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Major was not at New Scotland Yard； but when Croaker identified himself； Major's sergeant directed him to a site on Flood Street in Chelsea。 Croaker was obliged to take an exorbitantly expensive taxi … though he reminded himself that he was back on Senator Dedalus's expense account … because the tube didn't run into Chelsea； and he could make neither head nor tail of the bus routes。
Flood Street； not surprisingly； ran southward into the Chelsea Embankment； which snaked along that section of the Thames。 Perhaps owing to its relative inaccessibility； Chelsea remained one of the last enclaves of civilized residences that had once made London famous the world over。
He found Tom Major overseeing a contingent of police engineers digging up a front yard where a body had been unearthed by the new owner planting an elm tree。 Neat rows of iris and tulip bulbs； sleeping during winter； were laid out atop piles of earth。 Sheets of plastic had been set down upon which at least three partial skeletons had been painstakingly arranged as the bones had been unearthed。
〃No wonder this garden grew like the devil；〃 Croaker heard one of the police excavators say。
Major was crouched over one of the plastic sheets； moving earth and roots away from a skull with the end of his pen while a photographer shot a series of photos from every conceivable angle。
〃Thomas。〃
Major looked up； an annoyed expression on his face； which evaporated as soon as he saw Croaker； 〃Christ Jesus；〃 he said； standing and brushing off his trousers。 〃Will you look who's risen from the grave。〃 A couple of the engineers stopped to glance over at the two men； but were soon back at work。 〃What brings you to sunny London； old son？〃 He stuck out his hand； gave Croaker's hand a firm squeeze。 〃It wouldn't be pleasure； not at this time of year。〃
〃Business； I'm afraid。〃
Major looked Croaker up and down； then sniffed loudly。 〃Didn't bring me a pastrami from the Stage Deli； did you？〃
〃Sorry； no。 I didn't think I could get it past Customs。〃
Major laughed。 〃It's all right； old son。 My cholesterol's sky…high。 All that steak and kidney； although my cardiologist reckons I've got to cut down on the stress。〃 He pointed to the remains at his feet； 〃Look at this。 Remarkable what one human being can do to another； isn't it？〃
One of Major's minions came up。 〃We've finished the prelims on all the neighbors； Guv。 What now？〃
〃Go home； get some sleep。〃 Major gestured。 〃Tell the lads the same。 But have the new owner in DCI Hollworth's office in Lucan Street at nine sharp tomorrow。 I'll have to liaise with him before this case turns nasty。〃
〃What are you going to give him？〃
〃Only as much as I have to； that the first body to be brought out has been identified as a foreign national； which is why our lot have been brought in。〃
Major turned back to Croaker。 〃Been at this enamel house since before sunrise。 Less stress。 My doctor must be as mad as a hatter。〃
〃Look； Tom； I can see you've got your hands full； but do you have a minute to talk？ I need some help。〃
〃Help is it？ Fancy a drink？ There's a pub on the King's Road。〃 Major rubbed his eyes with his thumbs and； with a heartfelt groan； stretched his back。 〃Glad you came along。 I could use a break。 Brain gets stale working in the same mode for hours at a time。〃 He told one of the remaining engineers where he'd be； then he and Croaker set off up Flood Street。
〃D'you have a place to kip for the night？〃
〃If you mean a hotel room； no。 I just got in。〃
〃A rolling stone； eh？〃 Major grinned。 〃Just like you； Lewis。〃
Major was the one person Croaker had ever known who called him Lewis。 Even his father had called him Lew。 They reached the King's Road and turned right。
〃Well； you can bunk down with me if you've a mind to。〃
〃I don't want to upset the missus。〃
〃I wouldn't worry about that； old son。 Moira moved out more than two years ago。〃
〃Sorry。〃
〃It's the frigging job。〃 Major opened the door to the pub； and the familiar beery smell hit them。 〃Can't be married to a person and a job all at once。 At least； not a job like this one。〃 He shrugged。 〃Her most mon plaint was that the phone was more important than she was。 Quite right she was； too。 I miss her； but the truth is I'd miss the job more。〃
They sat at a wooden table stained dark with age and smoke。 Major ordered pints of ale and plates of food； sausage rolls to start； then shepherd's pie。 Croaker closed his eyes and tried to mentally calm his stomach。
Over the meal； Croaker outlined whom he was following and a heavily censored version of why。 Basically； he told Major that he was working on a case involving illegal international arms traders。 This story had the twin virtues of being a half…truth and of particular interest to Major； who； when he was not helping the Metropolitan Police in sorting out mass…murder sites； was most often involved with arms brokers who used London as a staging area for illicit shipments to the Middle East。
〃Eaton Square is a pretty posh spot；〃 Major said when Croaker told him where Vesper had gone from the airport。 He had； of course； mentioned nothing about her frequent changes of disguises。 〃There's pots of money involved； anyway。〃 Major forked up a mouthful of shepherd's pie。 〃You say this woman's somehow involved with an American pany called Morgana； Inc。？〃
Croaker nodded。 〃It's a very good bet they're somehow linked with Malory Enterprises； in Hammersmith。 Morgana's books say it's in the arms shipment business。 And the kind of merch they move es straight from Uncle Sam's storehouse； which is closed up tighter than a duck's ass。〃
Major took a long swig of ale and his gaze turned inward。 He was silent for so long that Croaker was prompted to say； 〃What's up； Tom？〃
Major's eyes refocused on Croaker。 〃I was just thinking。。。 It's odd； really。。。〃
〃What is？〃
〃The names of the panies。 Morgana and Malory。 They've put me in mind of a legend。 Morgana was Merlin's sister and； it was said； a powerful magician in her own right。 Only her magic was far more elemental； derived from the tradition of the druids。 The legend had been told and retold many times； but the most renowned version； Morte d'Arthur； was written by Sir Thomas Malory。 Not many people know this； but he was something of a blackguard … a poacher； extortionist； and finally； a murderer。 He wrote the book in prison。〃 Major looked at Croaker。 〃What's bitten you； old son？〃
Croaker had gone white。 The heavy food seemed to have congealed in the pit of his stomach。 〃Tom； according to Malory's legend； where did Arthur have his court？〃
〃Camelot。 Everyone knows that。〃
〃And the secret place where he was meant to rule？〃
〃Avalon。〃 Major cocked his head。 〃It was a kind of fairy city； floating in the mist。 Some say it was druidic； Morgana's home。 What are you on about？〃
Croaker's mind was running at full bore； but the rational part of him was having a hard time keeping up with the intuitive side。 He remembered John Jay Arkham telling him that Vesper's education had been funded by the Avalon Foundation； as in King Arthur。
〃There's a pany my partner infiltrated that's also in the arms racket；〃 Croaker said。 〃It's tied in to an international cartel