"It ees the island!" Her whisper was sharp. A glow appeared on her face. "Soon we will be reech!" She slapped Parker heartily on the shoulder. "Beel, is not that wonderful!"
"It sure is," Parker answered. He was as astonished by the statement as he was by the slap on the shoulder.
"Shut up, Mercedes!" Retch spoke. "Parker, turn some juice into this thing."
"She's cruising at about her best speed," Parker answered.
"Then get her faster than cruising speed. We've found the island." His manner indicated that finding the island was very important but that something else perhaps of equal importance remained to be done.
"What's the big rush!" Parker countered. "You don't think it will vanish before we get there, do you?"
A startled look appeared on Retch's face. "No, of course not. That is—"
A thudding jar went through the ship.
"What 'appened?" Mercedes screamed in fear.
With a snarling crash of breaking metal, one of the helicopter blades was yanked from its mounting above them.