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me design but in different colors。 After being greeted by the British ambassador； they swept into the ballroom； their radiance envied by almost all the women present。
Karl was acpanied by Geli； Maria； and Luci； who'd brought along their husbands； and Elsie； who had just returned from America。 As his sisters and their spouses began dancing to a medley of Cole Porter tunes； Karl led Elsie to the buffet； stopping along the way to accept a glass of champagne from the liveried waiters。 They selected a sampling of exotic dishes and moved into the library； where they found an empty table with two chairs next to a floor…to…ceiling bookcase。
Elsie was about to lift a fork with a delicate cheese to her mouth when her hand froze in midair and her face took on a look of disbelief。 Karl studied her dazed expression but did not turn around； instead waiting quietly for an explanation。 It came with the presence of a tall； rugged…looking man with a lovely woman at his side； flaming red hair cascading to her waist。 The man wore a tuxedo with a maroon brocade vest； and a gold watch chain hung across the front。 The woman was dressed in a black silk velvet jacket over a slim…fitting； black silk ankle…length gown； slit on the sides。 A crystal…beaded choker adorned her slender neck。
They approached the Wolfs and stopped。 〃How nice to see you again； Elsie；〃 said Pitt cordially。 Before she could answer； he turned to Wolf。 〃You must be the infamous Karl Wolf I've heard so much about〃 He paused and turned to Pat。 〃May I introduce Dr。 Patricia O'Connell？〃
Wolf gazed at Pitt as a cutter might study a diamond before lifting his mallet to strike his wedge and cleave a stone。 Though he didn't seem to recognize Pitt； Pat felt a chill ripple up her spine。 The billionaire was extremely handsome； but he stared from eyes that were cold and threatening。 There was a hardness about him that suggested an underlying savagery。 If he knew who she was； he showed no sign of recognition at hearing her name； nor did he display gentlemanly grace by rising from his chair。
〃Though we have never met；〃 Pitt continued in a friendly fashion； 〃I feel as if I know you。〃
〃I have no idea who you are；〃 said Wolf in perfect English； with just a trace of a Teutonic accent。
〃My name is Dirk Pitt。〃
For a brief moment； there was inprehension in Wolf's eyes； then his face slowly took on a look of pure animosity。 〃You are Dirk Pitt？〃 he asked coldly。
〃None other。〃 He smiled at Elsie。 〃You look surprised to see me。 You left Washington quite suddenly before we had a chance to chat again。〃
〃Where did you e from？〃 she snarled。
〃From the Ulrich Wolf；〃 Pitt answered politely。 〃After taking a tour of the ship； Pat and I found ourselves in Buenos Aires and thought we'd drop by and say hello。〃
If her eyes were lasers； Pitt would have been fried and grilled。 〃We can have you killed。〃
〃You've tried； and it didn't work out；〃 Pitt replied casually。 〃I don't advise you to try again； certainly not inside the British Embassy in front of all these people。〃
〃When you reach the street； Mr。 Pitt； you will be in my country； not yours。 You will be helpless to protect yourselves。〃
〃Not a good idea； Karl。 You'd only upset the United States Marines who escorted us here tonight under the protection of the American ambassador； John Horn。〃
One of Wolf's hefty bodyguards moved forward then as if to assault Pitt； but suddenly Giordino stepped from behind and stood toe…to…toe with the guard； blocking any movement。 The guard； who outweighed Giordino by a good fifty pounds and stood ten inches taller； looked down contemptuously and said； 〃What makes you think you're so tough； little man？〃
Giordino grinned condescendingly。 〃Would you be impressed if I told you that I'd just exterminated half a dozen of your fellow vermin？〃
〃He's not kidding；〃 said Pitt。
The guard's reaction was amusing。 He didn't know whether to be mad or wary。 Wolf raised a hand and idly waved off his bodyguard。 〃I congratulate all of you on your escape from the Ulrich Wolf。 My security forces proved most inpetent。〃
〃Not at all；〃 Pitt replied amicably。 〃They were really quite good。 We were very lucky。〃
〃From the report I received； luck had very little to do with it。〃
It was as close to a pliment as Karl Wolf could ever give。 He came slowly out of his chair and stood facing Pitt。 He was two inches taller and relished looking down at this thorn in Destiny Enterprises' side。 His blue…gray eyes glinted； but their fixed stare was easily matched and returned by Pitt； who was more interested in studying his enemy than engaging in a childish game of stare…down。
〃You are making a regrettable mistake in opposing me； Mr。 Pitt。 Surely you must be aware by now that I am dedicated to using every tool at my mand to make the world as pure and as uncontaminated as it was nine thousand years ago。〃
〃You have a strange way of going about it。〃
〃Why did you e here tonight？〃
Pitt did not back off。 〃I have suffered a great deal of inconvenience because of your family； and I was determined to meet the man who's been scheming to play master of the universe。〃
〃And now that you've met me？〃
〃It seems to me you've bet the farm on a phenomenon that may not take place。 How can you be so dead certain the twin of the et that wiped out the Amenes will return next month and strike the earth？ How do you know it won't miss； as it did then？〃
Wolf looked at Pitt speculatively and smiled maliciously。 It was obvious that a man of his wealth and power was not used to people who did not fear him； who did not grovel in his divine presence。
〃The ing cataclysm is an established conclusion。 The world； as it is known by every living creature； will no longer exist。 With the exception of my family； everyone in this room； including yourself； will surely perish。〃 He leaned forward with a wicked grin。 〃But I'm afraid； Mr。 Pitt； that it will happen rather sooner than you think。 The timetable's been advanced； you see。 The end of the world。 。 。 will begin precisely four days and ten hours from now。〃
Pitt tried to hide his shock。 Less than five days！ How was it possible？
Pat didn't bother to hide her dismay。 〃How could you do this？ Why have you gone to so much trouble to keep it a secret？〃 she demanded impassionedly。 〃Why haven't you warned every living soul on Earth so they can prepare for whatever happens？ Have you and your precious sisters no conscience？ Have you no passion？ Don't the deaths of billions of children torment you； like any sane person？ You're just as bad as your ancestors who slaughtered millions〃
Elsie shot to her feet。 〃How dare you insult my brother！〃 she hissed。
Pitt slid his arm around Pat's waist。 〃Don't waste your breath on these purveyors of slime；〃 he said； his face taut with anger。 The confrontation was getting too tense。 But he couldn't resist getting in one more remark。 He looked at Elsie and said pleasantly； with a chilling grin； 〃You know； Elsie； I'll bet that making love to you and your sisters is like making love to ice sculptures。〃
Elsie hau