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Tidi began to giggle； and Sandecker joined in with a hearty laugh that turned heads at the nearby tables。
Pitt kept his eyes on Kirsti。 He was intrigued by a frightened； almost panicky expression that flickered across her face before she forced a thin smile and went along with the surrounding mirth。
Rondheim didn't go along with it at all。 He stood there； his eyes staring blankly in confusion and his mouth pressed tightly together in anger…one didn't need to be a mind reader to see that he wasn't in the habit of being laughed at。
〃I said something humorous？〃 he asked。
〃This seems to be the night for plementing women on their eyes；〃 Pitt said。
Kristi explained to Rondheim and then hurriedly introduced Sandecker。
〃It is indeed a pleasure to meet you； Admiral。〃
The cool look was back in Rondheim's eyes。 〃Your reputation as a mariner and oceanographer is widely known throughout seafaring circles。〃
〃Your reputation is known widely throughout seafaring circles； Mr。 Rondheim；〃 'The admiral shook Rondheim's hand and turned to Pitt。 〃Major Dirk Pitt； my special projects director。〃
Rondheim paused a moment； making a coldly professional assessment of the man standing before him before he extended his hand； 〃Major Pitt。〃
〃How do you do。〃 Pitt gritted his teeth as Rondheim's hand closed like a vise。 Pitt fought a desire to squeeze back； instead he let his hand go limp in a deadfish grip。 〃Good heavens； Mr。 Rondheim； you're a very strong man。〃
〃I'm sorry； Major。〃 Rondheim winced with surprised disgust and jerked his hand back as though he had been shocked by an electrical circuit。 〃The men who work for me are a rugged breed and have to be treated as such。 When I am off the deck of a fishing boat； I sometimes forget to act like a gentleman of the land。〃
〃Goodness； Mr。 Rondheim； you needn't apologize。 I admire virile men。〃 Pitt held up his hand and wiggled his fingers。 〃No harm done as long as I can still wield a brush。〃
〃Do you paint； Major？〃 Kirsti asked。
〃Yes； landscapes mostly。 I also enjoy doing floral still lifes… There is something about flowers that inspires the soul； don't you think？〃
Kirsti looked at Pitt curiously。 〃I would love to see your work sometime。〃
〃Unfortunately all of my canvases are in Washington。 However； I'd be delighted to present you with my impressions of Iceland while I'm here。〃 Pitt held a finger against his lips in a femine gesture。 〃Watercolors； yes； that's it。 I'll do a series of watercolors。 Perhaps you can hang them in your office。〃
〃You are very kind； but I could not accept…〃
〃Nonsense；〃 Pitt interrupted。 〃Your coastline is magnificent。 I'm simply dying to see if I can capture its contrasting forces of sea and rock meeting one another in a natural eruption of light and color。〃
Kirsti smiled politely。 〃If you insist； but you must permit me to do something for you in return。〃
〃I ask one favor…a boat。 To do your shoreline justice； I must sketch it from the sea。 Nothing fancy。 Any small cruiser will do。〃
〃See my dockmaster； Major。 He will have a cruiser ready for you。〃 She hesitated a moment as Rondheim loomed up and placed his hand on her neck and shoulder。 〃Our boats are moored at Pier Twelve。〃
〃e； darling；〃 Rondheim said； white…teethed and softly。 〃Max is reading his new anthology tonight。
We must not be late。〃 His hand tightened； and she closed her eyes。 〃I hope you good people will excuse US 〃Yes； of course；〃 Sandecker said。 〃It's been a very enjoyable two hours； Miss Fyrie。 Thank you for joining US。〃
Before anyone could say anything further； Rondheim hooked his hand through Kirsti's arm and led her from the dining room。 As soon as they passed beyond the door； Sandecker threw his napkin down on the table。
〃Okay； Dirk； suppose you explain your little act。〃
〃What little act？〃 Pitt asked innocently。
〃I admire virile men；〃 Sandecker mimicked。 〃That goddamned homo act…that's what I mean。 All that was missing was the lisp。〃
Pitt leaned forward； elbows on the table； his face dead serious。 〃There are situations that offer a definite advantage in being underestimated。 This is one of them。〃
〃Rondheim？〃
〃Exactly。 He's your reason behind Fyrie's sudden reluctance to cooperate with the United States and NUMA。 The man is no dummy。 Once he marries Kirsti Fyrie； control of two of the largest privately owned corporations in the world will e under one roof。 The possibilities are immense。 Iceland and its government are too small； too dependent on the future Fyrie Rondheim cartel for its economy to offer even a token resistance against a highly financed takeover。 Then； with the right strategy； the Faero islands and Greenland giving Rondheim virtual control over the North Atlantic。 After that； one can only guess in which direction his ambitions lie。〃
Sandecker shook his head。 〃You're assuming too much。 Kirsti Fyrie would never go along with an international power play。〃
〃She will have no choice in the matter；〃 Pitt said。
〃In marriage the spoils go to the dominant personality。〃
〃A woman in love is blind。 Is that it？〃
〃No；〃 Pitt answered。 〃I don't think this is a match based on love。〃
〃Now you're an expert on affairs of the heart；〃 Sandecker said sarcastically。
〃No contest；〃 Pitt said； grinning； 〃but we are fortunate in having an expert in our Midst who has a built…in natural intuition for such things。〃 He turned to Tidi。
〃Care to give us a feminen opinion； dearheart？〃
Tidi nodded。 〃She was terrified of him。〃
Sandecker looked at her speculatively。 〃What do you mean by that？〃
〃Just what I said；〃 Tidi said firmly。 〃Miss Fyrie was scared to death of Mr。 Rondheim。 Didn't you see how he clutched her neck？ I guarantee that she'll be wearing high collars for the next week until the bruises disappear。
〃Are you sure you're not imagining or exaggerating？〃 Tidi shook her head。 〃It was all she could do to keep from screaming。〃
Sandecker's eyes were suddenly full of hostility。
〃That rotten son…of…a…bitch。〃 He gazed at Pitt steadily。
〃Did you catch it？〃
〃Yes。〃
This increased Sandecker's anger。 〃Then why in hell didn't you stop it？〃
〃I couldn't；〃 Pitt said。 〃I would have had to step out of character。 Rondheim has every reason to think I'm a faggot。 I want him to go right on thinking that。〃
〃I'd like to think you have a hazy idea of what You're doing；〃 Sandecker said grimly。 〃However； I'm afraid you bricked yourself into a corner with that crap about being an artist。 I know for a fact that you can't draw a straight line。 Natural eruption of light…my God。〃
〃I don't have to。 Tidi will handle that little chore for me。 I've seen samples of her work。 It's quite good。〃
〃I do abstracts；〃 Tidi said； a pained look on her pretty face。 〃I've never tried a true…life seascape。〃
〃Fake it；〃 Pitt said briskly。 〃Do an abstract seascape。 We're not out to impress the head curator at the Louvre。〃
〃But I have no supplies；〃 Tidi whined。 〃Besides； the Admiral and I are leaving for Washington the day after tomorrow。〃
〃Your flight has just been canceled。〃 Pitt turned to Sandecker。 〃Right； Admiral？〃
Sandecker folded his hands and mulled for a few moments。 〃In view of what we've learned in the last five minutes； I think it best if I hang around for a few days。〃
〃The change of climate will do you good；〃 Pitt said。 〃You might even get in a fishing trip。〃
Sandecker studied Pitts face。 〃Fairy queen imitations； painting classes； fishing expeditions。 Would you humor an old man and tell me what's running through that agile mind of yours？〃
Pitt picked up a glass of water and swilled the lucid contents。 〃A black airplane；〃 he said quietly。 〃A black airplane resting beneath a watery death shroud。〃
Chapter 9
They found Pier Twelve at about ten in the morning and were passed through the entrance barrier by a tali swarthy Fyrie guard。 Sandecker dressed in old rumpled clothes； a floppy； soiled hat； carrying a tackle box and fishing rod。 Tidi in slacks and knotted blouse warmly covered by a man's windbreaker。 She held a sketching pad under one arm and a satchel…sized handbag under the other； both hands jammed deeply in the windbreaker's pockets。 The guard did a