"A timely coincidence. Admiral Sandecker was able to order the submersible into the area of the Titanic's last known position barely hours before the sub was scheduled to surface."
Pitt turned and stared at a jet airliner that was lifting from the airport's main runway. "Why me? What have I done to deserve an invitation to what has to be the biggest hare-brained scheme of the century?"
"You are not simply to be a guest, my dear Pitt. You are to command the overall salvage operation."
Pitt regarded Seagram grimly. "The question still stands. Why me?"
"Not a selection that excites me, I assure you," Seagram said. "However, since the National Underwater and Marine Agency is the nation's largest acknowledged authority on oceanographic science, and since the leading experts on deep-water salvage are members of their staff, and since you are the agency's Special Projects Director, you were elected."
"The fog begins to lift. It's a simple case of my being in the wrong occupation at the wrong time."
"Read it as you will," Seagram said wearily. "I must admit, I found your past record of bringing incredibly difficult projects to successful conclusions most impressive." He pulled out a handkerchief and dabbed his forehead. "Another factor that weighed heavily in your favor, I might add, is that you are considered somewhat of an expert on the Titanic. "
"Collecting and studying Titanic memorabilia is a hobby with me, nothing more. It hardly qualifies me to oversee her salvage."
"Nonetheless, Mr. Pitt, Admiral Sandecker tells me you are, to use his words, a genius at handling men and coordinating logistics." He gazed over at Pitt, his eyes uncertain. "Will you take the job?"
"You don't think I can pull it off, do you, Seagram?"
"Frankly, no. But when one dangles over the cliff by a thread, one has little say about who comes to the rescue."
A faint smile edged Pitt's lips. "Your faith in me is touching."
"Well?"
Pitt sat lost in thought for several moments. Finally, he gave an almost imperceptible nod and looked squarely into Seagram's eyes. "Okay, my friend, I'm your boy. But don't count you're chickens until that rusty old hulk is moored to a New York dock. There isn't a bet-maker in Las Vegas who'd waste a second computing odds on this crazy escapade. When we find the Titanic, if we find the Titanic, her hull nay be too far gone to raise. But then nothing is absolutely impossible, and though I can't begin to guess what it is that's so valuable to the government that warrants the effort, I'll try, Seagram. Beyond that, I promise nothing."
Pitt broke into a wide grin and climbed from the pilot's seat. "End of speech. Now then, let's get out of this hot box and find a nice cool air-conditioned cocktail lounge where you can buy me a drink. It's the least you can do after pulling off the con job of the year."
Seagram just sat there, too drained to do anything except shrug in helpless acquiescence.
26
At first John Vogel treated the cornet as simply another restoration job. There was no rarity suggested by its design. There was nothing exceptional about its construction that would excite a collector. At the moment it could excite nobody. The valves were corroded and frozen closed; the brass was discolored by an odd sort of accumulated grime; and a foul, fishlike odor emanated from the mud that clogged the interior of its tubes.
Vogel decided the cornet was beneath him; he would turn it over to one of his assistants for the restoration. The exotics, those were the instruments that Vogel loved to bring back to their original newness the ancient Chinese and Roman trumpets, with the long, straight tubes and the ear-piercing tones; the battered old horns of the early jazz greats; the instruments with a piece of history attached-these, Vogel would repair with the patience of a watchmaker, toiling with exacting craftsmanship until the piece gleamed like new and played brilliantly clear tones.
He wrapped the cornet in an old pillowcase and set it against the far wall of his office.
The Executone on his desk uttered a soft bong. "Yes, Mary, what is it?"
"Admiral James Sandecker of the National Underwater and Marine Agency is on the phone." His secretary's voice scratched over the intercom like fingernails over a blackboard. "He says it's urgent."
"Okay, put him on." Vogel lifted the telephone. "John Vogel here."
"Mr. Vogel, this is James Sandecker."
The fact that Sandecker had dialed his own call and didn't bluster behind his title impressed Vogel.
"Yes, Admiral, what can I do for you?"
"Have you received it yet?"
"Have I received what?"
"An old bugle."
"Ah, the cornet," Vogel said. "I found it on my desk this morning with no explanation. I assumed it was a donation to the museum."
"My apologies, Mr. Vogel. I should have forewarned you, but I was tied up."
A straightforward excuse.
"How can I help you, Admiral?"
"I'd be grateful if you could study the thing and tell me what you know about it. Date of manufacture and so on."
"I'm flattered, sir. Why me?"
"As chief curator for the Washington Museum's Hall of Music, you seemed the logical choice. Also, a mutual friend said that the world lost another Harry James when you decided to become a scholar."
My God, Vogel thought, the President. Score another point for Sandecker. He knew the right people.
"That's debatable," Vogel said. "When would you like my report?"
"As soon as it's convenient for you."
Vogel smiled to himself. A polite request deserved extra effort. "The dipping process to remove the corrosion is what takes time. With luck, I should have something for you by tomorrow morning."
"Thank you, Mr. Vogel," Sandecker said briskly. "I'm grateful."
"Is there any information concerning how or where you found the cornet that might help me?"
"I'd rather not say. My people would like your opinions entirely without prompting or direction on our part."
"You want to compare my findings with yours, is that it?"
Sandecker's voice carried sharply through the earpiece. "We want you to confirm our hopes and expectations, Mr. Vogel, nothing more."
"I shall do my best, Admiral. Good-by."
"Good luck."
Vogel sat for several minutes staring at the pillowcase in the corner, his hand resting on the telephone. Then he pressed the Executone. "Mary, hold all calls for the rest of the day, and send out for a medium pizza with Canadian bacon and a half gallon of Gallo burgundy."
"You going to lock yourself in that musty old workshop again?" Mary's voice scratched back.
"Yes," Vogel sighed. "It's going to be a long day."
First, Vogel took several photos of the cornet from different angles. Then he noted the dimensions, general condition of the visible parts, and the degree of tarnish and foreign matter that coated the surfaces, recording each observation in a large notebook. He regarded the cornet with an increased level of professional interest. It was a quality instrument; the brass was of good commercial grade, and the small bores of the bell and the valves told him that it was manufactured before 1930. He discovered that what he had thought to be corrosion was only a hard crust of mud that flaked away under light pressure from a rubber spoon.
Next, he soaked the instrument in diluted Calgon water softener, gently agitating the liquid and changing the tank every so often to drain away the dirt. By midnight, he had the cornet completely disassembled. Then he started the tedious job of swabbing the metal surfaces with a mild solution of chromic acid to bring out the shine of the brass. Slowly, after several rinsings, an intricate scroll pattern and several ornately scripted letters began to appear on the bell.