Their plane had been purposely lured off course, deliberately shot down. That meant the Russians knew where they were and would send a ship. How long would it be before they came and found the tape Durell was guarding? How long before they discovered who he was and put him through living hell until he'd have to take the pill the CIA supplied its agents because no human being could stand the agony of modern torture?

And if no one came, how long would it be before the six passengers with Durell would erupt into savage hysteria, killing each other for food and water?

But if that didn't happen, could they perhaps still survive? Fat chance. Soon the plane would shudder and go down. And then…well, it was just a matter of time.