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A few seconds passed as the aide relayed the information He said, “At all costs”

“It will be an honor,” Spenser said as he thought back on the history

THE Golden Buddha dated from 1288, when the rulers of ould later become Vietnam commissioned the work to celebrate their victory over the forces of Kublai Khan Five hundred and ninety-six pounds of solid gold mined in Laos had been forhtened One Chunks of jade fro of Burmese rubies wound around the neck Buddha’s potbelly had been outlined in sapphires froe rounded opal that glowed iridescently The icon had been given as a gift to the first Dalai Lama in the year 1372

For 587 years, the Golden Buddha had remained in a monastery in Tibet and then acco transported with the Dalai Lama on a trip to the United States for display, however, it had disappeared from the airport in Manila

President Ferdinand Marcos had always been the prime suspect Since then, the ownership had always remained cloudy, until suddenly it had mysteriously reappeared for the auction The seller’s identity would

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While it was almost impossible to place a value on such a rare artifact, that was exactly as about to happen The preauction estimates had conservatively placed the value at between 100 million and 120 million

“WE will start the bidding at fifty million US dollars,” the auctioneer said

A low starting point, Spenser thought The gold alone orth twice that It was the history, not the beauty, that made it a priceless piece of art Must be the orld economic climate, Spenser concluded

“We have fifty million,” the auctioneer said, “now sixty”

Talbot raised his paddle as the bid hit eighty

“Eighty, now ninety,” the auctioneer said in a monotone

Spenser glanced across the room at Talbot Typical American, ear on a satellite telephone, paddle in his hand, as if he orried the auctioneer would nal

“Ninety, now a hundred,” the auctioneer droned

The hundred bid was from a South African dealer Spenser knew The dealer’s patron had made his fortune in dialass of sherry more than once—but he also knew her patron’s habits When the value exceeded what he felt he could sell it for later, he’d drop out The ht at his price and if he could someday make a profit