Johnston glanced back at Bellin, who was walking behind him. "Franois? What would you say?"
"I believe you know what you are doing - I mean, saying," Bellin said. "Funding varies from four to six hundred thousand U.S. Scandinavians, Germans and Americans cost more. Paleolithic costs more. But yes, half a million could be an average number."
Miss Delvert remained focused on Johnston: "And for your funding, Professor Johnston, how much contact are you required to have with ITC?"
"Almost none."
"Almost none? Truly?"
"Their president, Robert Doniger, came out two years ago. He's a history buff, and he was very enthusiastic, like a kid. And ITC sends a vice president about once a month. One is here right now. But by and large, they leave us alone."
"And what do you know about ITC itself?"
Johnston shrugged. "They do research in quantum physics. They make components used in MRIs, medical devices, and so forth. And they are developing several quantum-based dating techniques, to precisely date any artifact. We're helping with that."
"I see. And these techniques, they work?"
"We have prototype devices in our farmhouse office. So far they've proven too delicate for field work. They're always breaking down."
"But this is why ITC funds you - to test their equipment?"
"No," Johnston said. "It's the other way around. ITC is making dating equipment for the same reason ITC funds us - because Bob Doniger is enthusiastic about history. We're his hobby."
"An expensive hobby."
"Not for him," Johnston said. "He's a billionaire. He bought a Gutenberg Bible for twenty-three million. He bought the Rouen Tapestry at auction for seventeen million. Our project's just small change."
"Perhaps so. But Mr. Doniger is also a tough businessman."
"Yes."
"Do you really think he supports you out of personal interest?" Her tone was light, almost teasing.
Johnston looked directly at her. "You never know, Miss Delvert, what someone's reasons are."
Chris thought, He's suspicious, too.
Delvert seemed to sense it as well, and she immediately reverted to a more businesslike manner. "Of course, yes. But I ask this for a reason. Isn't it true that you do not own the results of your research? Anything you find, anything you discover, is owned by
ITC."
"Yes, that's correct."
"This doesn't bother you?"
"If I worked for Microsoft, Bill Gates would own the results of my research. Anything I found and discovered, Bill Gates would own."
"Yes. But this is hardly the same."
"Why not? ITC is a technical company, and Doniger set up this fund the way technical companies do such things. The arrangement doesn't bother me. We have the right to publish our findings - they even pay for publication."
"After they approve them."
"Yes. We send our reports to them first. But they have never commented."
"So you see no greater ITC plan behind all this?" she asked.
Johnston said, "Do you?"
"I don't know," she said. "That is why I am asking you. Because of course there are some extremely puzzling aspects to the behavior of ITC as a company."
"What aspects?"
"For example," she said, "they are one of the world's largest consumers of xenon."
"Xenon? You mean the gas?"
"Yes. It is used in lasers and electron tubes."
Johnston shrugged. "They can have all the xenon gas they want. I can't see how it concerns me."
"What about their interest in exotic metals? ITC recently purchased a Nigerian company to assure their supply of niobium."
"Niobium." Johnston shook his head. "What's niobium?"
"It is a metal similar to titanium."
"What's it used for?"
"Superconducting magnets, and nuclear reactors."
"And you wonder what ITC is using it for?" Johnston shook his head again. "You'd have to ask them, Miss Delvert."
"I did. They said it was for `research in advanced magnetics.' "
"There you are. Any reason not to believe them?"
"No," she said. "But as you said yourself, ITC is a research company. They employ two hundred physicists at their main facility, a place called Black Rock, in New Mexico. It is clearly and unquestionably a high-technology company."
"Yes"
"So I wonder: Why would a high-technology company want so much land?"
"Land?"
"ITC has purchased large land parcels in remote locations around the world: the mountains of Sumatra, northern Cambodia, southeast Pakistan, the jungles of central Guatemala, the highlands of Peru."
Johnston frowned. "Are you sure?"
"Yes. They have made acquisitions in Europe, as well. West of Rome, five hundred hectares. In Germany near Heidelberg, seven hundred hectares. In France, a thousand thousand hectares in the limestone hills above the River Lot. And finally, right here."
"Here?"
"Yes. Using British and Swedish holding companies, they have very quietly acquired five hundred hectares, all around your site. It is mostly forest and farmland, at the moment."
"Holding companies?" he said.
"That makes it very difficult to trace. Whatever ITC is doing, it clearly requires secrecy. But why would this company fund your research, and also buy the land all around the site?"
"I have no idea," Johnston said. "Especially since ITC doesn't own the site itself. You'll recall they gave the entire area - Castelgard, Sainte-Mre and La Roque - to the French government last year."
"Of course. For a tax exemption."
"But still, ITC does not own the site. Why should they buy land around it?"
"I will be happy to show you everything I have."
"Perhaps," Johnston said, "you should."
"My research is just in the car."
They started together toward the Land Rover. Watching them go, Bellin clucked his tongue. "Ah, dear, dear. It is so difficult to trust these days."
Chris was about to answer in his bad French when his radio clicked. "Chris?" It was David Stern, the project technologist. "Chris, is the Professor with you? Ask him if he knows somebody named James Wauneka."
Chris pressed the button on his radio. "The Professor's busy right now. What's it about?"
"He's some guy in Gallup. He's called twice. Wants to send us a picture of our monastery that he says he found in the desert."
"What? In the desert?"
"He might be a little cracked. He claims he's a cop, and he keeps babbling on about some dead ITC employee."
"Have him send it to our e-mail address," Chris said. "You take a look at it."
He clicked the radio off. Bellin was looking at his watch, clucking again, then looking at the car, where Johnston and Delvert were standing, their heads almost touching as they pored over papers. "I have appointments," he said mournfully. "Who knows how long this will take?"
"I think," Chris said, "perhaps not long."
Twenty minutes later, Bellin was driving off with Miss Delvert at his side, and Chris was standing with the Professor, waving good-bye. "I think that went rather well," Johnston said.
"What'd she show you?"
"Some land-purchase records, for the area around here. But it's not persuasive. Four parcels were bought by a German investment group about which little is known. Two parcels were bought by a British attorney who claims he's going to retire here; another by a Dutch banker for his grown daughter; and so on."
"The British and the Dutch have been buying land in the Prigord for years," Chris said. "It's nothing new."
"Exactly. She has some idea that all the purchases could be traced to ITC. But it's pretty tenuous. You have to be a believer."
The car was gone. They turned and walked toward the river. The sun was higher in the sky now, and it was getting warm.
Cautiously, Chris said, "Charming woman."
"I think," Johnston said, "that she works too hard at her job."
They got into the rowboat tied up at the river's edge, and Chris rowed them across to Castelgard.