And there was the one great flaw. Lomax sighed heavily. “You’re right of course.”
“I’m sorry,” Van Horn said gently. “But it had to be said. “What will you do now?”
Lomax got to his feet. “I still think it’s time I had a word with Alexias. After all, in a manner of speaking, he’s at the heart of things.”
“Do you think he’ll see you?”
“I don’t see why not. Katina tells me he lives out at the farm on his own. If I simply turn up there, he won’t have much choice, will he?”
“You’re aware, of course, that he may be praying for you to put in an appearance? That you could be running your head into a noose?”
“That had occurred to me,” Lomax said calmly.
Van Horn got to his feet and moved to the balustrade. For a moment he stood there looking out to sea and then he turned. “I can’t say I approve of all this, Lomax. Frankly, I don’t think it really matters any more, but if I can help in any way, I wiU. You’re welcome to borrow the jeep for a start.”
Lomax shook his head. “Thanks all the same, but I could do with some time to work things out. I think I’ll walk over the mountain.”
“Can’t I persuade you to stay for supper?”
“I don’t think so. For one thing, I don’t want Katina to get involved too much in this business. If she knows I intend seeing her uncle, she might try to prevent me.”
“What shall I tell her?”
Lomax shrugged. “Anything you like. Say that I’ll be in touch. That I want to think things over on my own.”
Van Horn looked as if he intended to argue, but Lomax turned quickly, went through the house and out into the garden. As he moved towards the main gates, someone called his name and Yanni emerged from the yard.
“Aren’t you staying for supper?”
Lomax shook his head. “I’ve got pressing business, son. Something that can’t wait. Tell Katina how sorry I am.”
Yanni’s young face was solemn. “You looking for trouble again, Mr. Lomax?”
Lomax grinned. “It’s usually the other way round. You go back in the house now. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
He moved across the road and started up the hillside. It was that quiet period half-way between evening and night and strangely still. He could hear a dog barking in the distance and the scent of woodsmoke drifted on a small wind from some shepherd’s hut.
When he stopped to rest, he leaned against a boulder and lit a cigarette. He had been aware for some tune that he was being followed and he moved back into the shadows and waited. A moment later there was a rattle of stones and Yanni came cautiously forward.
He paused, obviously undecided, and Lomax moved from behind the boulder and tapped him on the shoulder. “And where might you be going?”
Yanni smiled sheepishly. “I didn’t mean no harm, Mr. Lomax. I thought you might get into trouble again like this afternoon.”
“Well you thought wrong,” Lomax said. “Does Katina know you’re here?”
“If I’d told her, she’d have wanted to come too.”
Lomax turned him round firmly and gave him a push.
“Now you get back down to the villa before she starts worrying about you.”
The boy moved away. He paused once and looked round, but Lomax hardened his heart and waved him oa and he disappeared reluctantly into the dark shadow of the ravine. For a moment Lomax stood there, a smile touching his mouth, and then he turned and started to climb again.
When he moved over the rim of the plateau near the top of the mountain and looked again upon the Tomb of Achilles, night was at hand.
He stood in the desolate light of gloaming and the mountain was tipped with orange fire. Below him the sea was black with depth, purple and grey near the shore, and the lights of the villa seemed very far away.
The beauty of it was too much for a man and he felt strangely sad and drained of all emotion and then the fire on the mountain died and night enveloped him. A small wind whispered between the pillars of the temple and there was only the silence.