Follow a Stranger

into Lillitos!”

She looked at him in startled amazement. “What?”

“He says there’s to be no expedition,” Peter shouted. “He

just said he’s changed his mind. He won’t allow anyone else

to dig up there. He doesn’t want strangers on the island.

The man’s insane. It mustn’t be allowed!”

Kate looked at him silently for a moment. He had not

seen her for over a week, she thought with wry resignation,

and in that time she had been very ill with sunburn, been

involved in a disaster, and for all he knew, was still weary.

Yet he did not even greet her. No kiss, no word of pleasure

in seeing her again. All that interested him was the temple

up there on To Angkistri.

“I can’t interfere,” she said quietly, at last. “You must

cope with it on your own, Peter.”

He glared at her. “Kate, this is vitally important. The

temple is the most wonderful thing that’s ever happened to

me in my life. It shows clear signs of a number of periods, so

it’s been in continuous occupation for generations. It was

first founded in Mycenean times, but the pillars and roof

were obviously much later. Oh, Kate, for God’s sake—can’t

you see what it means?”

“Peter, I want to ask you a question,” she said clearly.

He shut his mouth on what he had been about to say.

Impatiently he waited, fidgeting.

“Do you love me?”

He gave her an incredulous look, running his fingers

through his hair. “What? My God, Kate, don’t drag in

irrelevancies at this time! I have too many important things

to think about!”