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Turning a corner and te into the driveway of a house and parked behind a large oleander bush A few h speed and was soon lost in a dust cloud They re for a few minutes before Moreau backed out of the driveway and joined the traffic rush again on the main road

"We've lost him, but I'm afraid it may be only temporary"

"Having missed us," mused Dirk, "he may pull the same trick and wait for us"

"I doubt it," said Suoose chase"

"You lose" Dirk laughed, pointing through the windshield toward the green Ford that was parked along the side of the road, its driver talking excitedly over a cell phone "Pull over next to him, Charles"

Co up behind the taxi slowly, Moreau suddenly pulled around and stopped inches away Dirk leaned out theand knocked on the door of the taxi

"Are you looking for us?"

The startled driver took one look at Dirk's grinning face, dropped the cell phone, jammed his foot on the accelerator and tore off down the palm-lined road toward the town of Sainte-Anne, his wheels spinning in the gravel of the shoulder until they struck the asphalt and shrieked in protest Moreau pulled the car over and stopped, watching the taxi disappear in the traffic ahead

"The lady at the airport and now this," Moreau said quietly "Who can be interested in a pair of representatives fro expedition?"

"The word treasure is a powerful aphrodisiac and spreads like an epidemic," said Summer "Somehoord of our intent arrived ahead of us"

Dirk stared thoughtfully into the distance at the point in the road where the taxi had vanished "We'll know for certain to in our e sail over to Branwyn Island"

"Are you familiar with Branwyn Island?" Summer asked Moreau

"Enough to know that it's dangerous to go near it," Moreau said quietly "It used to be called Isle de Rouge, French for red, because of its reddish volcanic soil The nener renaoddess known as the Venus of the Northern Seas and the deity of love and beauty Conversely, a the more superstitious natives it lives up to its reputation as the island of death"

Dirk was enjoying the warh his open"Because of treacherous reefs or heavy surf?"

"No," answered Moreau, braking so two children in colorful dresses could cross the road "The person ns the island does not like trespassers"