A few minutes later, Aguirrez came strolling out of a hallway. Aguirrez had shed his blue sweat suit and black beret and was im- peccably dressed in a dark-gray suit that would have cost Austin a week's pay. But even the best of tailors couldn't hide the peasant hands and sturdy physique. He was talking to a snowy-haired man who walked beside him, hands behind his back, head lowered in thought as he listened intently to what the Basque was saying. Aguir- rez saw Austin and waved at him. The two men broke off their con- versation, parting with warm handshakes and smiles. Aguirrez

strode over to where Austin stood and wrapped an arm around his shoulder.

“Mr. Austin,” he said cheerfully. “How nice to see you again. I'm sorry I didn't introduce you to the ambassador, but he was late for a meeting. Come this way.”

Aguirrez led Austin down a hallway to a door into what had been a drawing room in one of the old houses that were part of the em- bassy complex. The centerpiece was an oversized marble fireplace, and the room itself was comfortably appointed with plush rugs and heavy, dark wood furniture. Oil paintings of Spanish rural scenes decorated the walls.

As they took their seats, Aguirrez evidently noted the wondering look on Austin's face, because he said, “You look puzzled, Mr. Austin.”

Austin saw no reason to beat around the bush. “I'm surprised to find you here-a man accused of being a Basque terrorist within the walls of the Spanish Embassy.”

Aguirrez didn't seem offended. “You have obviously looked into my background, which I expected, so you know that the accusations have not been substantiated.”

“Still, I noticed that you're not wearing your black beret.” Aguirrez gave out a booming laugh. “In deference to my hosts, I have shed my chapeau, although I miss wearing it. I think that some in this building might think I had a bomb under the beret, and their nervousness would interfere with our work.”

“Which is?”

“To settle the Basque problem peacefully once and for all.”

“That's a tall order after hundreds of years of conflict.”

“I'm confident it can be accomplished.”

“What happened to your ancestral quest?”

“The past and the present are inseparable in this cause. The Basque separatists want a homeland. The Spanish government has experi- mented with autonomy, with unfortunate results. If I find the relics I am looking for, their discovery could set off an emotional wave of Basque nationalism. I know my people. It would tear Spain apart.”

“So you have suddenly become very important to the Spanish gov- ernment.”

He nodded. “I have met with high-level officials in Madrid who asked me to inform your State Department people of the situation and assure them I am not a terrorist. I have agreed, once I find the relics, to put them in safekeeping.”

“What's to prevent you from going back on your word?”