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p sand at the water's edge。 They scurried back and forth； playing tag with the surf。 Every so often one of the birds would cast a beady eye at the two lovers in the shade； staring for a fleeting instant before returning to the chore of stabbing its long curved beak in the sand for food。
The shadows shortened as the sun rose higher in the sky。 A fishing boat chugged by a hundred yards from the end of the rocks。
The fishermen； dropping their nets in the water； were too busy to notice anything unusual on the shore。 At last Pitt drew back and gazed down at Teri's serene and smiling face。
〃I don't know whether to ask for your thanks or your forgiveness；〃 he said softly。
〃Please accept them both along with my blessing；〃 she murmured。
He kissed her lightly on the eyes。 〃See what you've been missing all these years；〃 he said grinning。
〃I agree。 You've certainly shown me a wonderful antidote for my depression。〃
〃I always prescribe seduction。 It's guaranteed to cure any and all rare maladies and mon ailments。〃
〃And what is your fee； doctor？〃 she said； acpanied with a feminine giggle。
〃Consider it paid in full。〃
〃You're not going to get off that easily。 I must insist you e to my uncle's house for dinner tonight。〃
〃I shall consider it an honor；〃 he said。 〃What time and how do I get there？〃
〃I'll have my uncle's driver pick you up at the entrance to Brady Field at 6 o'clock。〃
Pitt's eyebrows raised。 〃What makes you think I'm stationed at Brady Field？〃
〃You're obviously an American and that's where all the Americans on the island are。〃 Teri grasped his hand and pressed it to her face。 〃Tell me about your…self。 What type of job do you perform in your Air Force？ Do you fly？ Are you an officer？〃
Pitt did his best to look serious。 〃I'm the base garbage collector。〃
Her eyes opened wide in surprise。 〃Are you really？ You're much too intelligent to be a garbage collector。〃
She looked into his strong tan face and his intense green eyes。 〃Oh well； I won't hold your occupation against you。 Have you been promoted to sergeant yet？'
〃No。 I've never been a sergeant〃
Suddenly a bright flash in the rocks about two hundred feet away caught Pitt's attention。 A shiny object reflected the sun's rays for a brief instant He watched the area where the glint had shown but could detect no further flash or movement。
Teri felt him tense。 〃Is something the matter？〃 she asked。
〃No； nothing；〃 Pitt lied。 〃I thought I saw something floating in the water； but it's disappeared now。 He looked at her upraised face； and his eyes turned devilish。 〃Well I'd better be getting back to the base； I've got a lot of garbage to collect〃
〃I should return also。 My uncle will probably wonder what happened to me。〃
〃Are you going to tell him？〃
〃Don't be silly；〃 she laughed。 She stood up and brushed the sand from her body and adjusted the bikini。
Pitt smiled； getting to his feet。 〃Why is it women always seem so shy and demure before they've been laid yet so sparkling and carefree after？〃
She shrugged lightheartedly。 〃I guess it's because sex releases all our frustrations and makes us feel earthy。〃 Her brown eyes flashed with intensity。 〃You see； we women have animal instincts too。〃
Pitt playfully slapped her on the buttocks。 〃e on； I'll walk you home。〃
〃You've got a long walk。 My uncle's villa is in the mountains behind Liminas。〃
〃Where are the mountains and where is Liminas？〃
〃Liminas is a small village about six miles up the road；〃 she said pointing north。 〃But I don't understand what you mean by asking about the mountains？ Her pointing hand swung toward the inland slopes a mile behind the road。 〃What do you call those？〃
〃In California； where I e from； we call anything under three thousand feet of elevation hills。〃
〃You Yanks are always bragging。〃
〃It's a great American pastime。〃
They leisurely walked up the path from the cove。
On the shoulder； off to one side of the blacktop； sat a sporty little open…top Mini…Cooper。 The British racing green paint on the tiny car was barely visible beneath an outer coating of Thasas dust
〃How do you like my smashing Grand Prix racing car？〃 Teri asked proudly。 Pitt laughed； not so much at her exaggerated statement but rather the British use of the word smashing in reference to a car。 〃By jove； that's a bit of all right；〃 he said； mimicking her native terminology。 〃Is it yours？〃
〃Yes； I purchased it new in London just last month and drove it all the way from Le Havre。〃
〃How long will you be staying with your uncle？
〃I took a three month holiday so I'll be here at least another six weeks。 Then I'm going to return home by boat。 The drive across the continent was fun but far too tiring。〃
Pitt opened the door for her； and she slid behind the steering wheel。 She groped under the front seat for a moment and pulled out a set of keys。 She inserted one in the ignition and started the engine。 The exhaust coughed once and then blasted forth with a nasty little growl。
He leaned on the dusty door and lightly kissed her。
〃I hope your uncle won't be waiting for me with a shotgun。〃
〃Don't worry； he'll probably talk your arm off。 He likes Air Force men。 He was a flyer in the First World War。〃
〃Don't tell me；〃 Pitt said sarcastically。 〃I bet he claims to have flown with Richthofen。〃
〃Oh no； he was never in France。 He fought right here in Greece。〃
Pitt's sarcasm vanished and a cold； eerie feeling came over him。 He gripped the doorframe until his knuckles turned white。 〃Has your uncle ever mentioned 。 。 。 Kurt Heibert？
〃Many times。 They used to fly patrols together。〃 She shoved the gearshift into first。 Then she smiled and waved。 〃See you tonight。 Now don't be late； cheery bye。〃
Before Pitt could say another word； the midget car leapt up the road。 He watched it snarl off into the distance toward the north。 The dusty green blur passed over a crest of pavement and the last thing he saw was Teri's black hair whipping in the wind。 Already it was beginning to get unfortably hot。 Idly； he turned and began walking back to the airfield。 He stepped on a sharp object with his bare foot and Cursed under his breath while he hopped about on one leg trying to remove a small burr。 Jerking it from his heel angrily； he flipped it in a roadside bush。 He was carefully watching the ground to avoid another sting when he noticed a set of footprints。 Whoever made them had。 been wearing hobnailed soles。
Pitt knelt and studied the indentations。 He could easily distinguish his and Teri's prints since they had both been barefoot。 His mouth twisted grimly。 In several places； the shoe prints covered the bare ones。 Someone had followed Teri toward the beach； he reasoned。 He raised one hand； and shielded his eyes； looking at the sun。 It was still quite early so he decided to pursue the trail。 The tracks led half…way down the path and then veered off in the direction of the rocks。 Here the trail ended so he scrambled over the hard craggy surface and picked up the scent again on the other side。 The tracks angled back to the road； only further away from the path this time。 A branch scraped a thorny limb across