"Lombardo should be sleeping on board," he said to Crantor, "but if he isn't we will not be able to wait for him. Can you handle the boat?"
"I can try," Crantor said doubtfully. "I haven't handled a big motor-boat before, but I'm pretty good with engines."
"Don't talk like a fool," Alsconi snarled. "You would have to navigate the boat. Could you get me to Monte Carlo?"
"No," Crantor said. "I don't know anything about navigation."
Alsconi thought for a moment: this could be a disaster if Lombardo wasn't on board and it was unlikely that he would be.
He leaned forward and tapped Don on his shoulder.
"Can you handle a boat? If you can and if you can get me to Monte Carlo I will refrain from shooting you when we reach Civitavecchia."
"That's comforting news," Don said dryly. "I'll take you there on condition that Lorelli and I take the boat back after I've landed you."
"Certainly," Alsconi said and smiled in the dark. "You would of course give me your word not to tell the police that you have landed me at Monte Carlo?"
"Of course," Don said gravely, knowing Alsconi would never let him go free.
"Then let's get on," Alsconi said and sat back.
It was striking three o'clock as Don drove along the sea road into Civitavecchia.
"Stop for a moment," Alsconi said. "There are a few details to be arranged."
Don pulled up.
"There is the guard at the harbour who may ask questions. I know most of the guards," Alsconi said, "but we may be unlucky.
Have your gun ready." He looked at Crantor. "I will open the window and speak to the guard. If he seems suspicious, shoot him. You have a silencer?"
"No," Crantor said.
"I have. Take my gun and give me yours." As Crantor appeared to fumble for his gun, he said, "There may be more than one guard." "There won't be at this hour."
Crantor had slipped his gun out of sight by his side and now with one hand, and it wasn't easy, he was unloading the gun.
"Give me your gun!" Alsconi snapped. "Why are you keeping me waiting?"
"It is caught in the lining of my pocket." "You shouldn't have kept it in your pocket, you fool!" Alsconi snarled.
"Hurry!"
You won't be calling me a fool much longer, Crantor thought savagely as he jacked the bullet out of the breech. He handed the empty gun to Alsconi and took the .45 that was equipped with a silencer.
"You two in front say nothing," Alsconi said, snatching Crantor's gun from his hand. "I shall shoot Lorelli through the head if you make a false move. Now, drive to the harbour entrance. It's straight ahead, and across the railway lines."
Don engaged gear. During the drive to Civitavecchia, he had been trying to think of a way to catch these two off their guard, but as long as they had guns in their hands, there was nothing he could do. He was confident his chance would come when he got on the motor launch. Crantor, he decided, was the dangerous one for he was active and his movements were quick. He was sure he could take Alsconi by surprise, but not Crantor.
He slowed down to pass over the railway track, then his headlights picked out the red and white bar that guarded the entrance to the harbour. By the bar was a sentry box. A man in khaki uniform with a rifle in his hand, stood by the bar and blinked in the glare of the lights. "Be ready," Alsconi said. "I will sit well back. You will have to shoot him through the window."
The guard ducked under the bar and came up to the car.
"It is all right," Alsconi muttered. "I know this man." Raising his voice, he called, "Is that you, Bellini? I haven't seen you for months. How are you?"
The guard grinned.
" II signor Tampato!" He came up to the window. "This is a pleasure! You are going perhaps to Rome? Is there anything I can do for you?"
"We are going to Rome," Alsconi said, "but as we were so near, I wished my friends to see the boat. Is Lombardo on board?"
"No, signore," the guard said. "He no longer sleeps on the boat. He married three weeks ago."
Alsconi's fat face tightened.
"Never mind," he said. "We will not be long. I just want them to see it."
"I am sorry, signore, but the harbour is closed. Less than an hour ago I had instructions from the police to let no one enter. There is some bandit attempting to escape."
Alsconi laughed.
"Do I look like a bandit? Come now; I shall not be long: a half an hour perhaps." His fingers dipped into his pocket and he took out a thousand lire note. "Here, buy yourself something to remember me by. You musn't keep my friends waiting."
"Thank you, signore, but please be as quick as you can. I will get into trouble if you are seen."
He went to the bar arid lifted it. Don drove under it.
"To the left," Alsconi said and waved to the guard.
They drove past a big shed that hid them from the guard.
"Stop here," Alsconi said. "Turn off the engine and give me the ignition key."
Don obeyed.
"I will remain in the car," Alsconi said to Crantor, "and watch these two. Put the boxes and our cases on board."
Crantor got out of the car. He looked for a moment at the powerful motor cruiser that was moored nearby, then he opened the boot of the car and carried the boxes across the quay and on to the boat. He returned for the suitcases, and having put them on board, he came over to the car.
"Get out, you two," Alsconi said.
Crantor stepped back and watched Lorelli and Don, followed by Alsconi, get out of the car.
"Now, Mr Micklem, I'll be obliged if you will go on board with Crantor and get the boat ready," Alsconi said.
Don took hold of Lorelli's arm.
"You're coming with me," he said, not liking the cold, vicious expression on Alsconi's face.
"No!" Alsconi said sharply. "Just you, Mr Micklem. She stays here."
"If she doesn't come with us, then I don't take you to Monte Carlo," Don said quietly.
"She is not coming!" Alsconi said violently. "You will do what you're told or you will be shot!"
"That won't get you to Monte Carlo," Don said, watching Alsconi closely. The look of maniacal rage in Alsconi's eyes warned him that he might shoot.
"Wait!" Crantor barked. He had moved away so that he could cover the three of them with the .45.
Alsconi looked at him, saw the gun was pointing at him, and his small eyes widened.
"Don't point that thing at me!" he rasped. Crantor smiled.
"You shouldn't have told me the police have a description of you. Tortoise," he said. "It's my turn now to call you a fool! They haven't a description of me. She's going on this trip, but you aren't. I have money, a boat, a navigator and a clear field. You'd only complicate..."
Alsconi swung up the .38 and pulled the trigger, his lips curling off his teeth in a vicious snarl. The faint click of the hammer told him the gun was empty. He looked down at the gun, his face slack, his eyes staring.
Crantor shot him three times in the body. The gun made three sharp plops like someone clapping his hands. Alsconi buckled at the knees, took two staggering steps forward, the .38 falling from his hand, then he spread out face down on the cobble stones.
Neither Don nor Lorelli moved.
Crantor swung the gun to cover them.
"Get on board!" he said harshly. "Hurry!"
Don moved to the edge of the quay and dropped down on to the deck. He held out his hands to Lorelli and swung her down beside him.
Crantor scrambled aboard, keeping away from them.
"Get the engine started," he said.
Don went down into the cockpit.
Lorelli said to Crantor, "What are you going to do with me? Why didn't you let him kill me?"
"I once said you and I could be useful to each other," Crantor said, staring at her. "You didn't seem to think much of the idea then. You have until Monte Carlo to change your mind. I have fifteen thousand pounds in that bag. I think there is a fortune in lire in those boxes. We could make a new start in life together. Think about it." He motioned with the gun.