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d with a glass…like pool in its center。 The entire courtyard was encircled by twenty or more majestic life…sized statues of helmeted Roman soldiers。 Their sightless stone eyes somberly stared at their white reflections in the pool as if searching for long forgotten memories of victorious battles and wars of glory。 The deepening shadows of evening covered each figure with a ghostly cloak； giving Pitt the weird sensation that at any second the stone warriors would e alive and lay siege to the villa。
He hurried around the pool and stopped at a massive double door at the far end of the courtyard。 A large bronze knocker in the shape of a lion's head hung grotesquely on the door。 Pitt raised the grip； banging it down hard。 He turned and glanced at the courtyard again。 The entire setting reminded him of a mausoleum。 All it lacked； he thought； were a few scattered wreaths and some organ music。
The door swung open silently。 Pitt peered across the threshold。 Seeing no one； he hesitated a moment。 The moment turned into a minute and the minute into two。 Finally； tiring of hide…and…seek； he braced his shoulders； clenched his fists and stepped through the portal into an ornately decorated anteroom。
Tapestries depicting ancient battle scenes hung from every wall； their needlework armies marching in unison toward battle。 A high dome capped the room； and from its arched apex； came a soft yellowish light。 Pitt glanced around and saw that he was alone so he sat down in one of two carved marble benches that adorned the middle of the room； and he lit a cigarette。 Time passed； and soon he began a futile search for an ashtray。
Then silently； with no warning； a tapestry swung aside； and an old； heavy…set man entered the room； acpanied by an immense white dog。
6
Pitt； mildly stunned； looked warily at the gigantic German shepherd and then into the face of the dog's elderly master。 The evil unsmiling features； so familiar on the late； late movies on television； sat entrenched on a typical round German face； plete with the shaven head； shifty eyes and no neck。 Thin lips pressed tightly together as though their owner suffered from constipation。 The body fit the villainous image too； heavy set in a rotund frame of solid tissue with no flab。 All that was missing was a riding quirt and the polished boots。 For an instant Pitt thought； 〃the man you love to hate； Eric von Stroheim； had returned to life and stood ready to direct a scene from Greed。〃
〃Good evening；〃 the old man said in a suspicious guttural tone。 〃You are； I believe； the gentleman my niece invited to dinner？〃
Pitt rose； one eye on the huge panting dog。 〃Yes sir。 Major Dirk Pitt at your service。〃
An expression of surprise furrowed the brow below the tight skinned head。 〃My niece led me to believe You were under the rank of sergeant； and your military Occupation was garbage collecting。〃
〃You must forgive my American humor；〃 said Pitt； enjoying the other man's
confusion。 〃I hope my little deception has caused you no inconvenience。〃
〃No； a little concern perhaps； but no inconvenience。〃 The old German extended his hand and studied Pitt closely。 〃It is an honor to meet you； Major。 I am Bruno von Till。〃
Pitt clasped the outstretched hand and returned the stare。 〃The honor is mine； sir。〃
Von Till lifted a tapestry； revealing a doorway。 〃Please e this way； Major。 You must join me for a drink while we wait for Teri to finish dressing。〃
Pitt followed the flat form and the white hound down a dark hallway that led into a large cavernous study。 The ceiling arched at least thirty feet high and was supported by several fluted ionic column shafts。 The furniture； classic in its simplicity； sparsely dotted the floor and lent an air of grace to the imposing chamber。 A cart was already laid with unusual Greek hors d'oeuvres； and a recessed alcove of one wall housed a pletely equipped bar。 The only item of decor； Pitt noted； that seemed out of place was a model of a German submarine； resting on a shelf above the bar。
Von Till motioned Pitt to sit down。 〃What will be your pleasure； Major？〃
〃Scotch rocks would be fine；〃 replied Pitt； leaning back in an armless couch。 〃Your villa is most impressive。 It must have an interesting history。〃
〃Yes； it was originally built by the Romans in 138 B。C。 as a temple to Minerva； their goddess of wisdom。 I purchased the ruins shortly after the First World War and rebuilt it into what you see today。〃 He handed Pitt a glass。 〃Shall we drink a toast？〃
〃To whom or what shall we drink to？〃
Von Till smiled。 〃You may have the honor； Major。 Beautiful women。 。 。 riches。。 。 a long life。 Perhaps to the President of your country。 The choice is yours。〃
Pitt took a deep breath。 〃In that case I propose a toast to the courage and flying skill of Kurt Heibert； The Hawk of Macedonia。〃
Von Till's face went blank。 He slowly eased Into a chair and toyed with his drink。〃 You are a very unusual man； Major。 You pass yourself off as a garbage collector。 You e to my villa and assault my chauffeur； and then you astound me further by proposing a toast to my old flying rade； Kurt。〃 He threw a sly grin over his drink at Pitt。 〃However； your most outstanding performance was in seducing my niece on the beach this morning。 For that feat I congratulate and thank you。
Today； for the first time in nine years； I saw Teri happily singing and laughing with an intense joy in living。
I am afraid you force me to condone your lecherous conduct。〃
It was Pitt's turn to act surprised； but； instead； he tossed his head back and laughed。 〃My apologies on every count； except slugging your perverted chauffeur。 Willie had it ing。〃
〃You should not blame poor Willie。 He was only acting on my orders to follow and guard Teri。 She is my only living relative and I wish no harm to e to her。〃
〃What harm could possibly e to her？〃 Von Till rose and walked to an open terrace window and looked out over the darkening sea。 〃Over half a century I have worked hard and paid a great personal price to build a substantial organization。 Along the road I also accumulated a few enemies。 I never know what one of them might do for revenge。〃
Pitt's eyes searched von Till。 〃Is that why you carry a Luger in a shoulder holster？〃
Von Till turned from the window and self…consciously adjusted his white dinner jacket over the bulge beneath his left armpit。 〃May I ask how you know it is a Luger？〃
〃Just a guess；〃 Pitt said。 〃You look like the Luger type。〃
Von Till shrugged。 〃Ordinarily I do not act quite so mundane； but for the way Teri described you I had every reason to suspect doubtful character。〃
〃I must admit I've performed a few sinful deeds in my day；〃 Pitt said grinning。 〃But murder and extortion weren't included。〃
A scowl formed on von Till's face。 〃I do not think you would be so flippant if you 。 。 。 how do you Americans say。 。 。 were in my shoes。〃
〃Your shoes are beginning to sound very mysterious； Herr von Till；〃 said Pitt。 〃Just what kind of business are you in？〃
Suspicion marked von Till's eyes； then his lips faded to a phony smile。 〃If I told you； it might upset your appetite。 That； my dear Major； would make Teri exceedingly angry since she has spent hal