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Pitt set off toward the carts； followed by Giordino； who could not tear his eyes from the ships。 〃This place is too vast to cover on foot；〃 said Pitt。 〃Me； I'd rather ride。〃
The battery…operated carts looked to be available to any worker who wanted to requisition one。 Several were parked around a large charging unit； cords running to sockets beneath the front seats。 Pitt pulled the plug on the first one in line。 Throwing the electrical spools and paint cans in the rear cargo bed of the cart； they climbed onto the front seat。 Pitt turned the ignition key and set off as though it were a procedure he had executed at the yard for years。
They drove past a long string of warehouses until they came to the tall building that held the shipyard offices。 The entrance of the second dock extended from the road along the shore。 The second floating leviathan that was moored alongside had a more austere appearance than the one that was expected to carry its residents into a new world。 This vessel was designed to carry agricultural cargo。 Various species of trees and shrubbery were hauled aboard in big trailers that were pulled up wide cargo ramps into the hull。 Hundreds of long cylindrical containers； labeled 〃Plant Seed；〃 were stacked on the dock waiting to be loaded aboard。 A long convoy of farm equipment； trucks and tractors of different sizes； harvest bines； plows； and every other piece of machinery imaginable was driven inside the cavernous hull。
〃These people mean to launch a new world order on a grand scale；〃 Pitt said； still trying to absorb the immensity of it all。
〃What do you want to bet one of the other ships is carrying two of every kind of animal？〃
〃I won't bet；〃 Pitt replied curtly。 〃I just hope they had the foresight to leave the flies； mosquitoes； and venomous reptiles behind。〃
Giordino spread his lips to make some suitable eback； thought better of it； and stepped out of the cart； as Pitt parked it beside the steps leading into the modern； glass…walled office building。 Retrieving the electrical cable and paint cans； they walked inside and approached a long counter manned by two security guards。 Giordino flashed his most sociable smile and spoke softly in Spanish to one of the guards。
The guard simply nodded and threw a thumb in the direction of the elevators。 〃What line did you feed him this time？〃 queried Pitt； as they stepped inside； but not before he peered with one eye around the elevator door and spied one guard pick up a phone and speak excitedly。 Then he stepped back and the doors closed。
〃I said we were ordered by one of the Wolfs to make electrical repairs behind a wall in the penthouse suite on the tenth floor； then mend and repaint the wall when we were finished。 He didn't give me the least argument。〃
Pitt scanned the elevator for TV cameras but found none。 It's almost as if they have no fear of covert actions； he thought。 Or else they know we're here and have laid a trap。 He might have been whistling in the dark； but he didn't trust the Wolfs as far as he could throw that floating monstrosity outside。 He also sensed that the guards in the lobby had been expecting them。
〃Time for an ingenious scheme；〃 he said。
Giordino looked at him。 〃Plan C？〃
〃We'll stop on the fifth floor to throw off the guards who are probably monitoring our movements。 But we remain inside and send the elevator up to the penthouse； while we climb through the roof and ride up the rest of the way。〃
〃Not half bad；〃 said Giordino； pressing the button to stop the elevator on the fifth floor。
〃Okay；〃 said Pitt。 〃Hold me on your shoulders while I climb through the ceiling。〃 But Pitt made no move。 Though he did not detect the presence of TV cameras； Pitt was dead sure the elevator contained listening devices。 He stood quietly still and grinned darkly at Giordino。
Giordino immediately understood and pulled out his P…10 automatic。 〃Damn； you're heavy；〃 he grunted。
〃Give me your hand and I'll pull you up；〃 Pitt said quietly； as he gripped the old 。45 Colt in his right hand。 Remaining inside the elevator； they stood on opposite sides of the doors and pressed themselves into the corners。
The doors opened； and three guards； wearing identical coveralls； black with matching stocking caps on their heads； rushed inside； handguns drawn； eves staring up at the open maintenance door in the ceiling。 Pitt stuck out his leg and tripped the third man； who fell against the first two； sending them all sprawling in a tangled heap on the floor。 Then he punched the door…close button； waited until they descended several feet； and pressed the red emergency stop button； freezing the elevator between floors。
Giordino had expertly clubbed two of the guards on the head with the butt of his automatic before they could recover； then held the muzzle against the forehead of the third and snarled in Spanish； 〃Drop your gun or go brain…dead。〃
The guard was as tough and coldly efficient as the mercenaries they had encountered in the Pandora Mine。 Pitt tensed； sensing the guard might attempt a lightning move to get in the first shot。 But the man detected the cold look of posure in Pitt's eyes and recognized a deadly threat。 Knowing the slightest flick of his eyes would bring a bullet smashing into his head； he wisely dropped his gun onto the elevator floor； the same model Para…Ordnance that Giordino was pressing between his eyes。
〃You clowns are going nowhere！〃 the guard spat in English。
〃Well； well；〃 said Pitt。 〃What have we here？ Another mercenary hit man like we met in Colorado。 Karl Wolf must pay you guys handsome wages to murder and die for him。〃
〃Give up； pal。 You're the one who's going to die。〃
〃You people have a nasty habit of repeating the same old song。〃 Pitt pointed his old Colt an inch from the guard's left eye until it was lined up to fire across his face。 〃Dr。 O'Connell and her daughter。 Where are they held？〃 Pitt wasn't trying to imitate the rattle of a diamondback； but he gave a pretty good impression of it。 〃Talk or I pull the trigger。 You'll probably live； but you won't have any eyeballs to see with。 Now； then； where are they？〃
Pitt was tough； but he wasn't sadistic。 The look on his twisted face and the malice in his eyes was enough to fool the guard into thinking a madman was about to blow his eyes out。 〃They're confined on one of the great ships。〃
〃Which ship？〃 demanded Pitt。 〃There are four of them。〃
〃I don't know； I swear I don't know。〃
〃He's lying；〃 said Giordino； his tone cold enough to freeze oil。
〃The truth；〃 Pitt said menacingly； 〃or I'll blast both your eyeballs into the far wall。〃 He pulled back the hammer of the Colt and pressed the muzzle against the edge of the guard's right eye in line with the left。
The guard's face did not transform from defiance to pure fright； but still； staring from eyes filled with loathing； he gasped； 〃The Ulrich Wolf' They're being held on the Ulrich Wolf。〃
〃Which ship is that？〃
〃The ship…city that will carry the people of the Fourth Empire to sea after the cataclysm。〃
〃It would take two years to search a shi