"Please tell the General," said Hopper, "that his neighboring countries have invited United Nations scientists to help them locate the source of contamination, and if he refuses my team's entry into Mali, he will be scorned and lose face among the nations of the world."
Mansa made no reply and left the stifling room.
While he waited, Hopper gave Captain Batutta his best intimidating stare. Batutta locked eyes for a few moments, but then turned away and began pacing the room.
After about five minutes, Mansa returned and sat down at the desk. Without a word, he precisely stamped each passport and then passed them to Hopper. "You have been allowed to enter Mali to conduct your research. But please remember, Doctor, you and your people are guests here. No more. If you make unkind statements or take part in any action detrimental to security, you will be deported."
"Thank you, Colonel. And please thank General Kazim for his kind permission."
"You will be accompanied by Captain Batutta and ten of his men for your protection."
"I'm honored to have a bodyguard."
"You will also report your findings directly to me. I expect your full cooperation in this matter-"
"How will I report from the hinterland?"
"The Captain's unit will carry the necessary communications equipment."
"We should get along handsomely," Hopper said loftily to Batutta. He turned back to Mansa. "My team and I will need a car, preferably a four-wheel-drive, for personnel and two lorries to transport our laboratory gear."
Colonel Mansa's face reddened. "I will arrange for military vehicles."
Hopper was well aware that it was important for the Colonel to save face and have the last word. "Thank you, Colonel Mansa. You are a generous and honorable man. General Kazim must be very proud to have a true warrior of the desert at his side."
Mansa leaned back, a growing look of triumph and satisfaction in his eyes. "Yes, the General has often expressed gratitude for my loyalty and service."
The interview was over, and Hopper returned to the aircraft and directed the unloading of the cargo. Mansa watched from the window of the terminal office, a faint smile on his lips.
"Shall I restrict their investigation to unclassified areas?" asked Batutta.
Mansa slowly shook his head without turning. "No, allow them to go wherever they wish."
"And if Dr. Hopper finds signs of toxic sickness?"
"No matter. As long as I control communications with the outside world his reports will be altered to show our country lo be clean of illness, and hazardous wastes."
"But when they return to the UN headquarters-"
"Won't the true findings be exposed?" Mansa finished. "Yes, most certainly." He swung around suddenly, his expression menacing. "But not if their aircraft tragically meets with an accident during the return flight."
Pitt dozed off and on during the plane ride from Egypt to Nigeria. He woke only when Rudi Gunn came down the aisle of the NUMA executive jet, three coffee mugs firmly gripped in both hands. Taking a cup, Pitt looked up at Gunn in weary resignation, his expression devoid of enthusiasm and any expectations for fun times.
"Where in Port Harcourt are we meeting the Admiral?" he asked without really caring.
"Not exactly in Port Harcourt," Gunn hedged, handing Pitt a coffee.
"If not there, then where?"
"He's waiting on board one of our research ships 200 kilometers off the coast."
Pitt fixed Gunn with the gaze of a hound staring at a cornered fox. "You're holding out, Rudi."
"Would Al like some coffee?"
Pitt glanced at Giordino who was snoring in sweet bliss. "Save it. You couldn't wake him with a lighted firecracker in his ear."
Gunn eased into a seat across the aisle from Pitt. "I can't tell you what Admiral Sandecker has on his mind, because I honestly don't know. I do, however, suspect it has to do with a study NUMA marine biologists have conducted on coral reefs around the world."
"I'm aware of the study," said Pitt, "but the results came in after Giordino and I left for Egypt." Pitt was comfortable with the fact that Gunn would eventually level with him. He and Gunn had an easygoing relationship despite the obvious differences in their lifestyle. Gunn was an intellectual with degrees in chemistry, finance, and oceanography. He would be totally at home living in the basement of a library inundated by books, compiling reports and planning research projects.
Pitt, on the other hand, enjoyed working with his hands on things mechanical, especially on the old classic automobiles in his collection in Washington. Adventure was his narcotic. He was in paradise when flying antique aircraft or diving on historic shipwrecks. Pitt had a master's degree in engineering and took great pleasure in tackling the jobs others thought impossible. Unlike Gunn, he was seldom found at his desk in the NUMA headquarters building, preferring the excitement of probing the unknown depths of the sea.
"The bottom line is the reefs are in peril and dying off at an unheard-of rate," Gunn answered. "Right now, it's a hot topic among marine scientists."
"What parts of the oceans show this trend?"
Gunn stared at his coffee. "You name it. The Caribbean from the Florida Keys to Trinidad, the Pacific from Hawaii to Indonesia, the Red Sea, the coasts of Africa."
"All with the same attrition rate?" asked Pitt.
Gunn shook his head. "No, it varies by locale. The worst-case scenario appears to be along the West African coast."
"I didn't think it uncommon for coral reefs to go through cycles where they stop reproducing and die before becoming healthy again."
"That's correct," Gunn nodded. "When conditions return to normal the reef will recover. But we've never seen such widespread damage at such an alarming rate"
"Any idea of the cause?"
"Two factors. One, the usual culprit, warm water. Periodic rises in water temperature, generally from changes in sea currents, cause the tiny coral polyps to eject, or vomit if you will, the algae they feed on."
"The polyps being the little tubular devils that build the reefs with their skeletal remains."
"Very good."
"What about sums up my knowledge on coral," Pitt admitted. "The life-and-death struggle of coral polyps rarely makes the evening news."
"A shame," Gunn said briefly. "Especially when you consider that changes in coral can be an accurate barometer of future trends in sea and weather conditions."
"All right, so the polyps spit out the algae," Pitt prodded. "Then what?"
"Because algae is the nutrient that feeds the polyps and gives them vibrant colors," Gunn went on, "its loss starves the coral, leaving it white and lifeless, a phenomenon known as bleaching."
"Which seldom occurs when the waters are cool."
Gunn looked at Pitt. "Why am I telling you this if you already know it all?"
"I'm waiting for you to get to the good part."
"Let me drink my coffee before it gets cold."
There was a silence. Gunn wasn't really in the mood for coffee, but he sipped away until Pitt became impatient.
"Okay," Pitt said. "Coral reefs are dying around the world. So what's the second factor in their extinction?"
Gunn idly stirred his coffee with a plastic spoon. "A new threat, and a critical one, is the sudden abundance of thick, green algae and seaweed that is blanketing the reefs like an out-of-control plague."
"Hold on. You say the coral is starving because it's spitting out the algae even though it's smothered in the stuff?"
"The warmer water gives and takes. It acts to destroy the reefs while it aids in the growth of algae that can prevent nutrients and sunlight from reaching the coral. Somewhat like smothering it to death."
Pitt ran a hand through his black hair. "Hopefully the situation will be corrected when the water turns cooler."
"Hasn't happened," said Gunn. "Not in the Southern Hemisphere. Nor is a temperature drop in the water predicted in the next decade."