New York: Atheneum, 1977. dj. Hardcover first edition - The first novel by this noted screenwriter. "The S.S. Marseille, 65,000-ton pride of the French Atlantic Line, has been secretly taken over in mid-ocean by 174 shadowy conspirators and diverted toward a rendezvous in the southern Antlantic. Unless a ransom of $35,000,000 in gold is paid within forty-eight hours, the ship and all her passengers will be blown up." 468 pp. ISBN: 0-689108036.