They shoved the unconscious man into the back of the truck and rummaged through the collection until they found what they wanted. They carried their loot back to Doyle's van and changed into the costumes. In a short time, the bikers dressed in jeans and T-shirts were gone. In their place were three Confederate and three Union soldiers. They tucked sawed-off shotguns in their belts, then got back on their motorcycles and spread out like hungry wolves in search of prey.

Doyle left the van and joined the flow of foot traffic. As he moved through the stream of spectators and costumed participants, he scanned the crowd like radar. Doyle had near-perfect vision that was a valuable asset for a hunter and his sharp eye picked out Austin's white hair. A second later, Doyle saw the attractive blond woman by Austin's side. Her face was the same one the computer in the van had identified as Karla Janos.

He unclipped a hand radio from his belt and sent a quick message to Lucifer's Legion.

AUSTIN HAD found the steamer cars. There were about twenty antique Stanleys lined up along the edge of the field. A middle-aged man with a clipboard in hand was moving along the line of cars.

“I'm looking for someone with a little authority,” Austin said, purposely setting himself up for the old gag.

The man grinned. “I've got as little authority as anyone.” He proffered his hand. “Doug Reilly. I'm president of the Virginia Stanley Steamer Club. What can I do for you?”

“I'm looking for a car owner named Dirk Pitt.”

“Oh sure, Pitt's the replica of the 1906 Vanderbilt Cup racer over there.” Reilly pointed to an open red car whose long rounded hood was shaped like a coffin. “There were only two originals and neither exists as far as we know. Engines from a Stanley, though. Great hill climber.”

“Which one's yours?”

Reilly led them over to a shiny black 1926 sedan and pointed out the car's unique features like a proud father. “You know anything about these old buggies?”

“I drove one at a steamer rally once. I spent more time watching the controls than watching the road.”

“That about sums it up,” Reilly said with a chuckle. “The Stanley Steamer was the fastest and most powerful vehicle of its day. A Stanley with the 'canoe' body broke the world's speed record with 127 miles per hour back in 1906. They deliver full power the second you hit the throttle. With their diesel drive, they could go from a standing start to sixty while most gas-powered cars were grinding through the gears.”

“It's surprising that we're not all driving steam cars today,” Austin said.