'My secretary will give you my clinic times,' Sir Matthew said. 'At the moment I have rather a full book. If it's urgent of course—'
'Mrs. Naxos,' said Loomis. 'She's supposed to fill your
book?'
'That kind of information I prefer to keep private.'
'Oh yes,' said Loomis. 'To be sure. Quite so—the hypocratic oath and all that.'
Sir Matthew sat, with neatness and precision, in an overstuffed chair facing Loomis. His immediate immobility and air of world-weary omniscience gave it the status of a throne.
'She's not your patient yet,' said Loomis at last. 'If she ever is, I want you to promise that you'll only treat her here.'
'I have already been asked to go out to her,' Sir Matthew said. 'The fee is—quite substantial.' 'How much?'
Sir Matthew told him and Loomis whistled.
I'm sorry,' he said. I'm afraid you can't do it.'
'Why ever not?'
'You're making me use big words,' said Loomis. 'They embarrass me.'
'I am perfectly adjusted to them.'
Tatriotism,' said Loomis. 'National security. Your obligations as a citizen.'
'And if I discount these?'
'Then I'm ordered to stop you. By any means I think fit. The Figgis person for example. If I used her properly I could have you disbarred.'
'Struck off,' said Sir Matthew. 'The reference is to the register of the British Medical Association.' He stared hard at Loomis, 'Much of my work is with pathological liars,' he said. 'Some of them are extremely skillful. Over the years I have developed a nose for the truth, and I believe that you are being honest with me.'
'I am,' said Loomis.
Sir Matthew looked at his watch, did a little mental arithmetic, and rose.
'Very well,' he said. 'I shan't go out to her.' 'She'll come to you,' said Loomis. The decision is hers.' 'She'll come. She's desperate.'
'You seem to know far more about her than I do.'
'Well, of course,' said Loomis, and Sir Matthew permitted himself a small, thin smile.
'Got another bit of news for you,' said Loomis. 'You're due to hire a chauffeur.'
'I see,' said Sir Matthew. 'You're having me watched.'
'We can't afford to lose you,' said Loomis. 'Not till you've treated Mrs. Naxos.'
'You can't afford to lose me at all then,' Sir Matthew said. 'Drug addiction takes a lifetime to cure.' He walked to the door in a long, loping stride, curious in so tiny a man, then turned once more to look at Loomis.
'I could cure you,' he said. 'At the moment of course, you're raving, as I suppose you realize. The trouble is if I were to straighten you out, you'd be unemployable. Without those doses of adrenalin you discharge so freely, you are nothing, Loomis.'
He left then, shutting the door quietly, but firmly. Behind him he left a gurgling sound, wheezing but powerful, that suggested unsuccessful plumbing. Loomis was laughing.
* Chapter 15 *
The fight was to be in Dyton-Blease's gymnasium. The judo mat had been removed, and two chairs were in position, on a raised platform, for Naxos and Selina. A third empty chair waited for the master when the fight was over. Theseus brought Craig and Pia in, and Craig looked round the room, seeking a weapon, an advantage, from somewhere. There was nothing. The door opened, and Naxos and Selina came in, followed by Dyton-Blease. The big man looked clean and scrubbed in white shirt and flannels. He was barefoot. Craig kicked off his own shoes, and tested the smooth, polished wood beneath his feet. He felt dirty and unshaven, angry, ready for a fight. The big man might be too much for
him, he was five stones heavier, five years younger, and at least as fast, but he'd hurt him first. If he was lucky he'd hurt him enough.
Dyton-Blease said: 'We'll fight here. Anywhere in the room. Any style. Any methods. Got thatF' Craig nodded. 'You know something about Japanese technique I beheve— showing off and so on?'
He went to the platform, leaped up easily and smoothly, and picked up a steel rod. It was two feet long and half an inch in diameter. He stood straddle-legged, and held it at each end, letting the strength flow into his wrists. Suddenly, incredibly, the bar bent into a perfect U shape, then he straightened it over his knee.
'Just want you to know what you're taking on,' he said. 'Your turn, Craig.'
Craig said: 'Let the girl sit down.' Selina moved slightly as Pia went to crouch at her feet.
'I don't do any parlor tricks,' said Craig. 'I'd just like to ask you a question. Last time I came here there were three men and two powerboats. Where are they now?'
Dyton-Blease leaped for him at once, a great flailing dive that took him from the platform, straight at Craig. Craig swerved, and the big man sailed past him, landing like a cat on fingers and toes, ranning forward to take himself out of the way of Craig's first chopping blow, spinning round as he crouched to explode upward in front of Craig, aiming a fist karate-clenched into Craig's face. Craig's hand chopped down on his wrist, brushing the blow aside, then he rushed forward to grab the other arm as the hand came down in a judo chop. He hauled back, tilted his body, levered and pulled, holding on to the big man's arm, ready to pull him up and throw again, but Dyton- Blease just lay there, laughing at him, using his weight and strength to stay where he was. Craig spotted the kick he aimed at him just in time, leaped away from it, dived, grabbed the foot, and again the big man exerted his strength. Despite the enormous leverage, Craig couldn't move him. Suddenly, his other foot flicked, catching Craig in the thigh, an apparently glancing blow that spun him round like a top and sent him crashing into the corner of the room. He swerved round too late, the big man was crowding him, before he could turn, so that all he could see was Pia's mouth, opening to scream, and it was all happening again, the pain boiled in his neck, and he refused to accept it—he refused to accept it.
go away. The blackness came.
* · *
Elias said: 'I can take you out there under sail. It will be dark enough.'
Grierson said: 'How soon?'
Elias shrugged. 'Ten o'clock, probably.'
'Not before?'
'He has new boats, new guards. If they spot us, we're finished.' Elias hesitated. 'You're sure Craig is there?'
'No,' said Grierson. 'I can't be sure, but if he is I have to try.'
'Of course,' said Elias. 'We also. But if we take too many risks we have no chance at all.'
He looked from the
'Look,' he said. 'You believe I am a friend of Craig's?'
'Of course,' Elias said. 'The priest tells me your words are true.' He looked across at the fat, white-bearded papa, who had read Grierson's letter of introduction from Loomis and who now drank coffee two tables away. No one sat any nearer. Andraki knew that the Englishman's business was secret.
'You may lose your boat,' said Grierson. 'If you do, I promise you you'll get the money to buy a new one.'
'That is not important,' said Elias, and only his eyes denied it.
'But it is,' said Grierson. 'I swear you will be paid.'
'Well then,' said Elias, 'there is only my life to worry about, and no one can give money for that.'
'Oh yes we can,' said Grierson. 'You'll have insurance too.'
Elias grinned. 'You work for people with a lot of money.'
'And many secrets,' said Grierson.
'Surely. Craig too had many secrets. It wasn't important. He can have what he likes, Mr. Grierson. Craig is