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.Remo hadn'tbothered to return the call, preferring to remain aloof for now, but he wasn'tabout to miss the first glimpse of his fellow jungle travelers in the flesh.Especially now that one of them had tried to have him killed.Page 19ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmlThe expedition's leader occupied suite 413.There was enough time left forRemo to bypass the elevator, taking to the stairs.As he ascended, Remo summedup what he knew of Safford Stockwell from the information passed along byCURE.An eminent paleontologist with numerous publications and several major fossildiscoveries to his credit, Dr.Stockwell was a Harvard graduate who did hisalma mater proud.Of late, his specialty was Asian dinosaurs, which made himperfect for the Tasek Bera expedition.On the downside, he was fifty-eightyears old and had confined himself to teaching, with sporadic forays intoprint, the past six years.Depending on his physical condition, Stockwellmight become a burden once they left paved roads and riverboats behind.Hedidn't figure as a killer, but it was impossible to say with any certaintybefore they met in person.Age and dwindling economic prospects could be amplemotivators for a change of character in later life, especially if the rumorsabout Stockwell's private life were accurate.The rumbles out of Washington, where Stockwell taught at Georgetown anddonated time at the Smithsonian, suggested ah affair some said asoon-to-be-announced engagement featuring the veteran dinosaur hunter and hisprotégée, one Audrey Moreland.Blond and beaming in the snapshots Remo hadexamined, Moreland was a paleobotanist out of UCLA, some twenty-five yearsStockwell's junior.They had formed a bond of sorts soon after her arrival onthe teaching staff at Georgetown, and it had been only natural for Stockwellto select her as his number two when he was tapped to head up the Malaysianteam.As for the rumored romance, Remo didn't know or care if the reports wereaccurate.On balance, he imagined it would make things simpler all around ifDr.Moreland was in love with Stockwell.That way, she would be less likely togo into business for herself and start prospecting for uranium or hiringkillers on the side.The fourth floor might have been deserted, judging from the traffic in thehallway.Remo closed the stairwell access door behind him, checked the numbersvisible from where he stood and set off to his right, in search of 413.Heknew that he was truly in the Orient, when large hotels ignored thesuperstitious Western terror of "unlucky" numbers."White men," Remo muttered, constantly amused or angered by the eccentricitiesof his own race.But oddly, he was less amused when Chiun made his bitingobservation.He stopped at 413 and hesitated for a moment, listening, his head turnedslightly to one side and tilted toward the door.Other people would have hearda murmur of voices and the occasional word, but Remo's senses were heightenedthrough Sinanju training, and the conversation came through, distinct andclear.Four people talking: two of them American, one British, by the sound,and one that could have been a native.Asian, anyway.One of the two Yanks wasa woman, with a sultry voice that still possessed a cutting edge."What do we really know about this Dr.Renton Ward?" she asked the others."Imean, we've never even seen him.""Equal footing, there," her fellow countryman replied."He hasn't seen us,either.""You know what I mean," the woman answered, sounding peevish."We were fortunate that anyone could make the trip on such short notice," saidthe older man who must be Safford Stockwell."Anyway, I've read his book andseveral of his monographs.He knows his subject.""Even so "The subject of their conversation rapped three times against the door,imagining how easy it would be to put his hand and arm completely through theflimsy wooden panel.That would give them something to discuss around thecampfire, but Remo wasn't prepared to discard his cover yet, despite the factthat it was evidently blown.They had a jungle trek ahead of them, and hewould have to stay in character as long as possible.The door was opened by a walking slab of muscle dressed in khaki.Jungle JimPage 20ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmlon steroids, with the sickly sweet aroma of a full-time carnivore exuding fromhis sunbaked skin.The man was six foot five or six, with sandy hair combedstraight back from a face that looked like sculpted leather.He was lookingdown his nose at Remo, literally, with a pair of cold gray eyes.That nose hadtaken brutal punishment at one time, and an impressive scar ran from the lefteyebrow to the jaw hinge, just below his ear."And you are?"Here's the Brit, thought Remo as he answered, "Renton Ward."An older man stepped forward, easing past the hulk and offering his hand.Thegrip was firm enough, but there was no real strength behind it."Dr.Ward, come in, please.We were just discussing you.""That explains it, then," said Remo."Sorry?""Why my ears were burning.""Ah." Confusion flickered for an instant in the aging academic's eyes beforehe shook it off and introduced himself."I'm Dr.Stockwell.SaffordStockwell."Fearless leader, Remo thought, as if I couldn't guess.The man wasfifty-eight, according to his file, but could have passed for ten years olderat a glance.White hair, receding in a George Bush pattern, and a face thatseemed to droop, with wattles showing underneath his chin.Whatever muscletone and color Stockwell had acquired from years of fieldwork, chasingdinosaur remains, had long since vanished under the fluorescent classroomlights.He might be stronger than he looked, of course, but Remo guessed thathe would burn out early on the trail, become a major burden if their groupencountered any major obstacles requiring physical exertion."My assistant, Dr.Moreland."Stockwell made the introduction with a flourish, not quite showing off hisprize, but close enough.And what a prize she was.A honey blonde, blue eyes that gave her angel face ahint of something more sophisticated, verging on exotic.World-class breasts,unfettered beneath a Thai silk blouse.Legs better suited to the runway at afashion show than any jungle game trail."Call me Audrey, please.""My pleasure.Renton Ward."Her mentor stepped between them, steering Remo toward the hulk who manned thedoor."Pike Chalmers," Stockwell said."Our designated troubleshooter, if youwill."Some kind of military background there, thought Remo.Maybe service as amercenary, once he pulled the pin [ Pobierz caÅ‚ość w formacie PDF ]