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They pulled onto the Santa Ana Freeway and headed north； weaving in and out of the light morning traffic。 As they passed the Newport Beach tumor； Pitt couldn't help wondering if the beautiful redhead he had met on the beach just a few days ago would still be there waiting at the New ' Porter Inn。
Kippmann produced two photographs and shoved them in front of Pitt。 〃Here are the men we're trying to save。〃
Pitt tapped the face in one of the photos。 〃This is Pablo Castile； President of the Dominican Republic。〃
Kippmann nodded。 〃A brilliant economist and one of the leading members of the Latin American right Since his inauguration he has begun an ambitious program of reforms。 For the first time the people of his country are projecting an atmosphere of confidence and optimism。 Our state department would hate like hell to see Kelly screw things ut） just when there's hope of the Dominican Republic being economically stable。〃
Pitt held up the other photo。 〃I can't place him。〃
Juan De Croix；〃 Kippmann said。 〃A highly successful doctor of East Indian ancestry。 Leader of the People's Progressive Party…won the election only six months ago； Now President of French Guiana。〃
〃If I remember my current events； he's got problems。〃
〃He's got problems； all right；〃 Kippmann agreed。
〃French Guiana is less prosperous than the British or Dutch Guianas。 A movement for independence developed five years ago； but it was only under the threat of a revolution that the French permitted a new constitution and a general election。 De Croix； of course； walked off with the votes and oroclaimed total independence。
He's got an uphill battle。 His country suffers from tropical diseases of every type and from chronic shortages of domestic food。 I don't envy him； no one does。〃
〃De Croix's government is vulnerable；〃 …aid Pitt thoughtfully。 〃But what of Catde's cabinet； aren't his ministers strong enough to survive his death？〃
〃With the people； maybe。 But the Dominican army isn't too faithful。 A military junta would no doubt take over； except in this case Kelly has obviously bought off the generals。〃
〃How is it both of these men are at the same place at the same time？〃
〃If you'd read the papers； you'd know the leaders of the Western Hemisphere have just finished a conference in San Francisco for the Alliance of Economic and Agricultural Progress。 De Croix； Castile and several other Latin leaders are doing a little sightseeing on the way home。 it's that simple。〃
Why didn't you stop them from entering the park？
〃I tried； but by the time our internal security forces could act； it was too late。 De Croix and Castile have already been in the park for two hours and both refuse to leave。 We can only keep our fingers crossed that Rondheim's killers stick to their time schedule。〃
〃Cutting it a bit fine； aren't you？〃 Pitt said slowly。
Kippmann shrugged indifferently。 〃Some things YOU can Control； others you can only stand by and watch。〃
The car turned off the freeway onto Harbor Boulevard and soon pulled up to the employees' gate； and while the driver showed his credentials and asked directions from the guard； Pitt leaned out the window and watched the monorail train pass overhead。 they were at the north end of the park and all he could see over the landscaped mounds that surrounded the buildings was the top half of the Matterhorn and the turrets on the Fantasyland castle。 The gate was pushed open and they were passed in。
By the time Pitt walked down the underground hallway to the park security offices； he was beginning to think how good that hospital bed in Reykjavik had felt and wondered how soon he could fall into a replacement。 He wasn't sure what he expected to find in the park security offices but he had hardly envisioned what he stepped into。
The main conference room was huge； it looked like a scaled…down version of the war room at the Pentagon。 The main table ran for at least fifty feet and was circled by over twenty people。 There was a radio in one corner and the operator was busily pointing out locations to a marker who stood on a ramp beneath a map that must have stretched ten feet high and covered half the facing wall。 Pitt walked slowly around the table and stood under the beautifully contoured and painted map of Disneyland。 He was studying the many colored lights and the trail of blue fluorescent tape the marker was laying throulh the park traffic areas when Kippmann tapped him on the shoulder。
〃Ready to go to work？〃
〃My body is still running on Iceland time。 It's past five o'clock there。 I could stand a little bracer。〃
〃I'm sorry； sir。〃 The words came from a big man； a tall pipe…smoking man whose eyes stared out at Pitt from behind fashionable rimless glasses。 〃Alcohol has never been permitted in any area of the park since we opened。 And we intend to keep it that way。〃
〃Sorry about that；〃 Pitt said good…naturedly。 He looked at Kippmann expectantly。
Kippmann took the cue。 〃Major Dirk Pitt； allow me to introduce Mr。 Dan Lazard； Chief of Park security。〃
Lazard's grip was firm。 〃Mr。 Kippmann has filled me in concerning your injuries。 Do you think you're up to this？〃
〃I can handle it；〃 Pitt said somberly。 〃But we'll have to do something about my bandaged profile…it's a bit conspicuous。〃 Lazard's eyes。
A glint of amusement came into Lazard's eye。
〃Think we can fix it so no one will notice your bandages…not even the nurse who taped them。〃
Later Pitt stoed in front of the full…length mirror and struck a menacing pose。 He was torn between uttering laughter or a stream of four…lettered words from embarrassment as he stared at the life…sized figure of the Big Bad Wolf； who politely stared back at him。
〃You've got to admit；〃 Kippmann said； fighting back a chuckle； 〃your own mother wouldn't recognize you in that rig。〃
〃I suppose it is in keeping with my character；〃 Pitt said。 He removed the wolf's head； sat down in a chair and sighed。 〃How much time have we left？〃
〃Another hour and forty minutes to go before Kelly's deadline。〃
〃Don't you think I should be sent in the game now？ You're not leaving me much time to spot the killers 。 。 。 if I can spot them。〃
〃Between my men； the park security staff and agents from the F。B。I there must be close to forty people concentrating every effort on stopping the assassination。 I'm saving you for when we e down to the wire。〃
〃Scraping the bottom of the barrel for a last…ditch attempt。〃 Pitt leaned back and relaxed。 〃I can't say I agree with your tactics。〃
〃You're not working with amateurs； Major。 Every one of those people out there are pros。 Some are dressed in costumes like you； some are walking hand in hand like lovers on a holiday； some are playing the part of families enjoying the rides； others have taken over as attendants。 We even have men stationed on roofs and in the dummy second…story offices with telescopes and binoculars。〃 Kippmann's voice was soft； but it carried total conviction。 〃The killers will be found and stopped before they do their dirty work。 The odds we've stacked against Kelly meeting his goal and deade are staggering。〃
〃Tell that to Oskar Rondhe