The group surged toward the man. “Where’s the liquor, buddy? … Where are the girls? … Let’s get this party on the road …”The thin man was trying to get through to Robert, but the crowd was blocking his way. He watched helplessly as Robert bolted out of the door. Hetook the stairs two at a time.Downstairs in the lobby, Robert was moving toward the exit when the concierge called out, “Oh, Commander Bellamy, Imade your reservation foryou. You are on Air France flight 312 to Paris. It leaves at one a.m.”“Thanks,” Robert said hurriedly.He was out of the door, into the small square overlooking the Spanish Steps. A taxi was discharging a passenger. Robert stepped into it. “ViaMonte Grappa.”He had his answer now. They intended to kill him. They’re not going to find it easy. He was the hunted now instead of the hunter, but he had one bigadvantage. They had trained him well. He knew all their techniques, their strengths, and their weaknesses, and he intended to use that knowledgeto st
Day SixteenRome, ItalyRobert placed a call to Colonel Cesar from a phone booth in the Piazza del Duomo. “Whatever happened to friendship?” Robert asked.“Don’t be naive, my friend. I’m under orders, just as you are. I can assure you, there is no use in your running. You’re at the head of everyintelligence agency’s most wanted list. Half the governments of the world are looking for you.”“Do you believe I’m a traitor?”Cesar sighed. “It doesn’t matter what I believe, Robert. This is nothing personal. I have my orders.”“To take me out.”“You can make it easier by turning yourself in.”“Thanks, paesano. If I need more advice, I’ll call Dear Abby.” He slammed down the receiver.Robert was aware that the longer he was at large, the greater the danger he was in. There would be security agents closing in on him from half adozen countries.There has to be a tree, Robert thought. The line came from a legend about a hunter who was relating an experience he had on safari. “This hugelion wa
Day SeventeenRome, ItalyRobert was awakened by the sun hitting his face. He sat up abruptly, looking around for an instant in alarm, disorientated. When he saw Pier,memory flooded back. He relaxed. Pier was at the mirror, brushing her hair.“Buon giorno,” she said. “You do not snore.”Robert looked at his watch. Nine o’clock. He had wasted precious hours.“Do you want to make love now? You have already paid for it.”“That’s all right,” Robert said.Pier walked over to the bed, naked and provocative. “Are you sure?”I couldn’t if I wanted to, lady. “I’m sure.”“Va bene.”She began to dress. She asked casually, “Who is Susan?”The question caught him off guard. “Susan? What made you ask?”“You talk in your sleep.”He remembered his dream. Susan had come back to him. Maybe it was a sign. “She’s a friend.” She’s my wife. She’s going to get tired ofMoneybags and return to me some day. If I’m still alive, that is.Robert walked over to the window. He lifted the curtain and looked out. Th
Robert listened to the phone ring again and again. It was six a.m. in Washington. I’m always waking the old man up, Robert thought.The Admiral answered on the sixth ring. “Hello …”“Admiral, I…”“Robert! What …?”“Don’t say anything. Your phone is probably bugged. I’m going to make this fast. I just wanted to tell you not to believe anything they’re saying aboutme. I’d like you to try to find out what’s going on. Imay need your help later.”“Of course. Anything I can do, Robert.”“I know.”“I’ll call you later.”Robert replaced the receiver. No time for a trace. He saw a blue Fiat pull up outside the bar. Pier was at the wheel.“Move over,” Robert said. “I’ll drive.”Pier made room for him as he slid in behind the wheel.“Are we on our way to Venice?” Pier asked.“Uh huh. We have a couple of stops to make first.” It was time to spread some more chaff around. He turned onto Viale Rossini. Ahead was theRossini Travel Service. Robert pulled over to the kerb. “I’ll be back in a minute.
At the Hotel Victoria, a man in a dark suit was studying the guest register. He looked up at the clerk. “What time did Commander Bellamy checkin?”“He has not been here yet. His secretary reserved the suite. She said he would be here within the hour.”The man turned to his companion. “Have the hotel staked out. Get reinforcements. I’ll wait upstairs.” He turned to the clerk. “Open the suite for me.”Three minutes later the clerk was opening the door to the suite. The man in the dark suit moved in cautiously, gun in hand. The suite was empty. Hesaw the envelope on the table and picked it up. The front of it read: “Commander Robert Bellamy”. He opened the envelope and glanced inside. Amoment later he was dialling the headquarters of SIFAR.Francesco Cesar was in the middle of a meeting with Colonel Frank Johnson. Colonel Johnson had landed at Leonardo da Vinci airport two hoursearlier, but he showed no signs of fatigue.“As far as we know,” Cesar was saying, “Bellamy is still in Rom
She wandered down the broad boulevard, barely conscious of where she was going. How many days had it been since the terrible crash? She hadlost count. She was so tired that it was difficult for her to concentrate. She desperately needed water; not the polluted water that the Earthlingsdrank, but fresh, clear rain water. She needed the pure fluid to revive her life essence, to gain the strength to find the crystal. She was dying.She staggered and bumped into a man.“Hey! Watch where …” The American salesman took a closer look at her and smiled. “Hi, there. Imagine bumping into you like this!” What a doll.“Yes, I can imagine that.”“Where are you from, honey?”“The seventh sun of the Pleiades.”He laughed. “I like a gal with a sense of humour. Where you headed?”She shook her head. “I do not know. I am a stranger here.”Jesus, I think I’m on to something. “Have you had dinner?”“No. I cannot eat your food.”I’ve got a real weirdo here. But a beauty. “Where are you staying?”“I am no
From the moment Pier had seen the news broadcast about Robert Bellamy, she had known she was going to be rich. If Interpol, the internationalcriminal police force, was looking for Robert, there had to be a huge reward out for him. And she was the only one who knew where he was! Thereward would be all hers. Persuading him to go to Naples, where she could keep an eye on him, had been a stroke of genius.A man’s voice on the telephone said, “Interpol. May I help you?”Pier’s heart was pounding. She glanced out of the window to make sure Robert was still at the gas pump. “Yes. You are looking for a man namedCommander Robert Bellamy, yes?”There was a moment of silence. “Who is calling, please?”“Never mind. Are you after him or not?”“I’ll have to transfer you to someone else. Will you hold the line, please?” He turned to his assistant. “Put a trace on this. Pronto!”Thirty seconds later, Pier was speaking with a senior official. “Yes, signora. Can I help you?”No, you fool. I’m trying
They were approaching the suburbs of Naples. Old apartment houses lined the narrow streets, with laundry hanging out of almost every window,making the buildings look like concrete mountains flying colorful flags.Pier asked, “Have you ever been to Naples?”“Once.” Robert’s voice was tight. Susan was sitting beside him, giggling. I heard Naples is a wicked city. Can we do a lot of wicked things here,darling?We’re going to invent some new things, Robert promised.Pier was watching him. “Are you all right?”Robert brought his mind back to the present. “I’m fine.”They were driving along the bay of the Castel Dell’ Ovo, the old abandoned castle near the water.When they arrived at Via Toledo, Pier said, excitedly, “Turn here.”They were approaching Spaccanapoli, the old section of Naples.Pier said, “It’s just up ahead. Turn left onto Via Benedetto Croce.”Robert made the turn. The traffic here was heavier, and the noise of horns deafening. He had forgotten how noisy Naples could be. He