The Black Mountain

"It sounds like it. Who is the man in Bari that got the telegram?" "That's not important. You want to know too much." "I don't think so. Comrade Stritar -- if I am to call you Comrade. If I am to trust you on vital matters, as I am prepared to do, you will trust me to some extent. My son and I will have to go through Bari on our way back, to get our papers and effects, and we might possibly encounter him. His name?" Stritar shrugged his bulging shoulders. "Paolo Telesio." Wolfe's eyes widened. "What!" Stritar stared. "What's the matter?" "Enough." Wolfe was grim. "Paolo Telesio has our papers and belongings. We left them in his care. A man in Philadelphia gave me his name, as one trustworthy and capable, who would arrange for getting us 265 across the Adriatic. And he serves the Spirit of the Black � No, wait! After all, you have that telegram." He shook his head. "No, it is just as well we're going back. Here it's impossible to tell who you're dealing with. My brain is not equipped for it." "Not many brains are," Stritar declared. "Don't make any assumptions about Telesio. I didn't say he sent me the telegram. You are not to tell him I have seen it. You understand that?" "Certainly. We're not a pair of fools, though yesterday you called us that. Do you still think so?" "I think it is possible I was wrong. I agree with you that you can do more good in America than you can here. It is in your favor that you are inclined to be skeptical, as for instance about Nero Wolfe. You asked for evidence that he intends to send major assistance to our subversive underground, and I furnished it. I regard it as conclusive. Do you?" Wolfe hesitated. "Conclusive is a strong word. But I � yes. I will say yes." "Then he must be dealt with. Will you help?" "That depends. If you mean will I or my son engage to kill him, no. Killing a man in America is not the same as killing a man 266 here. Circumstances ""S1" ^eloP that would lead us to und^c "'b"1}, won t commit myself, and ^lther w111 he-,, , , "I didn't ask you to. Iasked lfvou " ^'P, Peter Zov will need it. The Preparations and arrangements will hw6t0 be made for hlm' and provision for his ^ ^'-ward. You say Philadelphia is nif^ mlles from New York -- that's a hundred andfifty kllometers - and that is well, foi New York would be dangerous for him. T^1 s the klnd of ^P he'll need. Will you gi^"- , ,.�-,. Wolfe considered. "There s a difficulty. No matter how well itls "-ranged, it s conceivable that Zov willb'-^g1"- If he is' under pressure he mi^ b"^ us, ,�,, "You saw him undeC Pressure today. Will the American police use Sf^^ Pressure than that?" "No." Wolfe looked at "e- J\lex' lt is suggested that Comr^ zov sha11?0 to America, and we sha^P1'0^, for hls necessities and also help tumwlA thep^p^' rations to kill a man ^med Nero Wolfe. I am willing to undertake " rf you are. I looked serious. I vtf0"1'1 have given eight thousand cents to be.^e to reply that I had been wanting to ki11 a man "Bmed Nero Wolfe for years, but I ^asnt sure that Stntar and Zov understood f10 ^S^h. I had to 2t1 skip it. I said earnestly, "I am willing, Father, to help with anything you approve of." He looked at Stritar. "My son says he is willing. We want to leave here as soon as possible. Can you get us to Ban tonight?" "Yes. But Zov will have to go by another route." Stritar looked at his watch. "There is much to arrange." He raised his voice to call, "Jin!" The door opened, and one of the clerks came in. Stritar spoke to him. "Find Trumbic and Levstik and get them here. I'll be busy for an hour or more. No interruptions unless it's urgent." Zov had his Luger out, rubbing it with his palm. 268 Chapter 15 We got arrested for having no papers after all, and it damn near bollixed everything.