Harry left Lee and, as he passed the cot where Chip lay, motioned for Chip to follow him. Harry led Chip to the table where Miro worked and asked "How can we help?"

Miro explained and demonstrated the explosives configuration and construction. He and Harry worked together assembling the charges and Chip was assigned the task of carefully rolling then stacking them in emptied ammo crates. As they worked, Miro explained the situation and plan in further detail.

It was Miro's opinion that the occupying forces lacked real discipline and that would help their cause. The longer they'd stayed with no disturbance, the more lax they'd become. The commanding officer seemed to guard more against desertion of his men than any threat from the natives. His troops had become the eager customers of an elderly local woman who distilled a particularly potent version of the island's traditional coconut based liquor. Demand for the spirits always outstripped supply. This afternoon, she would be delivering a fresh batch to the barracks. It was hoped there would be lingering aftereffects from its consumption come the next morning.

There was only one lookout post carved into the horizontal center of the hilltop, manned by a single soldier. The lookout was relieved every morning at 3:00am. Immediately after the watch change, the new sentry would be dispatched and replaced by Miro's man. The explosives would be released to roll down the slope varying distances. The charges had been formed to simulate, and feel underfoot as, the naturally strewn pebbles and rocks. It was believed that, in the adrenaline of the moment and low dawn light, the knee high grasses and weeds would camouflauge the explosives. The man in the lookout post would signal the girl just as the morning troop formation was dismissed. She would scream down the hill alone, then Lee would appear and force her back up the hill.

It would be Miro's decision when to set off the blasts. The charge's fuses would be bundled and connected to four separate detonators. Miro would detonate first, then the others would immediately follow suit. Miro hoped that Lee could make it safely to the other side before detonation. They should be prepared, though, for the possibility that Lee could be felled or captured before making it to the crest. Miro's only concern had to be maximum enemy casualties. Harry and Chip had to accept that the timing was in his hands and not act, under any circumstances, before the detonation. If they could not abide by his terms, they should wait behind. Harry nodded acceptance. Miro turned to Chip. Chip's jaw had clenched as he heard that the hill would, if necessary, be blown away with Lee still on it. Glaring at Miro, he hesitated before nodding.

At that point, the preparation of the explosives had just been completed. Miro began discussing with Harry further logistics of the mission. None of these details concerned Chip. His role was cut and dried-wait until all hell broke loose and help Lee. He stood and headed towards the back of the bunker. As Chip walked behind the curtain, out of sight, Miro interrupted talk of the mission and broached a different subject.

"Sharing of unnecessary information or names is discouraged to protect the information and any named. But, Turi has already spoken of Seaview. Is he speaking of the submarine Seaview?

"Yes."

"Then you, Harry, are Admiral Harriman Nelson and Turi is Captain Lee Crane?"

Harry nodded. "And Chip is Lt. Commander Charles Morton, Executive Officer, Seaview's second in command after Lee."

Miro raised an eyebrow. "He doesn't speak as his subordinate."

Harry smiled. "Off Seaview, as far as Lee's concerned, no he doesn't. They've been friends since they were teenagers together at the naval academy. Aboard, though, I can assure you that Mr. Morton practices perfect decorum and defers automatically to the Captain. At least within earshot of anyone else."

"I regret that I cannot share this information with my son, Admiral. He has followed your adventures for years and would be substantially impressed to hear I'd even met you. His dream is to serve aboard Seaview. I've tried, without success, to divert his dream to a more attainable goal."

"How old is he?"

"Fifteen."

"When the time comes, if he's still determined, let me know. We can evaluate his interests and our needs and steer him towards appropriate training. If he's anything like his father, we'll find a place for him."

Chip came around the curtain into the more dimly lit space of the treatment area to find Lee lying with his eyes closed.

"Are you awake?" Chip whispered.

"That depends," Lee answered. "Are you done giving me a hard time?"

"Yeah. I've realized you can't help yourself. I've read about it-it's called DNA. It's in your genes. You have the pigheaded hero chromosome."

"I thought you were done."

"I am," Chip answered as he sat on the cot. "How're you doing?"

"Fine."

"Of course you are," Chip said, rolling his eyes. After a few seconds of silence Lee spoke.

"How are you?"

"Okay," Chip answered.

"I'm sorry I put you here, Chip."

Chip shrugged. "Like I said, you can't help yourself."

"Neither can you, I've noticed. That pigheaded hero gene-it's recessive in blonds. Not so obvious, but it's there."

"Maybe it's contagious," Chip said. "After hanging around you the past twenty years, maybe I caught a mild case of it." His expression turned solemn.

"Are you really up for this, Lee? I mean, physically, can you make it? Because, if you can't make it up that hill, that hill's still going up."

"I can make it."

"You better make it," Chip said. "I have plenty of sisters but only one brother. Understood?"

"Understood."

"Okay, then." Chip rose from the cot. "Get some rest. I'll see you in the morning."