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 ca£6 to his caique, his only pride, riding gently by the quayside. Grierson saw where he looked, and understood.
"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 one of us."
Pia sat very still, her back against the iron grille of the cell. The electric lights were strong, but she did not feel them. Beside her Craig lay unmoving, his body unaware of the
rough stones of the floor. Pia hoped that if she made no sound, caused no trouble, proved how harmless she was, perhaps at last they would let her go. It was obvious now that Craig could not save her, or even himself. He could fight like a man and he would die like a man, but no one could defeat a giant. She knew that she should be sorry for him. In a time that allowed for such luxuries she supposed that she had loved him, but now her mind could cope with nothing but her need to survive, to exist, to be anything rather than flesh in the big man's battering hands. There was a sound behind her, but she made no move. Theseus's voice said gently. "Come on now. Out. No trouble," and the grille swung open. She crawled out and waited obediently while Theseus picked up the unconscious Craig, soaked a pad in water, bathed his forehead.
"Please," said Pia. "Please, I should like a drink."
He signaled to the bucket he had brought, and she cupped her hands and drank, not touching the dipper in it—that might cause difficulties—content only to quench her thirst, to be able to exist until hunger should force her to speak again. But until then, she would be no trouble. Craig groaned, and came to, and Theseus helped him to sit up, held the dipper to his hps. Craig swallowed, cupped water in his hands, bathed his dirty, unshaven face. At last he croaked: "I thought he intended to kill me. Didn't he say he would kill me?"
"Here," said Theseus. "Drink."
He pulled a bottle of cognac from his pocket, uncorked it, held it to Craig's hps. Craig coughed and swallowed, just like the last time.
"What's he doing?" said Craig. "What's it for?"
"You're a man," Theseus said. "Be a man now. He means to fight you many times, Craig. He will hit you in the same place each time." Craig looked at him. "It amuses him to do this," Theseus said.
"One more blow there and I've had it. He'll turn me into an idiot if he goes on long enough."
"I know," Theseus said. "That is what he intends to
do."
Craig looked at him. Theseus was absolutely in earnest.
"Aristides has been rich for too long," Theseus said. "Soon he will think he is God."
"It's about time he cast out the devil then," said
Craig.
"Yes. I think so." Theseus was still in earnest. "This is your last chance, Craig."
"No chance at all," Craig said. "I'm too old. He's slowed me up too much."
Theseus's massive fist opened under his nose. On it were three white tablets.
"Benzedrine," he said. "To make you quick—and young."
Craig took them, grimacing as he swallowed. "Thanks, anyway," he said.
"Not enough?" said Theseus. "There is one more thing. The big man is afraid of blood—his own blood. If you can make him bleed, you will win." He took a ring from his finger, offered it to Craig. It was a thick gold band, the bevel a square of gold with four raised points of steel like the tips of needles. Craig scooped dirt from the floor, took off the ring and rubbed it over the brightness of the gold, then put the ring on his finger, bevel inside.
"Why are you doing this?" he asked.
"Aristides is my friend," said Theseus, "and so is his wife. I know you would not hurt them. The big man will. Also I was afraid of you and you did not mock me for it."
'Thanks," Craig said. "I won't forget this."
"We go now," said Theseus. "It is time."
Craig went over to Pia. She hadn't looked at them, hadn't moved. In any case, she spoke no Greek.
"We've got to go, love," he said.
She looked up at him, and there was utter defeat in her eyes.
"Dyton-Blease told me what he's going to do to you," she said. "I can't stand it, John. I just can't stand it."
"Don't watch," said Craig. "I don't want you to watch." She sobbed, and clung to him. "We go now," said Theseus.
Somehow the last of her strength came to her, and she walked out proudly, head up, like a queen, the way Cinecitta had taught her.
· » ·
The caique had switched to sail an hour before, and Grierson could see the tiny pinpoint of light that marked the island.
"Okay," he said. "That's near enough."
Elias whispered to his son, and the anchor splashed softly, sending up an explosion of phosphorescent water that quickly faded. Grierson stripped as the two Greeks listened for the beat of motor engines. There was nothing. Grierson strapped on the waterproof bag he had had prepared, and turned to them.
"Give me until nearly dawn," he said. "If I'm not back before it's light you go without me. I won't be coming."
"Kali tychi," said Elias and his son, then Grierson said it too. It was the only Greek phrase he knew. It means "Good luck." Then he disappeared into the warm, dark sea, and father and son took out handlines and began to fish. » » «
In the room, the others were already waiting, and a fourth one this time, Philippa, her face bone-white under its golden brown, so that the suntan looked like a crude cosmetic. She lolled in her chair, exhausted, yet her eyes were restless. They looked unseeing at Craig, then moved away again, searching, searching for the dream powder.
"I want you to see this," Naxos said. "I want you to see what you've done to her. She's got all the sedation the doctor will allow and she still can't rest. Maybe she won't ever again. You're to blame for that, Craig."
Philippa whimpered, and Naxos turned to her at once. "Now then, honey," he said, and whispered softiy. Dyton-Blease tried to intervene, and Naxos snarled at him. "Get on with the fight, why don't you?"
The big man stepped down, not bothering to dive this time, walking forward slowly, taking his time, as Pia shrank past him to sit at Selina's feet. Craig could feel the benzedrine take hold, forcing strength back into his body. This one would have to be quick; the drug wouldn't last for long. He clenched his hands, and felt the first premonitory nip of the four points of the ring. He moved slowly, wearily, like a man already resigned to defeat.