Part 27 (1/2)
”Three days ago The Bagobos had reasons to fear reprisals, you see, and Paulo took no chances He kept a platoon with full auto attacked and got a very warm reception Those who survived are prisoners”
”Good for Major Lacson!” Rick exclaimed ”We were impressed by his efficiency You can see why”
”How about Za there Captain Liain, recaptured by Lim as soon as orders went out from Manila Lim believes he's one of the main leaders of the pirates, partly because he personally checked on you in Manila, then followed you to Zaet you in the channel Another gunboat is searching the area right now, trying to locate an island fishi+ng colony with too many armed vintas and too eons and turn loose,” Chahda offered
”Then planes could follow”
Rojas stared at the boy thoughtfully ”Now there is a useful idea I'll get off a general instruction to look for pigeon cotes”
Tony Briotti chuckled ”He's full of ideas Now, if he can only get one about cleaning the polish froain, we can call this case closed”
A hail froht the talk to a halt Shannon and Torres were ready to rejoin the party The scientist's broken leg was in a cast, with a steel brace at the bottom so that he would be able to walk around, cast and all, in a few days Pete Torres had a neat bandage on his arm; apparently the Filipino Naval h
Once the group was asseain, Rojas asked, ”What are your plans?”
”Back to Manila froa, and then to Spindrift by the first plane,” Zircon stated
”Go if you like,” Howard Shannon said calmly ”Tony and I haven't even started our work here We're staying”
”You can't go ra,” Zircon roared
”Whose leg is it? Besides, I ith s”
Scotty whispered to Rick, ”Who's going to win?”
Rick grinned ”Shannon Zircon's yelling too loud Thatfor effect”
His prediction was right After a few es Zircon turned to the boys ”You want to stay on with these stubborn idiots?”
”Maybe for a little while,” Rick said, and Scotty nodded
Zircon threw up his hands ”All right! If we all pitch in, ood vacation, uide, won't you?” Elpidio Torres asked hesitatingly
The Spindrifters stared at hihter
”That et perroup with ad kidnaped by pirates and held for weeks”
”It wasn't so bad,” Tony Briotti replied ”They fed us, and eren't ht We're healthy enough, barring Howard's leg and Pete's aro back to Zaain We'll have to talk with Santos about his h diplo
Otherwise, I'm sure his insurance will take care of it”