"& Dirgo, Craig - Dirk Pitt - Clive Cussler and Dirk Pitt Revealed (b)" - читать интересную книгу автора (Cussler Clive)

You look pensive."

She tilted her head, unconcerned that an apparent stranger had used herfirst name and not referred to her as Congresswoman. She flashed adisarming smile and stared at him.

She recognized me, he thought. She actually recognized me.

"How is Mr. Periwinkle?" she asked.

"My burro? Last I saw him, he was running wild with a small herd in theMojave Desert. I imagine he's a father several times by now."

"You sold the Box Car Cafe?"

"It retreated under the desert sands."

"This is the last place I expected to meet you again," she said, tryingto read whatever was hidden in his eyes.

"I felt I had to be here, so I crashed the party."

"You didn't receive an invitation?"

"I must have been overlooked." He turned and scanned the crowd silentlyfor a few moments before turning his attention back to Loren.

"Have you seen Pitt?"

"I talked to him about twenty minutes ago. He must be mingling with theother guests."

"Perhaps I'll catch him on the way out."

"You're leaving so soon? The party is just beginning to getinteresting."

He hated to tear himself away from those violet eyes. "I must go.

Good to have seen you again, Loren."

"Give my regards to Mr. Periwinkle."

"If I see him, I shall."

She reached out and touched his arm. "Odd, but it feels as if I'veknown you most of my life."

He shook his head and smiled. "No, it is I who have known you. Thiswill be my only chance to tell you that you have been the girl of mydreams."

He left her in the Stutz alone with her memories and an expression ofnostalgia on her face as he merged with the guests and headed toward thedoor.

When he stopped to retrieve his overcoat, he paused and looked aroundthe floor of the hangar once more, at the wondrous cars, the fascinatingpeople, and wished he could stay longer. There were so many others inthe hangar he had known over the past thirty years, whom he didn't havetime to talk with. But he realized the illusion was fleeting and timewas short.

He was about to step out when Dirk Pitt walked in from outside.

"I thought I had missed you," said the stranger.