Amanda, Chelsea and Stacy Sutton had spent the day working...if you could call it that. Amanda had piloted their rented craft in a "lawn-mowing" action over the waters of the Palau Lagoon, while a side-towed sonar broadcast 50 feet in either direction, mapping the lagoon floor precisely.
She'd made only six passes on this day, as the boat could not go too fast. Chelsea had sat at the sonar set, making sure everything was working properly. Stacy had spent her time helping keep watch on the deck, and occasionally nipping into the cabin to spell Chelsea when she needed a break.
It had been a long day, but it had not been a hard one. And it was hardly work, either, considering they were in the sun-drenched island country of Palau and spending all their time on a powerful speedboat.
Robert Wade had spent the day in his hotel room, making and receiving satellite phone calls to his various backers.
When the Isle of Sky - that was the name of the boat they had rented - came in to harbor, he met them and took them to dinner at the Majestic, the best restaurant in the city of Koror - Palau's former capital which still had the largest population of the few cities on the islands.
There they dined on fresh seafood, while they were entertained by native dancing.
After dinner, they went to the Traveller's Club. There was no casino in Palau...although government forces were trying to get one... so the Traveller's Club served as the next best thing. The tourists could gather there for games of bridge, or poker or baccarat, all played for money, or sit among tables and watch more dancing and singing, or get up and dance themselves.
"Let's walk around the gaming tables," Amanda suggested. "See if there are any high rollers tonight."
"I'm going into the bar for a drink," Wade said. "I'll meet you in the lounge in half an hour?"
The girls nodded, and they separated.
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