ore they found where we were sleeping. My people said they were
Moros."

Zircon gestured at a group of Moros lounging in the shade of the wooden
airport building. "You seem to have quite a few of them here."

Father Murray chuckled. "Indeed we do. This is a Moro province. Both the
mayor and governor are Moros. Christians are few."

Rick noted the tight trousers and bolero-type vests that exposed
muscular chests. Two of the Moros wore purple velvet caps. The others
wore straw hats of intricately woven design that reminded him of
helmets.

"Was a Moro guide with our friends?" Zircon asked.

"Yes. He seemed like a respectable young man. I saw little of him,
however. He stayed with us, but kept to himself, probably bored with our
talk. Did you know that Tony and I were classmates in high school?"

The three hadn't known it. No wonder Tony and Shannon had gone so far
out of their way to visit Cotabato.

"That robbery attempt interests me," Scotty said. "Have you ever had
such an incident before?"

"Never. The Moros let us alone. Besides, the proverbial church mice
would seem rich compared with us. We have literally nothing worth
robbing."

The flight was called and the Spindrifters shook hands with Father
Murray. He waved as they boarded the plane and prepared to take off.

"Not very helpful," Professor Zircon remarked, "although I'm glad we had
a chance to meet Father Murray."

Rick agreed, but added, "Doesn't it strike you as pretty strange
coincidence that thieves should try to rob him for the first time, on
the night Briotti and Shannon arrived?"

Scotty saw at once what Rick meant. "You think they might not have been
thieves? That it might have been a kidnap attempt that failed?"

"It's a possibility," Rick pointed out.

Zircon leaned across the aisle. "Consider the implications of what
you're saying, Rick. Cotabato is a long way from Davao. Why would a gang
chase our friends across Mindanao?"

"Why were they kidnaped?" Rick retorted.

"Obviously, we don't know. If we accept your idea, do we assume it was
the same gang that traveled from Cotabato to Davao? Or, were both groups
local people?"

Scotty swallowed. "If they were local people, that has to mean some kind
of well-organized syndicate with members in just about every port!"

Rick nodded. He had seen at once the implications of his idea. "It could
mean that."

Scotty sank back into his seat. "But whatever it means, it gives no
explanation