"In other words," Tony said, "it's a hurricane but we'll call it something else because it's too early in the season for hurricanes."
"Whatever it is, we'll have more of it," Zircon stated.
Rick switched to the Navy command frequency in time to intercept a conversation with a destroyer somewhere off the British Virgin Islands. The destroyer had just lost one of its boats.
At four minutes after six the air went silent, then a new voice took over the microphone. The voice said:
"A message for the ones who hunted blue sheep."
"That's us!" Rick gasped.
When Steve had dispatched Rick, Scotty, and Zircon to Tibet, it had been with the cover story that they were going to hunt the blue sheep called Bharals in the mountains of West China. Only Steve would know that. The message was from him.
Static crackled, but the message was clear:
"The one who started the hunt needs the biggest hunter. Only the biggest hunter. He should be delivered as soon as possible. Call your usual contact before arrival and say that the doctor is coming and to notify the patient."
The message was repeated, while the four strained to be certain they had heard every word. When normal traffic resumed, Rick switched the set off.