Sahara (Dirk Pitt 11)

"Vous is you," Gunn lectured him. "You just told him, he can't speak French."

"Whoever he is will get the drift."

The voice crackled through the speaker again. "I understand English."

"That's helpful," Pitt replied. "Go ahead."

"Identify yourself."

"You first."

"Very well, I am General Zateb Kazim, Chief of the Mali Supreme Military Council."

At the reply Pitt turned and looked at Giordino and Gunn. "The big man himself."

"I've always wanted to be recognized by a celebrity," Giordino said with heavy sarcasm. "Never thought it would happen in the middle of nowhere."

"Identify yourself," Kazim repeated. "Are you commanding an American vessel?"

"Edward Teach, Captain of the Queen Anne's Revenge."

"I attended university at Princeton," Kazim replied dryly. "I am quite familiar with Blackbeard the pirate. Please cease with the satire and surrender your ship."

"And if I have other plans?"

"You and your crew will be destroyed by Malian Air Force fighter-bombers."

"If they don't shoot any better than your navy gunboats," Pitt needled Kazim, "we haven't a care in the world."

"Do not toy with me," Kazim said, his tone suddenly viperous. "Who are you, and what are you doing in my country?"

"You might say we're down-home folks on a little fishing trip."

"Stop and surrender your vessel immediately!" Kazim spat.

No, I don't think I will," Pitt answered cavalierly.

"You and your crew will surely die if you do not."

"Then you will lose a boat like no other in the world. A one of a kind. I assume you have an idea of what she's capable of."

There was a long silence, and Pitt knew that his long shot had struck home.

"I've read the reports of your little altercation with my late friend, Admiral Matabu. I am fully versed on your boat's firepower."

"Then you know we could have blasted your gunboat to the bottom of the river."

"I regret that they fired on you against my orders."

"We can also knock your lumbering command plane out of the sky," Pitt bluffed.

Kazim was not mentally deficient. He had already considered that event. "I die, you die. What is the percentage in that?"

"Give me some time to think that over, say until we reach Gao."

"I'm a generous man," Kazim said with unaccustomed patience. "But at Gao you will cease headway and bring your boat alongside the city's ferry dock. If you persist in your foolish attempt to escape, my air force will put you in infidel hell."

"I understand, General. You make our choice crystal clear." Pitt flicked off the radio transmit switch and grinned from ear to ear. "I just love it when I make a good deal."