Part 38 (1/2)

”We need those maps.”

”We have an aircraft.”

”Aerial recon is not a subst.i.tute for terrain maps. One complements the other. Also, Colonel Gann has skills we don't have.”

”I believe we can do this without him. But I can't do this without you and Vivian.”

Purcell looked at Mercado and asked, ”Why are we actually doing this? Tell me again.”

”My reasons, like yours, Frank, change every day. There are days I think of my immortal soul, and other days I think how nice it would be to become rich and famous on a world Grail tour. The only thing I'm sure of is that we-all three of us-were chosen to do this, and I believe we will not know why until we are in the presence of the Holy Grail and the Holy Spirit.”

Purcell nodded. ”All right. If Gann doesn't show up, I'm still in. I'll ask Vivian.”

”You don't have to ask.” Mercado looked toward the lobby. ”But if you'd like to, here she is.”

Vivian came into the room carrying a tote bag and wearing khaki trousers, a shapeless pullover, and walking shoes. She spotted them and came toward the table, smiling.

Mercado rose, smiled at her, and pulled out a chair.

Vivian gave them both a peck on the cheek, then sat and said, ”I thought I might find you both in the bar as usual.”

Mercado replied, ”It is now the breakfast room. But I can get you a b.l.o.o.d.y Mary.”

”No thank you.” She asked, ”What have you two been talking about?”

Purcell replied, ”Aerial recon.”

She took his hand. ”Frank, you were absolutely magnificent. What other skills do you have that you haven't told us about?”

”I can tie a bow tie.”

She laughed, then took Purcell's toast. ”I'm famished.”

Mercado said to her, ”I was telling Frank that we were impressed with his flyby.”

Vivian glanced at Purcell, who was trying to get a waiter's attention, then she looked at Mercado and their eyes met. He smiled. She gave him a look of mock annoyance.

The waiter came and Vivian ordered tea and fruit, then ate one of Purcell's sausages. Mercado told her, ”We were feeling guilty about the famine.”

”Did you cause it, Henry?”

”I'm having only a cornetto.”

”Well, you should keep up your strength. You're going to need it.”

”Excellent point.” Mercado was not getting the full satisfaction from this moment, so he suggested, ”Perhaps we should clear the air about this morning.”

Vivian responded a second too late. ”What do you mean?”

”Frank was wondering why we were having coffee together on my balcony.”

She looked at Purcell. ”What were you wondering about?”

”I think Henry misconstrued my question.”

She looked back at Mercado, who said to Purcell, ”Sorry, old man. I thought you were showing a bit of jealousy.”

Purcell looked at him and said, ”I was actually wondering how you got your old a.s.s out of bed so early.”

”I set my alarm to see you, Frank. And then I thought, What if Vivian oversleeps? So I rang her up and asked her to join me for coffee while you buzzed by.” He joked, ”If you hadn't seen either of us, then perhaps you should have wondered where we were.”

Purcell was not amused, and Vivian kicked Mercado under the table and said, ”Can we change the subject?” She asked, ”Have we heard from Sir Edmund?”

Mercado replied, ”We have not.”

”Should we be worried?”

”Frank thinks not.”

”Can we do this without him?”

”Again, Frank thinks not.” Mercado added, ”The maps.”

Vivian reached into her bag, withdrew a thick manila envelope, and put it on the table. ”This was at the front desk.”

Purcell saw that it had been hand-delivered, addressed to ”Mercado, Purcell, Smith, L'Osservatore Romano, Hilton Hotel.” There was no sender information.

Vivian asked, ”Shall I open it?”

Purcell glanced around the room. ”Okay.”

Vivian used a knife to cut through the heavily taped flap, then peeked inside. ”M-A-P-S.”

Purcell said, ”See if there's a note.”

She slid her hand in the envelope and pulled out a piece of paper. She read, ”I am in Addis. Will contact you. Good flying, Mr. Purcell.” Vivian told them, ”It is unsigned.”

Mercado said, ”Thank G.o.d he's here and safe.”

Purcell pointed out, ”Being here is not being safe.”

”Well, in any case, we have the maps, and if he does not contact us, we three can continue on.”

Vivian asked Purcell, ”How did he know you were flying?”

”I suppose we're being watched by the Royalist underground.”