r； but with a terrible screech of grinding steel the bow of the Amy Bigalow rose up from the gaping wound until her barnacled keel was exposed。 She hung there for an instant； and then dropped； crushing the frigate in two and pile…driving the stern section out of sight beneath the surface。
Instantly； the sea poured into the amputated stern； sweeping through the twisted bulkheads and flooding the open partments。 As the cataract surged into the doomed frigate's hull she quickly began to settle astern。 Her dying agony did not last long。 By the time the Ozero Zaysan was towed over the collision site； she was gone； leaving a pitiful few of her crew struggling in the water。
〃You walked into a trap？〃 Velikov's voice came flat and hard over the phone。
Borchev felt unfortable。 He couldn't very well admit that he was one of the only three survivors out of forty and lacked even a scratch。 〃An unknown force of at least two hundred Cubans opened fire with heavy equipment before we could evacuate the trucks。〃
〃You certain they were Cubans？〃
〃Who else could have planned and carried it out？ Their manding officer was wearing a Cuban Army uniform。〃
〃Perez？〃
〃Can't say。 We'll need time to make an identification。〃
〃Might have been a blunder by green troops who opened fire out of stupidity or panic。〃
〃They were far from stupid。 I can recognize highly trained bat troops when I see them。 They knew we were ing and laid a well prepared ambush。〃
Velikov's face went pletely blank and then quickly reddened。 The assault on Cayo Santa Maria passed before his eyes。 He could scarcely contain his rage。 〃What was their objective？〃
〃A delaying action to take possession of the ships。〃
Borchev's answer staggered Velikov。 He felt as if his body had turned to ice。 The questions came spilling out of his mouth。 〃The Rum and Cola operation ships were seized？ Are they still moored to their docks？〃
〃No； a tugboat towed off the Ozero Zaysan。 The Amy Bigalow steamed clear under her own power。 I lost sight of them after they rounded the point。 A little later I heard what sounded like naval gunfire near the entrance channel。〃
Velikov had heard the rumble of heavy guns too。 He stared at a blank wall with unbelieving eyes； trying to envision the circle of men dogging his intricately planned operations。 He refused to believe that intelligence units loyal to Castro had the knowledge and expertise。 Only the long arm of the Americans and their Central Intelligence Agency could have destroyed Cayo Santa Maria and wrecked his scheme to terminate the Castro regime。 Only one individual could have been responsible for the leak of information。
Dirk Pitt。
A deep look of concentration tensed Velikov's face。 The mud was clearing from the water。 He knew what he had to do in the little time left。
〃Are the ships still in the harbor？〃 he demanded of Borchev。
〃If they were trying to escape to the sea； I'd put them somewhere in the Entrada Channel。〃
〃Find Admiral Chekoldin and tell him I want those ships stopped and headed back to the inner harbor。〃
〃I thought all Soviet naval ships have stood out to sea。〃
〃The admiral and his flagship aren't due to depart until eight o'clock。 Don't use the telephone。 Convey my request in person and stress the urgency。〃
Before Borchev could reply； Velikov threw down the receiver and rushed to the main entrance of the embassy； ignoring the busy staff preparing for evacuation。 He ran outside to the embassy limousine and shoved aside the chauffeur； who was standing by to drive the Soviet ambassador to safety。
He turned the ignition key and threw the transmission into drive the instant the engine fired。 The rear wheels spun and shrieked furiously as the car leaped out of the embassy courtyard into the streets。
Two blocks later Velikov was stopped dead。
A military roadblock barred his way。 Two armored cars and a pany of Cuban soldiers stretched across the broad boulevard。 An officer stepped up to the car and shone a flashlight in the window。
〃May I see your identification papers； please？〃
〃I am General Peter Velikov； attached to the Soviet Military Mission。 I'm in a great hurry to reach Colonel General Kolchak's headquarters。 Stand aside and let me pass。〃
The officer studied Velikov's face for a moment as if satisfying himself。 He switched off the flashlight and motioned for two of his men to enter the backseat。 Then he came around and climbed into the front passenger's seat。
〃We've been waiting for you； General；〃 he said in a cold but courteous tone。 〃Please follow my directions and turn left at the next cross street。〃
Pitt stood； feet slightly apart； both hands on the helm； his craggy face thrust forward； as he watched the lighthouse at the harbor entrance slip past with terrible slowness。 His whole mind and body； every nerve was concentrated on moving the ship as far away from the populated city as possible before the ammonium nitrate was detonated。
The water turned from gray…green to emerald and the ship started to roll slightly as it plowed into the swells marching in from the sea。 The Amy Bigalow was taking in water through her ripped bow plates； but she still answered her helm and chased after the tailing wake of the tugboat。
His whole body ached from exhaustion。 He drove himself on with sheer willpower。 The blood from the cuts he received from the blast of the frigate's guns had hardened into dark red streaks down his face。 He was oblivious to the sweat and the clothes sticking to his body。
He closed his eyes for a moment and wished he was back in his hangar apartment with a Bombay gin martini； sitting in a steaming shower。 God； he was tired。
A sudden gust of wind blew in through the shattered bridge windows and he opened his eyes again。 He studied the shorelines both port and starboard。 The hidden gun emplacements around the harbor remained silent and there were still no signs of aircraft or patrol vessels。 Despite the battle with the naval frigate no alarm had been given。 The confusion and lack of intelligence among the Cuban military security forces were working in their favor。
The still sleeping city lingered behind as if tied to the trailing ship's stern。 The sun was up now and the convoy in naked view up and down the coast。
A few more minutes； a few more minutes； he said in his mind over and over。
Velikov was ordered to stop on a quiet corner near Cathedral Square in old Havana。 He was led into a shabby building with dusty and cracked windows； past glass cases displaying faded posters of 1940s movie stars staring at the camera while seated at the bar inside。
A one…time watering hole patronized by wealthy American celebrities； Sloppy Joe's was now only a dingy hole in the wall； long forgotten except by an elderly few。 Four people were seated off to one side of the tarnished and neglected bar。
The interior was dark and smelled of disinfectant and decay。 Velikov didn't recognize his hosts until he was halfway across the unswept floor。 Then he stopped short and stared unbelieving； a sudden nausea growing within him。
Jessie LeBaron was sitting between a strange fat man and Raul Castro。 The fourth party stared back ominously。
〃Good morning； General；〃 said Fidel Castro。 〃I'm happy you could join us。〃
Pitt's ears picked up the drone of an aircraft。 He released his hold on the wheel and stepped to the door of the bridge wing。
A pair of helicopter gunships were beating along the shore from the north。 His gaze swung back to the harbor entrance。 A gray warship was charging through the channel at full speed； throwing up a big bow wave。 A Soviet destroyer this time； pencil…thin； forward guns trained on the creeping； defenseless death ships。 The chase that nobody could win was on。
Jack stepped out onto the deck of the tugboat and looked up at the broken； twisted wreck of the Amy Bigalow's bridge。 He marveled that anyone was still alive and manning the helm。 He made a gesture to his ear and waited until a hand waved back in understanding。 He watched as a crewman hurried to the freighter's stern and gave the same signal to Moe on board the Ozero Zaysan。 Then he returned inside and called out on the radio。
〃This is Pisto。 Do you read？ Over。〃
〃Loud and clear；〃 replied Pitt。
〃I've got you；〃 Moe added。
〃This is as good a time as any to tie your helms and abandon ship；〃 said Jack。
〃Good riddance；〃 Moe snorted。 〃Let these hell buckets go up by themselves。〃
〃We'll leave our engines running at full ahead；〃 said Pitt。 〃What about the Pisto？〃
〃I'll man her a few more minutes to make sure the ships don't circle back to shore；〃 replied Jack。
〃Better not be late。 Castro's boys are ing through the slot。〃
〃I see them；〃 said Jack。 〃Good luck。 Out。〃
Pitt locked the helm in the Dead Ahead position and called up Manny。 The tough chief engineer needed no urging。 He and his men were swinging the ship's motor launch out in its davits three minutes later。 They scrambled aboard and were beginning to lower it when Pitt jumped over