dunes to the shore. She planned to take the first, then continue south on the beach. That way she could not miss Theo's car. She peered at the rough brush alongside the road, trying to pick out the track in the light of her headlamps. She had to go slowly, even though she was in such a hurry, for fear of missing the turn-off. Then she saw a car emerging.
It was followed by another, and another. Elspeth flashed her left-turn indicator and slowed down. A constant stream of cars was coming from the beach. The spectators had figured out that the launch was cancelled - no doubt they, too, had seen, through their binoculars, the service gantry returning to position - and they were all going home.
She waited to turn left Infuriatingly, the track was too narrow for two-way traffic. A car behind her honked impatiently. She grunted with exasperation as she saw she was not going to be able to get to the beach this way. She flicked off the indicator and floored the gas pedal.
She soon came to another turn-off, but the picture was the same: an unbroken line of cars emerging from a track too narrow to allow two cars to pass. 'Hell!' she said aloud. She was sweating now, despite the air- conditioning in her car. There was no way for her to get to the beach- She would have to think of something else. Could she wait on the highway in the hope of spotting his car? It was too chancy. What would Theo do after he left the beach? Her best option was to go to his motel and wait there.
She sped on, driving fast through the night. She wondered if Colonel Hide and army security were already at the Vanguard Motel. They might first have called the police or the FBI. They needed a warrant to arrest Theo, she knew - although law enforcement people generally had ways around such inconveniences. Whatever happened, it would take them a few minutes to get themselves together. She had a chance of beating them if she hurried.
The Vanguard was in a short business strip alongside the highway, between a gas station and a bait-and- tackle store. It had a large parking lot out front There was no sign of police or army security: she was in time. But Theo's car was not there. She parked near the motel office, where she was sure to see anyone going in or out, and switched off her engine.
She did not have to wait long. The yellow-and-brown Hudson Hornet pulled in a couple of minutes later. Theo eased into a slot at the far end of the lot, near the road, and got out, a small man with thinning hair, dressed in chinos and a beach shirt.
Elspeth got out of her own car.
She opened her mouth to call to Theo across the lot At that moment, two police cruisers arrived.
Elspeth froze.
They were Cocoa County Sheriffs vehicles. They came in fast, but without flashing lights or sirens. Behind them followed two unmarked cars. They parked across the entry, making it impossible for cars to leave..
At first Theo did not see them. He headed across the lot, toward Elspeth and the motel office.
She knew in a flash what she had to do - but it would take a steady nerve. Stay cool, she told herself. She took a deep breath, then started walking towards him.
As he came close he recognized her and said loudly: 'What the hell happened? Did they abort the launch?'
Elspeth said in a low voice: 'Give me your car keys.' She held out her hand.
'What for?'
'Look behind you.'
He glanced over his shoulder and saw the police cars. 'Fuck, what do they want?' he said shakily.
'You. Stay calm. Give me the keys.'
He dropped them into her open hand.
'Keep walking,' she said. 'The trunk of my car is not locked. Get inside.'
'Into the trunk?'
' Yes!' Elspeth went on past him.
She recognized Colonel Hide and another vaguely familiar face from Cape' Canaveral. With them were four- local cops and two tall, well-dressed young men who might have been FBI agents. None of them was looking her way. They gathered around Hide. Distantly, Elspeth heard him say: 'We need two men to check the license plates of the cars here in the lot while the rest come inside.'
She reached Theo's car and opened the trunk. Inside was the leather suitcase containing the radio transmitter - powerful, and heavy. She was not sure she could carry it. She pulled it to the lip of the trunk and dragged it over the edge. It hit the ground with a thud. She closed the trunk lid quickly.
She looked around. Hide was still giving orders to his men. At the other end of the lot, she saw the trunk of her own car slowly closing, as if of its own volition. Theo was inside, That was half the problem solved.
Gritting her teeth, she grasped the handle of the suitcase and lifted it. It felt like a box of lead. She walked a few yards, holding it as long as she could. When her fingers became numb with strain, she dropped the case. Then she picked it up with her left hand. She managed another ten yards before the pain overcame her will and she dropped the case again.
Behind her, Colonel Hide and his men were crossing the lot towards the motel office. She prayed Hide would not look at her face. The darkness made it less likely he would recognize her. Of course, she could make up some story to explain her presence here, but what if he asked to look in the case?
Once more she changed sides and grasped the handle with her right hand. She could not lift the transmitter this time. Giving up, she began to drag it across the concrete, hoping the noise would not attract the attention of the cops.
At last she reached her car. As she opened the trunk, one of the uniformed police approached her with a cheerful smile. 'Help you with that, ma'am?' he said politely.
Theo's face stared at her from inside the trunk, white and scared.
'I got it,' she said to the cop out of the corner of her mouth. With both hands, she heaved up the suitcase and slid it in. There was a quiet grunt of pain from Theo as a corner dug into him. With a quick movement, Elspeth slammed the trunk lid and leaned on it. Her arms felt as if they would fall off.
She looked at the cop. Had he spotted Theo? He gave a puzzled grin. Elspeth said: 'My daddy taught me never to pack a bag I couldn't lift.'
'Strong girl,' the cop said in a mildly resentful tone.
'Thanks, anyway.'
The other men went past, heading purposefully towards the motel office. Elspeth was careful not to catch Hide's eye. The cop lingered a moment 'Checking out?' he said.
Yeah.'
'All alone?'
'That's right.'
He bent to the window and looked into the car, front and back seats, then straightened up again. 'Drive safely.' He walked -on.
Elspeth got into her car and started the engine.
Two more uniformed cops had stayed behind and were checking license plates. She pulled up next to one of them. 'Are you going to let me out, or do I have to stay here all night?' she said. She tried a friendly smile. He checked her license plate. 'Are you alone?'
'Yes.'
He looked through the window into the back seat. She held her breath. 'Okay,' he said at last You can go-'
He sat in one of the cruisers and moved it out of the way.
She drove through the gap and pulled onto the highway, then floored the gas pedal.
Suddenly she felt limp with relief. Her arms trembled, and she had to slow the car. 'God almighty,' she breathed. 'That was too damn close.'
.
12 MIDNIGHT
Four whip antennae, protruding from the satellite cylinder, broadcast radio signals to receiving stations around the globe. Explorer will broadcast on a frequency of 108 MHz.
Anthony had to get out of Alabama. The action was in Florida now. Everything he had worked towards for twenty years would be decided at Cape Canaveral in the next twenty-four hours, and he had to be there.
