“This seems like a very nice neighborhood,” she remarked, while picking up her cup of tea to take a sip.“Yeah, it is. Mostly elderly people live...here with several young couples with children added in the mix to liven things up. I bought the house last year and it’s been really nice so far.”“Bought it, huh? I thought the houses here were for rent only,” Ilse said, sounding impressed by my explanation.“They used to be, but the corporation that owns them wants to invest in a new project and needs. Me. You wait for me down here." He stuck his hand out. "Give me the rope."I did and Dad threaded it through the hole. Then he stood up and tied it around his waist with the sheet of metal hanging behind him.Dad looked up at the waterfall and then back at me. "I'll be back as soon as I can." He was silent for a moment and then said, "Bobby, you've been a great help. I'm proud of you."I stared at him through watering eyes. Dad wrapped his arms around me and hugged me tight.Before I could say. There were very few gray areas in the Director's sphere of understanding, and this one was crystal clear in his mind. Aliens in American-dominated waters were a threat to national security. And any such threat must be neutralized or eliminated.Julie Christie had gathered a significant quantity of sonar and hydrophone recordings. Then, during the weeks of the late winter season, she'd had more than ample time to collate, evaluate, and compile the data until she'd put together a number of. Don’t take any excuses, Vi! Tell him it will be life or death and he’ll have to stabilize the patient for probable further transport. Ok?”“Of course,” she replied. She scrambled back to the kitchen for the telephone.“You’re sure about all that?” Jim asked, incredulous.“Yes. I’m getting his vision. It’s bad. It’s a gunshot and the loss of blood and shock are very bad. We’ve got to go now!”Mike pulled Graydon to his feet, grabbed their coats and wrapped Graydon in his, then began pushing him.