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he thought； it was still true today。
And then； Darius back…shifted and the Mercedes was slowing down。 It turned again； this time leaving the highway； its tires crunching on a rough； gravel…strewn country lane that led upward Into a wooded ravine。
Why Darius had left the main road before reaching Panaghia Pitt could not guess； any more than he could guess why Zeno acted the part of an armed undercover agent instead of a friendly tourist guide。 That old feeling of danger tapped Pitt on the shoulder again； and he felt a tinge of uncontrolled anxiety。
The Mercedes bumped heavily over a dip； rose steeply up a long ramp and entered a large barn like building through a doorway that had been designed to acmodate heavy trucks requiring high roof clearances。 The weather…beaten walls of the wooden structure were covered with the remnants of gray…green paint； long since peeled and blistered from the fierce Aegean sun。 An instant before the inside gloom enveloped the car； Pitt caught a glimpse of an overhead sign whose faded black letters were printed in German。 Then； as Darius turned off the ignition； he heard the sound of rusty rollers creaking the door shut behind them。
〃The Greek International Tourist Organization must work under a damn paltry budget if this is the best they can scrape up for an office；〃 Pitt said caustically； his eyes darting about the vast； deserted floor。
Zeno merely smiled。。 It was a smile that left Pitt's heart pounding against an enormous pressure； as if something was holding it； constricting Its action。 An inner coldness crept over him； bringing with it the acknowledgment of failure； the acknowledgment that he had somehow played into von Till's hands。
Pitt had been aware all along that G。N。T。O。 guides do not carry guns or have the authority to make an armed arrest。 He also knew that the guides drove around the island in boldly…advertised and gaily…colored Volkswagen buses； not black； unmarked Mercedes…Benz sedans。 Time was getting expensive。 He and Giordino must make a move； and make it soon。
Zeno opened the rear door and stepped back。 He made a slight bow and gestured with the gun。
〃Please remember；〃 he said； his tone rock hard。 〃No foolishness。〃
Pitt climbed from the car and turned； offering his hand to Teri through the open front door。 She looked up at him seductively for a moment and； squeezing his hand gently； slowly uncoiled from her sitting position。
Then quickly； before Pitt could react； she threw her
arms around his neck and pulled his head down to her level。 Both pairs of eyes were open； Pitt's mostly from surprise； as she brazenly covered his sweating face with kisses。
It never fails； Pitt thought in detached fascination； no matter how cool or sophisticated they act toward the world； show a woman danger and adventure and they'll always turn on。 It's really a pity； she's ready but it's the wrong time and the wrong place。 He forced her back。
〃Later；〃 he murmured； 〃when our audience has gone home。〃
〃A most stimulating little scene；〃 said Zeno impatiently。 〃e along； Inspector Zacynthus rapidly loses all passion when he is kept waiting。〃
Zeno dropped about five paces behind the group； holding the automatic at hip level Darius then escorted them across the football field length of the building； up a rickety flight of wooden stairs that led to a hallway； lined on both sides by several doors。 Darius paused at the second door on the Left and pushed it open； motioning Pitt and Giordino inside。 Teri started to follow but was suddenly halted by a huge barrel of an arm。
〃Not you；〃 Darius grunted。
Pitt whirled around； anger clouding his face。 〃She stays with us；〃 he said coldly。
〃No need to play rescuing hero；〃 Zeno said lightly； reinforced with an expression of seriousness。 〃I promise you； no harm will e to her。〃
Pitt studied Zeno's face carefully； finding no sign of treachery。 For some strange reason Pitt experienced a marked degree of trust in his captor。
〃I'll take you at your word；〃 he growled。
〃Don't worry； Dirk；〃 Teri threw an icy look at Zeno。 〃As soon as this stupid inspector； whoever he is； finds out who I am； we'll all be free of these wretched people。〃
Zeno ignored her and nodded at Darius。 〃Guard our friends here； guard them closely。 I suspect they're very cunning。〃
〃I'll be alert；〃 Darius promised confidently。 He waited until Zeno and Teri； padding the dusty floor in her bare feet； were gone。 Then he closed the door and leaned lazily against it； arms folded across his massive chest。
〃Personally speaking；〃 Giordino muttered； for the first time since the ride from the rains； 〃I prefer the acmodations at the Hotel San Quentin。〃 His gaze focused on Darius。 〃At least the roaches weren't king size。〃
Pitt grinned at Giordino's insulting ment to Darius and scanned the room； taking in every detail of Its construction。 It was small； no larger than nine by ten feet。 The walls consisted of warped boards nailed crudely to warped support posts that stood facing inward at irregular intervals； in rotted and barren starkness。 The room was void of any furniture and windowless； the only available light came through large horizontal cracks in the walls and a jagged hole in the
roof。
〃If I was to guess；〃 said Pitt。 〃I'd say this place was a deserted warehouse。〃
〃you're close；〃 Darius volunteered。 〃The Germans used this building for an ordnance depot when
they occupied the island in forty…two。〃
Pitt pulled out a cigarette and casually lit it。 To offer Darius a cigarette would have immediately put the brute on his guard。 Instead； Pitt took a step backward and began tossing the lighter in the air； each time tossing it a little higher till he noticed Darius following it
out of the corner of one eye。 Once； twice； four times the lighter sailed into the air。 On the fifth toss it fell through Pitt's fingers and clattered on the floor。 He shrugged stupidly and bent down； picking it up。
Pitt charged Darius harder than he had ever charged any halfback； any quarterback； in his Air Force academy days。 Lunging forward from a football crouch； his feet dug firmly into the coarse grained wood of the floor； he thrust his head and shoulders like a battering ram； backed with every driving ounce of power his muscular legs and one hundred and ninety pounds could muster。 At the instant before impact； he drove upward； catching Darius in the unprotected stomach just above the beltline。 It was like running at full speed into a brick wall； and Pitt gasped at the shock： it felt as if his neck was broken。
In football terminology it was called a running block； a vicious； maiming block； and it would have put most unprepared men in a hospital bed： all others it would have left on the ground in momentary stunned helplessness…all others； that is； except Darius。 The giant merely grunted； doubled over slightly from the force of the blow； and grabbed Pitt by the biceps； lifting him off the floor。
Pitt went numb。 The shock and the pain that erupted from his arms and neck gave way to utter surprise that any man could not only take such a charge and remain standing but shake it off like a love tap。 Darius pushed him against the wall； slowly bending Pitt's body； lik