And without question, there were unseen killers in the crowds outside. He was trapped; his watch read eleven minutes past ten. Another four and he could dial Symonds on the sterile line. But he was dealing with professionals. If he hung up and dialed was there a man now at one of these tables-in nocuously raising a fork to his mouth or sipping from a cup-who would pull out a weapon powerful enough to blow him into the wall? Or were those inside merely hired guns, unwilling to make the sacrifice the Matarese demanded of its 61ite? He had to buy time and take the risk, watching the tables every second as he did so, preparing himself for that instant when escape came with sudden movement and the conceivable-unfortunate -sacrifice of innocent people.
"You want to meet, I want a guarantee I'll get out of here." "You've got it." "Your saying it isn't enough. Identify one of your employees in here." "Let's put it this way, Beowulf. We can hold you there, call the American Embassy, and before you could blink, they'd have you cornered. Even should you get past them, we'd be waiting on the outer circle, as it were." His watch read twelve past ten. Three minutes.
"Then obviously you're not that anxious to meet with me." Scofield listened, his concentration total. He was almost certain the man on the line was a messenger; someone above wanted Beowulf Agate taken, not killed.
"I said we felt it would be better for everyone concerned-" "Give me a face!" interrupted Bray. The voice was a messenger. "Otherwise call the godamned embassy. ru take my chances. Now." "Very well," came the reply, spoken rapidly. "There's a man with rather sunken cheeks, wearing a gray overcoat...." "I see him." Bray did, five tables away.
"Leave the restaurant; he'll get up and follow you. He's your guarantee." Thirteen past ten. Two minutes.
"What guarantee does he have? How do I know you won't take him out with me?" "Oh, come now, Scofield...
"I'm glad to hear you've got another name for me. What's your name?" "I told you, it's irrelevant." "Nothing's irrelevant." Bray paused. "I want to know your name." "Smith. Accept it." Ten-fourteen. One minute. Time to start.
"I'll have to think about it. I also want to finish my breakfast." Abruptly hanging up, he shifted his attach6 case to his right hand and walked over to the plain-looking man five tables away.
The man stiffened as Scofield approached; his hand reached under his overcoat.
"The alert's off," said Scofield, touching the concealed hand under the cloth of the coat. "I was told to tell you that; you're to take me out of here. But first, I'm to make a telephone call. He gave me the number; I hope I can remember it." The hollow-cheeked killer remained immobile, speechless. Scofield walked back to the telephone on the wall.
Ten-fourteen and fifty-one seconds. Nine seconds to go. He frowned, as if trying to recall a number, picked up the phone, and dialed. Three seconds past 10: 15 he heard the echoing sound that followed the interruption of the bell; the electronic devices were activated. He inserted his coin.
"We have to talk fast," he said to Roger Symonds. "They found me. I've got a problem." "Where are you? We'll help." Scofield told him. "Just send in two sirens, regular police will do. Say it's an Irish incident, possible subjects inside. That's all I'll need." "I'm writing it down. They're on their way." "What about WaverlyT' "Tomorrow night. His house in Belgravia. I'm to escort you, of course." "Not before then?" "Before then? Good God, man, the only reason it's so soon is that I managed an open-end memorandum from the Admiralty. From that same mythical conference- I was logged into last night." Bray was about to speak, but Sy- monds rushed on. "Incidentally, you were right. An inquiry was made to see if I was there." "Were you covered?" "The caller was told the conference could not be interrupted, that I would be given the message when it was over." "Did you return the call?" "Yes. From the Admiralty's cellars an hour and ten minutes after I left you. I woke up some poor chap in Kensington. An intercept, of course." "Then if you got back there, they saw you leave the Admiralty building?" "From the well-lighted front entrance." "Good. You didn't use my name with Waverly, did you?" "I used a name, not yours. Unless your