souls of your dead to the heavens! It is always dreadfully humid here, but surely you've experienced a day or two in your life when the air seemed less thick, less heavy?" learned that it works quite well and it is surprisingly consistent wherever one goes, whether here, Australia, or even the other side of the world. No matter where one goes, gravity always pulls downward, toward the center of the world! This, sir, is a fact. When Captain Reddy told you and Keje that he was born and raised on the 'bottom' of the world, he was quite sincere. Most of our American friends are from a land situated on the far side of this globe. I have never been to America, but I can a.s.sure you the Americans have, and they did not have to hang upside down, clinging to their land with their fingers!" He looked thoughtful. "Your beliefs are correct in the respect that the sea returns to the sky, but it does not pour off the side of the world to do it; it evaporates and travels upward, much like the smoke of your pyres carries the souls of your dead to the heavens! It is always dreadfully humid here, but surely you've experienced a day or two in your life when the air seemed less thick, less heavy?"

Adar nodded speculatively.

"Then there you have it! That thickness of the air is water being carried into the sky!"

"If this 'gravity' works so well, then why does it not prevent that?" Adar demanded.

Courtney sighed. "It's a long story. I can and certainly will be more than happy to demonstrate the experiments required to prove it to you, but for the moment, I ask only that you trust me-trust us. The ultimate fact remains that, in order to retrieve those who have been taken from us and deal with this . . . situation in the east that threatens to distract us from our bigger business, Captain Reddy will chase them when he arrives. As you have had faith in us before, have faith now; those who go east will not not fall off the world. They"-he looked defiantly around the chamber-" fall off the world. They"-he looked defiantly around the chamber-"we may well face unknown dangers, but falling into the sky is not one of them!" may well face unknown dangers, but falling into the sky is not one of them!"

Achilles arrived in Baalkpan Bay on the very heels of the Strakka, after what must have been a record pa.s.sage. She'd sustained some minor damage, but Matt could find no fault with Jenks's seamanship. Stony stares greeted her arrival and the flag she flew as she steamed into the bay and eased up to the dock. Only when Captain Reddy, the Captain's Guard, and Chack's Marines disembarked was there a marked decrease in the hostile tension. Many people still tried to get at the ship and the people aboard, but the company of the 2nd Marines with Chack was more than sufficient to keep the crowd at bay. arrived in Baalkpan Bay on the very heels of the Strakka, after what must have been a record pa.s.sage. She'd sustained some minor damage, but Matt could find no fault with Jenks's seamanship. Stony stares greeted her arrival and the flag she flew as she steamed into the bay and eased up to the dock. Only when Captain Reddy, the Captain's Guard, and Chack's Marines disembarked was there a marked decrease in the hostile tension. Many people still tried to get at the ship and the people aboard, but the company of the 2nd Marines with Chack was more than sufficient to keep the crowd at bay.

Matt strode to meet Adar, Keje, Letts, and Spanky, flanked by Gray, St.i.tes, O'Casey, and the rest of his personal guard. "It's good to see you, Adar," Matt said, receiving the customary embrace. Keje embraced him as well. "I wish it were under better circ.u.mstances."

"As do I, my friend. I cannot express-"

"Skip it," Matt interrupted. "It's done. Quit beating yourself up. Now we have to decide what we're going to do about it."

"Yes," Adar agreed. "All has been prepared as you have specified. The wood and charcoal have been brought, as you ordered." Adar pointed at a ma.s.sive heap. "That is for Achilles Achilles, I take it?"

"Yeah. Jenks wants to get under way as soon as possible. Can't say I blame him." He looked at Adar, at all the faces present. "And yes, I do trust him. What's weird is, even O'Casey trusts him now. You wouldn't believe the mess they've got at home." He paused. "Or maybe you would. It's sort of like Aryaal and B'mbaado, except it's all mixed-up in one government." He shook his head. "Anyway, that doesn't matter. Jenks might catch them, but I doubt it. He has to try, though, and we might need him." Suddenly, Matt looked at Walker Walker, tied securely to the pier. Her upper works had not yet been repainted, except for a few spots where the weather had allowed the painting of some welds and seams. She looked like a patchwork quilt, but she was whole whole, or mostly so. Smoke rose from two stacks and workers shouted and scrambled over her. A strange-looking gun was being lowered onto her rebuilt and slightly reconfigured aft deckhouse. Her force-draft blower gave the distinct impression she was breathing on her own.

"I didn't believe it," he confessed quietly. For a moment, the hard expression he'd worn melted away. "I couldn't let myself." He looked at Spanky. "Mr. McFarlane, my compliments-and my most heartfelt appreciation."

Spanky looked uncomfortable. "Shucks, Skipper, wasn't just me."

"No, but you're the ramrod. Always have been. Looking at you, I doubt you've slept since those b.a.s.t.a.r.ds took the girls."

Spanky shrugged, glancing down at his stained and filthy self. "Not many have. You're gonna need your ship for this one, Skipper. She's the only thing in the world fast enough to catch them. You've pulled more than one trick out of her hat. I figure she's got plenty more where they came from."

Matt clasped the skinny man's arm. "You bet. How long?"

"Two weeks, Skipper. We'll have her good as new by then. Might be a few quirks-we've basically rebuilt her from the keel up-but that's still a week ahead of schedule."

"I doubt it, if you count the man hours!" Matt chuckled grimly. "Give the guys a little more time off if you can. Don't worry; I'm not going to stop you now!"

Spanky-everyone-grinned relief. They'd been afraid the captain would want to leave immediately. Undoubtedly he did want want to, but he also knew a fully repaired to, but he also knew a fully repaired Walker Walker would catch would catch Ajax Ajax regardless of the head start over the vast distances they were contemplating. One thing bothered Keje, however, and he had to ask. regardless of the head start over the vast distances they were contemplating. One thing bothered Keje, however, and he had to ask.

"What will this Billingsly do with the hostages? He has threatened to kill them if he is hara.s.sed. Might he not do that anyway?"

Matt shook his head. "I don't think so, and neither does Jenks. Taking the princess was his objective. According to your accounts of the events, everybody else he took was basically an accident. If he just wanted Rebecca dead, he could have a.s.sa.s.sinated her many times and just left before anyone got wise." He shook his head. "No, he wants her alive, or this Company he works for does. Probably as a bargaining chip to wring even more power from the governor-emperor. If I know the princess, she's going to be making life miserable for Mr. Billingsly about now. See, not all of Ajax Ajax's crew are Company men. Even her captain is a loyalist, according to Jenks. Billingsly wouldn't dare even clap her in irons without risking an open break with what has to be a very divided crew. I bet that will put the princess in a position to demand decent treatment for the hostages."

"I hope you are right," murmured Adar.

"Me too," Matt admitted.

Jenks joined them, saluting. "Please let me express my most abject apologies," he said sincerely. "If I had only known-"

"You stow it too," Matt interrupted. "Everybody's sorry. Okay. We're all on the same side now, so let's get on with it. What do you need?"

"Very well. Some a.s.sistance loading the fuel aboard my ship would be appreciated. Our victuals should suffice, but a little more couldn't hurt. Also, after observing the healing effects of your wondrous polta paste, I would beg some of that from you as well."

Adar, still eyeing Jenks suspiciously, motioned to one of his staff standing a discreet distance away. "See to it," he commanded.

"How are we fixed for transmitters and receivers?" Matt asked.

Spanky looked around. "I'll have to ask Riggs. Most have been going in the new ships as soon as they finish 'em."

"See if we can spare a set for Commodore Jenks. I want a couple of spares aboard Walker Walker too. I never want to be out of touch again." too. I never want to be out of touch again."

"Who'll operate it?" Spanky asked, referring to the one meant for Achilles Achilles.

"Clancy told me Mr. O'Casey has become fairly proficient. He didn't have much else to do on the voyage out, after all. At least until we transferred him to Dowden Dowden." Matt looked at Jenks, who was staring at his old nemesis.

"Under the circ.u.mstances, I believe that would certainly be acceptable, if Mr. O'Casey-Bates-would be kind enough to agree. In fact, with the discovery that my second officer was one of Billingsly's creatures, I have an opening there as well."

With a strange expression, O'Casey nodded. "Aye, 'twould be . . . interestin' ta sail with ye again, Commodore. On the same side."

Dennis Silva groaned and opened his good eye. He'd actually been awake and alert for some time, but playing possum was a skill he'd learned in China once upon a time, and it had come in handy more than once. When, oh, Chinese gangsters, for example, thought you were down for the count, they were less prepared when you suddenly resurrected yourself and beat them to death with a goofy jade Buddha you didn't know why you had. Life was weird that way, and it always helped to have an edge. He groaned again, making sure the ladies knew he was awake. He hadn't learned much during his possum phase, but he did know everyone was alive, where they were, and that, for the moment, they were alone.

"What hit me?" he grumbled. That was still a mystery. He'd been doing well enough, him and Lawrence, when everything just . . . quit. He knew his head hurt-badly-so something must have conked him. He didn't remember anything else from then, until a short time ago.

"Strange. I would have wagered on 'where am I?' came Sister Audry's voice.

"Wagerin's a sin, Sister," Dennis proclaimed piously. " 'Sides, any fool can tell we're at sea, an' I been in enough brigs to recognize one for what it is, even if I never been in it before."

"The weapon was a bag of musket b.a.l.l.s," Princess Rebecca said, moving quickly to sit beside him where he lay on a pair of moldy blankets. "But the man who hit you was a particularly revolting and traitorous coward named Truelove. He seems to be Billingsly's chief minion." She caressed his forehead and then gingerly inspected his wound. "Healing nicely, at last," she p.r.o.nounced. Silva hadn't yet tried to rise, but he suspected it would be a disorienting procedure.

"Truelove, eh? Big guy? I remember him. Hafta make a point outta returning the favor. I hate leavin' obligations like that undid." He paused, a thoughtful expression on his face. "Knew it had to be a sneak attack. Ol' Abe the newsboy mighta whupped me in a fair fight, but by the time I met him, it wouldn't have been fair. Good fella. Readin' about him's practically what got me in the Navy. Practically."

"You fought splendidly before that coward struck you down!" Rebecca gushed. "Splendidly!"

"Well . . . of course I did! Ol' Larry helped a little, though. Say, how is the little lizardy guy?"

"I okay," came a familiar voice from the gloom.

Sandra Tucker moved into Dennis's field of vision. "Lucky for you, you showed enough sense to keep some polta paste in your shooting bag. Rebecca got it for us. She pretty much has the run of the ship. You probably would have come out of it-you've got a bad concussion, by the way-but we might have lost young Mr. Cook. Before Truelove hit you, he'd evidently fired his last pistol at the boy. The ball took a big hunk out of the top of his shoulder, close to his neck. Not normally a mortal wound, but it became infected quite quickly."

"Well. Yeah, I keep some o' that stuff in there case o' scratches an' such. Be kinda stupid, after all we been through, to die o' some infected scratch. How is the little b.u.g.g.e.r? Abel, right?"

"I'm here, sir," came a weak voice. "I'm well enough. I did what you said. I yelled and ran for help!"

"And was shot for his efforts too, the brave, silly boy!" Rebecca scolded.

"Oh, well. Ever'body gets shot sooner or later in the Navy. Seems like it, anyway. You done good, boy." Silva finally tried to sit up, but it just wasn't going to happen yet. He growled and lay back down. "So," he said, "what's the scam? Why ain't we been rescued?"

"We're hostages," Sandra said simply. "They've threatened to kill us if our forces molest them. For a couple of days, one of our planes came and buzzed around, but we haven't seen it since the storm."

"A couple o' days! A storm! How long have I been out?"

"Several days. I believe you were in a coma."

"Huh. d.a.m.n, no wonder I'm so hungry. Several days on this bucket and we could be anywhere. That's the first thing we gotta figure out: where we are. Then we gotta keep track of our position."

"Why?" Sister Audry asked.

"So we'll know when to get off, of course! If they're keepin' us hostage, our folks won't blow the h.e.l.l outta this tub! Besides, Dennis Silva ain't n.o.body's n.o.body's hostage!" hostage!"

"What's your plan?" Rebecca asked eagerly.

"Ain't got one yet. I just woke up, remember? Gimme a minute or two to figure the angles. So, Miss . . . Lieutenant . . . Minister . . ."

Sandra laughed. "Lieutenant will still do."

"Thanks, ma'am. Lieutenant Tucker says you got the run o' the ship?"

"Essentially," Rebecca replied. "That porcine beast must preserve the fiction he has rescued me me from from you you. No one actually believes it. I spend most of my time down here, after all, but he dares not put me in irons. My behavior is controlled by threats against your well-being."

"You figure there's anybody aboard we can count on?"

"I'm sure of it. There are more Company men aboard Ajax Ajax than any ship that sailed with the squadron, but not all are traitors. Why, even the captain, Captain Rajendra, is a loyal man! He fairly chafes! He does not know what to do, however. Less than half the crew stands with him." than any ship that sailed with the squadron, but not all are traitors. Why, even the captain, Captain Rajendra, is a loyal man! He fairly chafes! He does not know what to do, however. Less than half the crew stands with him."

"The captain himself, eh?" Silva pondered. "Sure you can trust him?"

"Absolutely."

"Then get our position from him. We need maps too. Charts."

"What have you got in mind?" Sandra demanded.

"Well, I'm still conjurin' it up, and me and the boy have a little healin' to do, but it strikes me the last thing we want is to wind up wherever this ship is goin'. Once we're there, there won't be any use for us. There may not be any use for the princess. So somewhere between here and there, we have to switch trains."

CHAPTER 21.

Irvin Laumer's eyes jerked open and he leaped to his feet when he heard the scream. Everyone was exhausted and he'd been taking a short siesta in the shade of a leafy lean-to on the beach. Only an idiot would do such a thing under the standing trees on Talaud Island. It took him an instant to realize the scream had come from the workers near the sub. Sprinting through the loose sand, he yanked the 45 from his holster and jacked a round into the chamber.

"What the h.e.l.l's going on here?" he shouted. The screaming had stopped, but there was still a lot of shouting and confusion around the work site.

"One of the 'Cats was just walking across the gangplank to the boat," Danny Porter said excitedly, "when this jet of water, like a highpressure hose, knocked him off into the water! As soon as he fell in, something . . . got him!"

Irvin looked at him incredulously, then eased a little closer to the basin they'd begun excavating around S-19. There was a lot of water down there, and nothing they could do about it. Some soaked in through the sand and more came in with the tide when the sea was running high. Sometimes the boat actually floated. "What was it?" Irvin asked.

"How the h.e.l.l am I supposed to know?" Danny demanded. "There's all kinds of weird, murdering critters running around on this place! It's a miracle we survived here as long as we did before, and we were idiots to come back to it!" Danny brought his voice under control. "And if that ain't enough, we've got that that thing scaring the water out of everybody!" He pointed at the mist-shrouded volcano in the distance. When they'd been marooned on Talaud Island, the volcano occasionally rumbled and made the ground shake, but for the past few weeks, it had been venting almost constantly. Sometimes it belched heavy clouds of ash that settled on them and got into everything when the wind was right. Sometimes it just made creepy noises. A time or two, they'd had spectacular light shows in the middle of the night. n.o.body in their group really knew squat about volcanoes, aside from a few historical accounts, but the overwhelming consensus was that the Talaud volcano was building up to something big. thing scaring the water out of everybody!" He pointed at the mist-shrouded volcano in the distance. When they'd been marooned on Talaud Island, the volcano occasionally rumbled and made the ground shake, but for the past few weeks, it had been venting almost constantly. Sometimes it belched heavy clouds of ash that settled on them and got into everything when the wind was right. Sometimes it just made creepy noises. A time or two, they'd had spectacular light shows in the middle of the night. n.o.body in their group really knew squat about volcanoes, aside from a few historical accounts, but the overwhelming consensus was that the Talaud volcano was building up to something big.

The problem was, they were stuck there-marooned again, in a sense. Simms Simms's consort had been little more than a freighter, and once she'd off-loaded the equipment, machinery, fuel oil for the steam boiler, and the hopefully required diesel, she'd sailed for Manila for more supplies. Simms Simms had remained, lending her crew to the labor and as a safety measure in case, for any reason, they had to abandon the expedition. But even had remained, lending her crew to the labor and as a safety measure in case, for any reason, they had to abandon the expedition. But even Simms Simms and Captain Lelaa were gone now. They'd sailed two days before to rendezvous with a little squadron of feluccas led by Saan-Kakja's brother to intercept and at least pinpoint and Captain Lelaa were gone now. They'd sailed two days before to rendezvous with a little squadron of feluccas led by Saan-Kakja's brother to intercept and at least pinpoint Ajax Ajax's position.

Irvin understood why Lelaa had to go, but it left him and his crew in a pickle. Simms Simms had taken the newly repaired transmitter, and the set on the boat was irreparable. Tex was trying to build another set like Riggs's design from the parts at hand, but it was slow going. In the meantime, they were at the mercy of all the terrors had taken the newly repaired transmitter, and the set on the boat was irreparable. Tex was trying to build another set like Riggs's design from the parts at hand, but it was slow going. In the meantime, they were at the mercy of all the terrors Walker Walker had once rescued them from-the dangerous predators including the nocturnal tree git-yas, as Flynn had called them, bizarre creatures that looked and acted like a cross between a Grik and a sloth that dropped on unwary prey from above. There were other things, almost ghostly things no one had ever really seen or had a shot at, that could s.n.a.t.c.h a man and run faster than anything ought to be capable of. Then there was the mountain, of course. Now . . . had once rescued them from-the dangerous predators including the nocturnal tree git-yas, as Flynn had called them, bizarre creatures that looked and acted like a cross between a Grik and a sloth that dropped on unwary prey from above. There were other things, almost ghostly things no one had ever really seen or had a shot at, that could s.n.a.t.c.h a man and run faster than anything ought to be capable of. Then there was the mountain, of course. Now . . .

"Did anybody get a look at it at all?" Laumer asked of the creature that got the 'Cat.