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〃You have my word。〃 The line went dead。 Dr。 Hilsinger dialed a number。
〃I just heard from mander Bellamy。 I'm meeting him at the American Hospital in half an hour。。。。〃
〃Thank you； Doctor。〃
Dr。 Hilsinger replaced the receiver。 He heard the reception door open and looked up。 Robert Bellamy was standing there with a gun in his hand。
〃On second thought；〃 Robert said； 〃it might be better if you treated me here。〃
The doctor tried to conceal his surprise。
〃You…you should be in a hospital。〃
〃Too close to the morgue。 Patch me up and make it fast。〃 It was difficult to talk。
He started to protest； then thought better of it。
〃Yes。 Whatever you say。 I'd better give you an anesthetic。 It will…〃
〃Don't even think about it；〃 Robert said。
〃No tricks。〃
He was holding the gun in his left hand。
〃If I don't get out of here alive； neither do you。 Any questions？〃
He felt faint。
Dr。 Hilsinger swallowed。
〃No。〃
〃Then get to work。。。。〃
Dr。 Hilsinger led Robert into the next room； an examining room filled with medical equipment。 Slowly and carefully； Robert slipped out of his jacket。 Holding the gun in his hand； he sat down on the table。
Dr。 Hilsinger had a scalpel in his hand。 Robert's fingers tightened on the trigger。
〃Relax；〃 Dr。 Hilsinger said nervously。
〃I'm just going to cut your shirt。〃
The wound was raw and red and seeping blood。
〃The bullet is still in there；〃 Dr。 Hilsinger said。
〃You won't be able to stand the pain unless I give you…〃
〃No！〃 He was not going to let himself be drugged。
〃Just take it out。〃
〃Whatever you say。〃
Robert watched the doctor walk over to a sterilizing unit and put in a pair of forceps。 Robert sat on the edge of the table； fighting off the dizziness that threatened to engulf him。 He closed his eyes for a moment； and Dr。 Hilsinger was standing in front of him； the forceps in his hand。
〃Here we go。〃 He pushed the forceps into the raw wound； and Robert screamed aloud with the pain。 Bright lights flashed in front of his eyes。 He started to lose consciousness。
〃It's out；〃 Dr。 Hilsinger said。
Robert sat there for a moment trembling； taking deep breaths； fighting to regain control of himself。
Dr。 Hilsinger was watching him closely。
〃Are you all right？〃
It took Robert a moment to find his voice。
〃Yes。 。。。 Patch it up。〃
The doctor poured peroxide into the wound； and Robert started to pass out again。 He gritted his teeth。 Hang on。 We're almost there。
And finally； blessedly； the worst was over。 The doctor was strapping a heavy bandage across Robert's shoulder。
〃Give me my jacket；〃 Robert said。
Dr。 Hilsinger stared at him。
〃You can't go out now。
You can't even walk。〃
〃Bring me my jacket。〃 His voice was so weak he could hardly talk。
He watched the doctor walk across the room to get his jacket； and there seemed to be two of him。
〃You've lost a lot of blood；〃 Dr。 Hilsinger cautioned。
〃It would be dangerous for you to leave。〃 And more dangerous for me to stay； Robert thought。 Carefully； he slipped his jacket on and tried to stand。
His legs began to buckle。 He grabbed the side of the table。
〃You'll never make it；〃 Dr。 Hilsinger warned。 Robert looked up at the blurry figure in front of him。
〃I'll make it。〃 But he knew that the moment he left； Dr。
Hilsinger would be on the phone again。 Robert's eyes fell on the spool of heavy surgical tape Dr。 Hilsinger had used。
〃Sit in the chair。〃 His words were slurred。
〃Why？ What are you…？〃
Robert raised the gun。
〃Sit down。〃
Dr。 Hilsinger sat。 Robert picked up the roll of tape。 It was awkward because he only had the use of one hand。 He pulled the end of the wide tape loose and began to unroll it。 He moved over to Dr。
Hilsinger。
〃Just sit quietly and you won't get hurt。〃 He fastened the end of the tape to the arm of the chair； and then started winding it around the doctor's hands。
〃This really isn't necessary；〃 Dr。 Hilsinger said。
〃I won't…〃
〃Shut up。〃 Robert continued to bind the doctor to the chair。 The effort had started the rivers of pain flowing again。 He looked at the doctor and said quietly； 〃I'm not going to faint。〃
He fainted。
* * * He was floating in space； drifting weightlessly through white clouds； at peace。 Wake up。 He did not want to wake up。 He wanted this wonderful feeling to go on forever。 Wake up。 Something hard was pressing against his side。 Something in his jacket pocket。 With his eyes still closed； he reached in and held it in his hand。 It was the crystal。 He drifted back to sleep。
Robert。 It was a woman's voice； soft and soothing。 He was in a lovely green meadow； and the air was filled with music； and there were bright lights in the sky overhead。 A woman was moving toward him。 She was tall and beautiful with a gentle； oval face and a soft； almost translucent plexion。 She was dressed in a snow white gown。 Her voice was gentle and hushed。
〃No one's going to hurt you anymore； Robert。 e to me。 I'm waiting here for you。〃 Slowly； Robert opened his eyes。
He lay there for a long moment； then sat up； filled with a sudden sense of excitement。 He knew now who the eleventh witness was； and he knew where he was to meet her。
Day Twenty…three Paris； France
Robert telephoned Admiral Whittaker from the doctor's office。
〃Admiral？ Robert。〃
〃Robert！ What's going on？ They told me…〃
〃Never mind that now。 I need your help； Admiral。 Have you ever heard the name Janus？〃
Admiral Whittaker said slowly； 〃Janus？ No。 I never heard of him。〃
Robert said； 〃I've found out he's heading some kind of secret organization that's killing innocent people； and now he's trying to kill me。 We have to stop him。〃
〃How can I help？〃
〃I need to get to the President。 Can you arrange a meeting？〃
There was a moment of silence。
〃I'm certain I can。〃
〃There's more。 General Hilliard is involved。〃
〃What？ How？〃
〃And there are others。 Most of the intelligence agencies in Europe are in it； too。 I can't explain anymore now。 I want you to call Hilliard。 Tell him I've found an eleventh witness。〃
〃I don't understand。 An eleventh witness to what？〃
〃I'm sorry； Admiral； but I can't tell you。 Hilliard will know。 I want him to meet me in Switzerland。〃
〃Switzerland？〃
〃Tell him I'm the only one who knows where the eleventh witness is。
If he makes one wrong move； the deal is off。 Tell him to go to the Dolder Grand in Zurich。 There will be a note waiting for him at the desk。 Tell him I also want Janus in Switzerland…in person。〃
〃Robert； are you certain you know what you're doing？〃
〃No； sir； I'm not。 But this is the only chance I've got。 I want you to tell him my conditions are not negotiable。 Number one； I want safe passage to Switzerland。 Number two； I want General Hilliard and Janus to meet me there。 Number three； after that； I want a meeting with the President of the United States。〃
〃I will do everything I can； Robert。 How will I get in touch with you？〃 〃I'll call you back。 How much t