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〃Illegal discounts？〃
The manager was staring at Robert； puzzled。
〃We give discounts only to our employees。
〃Don't you give discounts to priests？〃
The manager's face brightened。
〃Ah； that； yes。 But that is not illegal。 We have arrangements with the Catholic church。〃
Robert's heart soared。
〃So； if a priest wanted to fly from Rome； say； to Switzerland； he would use this airline？〃
〃Well； it would be cheaper for him。 Yes。〃
Robert said； 〃In order to bring our puters up…to date； it would be helpful if you could tell me how many priests have flown to Switzerland in the past two weeks。 You would have a record of that； wouldn't you？〃
〃Yes； of course。 For tax purposes。〃
〃I would really appreciate that information。〃
〃You wish to know how many priests have flown to Switzerland in the past two weeks？〃
〃Yes。 Zurich or Geneva。〃
〃Just a moment。 I will talk to our puters。〃
Five minutes later； the manager returned with a puter printout。
〃There was only one priest who flew Alitalia to Switzerland in the past two weeks。〃 He consulted the printout。
〃He left Rome on the seventh and flew to Zurich。 His return flight was booked for two days ago。〃
Robert took a deep breath。 〃His name？〃
〃Father Romero Patrini。〃
〃His address？〃
He looked down at the paper again。
〃He lives in Orvieto。 If you need any further…〃 He looked up。
Robert was gone。
Day Seven Orvieto； Italy
Robert stopped the car on a hairpin bend on route 5…71； and there across the valley； high on a rise of volcanic rock； was a breathtaking view of the city。 It was an ancient Etruscan center with a world…famous cathedral； half a dozen churches； and a priest who had witnessed the crash of a UFO。
The town was untouched by time； with cobblestone streets and lovely old buildings； and an open…air market where farmers came to sell their fresh vegetables and chickens。
Robert found a parking place in the Piazza del Duomo。
He crossed to the cathedral and went inside。 The enormous interior was deserted； except for an elderly priest who was just leaving the altar。
〃Excuse me； Father；〃 Robert said。
〃I'm looking for a priest from this town who was in Switzerland last week。 Perhaps you…〃 The priest drew back； his face hostile。
〃I cannot discuss this。〃
Robert looked at him in surprise。
〃I don't understand。 I just want to find…〃
〃He is not of this church。 He is from the Church of San Giovenale。〃 And the priest hurried past Robert。
Why is he so unfriendly？
The Church of San Giovenale was in the Quartiere Vecchio； a colorful area with medieval towers and churches。 A young priest was tending the garden next to it。 He looked up as Robert approached。
〃Buon giorno； signore。〃
〃Good morning。 I'm looking for one of the priests who was in Switzerland last week。 He 〃Yes； yes。 Poor Father Patrini。 It was a terrible； terrible thing that happened to him。〃
〃I don't understand。 What terrible thing？〃
〃Seeing the devil's chariot。 It was more than he could stand。 The poor man had a nervous breakdown。〃
〃I'm sorry to hear that；〃 Robert said。
〃Where is he now？ I would like to talk to him。〃
〃He's in the hospital near the Piazza di San Patrizio； but I doubt if the doctors will allow anyone to see him。〃 Robert stood there； troubled。 A man suffering a nervous breakdown was not going to be much help。
〃I see。 Thank you very much。〃
The hospital was an unpretentious one…story building near the outskirts of the city。 He parked the car and walked into the small lobby。 There was a nurse behind the reception desk。
〃Good morning；〃 Robert said。
〃I would like to see Father Patrini。〃
〃Mi scusi； ma…that is impossible。 He cannot speak with anyone。〃
Robert was determined not to be stopped now。 He had to follow up the lead Professor Schmidt had given him。
〃You don't understand；〃 Robert said smoothly。
〃Father Patrini asked to see me。 I've e to Orvieto at his request。〃
〃He asked to see you？〃
〃Yes。 He wrote to me in America。 I've e all this way just to see him。〃
The nurse hesitated。
〃I do not know what to say。 He is very ill。
Molto。〃
〃I'm sure it would cheer him up to see me。〃
〃The doctor is not here…〃 She made a decision。
〃Very well。 You may go into his room； sjgnore； but you may only stay a few minutes。〃
〃That's all I'll need；〃 Robert said。
〃This way； per piacere。〃
They walked down a short corridor with small； neat rooms on either side。 The nurse led Robert to one of the doors。
〃Only a few minutes； signore。〃
〃Grazie。〃
Robert entered the little room。 The man in the bed looked like a pale shadow lying on the white sheets。 Robert approached him and said softly； 〃Father The priest turned to look up at him； and Robert had never seen such agony in a man's eyes。
〃Father； my name is…〃 He grabbed Robert's arm。
〃Help me；〃 the priest mumbled。
〃You must help me。 My faith is gone。 All my life I have preached of God and the Holy Spirit； and now I know that there is no God。 There is only the devil； and he has e for us…〃
〃Father； if you…〃
〃I saw it with my own eyes。 There were two of them in the devil's chariot； but； oh； there will be more！ Others will e！ Wait and see。
We are all doomed to hell。〃
〃Father…listen to me。 What you saw was not the devil。 It was a space vehicle that…〃 The priest let go of Robert and looked at him with sudden clarity。
〃Who are you？ What do you want？〃
Robert said； 〃I'm a friend。 I came here to ask you about the bus trip you took in Switzerland。〃
〃The bus。 I wish I had never gone near it。〃 The priest was being agitated again。
Robert hated to press him； but he had no choice。
〃You sat next to a man on that bus。 A Texan。 You had a long conversation with him； remember？〃
〃A conversation。 The Texan。 Yes； I remember。〃
〃Did he mention where he lived in Texas？〃
〃Yes； I remember him。 He was from America。〃
〃Yes。 From Texas。 Did he tell you where his home was？〃
〃Yes； yes。 He told me。〃
〃Where； Father？ Where is his home？〃
〃Texas。 He talked of Texas。〃
Robert nodded encouragingly。
〃That's right。〃
〃I saw them with my own eyes。 I wish God had blinded me。 I…〃
〃Father…the man from Texas。 Did he say where he was from？ Did he mention a name？〃
〃Texas； yes。 The Ponderosa。〃
Robert tried again。
〃That's on television。 This was a real man。
He sat next to you onThe priest was being delirious again。
〃They're ing！ Armageddon is here。 The Bible lies！ It is the devil who will invade the earth。〃
He was shouting loudly now。
〃Look out！ Look out！ I can see them！〃
The nurse came hurrying in。 She looked at Robert reprovingly。
〃You will have to leave； signore。〃
〃I need just one more minute…〃
〃No； signore。 Adesso！〃
Robert took one last look at the priest。 He was raving incoherently。 Robert turned to go。 There was nothing further he could do。 He had gambled on the priest giving him a lead to the Texan； and he had lost。
Robert returned to his car and headed back toward Rome。 It was finally