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

"No NUMA team headed by Dirk Pitt found the Waratah that I'm aware of,"said Yaeger.

"Not Pitt's NUMA," said the intruder slowly.

"My NUMA."

"Right," Yaeger said sarcastically. He refocused his attention on themonitor, intending to read the information on the mystery ship as he haddocumented it.

But when he twisted around to correct the stranger, the man haddisappeared.

Yaeger stood and glanced around outside the aircraft, but his visitorwas nowhere to be found. "Nuttier than a fruitcake," he muttered underhis breath.

"Next he'll claim he found the Confederate submarine Hunley." Thestranger climbed the circular staircase to the apartment that rose farabove the hangar floor. He entered and made his way unerringly throughthe unique nautical furnishings into the kitchen. A small man whopeered from owlish eyes through horn-rim glasses was hunched over alarge glass dish he was filling with homemade saisa spooned from amixing bowl. A short man with curly black hair who was built like abeer keg stood over a stove, pan-frying a hamburger.

The intruder nodded at the well-done hamburger and said, "Does St.Julien know about this blasphemy?"

"My friend and I prefer something a little more gluttonous than thosefancy tidbits from St. Julien's highfalutin chef," said Albert Giordinowithout turning from the stove.

Ruth Gunn offered a bag of tortilla chips and held out the bowl of salsato the stranger. "Help yourself."

Between bites, his eyes watering from the abundance of chili peppers,the stranger said, "You two have known Dirk a long time."

"He and I go back to grammar school," said Albert Giordino, flipping thehamburger between two buns loaded with salsa.

"Al, Dirk and I were the first employees Admiral Sandecker hired when hebecame director of NUMA," Gunn said as he swished beer around in hismouth to reduce the heat. "We've been as close as bricks ever since."

"You've experienced many arduous adventures together."

"Tell me." Giordino grinned. "I've got the bruises and broken bones toprove it."

"You have enormous respect for him, don't you?"

"Dirk has carried us through some hairy times," said Gunn. "He neverfails to deliver. He's a man who can be trusted by men and womenalike."

"I'd follow him to hell," said Giordino. "Come to think of it, Ialready have."

"Your warm friendship is to be admired," said the gray-haired man.

Giordino stared into the stranger's eyes. "Don't I know you fromsomewhere?"

"Actually, you and I met twice."

"When and where?"

"No matter." The stranger waved a hand airily. "Iwanted to stop up here and find you, Mr. Giordino, because I understandyou fancy a fine cigar now and then."

"That I do."

Reaching into his breast pocket, the stranger produced a pair of largecigars and handed them to Giordino. Then, with a curt nod, he exitedthe kitchen and moved down the stairs.