Like A Hole In The Head

     It wouldn't be until I looked through the telescopic sight into the distant room that I could tell. Maybe I would find some wealthy tourist installed in there instead of Savanto.

     I took the golf bag down on to the terrace, slid out the rifle and lay flat, resting the rifle barrel on the parapet. I clipped on the telescopic sight, screwed on the silencer, then putting the rifle butt to my shoulder, I looked through the sight. A quick turn of the focusing screw brought the room into sharp focus. On the far wall of the room I saw the silver trout which I had noticed when I had first visited Savanto and I knew I was looking into the right room. I shifted the sight to take in the dark balcony. I picked up two lounging chairs: neither of them was occupied.

     So I had to wait. Well, I had learned to wait. If luck was still running my way, Savanto would eventually come out on to the balcony. I was certain, from this range, once I had his head lined up in the cross wires of the sight, I could kill him.

     Aware that the storm clouds were building up, feeling the heat of the night, I lay there, sweating, but relaxed. Every so often I looked through the sight, but I didn't keep my eye glued to it. I wanted my eye to be relaxed when I took in the slack of the trigger.

     Then suddenly I saw a movement in the sitting-room : a figure crossed before one of the standard lamps. I shifted the butt of the rifle into my shoulder and my eye went to the rubber eyecup of the sight.

     In the sight, I picked up a blonde woman as she came out on to the balcony. I felt a surge of bitter disappointment run through me. So Savanto had gone! My suspicions had been right. Someone else had taken the suite.

     Then I felt a creepy sensation crawl up my spine and my mouth turned dry. I was sweating badly and my body heat was so great that the eye-piece of the sight misted over.

     Frantically I took out my handkerchief and wiped the eyepiece and then my face. I again looked through the sight.

     The woman, standing on the balcony, the light from the sitting-room lighting her hair, looking exactly like Lucy !

     I looked again. My heart skipped a beat and then began to race. It was Lucy ! Lucy whom I had thought dead! Lucy whom I had mourned and buried! It was Lucy !

     Then I saw a movement and I slightly shifted the sight. A tall, lean man was now standing by her side. It was Timoteo. There could be no mistake. Lucy and Timoteo were standing together on the balcony looking towards me!

     "They make a handsome couple, don't they, Mr. Benson?" Savanto said quietly from out of the darkness.

     I dropped the rifle and rolled over. I could just see his square- shaped figure outlined against the white wall of the penthouse. He was standing some fifteen feet away from me.

     I was too shocked to move or say anything. I just lay there, supported by my elbows, staring up at him.

     "I am alone and unarmed," Savanto said. "I wish to talk to you. Will you listen to what I have to say?"

     My hand closed around the sponge-covered grip of the hunting knife. I half drew the knife from its sheath.

     "I have some cigarettes," he said. "It is against my doctor's orders, but I find I can't resist them. Will you smoke, Mr. Benson?"

     I looked across at the distant balcony. Lucy and Timoteo were no longer there. Had I imagined I had seen them? Although I had the urge to kill this man I knew I couldn't kill him with the knife. My years of training had made a rifle an impersonal weapon, but a knife to me was very personal.

     I got to my feet and walked away from him. I sat on the parapet. He struck a match. He lit a cigarette and the flame of the match showed me he had aged and his black, snake's eyes no longer glittered.