She laughed. "Shame on you. You told me your rank was under that of a sergeant."

"No. I only said that I've never been a sergeant, and that's the truth."

She slipped her hand through Pitt's arm. "Has Uncle Bruno been boring you with his flying tales of the Great War?"

"Fascinating me maybe, but not boring," Pitt answered. Her eyes looked scared behind her smile. He wondered what she was thinking.

Teri shook her head from side to side. "You men and your war stories." She kept staring at Pitt's uniform and insignia of rank. This didn't seem like the same man she had loved on the beach. This one was much more charming and sophisticated. "You may have Dirk after dinner, Uncle Bruno, but right now he's mine."

Von Till expertly clicked his heels and bowed. "As you wish my dear. For the next hour and a half, you shall be our commanding officer."

She wrinkled her nose at von Till. "That's awfully decent of you, Uncle. In that case my first order is for both of you to march to the dinner table."

Teri pulled Pitt out to the terrace and led him down a sloping stairway that ended on a circular overhanging balcony.

The view was breathtaking. Far below the villa the lights of Liminas were blinking on house by house. And across the sea, the early stars began to poke their tips into a spreading blanket of black. In the middle of the balcony, a table was set with service for three. A large yellow globe containing six candles illuminated the setting and cast an intriguing glow over the table, turning the silver dinnerware to gold.

Pitt eased Teri's chair back for her and whispered in her ear. "You better be careful. You know how stimulated I get in romantic atmospheres."

She looked up at him and her eyes smiled. "Why do you think I planned it this way?"

Before Pitt could answer, von Till walked up followed by the giant dog, and snapped his fingers. Instantly, a young girl in native Greek costume materialized and set down an appetizer of mixed cheeses, olives and cucumbers. Next came a chicken soup, flavored with lemon and egg yolks. Then the main course: baked oysters mixed with onions and minced nuts. Von Till uncorked the wine—Retsina—a fine old Greek wine. Its resin flavor reminded Pitt of turpentine. After the serving girl cleared the dishes, she brought a tray of fruit and then poured the coffee made in the Turkish manner, the powdered beans settling like silt on the bottom of the cup.

Pitt forced down the strong unsweetened coffee and rubbed knees with Teri. He expected a girlish grin but instead she looked at him with frightened eyes. It seemed she was trying to tell him something.

"Well, Major," said von Till. "I hope you enjoyed our little repast."

"Yes, thank you," replied Pitt. "It was excellent."