On it, grouped in a triangle, were three small brown dots, like small moles. It was enough.

I rose, balanced the Colt. ' Central Intelligence Agency.

American.'

Mac peered and shook his head. All I see are three brown moles.'

' Take a close look and you'll see they're not pigmented,'

I said shortly. It's the secret mark of the CIA'S agents. It's how they identify each other.'

Mac examined the ' moles ' closely and gave a soft whistle. '

Tattoo.'

He looked admiringly at me. Where didyer pick up that one?'

I shrugged. I worked a long time with Geoffrey Peace. And Peace worked with Naval Intelligence.'

Mac looked thoughtfully at the muscular figure. ' What did he want with-?' He nodded, leaving the name unsaid, as if he couldn't bring himself to speak it. Mac was closer to Peace than even I had been; it was a blind, headlong devotion backed by a cunning and ruthlessness learned in the gutters of Glasgow. I knew Mac's past; I also knew there was nothing he would not have done for Peace. Perhaps it was only because he was still suffering from his bender that he hadn't killed the CIA man with the jagged whisky bottle. He looked dangerous enough now he knew who the intruder was.

What did he say to you?' he asked hoarsely.

Not a word,' I replied. ' He came at me as silently as a snake.'

An order was shouted from outside and an engine went into reverse. I felt the launch come expertly alongside. Another order, and heavy feet on the deck.

Quick!' I said to Mac. That's the Navy.

E n g i n e – r o o m, ' h e r e p l i e d. H e l p m e w i t h h i m – j u s t a s far as the companionway.'

We half-carried, half-dragged the limp figure from the cabin as several pairs of boots fell into step on the planking a b o v e. I s n a p p e d t h e d o o r s h u t b e h i n d M a c a n d t r i e d t o straighten my clothes in the bar mirror, but before I had run a comb through my hair a man in admiral's uniform, with two officers behind, stood in the doorway. He came forward, stopped at the sight of me, the broken bottle, and the stench of whisky. He stretched out his hand.