Valhalla Rising (Dirk Pitt 16)

Hereoux showed Perlmutter down a long hall into a large library containing more than ten thousand books. "Here is everything Jules Verne wrote and everything ever written about him until his death. All the later works about him are in another room."

Perlmutter acted impressed. Though the size of the library was extraordinary, it was still less than a third the size of Perlmutter's own maritime history collection. He walked over to a section where binders held manuscripts, but he did not reach out and touch one.

"His unpublished material?"

"You're quite astute. Yes, those are manuscripts he either did not finish or did not believe worthy of publishing." Hereoux motioned to a big, overstuffed couch in front of a large picture window overlooking a lush garden. "Won't you please sit down? May I get you coffee or tea?"

"Coffee would be fine."

Hereoux gave instructions over an intercom and then sat down across from Perlmutter. "Now then, St. Julien. May I call you by your Christian name?"

"Please do. Though we've only met face-to-face moments ago, we've known each other for a long time."

&nb

sp; "Tell me, how can I help your research?"

Perlmutter spun his cane around in front of his spread knees. "I would like to dig into Verne's research on Captain Nemo and the Nautilus."

"You mean, of course, Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Sea"

"No, Captain Nemo and his submarine."

"Nemo and his submarine were Verne's greatest creations."

"Suppose they were not merely creations?"

Hereoux looked at him. "I fear I don't understand."

"I have a friend who thinks that Verne did not create Nemo from scratch. He suspects Verne used a real-life model."

Hereoux's expression remained constant, but Perlmutter detected a slight twitch in the blue eyes. "I'm afraid I can't help you with that theory."

"Can't or won't?" Perlmutter asked. It bordered on an insult, but he offered a patronizing smile to go along with it.

A hint of displeasure crossed Hereoux's face. "You're not the only one who has come here with such an outlandish proposal."

"Ridiculous? Yes, but intriguing nonetheless."

"How can I help you, old friend?"

"Allow me to search through these archives."

Hereoux relaxed as if he'd been dealt a straight flush. "Please, consider the library yours."

"One more request. May I have my chauffeur assist me? I can't climb ladders anymore to reach books on the higher shelves."

"Of course. I'm sure he can be trusted. But you must be responsible for any inconveniences."

A nice way of saying damage or theft of the books and manuscripts, Perlmutter thought. "That goes without saying, Paul. I promise that we'll be very careful."

"Then I will leave you to it. If you have any questions, I'll be in my office upstairs."

"There is one question."

"Yes?"

"Who categorized the books on the shelves?"