“While we're in a confessing mood,” Austin said, “maybe you can tell me why your men followed me to Copenhagen.”

“A precaution. To be frank, I didn't know what to make of you. I knew from your identity card that you were with NUMA, but I didn't know why you were poking into the Oceanus operation, and assumed it must be an official mission. My curiosity was stirred, so I decided to keep an eye on you. You made no effort to hide your movements. My men happened to be nearby when you were at- tacked. How is the young lady you were with, by the way?” “She's fine, thanks to the alertness of your men.” “Then you're not angry at being followed?” “Not at all, but I wouldn't like to see you make it a habit.” “I understand.” Aguirrez paused in thought. “Am I correct to as- sume the men who attacked you were from Oceanus?”

“That seems a safe conclusion. The attackers resembled the guards I encountered at the Oceanus operation in the Faroes.”

“Oceanus tried to kill you twice. Be careful, my friend, they may try again.”

“They already have.”

Aguirrez didn't ask for details, and it was obvious he had other things on his mind. He rose from his chair and paced the room Blackthorne's manuscript clutched in his hand. “The people here must not know of this material. Without the relics, the Spanish gov- ernment will lose its incentive to move on Basque autonomy. But this goes beyond political matters,” he said in a hollow voice. “I have failed my ancestor Diego by not finding the relics.”

“There may still be a way.”

Aguirrez stopped his pacing and fixed Austin with a penetrating stare. “What are you saying?”

“We're both interested in nailing Oceanus to the wall. Let's talk about it, taking account, as you said before, of mutual interests.”

Aguirrez hiked his bushy eyebrows, but his face remained im- passive. Then he went over to a liquor cabinet and brought back two small glasses and a bottle of greenish-yellow liquor. He poured the glasses full and handed one to Austin, who recognized the distinc- tive scent ofizzara.

An hour later, Austin slid behind the wheel of his car. He wondered if he had made a deal that might come back to haunt him, but he trusted his instincts, which were all he had to go on at this point. He sensed that Aguirrez was devious but principled, and since they shared the same goals, it would be foolish not to form a loose al- liance.

He checked his cell phone and saw that there were two calls. The first was from the Trouts. He was relieved to hear from them. He knew from working with them on the Special Assignments Team that Paul and Gamay were able to take care of themselves, but at the same time, they had gone looking for Oceanus without knowing how dangerous their mission might be.