. .' Conway intervened, made a magnificent job of his intervention as his voice shook with genuine fury. 'This is an outrage! You come here and suggest searching the place? This is United States territory, Mr Vassily.' He stood away from the table as he faced Papanin. 'I hope I don't have to remind you that the American flag flies over this ice island?' Papanin paused, stooped over, half inside his parka as he looked at Conway. He was going to shake these people before he left. 'I saw the flag when we came in - hanging limp like a piece of frozen cod.' He stood upright, fastening his coat. 'It might be safer if none of you leave this ice island until your plane arrives.' 'Safer from what?' Beaumont asked. 'If we see something moving on the pack my men may assume it is Marov and shoot,' Papanin said grimly. 'I have told them he must be taken unharmed - if possible. But Gorov had many friends and some of them are outside this hut - and all of them are armed.' He pulled the fur hood over his shaven head.
