"Maybe I'll have something," said Yaeger, but his tone did not sound optimistic.
Pitt hung up and stepped from the office. Lily looked at him with an expression of hope. Then she read the disappointment in his eyes.
"No good news?" she asked.
He shrugged negatively. "Seems we haven't left square one."
She took his arm. "Yaeger will come through," she said encouragingly.
"He can't work miracles."
Giordino held up a watch on his good arm. "We don't have much time to make our flight. We'd better get rolling."
Pitt walked over, shook benson's hand and smiled. "Make her well again.
She saved our lives."
benson looked at him. "Only if you promise me you'll keep her away from flying bullets and ski slopes."
"Done."
After they left for the airport, benson opened a rear door of the Cord.
The door handle came off in his hand.
"God," he said mournfully, "what a mess."
A loud roar of applause erupted in the public galleries and swept over the delegates on the main floor below as Hala refused all assistance and slowly made her way to the podium on crutches. She stood behind the podium, poised and serene, speaking in a strong, convincing voice. Her theatrics were low-key and subtle. She moved the audience with an emotional appeal to stop the useless killing of innocent people in the name of religion. Only when she called for a censure of governments that turned a blind eye toward terrorist organizations did a few delegates shift in their seats and stare into space.
An undercurrent of murmurs trailed her news of the forthcoming Alexandria Library discovery as the immense potential took time to sink in. Then Akhmad Yazid came in for a scathing attack, as she accused him directly of the attempts on her life.
Hala concluded by firmly stating she would not be driven out of her position as SecretaryGeneral by threats of future harm, but would remain until her fellow delegates asked for her resignation.
The response was a standing ovation that became thunder ous as she stood off to one side of the podium and displayed the cast on her ankle.
"She's some lady," said the President admiringiy. "What I wouldn't give to have her sit in my cabinet." He pressed the off button on a remote control and the television screen went black.
"An excellent speech," said Senator Pitt. "She tore Yazid apart-and made a good pitch on the Library search project."
The President nodded. "Y
es, she came through for us on both counts."
"You know, of course, she's leaving for Uruguay to confer with President Hasan."
"Dale Nichols briefed me on the conversation you had with her on the plane," the President acknowledged. He was seated behind his desk in the Oval Office. "How do we stand on the search?"
"NUMA!s computer facility is working on a location," answered the Senator.
"Are they close?"
The Senator shook his head. "No closer now to a breakthrough than they were four days ago."
I.Can't we speed up the process? Bring in a think tank, university people, other government agencies?"
Senator Pitt looked doubtful. "NUMA has the finest computer library in the world on oceans, lakes and rivers. If they can't find the destination of the Egyptian fleet, no one can."
"What about archaeological and historical records?" the President suggested. "Maybe something's been uncovered in the past that could offer a clue."