"& Dirgo, Craig - Dirk Pitt - Clive Cussler and Dirk Pitt Revealed (b)" - читать интересную книгу автора (Cussler Clive)

Giordino studied the cigars, and his eyes widened as his mouth droppedopen. "My God!" he muttered.

"What is it?" asked Gunn. "You look like you've just seen the VirginMary."

"The cigars," Giordino said vaguely. "They bear the same label asAdmiral Sandecker's private stock. How the hell did he get them?"

He rushed to the window and peered down onto the floor below. He justcaught a glimpse of the gray-haired stranger as he reached the bottom ofthe staircase and melted into the crowd below.

A short, bantam-sized man with a flaming Van Dyke beard stood staring ata 1948 blue Talbot-Lago coupe with elegant bodywork by the French coachbuilder Saoutchik." He seemed lost in thought.

"Fabulous party," said the gray-haired man.

As if his mind were coming out of a fog, Admiral James Sandecker, thefeisty chief director of the National Underwater and Marine Agency,slowly turned.

"I'm sorry. What did you say?"

"A fabulous party."

"Yes, indeed."

"A reunion of sorts, I understand."

Sandecker nodded. "You could call it a twenty-year celebration of NUMAand the people who built it."

"You and Dirk have enjoyed a long and illustrious career."

"We've seen our share of disasters and tragedies."

"But you've achieved some remarkable accomplishments."

"Yes, I must admit the trail has had its enjoyable moments."

"I wish you many more successful achievements in the future."

"I'm not sure I can keep up with the young people any longer," Sandeckersighed.

"You will. You're in better physical condition than most men your age."

"I'm not getting any younger."

"Neither am I," said the stranger. "Neither am I."

"Forgive me," said Sandecker, studying the stranger for the first time.

"But I can't seem to recall your name or where we met."

"We've never met," the gray-haired man said as he motioned to the bar.

"I'm going to freshen my drink.