"The Mysteries of Angkor" "Your attention, please." "Stockholm Airport." "The passengers for Air France flight 463 to Frankfurt and Paris, please proceed to Gate B." "Yes?" "Oh?" "He came back to Sweden?" "Interesting, yes." "Thank you." "All right." "The only man equal to the task of dealing with so serious a case is major Peter Lundström." "Obviously I'm flattered that you thought of me for that mission, Colonel Daggett, but have you forgotten that you gave me a two months leave?" "I'm now devoting myself to tennis." "It's more entertaining and less dangerous." "Sorry, but you're going to change sports." "Right now, I need you, Peter." " Is this so important a case?" " Yes, very much so." "Professor Johansson once had an Oriental assistant named Lin-Chor." "Lin-Chor went back to his country two years ago and retired from the world in a Buddhist monastery." "We just learned that he came back in order to resume working with the professor." "I think Buddhists are known for living in contemplation." "Yes, there are many spies in their midst, and we can't possibly run the risk of leaving this mysterious Annamite unwatched while he is in the constant company of our greatest scientist." "You're in charge of the surveillance, Peter, and I rely on you as always." " I'll think about it." " There's nothing to think about, Peter." "That was a formal order." "The adventure began on the day I became ingenior Lin-Chor's shadow and, at the same time, Professor Johansson's and his daughter Karin's." "It was a day like any other day." "In the offices, streets and plazas of Stockholm, life was following its quiet everyday course." "The noises of the busy city were carried on the autumn wind." "The rhythm of labour filled the factories." "At the top of the country, the far North, lies the electric plant providing energy for the city of Stockholm." "Halfway between the city and the plant is the Thermonuclear Institute where Professor Johansson conducts experiments in order to capture the energy of light waves and to use, for industrial purposes, the heating power produced by these reactions." "Dr Lin-Chor and Karin Johansson were the professor's most valued collaborators." "He was an inscrutable Oriental." "And she was the prettiest mathematician that you could think of." "One push on one of these control levers and 25.000 volts run through the cylinder, heating plasma to millions of degrees." "When he tried last, the professor reached 35 million degrees." "This time, he hopes to reach the 50 million degrees necessary for a perfect fusion." "And suddenly, the successful experiments became disaster." "The light waves were disintegrating matter and the energy of the atoms thus liberated destroyed everything in its path." "From the greatest discoveries spring the greatest afflictions." "For a short while, the noises, the bustle of the city, everything stopped." "A modern city with no electricity is like a dead man's brain: useless." "The general paralysis persisted for 30 seconds then the electricity came back on." "Telephones started ringing again and again, and panicked people called the Police." "The Police stations called their superior authorities who, in turn, informed the scientists and the government." "There was a huge chain reaction, an incredible dialogue, between people terrified by an unfathomable mystery." "Having been ill for many years, exhausted by constant work, the professor had a stroke –" "Less because of the accident in itself than of the frightening reality of his discovery." "And that's how it all began." " Good morning, gentlemen." " Good morning, doctor." " How is our patient?" " He's absolutely fine." "Good." "So we can talk with the professor for a few moments?" "Certainly." "It would be advisable for the professor to take time off while he's convalescing." "I'll arrange it, doctor." "No, no, I'll take care of it." "Well, if you don't mind." "Professor, I can talk to you today for the first time since the accident." " That's true, Colonel." " Do you know what happened then?" "The explosion in my laboratory, you mean?" "I'm concerned about what happened in Stockholm before the explosion." "According to the reports I've been sent, all the main cities in Europe were hit at the exact same time by a magnetic field able to paralyze anything that depends on electricity during thirty seconds." "The explosion occurred, then the world started to move again." "Was one of your experiments the cause of that?" "Excuse me, gentlemen, I'm not feeling well." "Oh, gentlemen, please." "Could you build another reactor any time soon, professor?" "Mr. Lin-Chor will answer that question for me." " I'm listening, Doctor." " Yes, General, it's in fact possible to build the reactor again, but that is not the main point." "The most important thing is the mathematical formula the professor discovered." "He can adapt it to any pre-existing reactor and so can transform again waves into light or devastating energy." " Do you know the formula?" " No." "What about professor Johansson's daughter?" "No, it exists only in professor Johansson's brain." "Dr Lin-Chor..." "Lin-Chor's answer, very Oriental in its wisdom, had merely aroused General Rose's and Colonel Dagget's curiosity." "...you participated in many..." "Great scientific secrets can always produce deadly weapons, in front of which every military in the world exhibits a child's shyness." "The scene that we're witnessing tends to prove that experience is useless, because if peaceful inventions often stay in a drawer, the death-dealing ones are always exploited in the more than illusory hope of preserving peace." "Professor Johansson, you do realize the importance of your discovery and you'll understand that the government wish you to work in conditions of absolute security." "Do you mean that my brain has become the property of the State?" "Of course your more pressing duty is to give us the formula." "You know that my father needs rest, Colonel." "Don't worry, we'll see that he enjoys it." "The professor is now under our protection." "The city is now flooded with reporters from the whole world." "The media ask for an explanation." "Could you try and answer the questions, miss Johansson?" "She will." "I agree completely." "The communiqué shouldn't be too informative." "Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to introduce myself:" "my name is Karin Johansson." " Excuse me." " Yes?" "Are you a member of Professor Johansson's family?" "Indeed: he's my father." "I'll now read the official communiqué:" ""On September the 18th, at about 11 a. m." "an as yet unexplained phenomena occurred." "The artificial lake that feeds Stockholm's electric plant was vaporized." "The plant was partially destroyed and the city was briefly deprived of electricity." "Up to now, scientific investigation means failed to explain the causes of this mysterious phenomena." "Inquiries are nevertheless still going on and the press will be able to publish information as soon as we get it. "" "That was a communiqué from the Physics Institute, signed by Pr Hellström." "Miss." "You're professor Johansson's assistant, aren't you?" "Were you present when the explosion occurred?" "Would you be so kind, Sir, as to give me your name, so I know whom I must answer?" "Certainly." "My name is Charles Logan, from Montreal." "I'm very pleased to meet you." "So what I'd like to know is whether or not the explosion was the cause of this so-called unexplained phenomena." "You're assuming two things, Mr. Logan." "One, that I know more than I'm saying." "Two, that I intend to tell you about it." "Aren't those two assumptions valid?" "One is false, Mr. Logan." "I think you're subtle enough to discover which one." "Do you have any more questions?" "No?" "Thank you, ladies and gentlemen." " You must be tired, miss Karin." " No." "Did anybody phone?" "No, but there's a gentleman waiting for you." "Someone waiting for me?" "Yes, Miss, he said he came from the Institute." "What are you doing here?" "I needed to see you alone." "Do you remember me?" " Oh, I do." " I'm flattered." "A man like you is not easily forgotten, Mr. Logan." " I'd like to apologize." " For what?" " For being rude this morning." " And that's why you came here?" "Maybe not only." "Oh, I see." "You probably want new information." "No, and... you know, I'm usually the one who gives information." "Mr. Logan, I'm sorry but I have a date tonight." "Karin!" "To tell you the truth, I'm not a reporter at all." "I've got something very important to tell you." "Important for you and important for your father." " What is it?" " Do you know Dr Lin-Chor well?" "I mean..." "I mean really well." "He went on holidays with your father, didn't he?" "Oh, yes, here we are." " You just want to know where my father is." " I don't need to." "I know that." " How do you mean?" " He's at Hotel West-End in Nice." "Your father checked in under the alias Olaf Hansson, and Dr Lin-Chor as his secretary." "Right?" "You see that you can trust me, don't you?" "You need me to trust you?" "Is that so important for you?" "Yes." "Very important." "Karin, I need your help." "I need a rendez-vous with Colonel Dagget of the "Sûreté", soon." "Several reasons prevent me from contacting him myself." "You'll tell him that time is running low." "You'll tell him to call this number." "I won't answer him personally, but tell him to leave a message for me." "A message in double-cross." "It's a code." "He'll understand." "You'll also tell Colonel Daggett to give you his phone number." "His personal number." "I can safely call him." "It's important, believe me, very important." "Grand Hotel?" "Please give me room 311." "Mrs. Latour?" "Logan is here." "Yes, I understand." "Did he say anything else?" "Fine." "You'll find your envelope tomorrow in the usual place." "Gentlemen, I've got news." "Logan wants to betray us." "Fernando, you know what you have to do." "And leave no clue." " The usual?" " Exactly." "Nothing fancy." "We're not after glory but efficiency." "James, you'll go with him." "You will wait in the car." "Fernando, keep me informed." "Everybody report here tomorrow at 11:30 a. m." "Hey!" "Taxi!" " Why have you stopped?" " One minute." "I've got a flat left front tyre." " I can't see anything." " Look closer." " What names shall I give, gentlemen?" " Is Miss Johansson here?" "What name shall I give?" " Are you Selma Wilson?" " Yes." "But I haven't done anything, what do you want from me?" " Miss Johansson?" " Yes." "Let me introduce myself." "Lieutenant Dalkin." "And sergeant Larsson." "What happened, Sir?" "It's not my responsibility to tell you that." " Would you come with us, please?" " Where?" " To the forensic science laboratory." " But why?" "A mere formality." "Come." "All right." "Let me get my coat." "For the 137." "I called earlier." "Oh, yes." "Come this way." "Here he is. 137." "I wrote a report when he arrived." " Do you know this man?" " Yes." "When did you see him for the last time?" "Charles Logan." "When did you see this man for the last time?" " This afternoon." " Thank you." "This way, please." "Come." "Miss Johansson." "Colonel Dagget?" "Miss Johansson is here." "Why didn't you tell me all that earlier?" "I'd like you to tell me about that meeting." "He wanted me to arrange a date for him... with you." "I couldn't know it was so serious." "From your belated declarations and what we learned from Selma, we know he decided to strike a bargain with us, but... he was killed immediately." "Stabbed in the back of the neck, before he could contact me." "He knew what threatened your father and his friend Lin-Chor." "He also knew what excuses would be used to trick them." "Yes, indeed, your father and Dr Lin-Chor have disappeared." "A general alarm was sounded and members of the whole world's secret services gathered in Stockholm." "Larry Young, of the British MI5 is greeted by Ed Morgan of America's CIA." "Here is Biamonte, who represents Italy, the continent's toughest and most feared agent." "He can make anyone confess." "Too bad for those who don't know anything." "Captain Ballard of France's 2ème Bureau, and Dobric, Yugoslavia." "Marcos, Greece." "Colonel Makinian, Turkey." "Berakov, from the NKVD, the most famous representative of Eastern powers." "And here is Colonel Norwald, the chief of Swedish secret services, director of high strategy and of what the international code calls "Operation War Net"." "Colonel Norwald is in the company of Miss Karin Johansson." "Gentlemen, you already read the information that was given to you when you arrived, you know what happened here and what your task will be." "Well, Gentlemen, here's the main point that wasn't communicated to you yet." "Professor Johansson and Dr Lin-Chor have disappeared from their hotel, in Nice, taking away with them the secret of a discovery susceptible to destroy the world." "I learned from the agent in charge of surveillance that the two men disappeared sometime during the night." "That's the way things are but if any of you want to ask a question, I'm all ears, Gentlemen." "Are there any clues that would allow us to know what direction they took." "We have not discovered a single clue yet." "However, I have reasons to believe that they were abducted." "Thank you, Colonel." "I remind you that the man Logan, of whom we spoke earlier, had revelations for Colonel Dagget, but he was eliminated." " He was killed?" " Stabbed in the back of the neck." "Can we know what the wound looked like?" "It appears it was inflicted with a sharp and pointed instrument." "It was about 6 inches deep." " How was it oriented?" " Downward." "Under the collarbone." " Classic." " Could Logan be identified?" "His real name was Karl Gillan." "I guess that name rings a bell for some of you?" "He was working for one of the Oriental republics." "Given the circumstances, the kidnappers will avoid normal means:" "they probably didn't use any plane, ship or train." "They know that the frontiers are watched." "Gentlemen, you are undertaking the most difficult task that was ever assigned to you:" "finding two lost men in a population of two and a half billion." "And finding them before they encounter a tragic death." "We'll take the most drastic security measures, because, should the truth be publicly exposed, a panic could occur with uncontrollable consequences." "These men are in the hands of adventurers who'll stop at nothing to obtain their deadly secret." "And now, Gentlemen, each of you knows what sector was assigned to him." "Since you'll have to collaborate, you'll stay in touch with the Great Headquarters." "Do you have any more questions?" "No?" "I therefore thank you for your attention." "Would you please take the notes that have been prepared for you." "Let me wish you quick success." "Major Lundström." "One moment please." "Here is Miss Johansson." "Peter Lundström." "Major Lundström, your job begins in Nice." "Miss Johansson will go with you." "We deeply wish her to be near her father when we find him." " Of course." " That's all for now." " You plane will take off at 02:00 pm." " Fine." "You are in good hands, Miss Johansson." " Yes, I'm sure of that." "Goodbye." " Have a nice trip." "During the trip from Stockholm to Nice," "I told Karin what role she would have to play until the end of the case." "Her obedience to my orders had to be absolute, her passivity complete, because a single misstep, a single misguided initiative in order to contact her father could lead to disaster." "When we arrived at Nice Airport, a car from the services of Captain Ballard, from the French 2nd Bureau, was waiting for us." "The car drove us to Hôtel West end where we had booked two rooms as Paul Allison and his secretary." "Polaris calling War Net." "Please speak." "I'm listening." "Any news about the disappearance?" "No." "No, nothing yet." "Contact Ballard immediately." "Got it." "Repeating instructions:" "to contact Ballard immediately." "Polaris, over." "Right..." " Miss Johansson?" " Yes." "Excuse me." "We have to go out but you must wait for me here." "Lock your door and if the phone rings, do not answer." "At what time will you be back?" "I don't know." "And please do not go out." " Can't you take me with you?" " Unfortunately, no." " I know Ballard: he knows more than he wants to admit." " Yes." "We were going to see you." "And I came to fetch you." "I think I found a lead." "An interesting lead, I mean." "Are you coming?" " Yes." " Let's go." " Is this him?" " Yes." " What is it?" " Police." " You're Albert Pigeau, aren't you?" " Yeah." " You own a garage on the Rue Pablo." " Yeah." "What's wrong?" "Yesterday, a blonde woman, thirtyish, rented a black Citroën from you." "She was in the company of two men, one of whom was an Oriental." "Right?" "Maybe." "I didn't pay attention, but all the names are written in my ledger." " In your garage?" " Yeah, in my office." "This would make a nice gift, Sir." "We don't have brakes anymore." "We must jump out." " Waiter." " Yes, Miss." " Give me a glass of port, please." " Very well, Miss." "Karin..." "Henryk..." "What a surprise." "What can you be doing here, in Nice?" " Here you are, Miss." " How long have you been here?" " Since this morning." " Oh yes?" "I'm here for business." "How great that we chanced upon each other as soon as I arrived." "What brought you to Nice?" "Well, some friends invited me, I'm enjoying some rest." " How's your father?" " My father..." " Is he here too?" " No." "But you have heard from him, haven't you?" " How is he?" " Very well." " Good evening..." "Paul." " Good evening." "Mr. Allison." "Mr. Brandes." "Mr. Brandes is my father's lawyer." " Come, my darling, we're late." " Oh, yes, at once, Paul." " I'm sorry, Henryk, but I promised..." " Of course, I understand..." " Will we meet again tonight?" " Well, I don't know..." "May I call you?" "Are you staying in the hotel?" "No, I'm staying with my friends, but I shall call you." " Good night." " Good night." "Karin, I told you not to leave the suite, didn't I?" " I'm sorry." " That doesn't help." "Come on." "I'm repeating this for the last time:" "you must blindly obey me in everything, or you might put us in some embarrassing situations." "What about that gentleman at the bar?" "Who was he?" "Oh, come on, Peter, I told you," " he's my father's lawyer." " What did you tell him?" " Nothing." " He wanted to know why you were here?" " Yes." " What did you answer?" "I answered that I came to see some friends." "Good." "Now, listen: should you meet that gentleman again, which I hope won't be the case, just tell him that you're spending the week-end with me." " Oh, come on, I couldn't do that." " Why?" " He'd never believe that." " Am I not presentable enough?" "And what should I answer if he asks who you are?" "Paul." "Your lover." "Isn't it clear." " What is it, Dubois?" " Ballard wants to see us now." " Now?" " Yes." "It's urgent." " Anything came up?" " Well, yes, you know: a dead body." "This time, you'll come with me." "Please." "Stay in the car." " Make sure the lady doesn't get out." " Sure." " Did you learn anything?" " I think so." " Who's the victim?" " The garage's owner." "He was stabbed downward in the back of the neck with some pointed instrument." "Just like Logan in Stockholm." "Any clues?" "Here's what we were looking for." "The ledger where Pigeau wrote down his deals." "September, Saturday the 27th." "Pick up at 5 a. m two men..." "The morning Lin-Chor and the professor disappeared." "...and a woman." "A woman?" "Who can the woman be?" "We'll know it." "But, for that, I think someone should go to Marseille now." "We're on our way." " Goodbye." " See you soon." "In Marseille, Ballard didn't lose any time." "According to the information we had, the Hotel de la Résidence played an important part in the case." "The desk clerk, a cautious man, referred us to the hotel manager." "The ledger told us that, on the 27th, a man named Olaf Hansson arrived in the company of his secretary:" "an Oriental of about 30 years of age." "On the same day, a woman called Mrs. Benoit arrived too." "The descriptions we were given left us with no doubt:" "Mrs. Benoit was no other than Mrs. Latour, a prominent international spy on the payroll of a foreign power." "Those three left on the 28th for an unknown destination." "While he was reading the ledger, Ballard found a lead." "Mrs. Latour had called "Talleyrand 77-500" in Marseille." "Ballard called the Police Headquarters and asked for the services of Mr. Delaroche, a senior commissioner in the Bouches du Rhône department." "The situation had just become more serious, since Talleyrand 77-500 was the phone number of the New China Export-Import company." "And the international organization controlled by Mrs. Latour counted hundreds of spies in every country in the world." "Little by little, we were reconstructing a pattern:" "Mrs. Latour sold the professor to the Chinese." "All frontiers were locked." "The problem was for us to be quicker than our adversaries for, now, every minute counted." "May I do something for you?" " We'd like to talk to your director." " Please follow me." "Come on." "Welcome." "Senior commissioner Delaroche, Marseille PD." "My name is Li-Che." "Please be seated." "Sorry to bother you but we'd like to know a few details about the departure of one of your ships to China." "The Debrett, owned by Lion Shipping Lines, was rented and chartered by your company?" "On September the 28th, she left Marseille for China?" " Indeed." " She's flying your national flag?" "That is customary, Sir." "According to the law, she's now a Chinese merchant vessel." "I'd like to see a copy of the loading manifest." " Do you really want to?" " Yes, very much so." "We want to know what cargo the Debrett was carrying." "The Debrett takes cotton to China." "She'll return with porcelain." " She's only carrying cotton, that's all?" " That's all." " No passengers?" " No passengers." " Let's see the copy." " Here it is." " No, thank you." " No, thank you." "The ship will first call in Naples." "Tomorrow." " Thank you." " You're welcome." "We can go." "Oh, Mr. Li-Che." "Would you happen to know a woman called Mrs. Latour?" " Mrs. Latour?" "No." " What about Mrs. Benoit?" " No, I don't either." " Thank you." "Your servant." "A report was sent to Headquarters and instructions ensued." "The Debrett was sailing to Naples." "I was ordered to leave for Naples and meet Biamonte who was in charge of the Italian territory, then wait for the Debrett." "We were convinced that the professor and Lin-Chor left Marseille aboard the merchant ship." "Biamante was waiting for us at the airport and he shielded us from all control and customs formalities." "Rooms were booked for us at the Elyseum Hotel, the place chosen for our action in Naples." "What do you think of Naples, Miss Johansson?" " May I ask you a question, Colonel?" " Ask it, we'll see." "I'm addressing the man, not the policeman." "That's hardly possible:" "they're one and the same." "What will you do with my father if you find him?" "Miss, in my line of work, you don't count your chickens before they're..." " Before they're axed, is that it?" " It's "hatched", I think." " Now, Miss, the capture of your..." " What?" "The capture?" "Well, let's say, the retrieval of your father is a serious problem for the agent in charge of the operation." "He'll be responsible in front of the whole world's authorities... and there's bound to be some dispute." "No, you see, Miss, in this case, it's probably less dangerous to have an egg today that a hen tomorrow." " Good morning, Karin." " Good morning." "Biamante." "At what time shall we board the Debrett?" "Around 5 pm." "Biamante having requisitioned a launch, we boarded the Debrett as scheduled." " Where's the captain?" " I'll take you to him." "Follow me." "These gentlemen want to talk to you, Sir." "What can I do for you, Gentlemen?" "Colonel Biamante, of the Italian Security Office." "What is it?" "What do you want?" " We'd like to talk to your passengers." " What passengers?" "Didn't you take two men and one woman aboard in Marseille?" "Not that I know of." "There has to be a mistake." "I'm just carrying cotton." "I'll show you the manifest, now." "They're certainly not mentioned in the manifest." "I'm sorry, but I must search your ship." "No problem." "I'm at your disposal." "Please follow me." "The Debrett was a big merchant ship." "We had to search it from top to bottom, to question its crew and officers, and carefully check its cargo." "Biamante began to interrogate the crew while I went down to the hold in order to carry through the other part of our task." "For several hours, we questioned, we searched." "No nook or cranny escaped our investigations." "But we were soon to admit our defeat:" "there was not a single sign of Lin-Chor's or professor Johansson's presence on board." "We were about to leave the ship when a rating asked me for a light." "The man lit his cigarette then gave me back matches that weren't mine." "Here are the ones he gave me back." "Look." "At midnight." "Caffé Robilante." "I know it." "It's on the docks." "Operator?" "Give me inspector Lorenzi, please." "Carlo?" "Send me two men at the Caffé Robilante." "Yes, now." " Did the rating tell you anything?" " No, not a word." "Let's hope he'll keep our date." "Tell me, Lundström, do you think the professor has been on board the Debrett?" "Your guess is as good as mine." "Do you want me to tell you what I think?" "Now I know that you or the others, whether Greeks, Italians," "Frenchmen, English or Russians, you all want to capture my father alive on your territory..." " Karin..." " Or you'll make sure that no one can take him alive." "You're being unfair because of your grief." "Please calm down." " I remind you that we have a rendez-vous." " Yes, I know." "Come on, Karin." "While we're gone, you'll have to stay here." "I beseech you: do not leave this room and especially don't answer the phone." "Can you do that?" "We won't be long." "Don't let anybody in." " Now she's alone." " Let's hurry." "We have no time to lose." " Are you afraid?" " Yes." "And for good reasons too." " Fernando." " Yes, madam." "Go upstairs." "They're sure to have left a guard at the door." "Yes, madam." "Have you got a light?" "About-turn." "Come on." "Walk." "Turn left." "Now to the door." "Open it." "Turn left again." " Thank you." " Keep them: these are yours." "What's written here?" "Italian cigarettes are a blend of the best tobaccos." "Why do you treat me with such brutality?" "For being a wise guy." "I don't really like wise guys." "The gentleman asked you very politely to read what you wrote." "I'm not interested in advertising catch-phrases." "So read this to me." " Midnight." "Caffé Robilante." " Very good." "Well..." "It's midnight and this is the Caffé Robilante." "Well?" " Who's he?" " He's Colonel Biamante from Italian Security." "Yes, that's how it is." "Deal with it." " I need a drink." " Waiter!" "Three Camparis." "Three Camparis." "Yes, Sir." " I'm listening." " I gave him a date, not you." "I can see you didn't really understand me." " Your name?" " Bouland." "Jean Bouland." " Identification." " Why?" "I told you I didn't like wise guys." "Give it to me." "Jean Bouland, Marseille." "Able seaman..." "Able to do what?" "Where did you do time?" "Me?" "Time?" "I never went to jail." "Bouland." "Can you see my nose?" "It was broken." "But I've still got a prodigious sense of smell." "I can smell the perfume of prison on a man at one hundred yards." " It wasn't serious, mister." " Colonel to you." "Yes, Colonel." "I jumped ship once or twice and, of course, afterwards, they give you trouble, you know how it is, don't you." "Certainly." "Well..." "Can you tell me why you asked this gentleman to meet you here tonight?" "Well, earlier in the afternoon, on the Debrett," " you were looking for passengers, weren't you?" " Go on." " You didn't find any and..." " I would hurry up if I were you, sailor." "Look." "I don't want any trouble." "I just thought that a few not too serious bits of information... but now I'm afraid I'll put myself in trouble." "It's too late to back away." "I just thought it was an opportunity to make some money." " How much?" " Well..." "Come on..." "How much did you hope for?" " I'm a reasonable man." " I'm sure of that." "You'll give me whatever you think my information is worth, I can..." "I'll tell you what it's worth:" "if I'm interested in what you say, I won't put you in jail." "If not, and if I send you to the crapper, it will be for some time, in a cell where nobody will come and make trouble for you" "Did you get it?" "Or should I repeat it?" "If I have to repeat, I'm Italian so I speak with my hands." "Now, for the last time, will you tell my so civil and so patient friend why you wanted to meet him here tonight?" "I thought that, maybe, if I gave him a little information," "I would make some money." "I'm poor, I don't have..." "We had passengers." "Men." "Two men." " Did they come on board in Marseille?" " Yes, that's it, Marseille." "Can you describe them?" "An old man with white hair who must be Danish or Swedish..." " Yes." "And the other one?" " An Oriental." "What then?" "Well, they immediately disappeared in a cabin." " Did you see them afterwards?" " Yes, when they left." "Tell me where and how." "We'd left Marseille for maybe one hour." "It was almost night." "The engines stopped all of a sudden." "It lasted... well it lasted more than one hour." "Then I saw another ship coming toward us." "It stopped at about one hundred yards." "The passengers came out of the cabin then got in a lifeboat." "To get on board the ship that was waiting?" " Yes." " What was her name?" " The Arabelle, of the African Line." " What was its course?" "Well, the usual one:" "Port Said..." "I don't know anything more." "They didn't take me in their confidence." "I'm sure you still know a lot of very interesting details." "Let's go somewhere quiet, if you don't mind." " Yes, of course." " Come, my boy, come with me." "Come on now!" "Hurry up!" "Come on: walk." "Luigi: take care of my friend." "Give him a cozy little cell." "You never know." "Come and see:" "there was a murder." "He's the policeman who was watching the room." "The same way: stabbed in the back of the neck." "Where is Miss Johansson?" " She vanished." " Vanished?" " Are you the doorman?" " Yes." " Have you seen the girl going out?" " No, I haven't seen anything." "Were you asleep or have you been paid not to see?" " Neither, but the elevator operator saw the whole scene, Sir." " Tell me." "The young Miss passed by in the company of a man and a woman." " Can you describe them?" " The man was carrying all the luggage." " He was distinguished, about 40, with greying hair." " And the woman?" "She was 30, maybe 35, a blonde, beautiful." "With a very determined attitude." "That's what struck me the most about her, by the way." "All right, thanks." "That will be all." "I don't need you anymore, Gentlemen." " Maybe..." " What?" "Well, maybe they took the girl away against her will." "You think they took her because the professor resists them, don't you?" "And that rendez-vous at the Caffé Robilante?" " Was it to get us away from here?" " Well..." " Biamante, do you know what we should do?" " No." "We should go and question our friend," " the seaman who took us for a couple of fools." "Are you coming?" " Yes." "Go on a short patrol." "I'll knock when I'm finished." "What if I don't hear you?" "When I knock with this, you can't fail to hear." "Well, my friend, we're not happy." "I'm not either." "I'll complain at the French consulate." "In order to complain, you'd have to go out, to be able to walk and especially to be able to talk." "You have one big mouth." "One day, someone might close it for you." "Now, really, he hasn't got one redeeming quality." "Listen to me, Bouland." "Bouland, Jean, from Marseille." "Fate decreed that you should meet me, and I'm sorry for you." "When I was 15, I broke my mother's heart, and since then, I've kept breaking blokes like you." "I'm infamous as a bully and, believe me, I do deserve to be." "Don't pretend to be worse than you are, old boy." "I'm certainly not exaggerating." "You know, six months ago, for instance, there was here, in this very cell, a man who had information that I really needed." "For ten years, the man was absolutely deaf and dumb." "Well, when I was through with him, he talked like an angel." "And in two languages to boot." "Come on, Bouland, tell my friend what you know." "As you can see, he's growing impatient, and I don't like it, because I promised to help him and I always keep my promises." " Come on, get up and talk!" " I've already told you all I knew." "You said they went on board the Arabelle, via Port Said." "But you told us a lie, my boy." "She's anchored in Marseille." "That's too bad." "Come on, Bouland." "How much did Mrs. Latour give you" " to keep us busy during the kidnapping?" " I don't know any Mrs. Latour." "A little brain rattling sometime brings back memories." " Come on: where is the professor?" " I really don't know." " You're a dirty liar." " You're hurting me." "Let go of me." " Don't crush his bones, Biamante." " It wouldn't be the first time." "Come on: where were they going to?" "Shanghai?" "Hong Kong?" " No!" " Well?" " Bangkok." " Bangkok?" " Bangkok, yes." "Calling RDX." "Please answer RDX." "A black limousine is now leaving the airport with three men, Mrs. Latour and Miss Johansson." "Keep it in sight and learn its destination." "Report to RDX." "Over." "While Mrs. Latour went on her way," "Berakov was preparing his counter-attack." "His agents were putting into place a trap which was supposed to close slowly, as a net does." "They're still following us." "You must go faster or they'll pass us and cut our way off." "Come on, man, faster." "Faster." " How is business, Mr. Wang?" " Your business is fine, madam, as always." "I hope you treated our two friends well." "I made sure to follow your instructions to the letter." " Our two guests must be moved." " A wise decision, madam, I agree." "Give them sleeping pills then have them taken to the house by the river." "Your beauty is only equaled by your infallible wisdom, madam." " Thank you." " I know whom I'm dealing with." "Mrs. Latour is a rose with dangerous thorns." "I use force only with stubborn people." "There are so many arguments stronger than violence." " Stop it!" "This is quite enough." " What's eating you, Karin?" "I want to see my father, get it?" " Might I stay alone with Miss Johansson?" " Your wish is my command, madam." "Professor." "Professor!" "How do you feel, professor?" "Where are we?" "Where am I?" "I've got a headache." " What did they do to you?" " I can't recall." "Lin-Chor, listen: you must try and escape from here." "You know the city and its hiding places." "Flee." " We'll never make it." " We have to try." "And don't forget my recommendations." "You'll convince your father to come with us, Karin." "And to collaborate with our scientists." " What if he won't?" " That would be unfortunate for you, but I really doubt that a loving father could endure what I would show him." "For God's sake, be careful, madam." "My father is no young man." "He was deeply rattled by the explosion." "If you go on, he might become mad." "Tranquillize yourself, that won't be the case:" "my torturers are specialists who know how to gauge a patient's suffering and its effect on the onlookers." "Don't look for a flaw, I don't have any." " Everybody has one." " Not me." "I'm convinced that Karin will be sensible." "How much do you get out of this bleak deal?" " Who do you think I am?" " Oh, please." "At least, take responsibility for what you do." "Your cowardice is sickening." "I think she's right." "I represent evil, she good, and here you are, pathetically floating between the two." "You were a corrupt honest man, why don't you try and be an honest scoundrel now?" "Here." "This is the formula." "I don't know if I should leave you." "They're going to torture you." "It doesn't matter." "I'm expecting the worst." "My life is meaningless." "But the formula... the formula must on no account fall in their hands." " You'll pay dearly for your selflessness." " Hurry up!" "Go!" "Wait here." "Hey!" "Stop him!" "Stop him!" " Is she ready?" " Yes." "They can go." "Right." "Arrange this scarf so you show even less of your face." "Jeff, you have your instructions." "The policemen will follow you to Wang's construction site." "You know what you have to do." "Call me as soon as it's over." "Very well, madam." " Are they here?" " Yes." " How many of them?" " Two near the lorry." "The cyclist is one of them too." "They hope we will lead them to the professor." "That's funny." "Every policeman in the world thinks he only has to follow a lead to get to his goal." " Hello?" " Hello." "Everything is settled." "The path is clear." "Good." "Let us all meet on the docks." " Fernando, tell Wang that I'll arrive soon." " Yes." "Get ready, Karin." "We're going to take you to your father." "Pass them, quick!" "Come." "We can't cross right now." "We must wait for the royal boat to pass." "As you can see, Mrs. Latour, there are always unforeseen events." "Don't be too happy about it." "In the swamp which is the mouth of the Mae Nam," "Bangkok includes a lake dwelling made of boats and houses built on stilts." "It forms a maze in which no stranger could hope to find his way." "Therefore, that's where the professor was taken after Lin-Chor's escape." "Come." "You may go upstairs." "He's there and I'll leave you alone with him." "No useless hesitations:" "try to persuade him." "Fernando will lead you." "Karin!" "Do as she says, there is no other way out." "Oh, father!" "Let me look at you." "I'm so happy." "They must have terribly hurt you." "My darling." "I can assure you that all is well." "They haven't hurt me at all." "We don't have much time." "And I knew that you would come." "They told me so." "I hoped they were lying, that it was blackmail, that you could escape from them." "Oh, my darling." "I've got so many things to tell you." "Let's start from the beginning." "There was the explosion, a terrible shock for me, the media jumped on the case in the whole world, the police put me under control." "I felt like I was choking, like I was a prisoner." " Do you understand?" " Yes." "Lin-Chor warned me." "He certified that I wouldn't be strong enough to resist them." ""Sooner or later, they'll have the formula ", he said." "From that moment on, I could see enemies everywhere." "So Lin-Chor proposed to take me to the temple in Angkor-Vat." "He thought that I would be safe there, that I'd be saved..." " ... and that the world would be safe too." " Yes, of course." " And then we met Mrs. Benoit." " Mrs. Latour." "Yes." "She said she could help us to flee to Cambodia." "She saw Lin-Chor papers signed by the abbot of Angkor-Vat." " They were fake, of course." "She sold us out." " I know." "I only became aware of it aboard the ship." " I wanted to escape, but..." " Did they... brutalize you?" "No." "No, they neither beat nor tortured me." "Not yet, at least." " What about the formula?" " I gave it to Lin-Chor." " Where is he?" " He managed to escape." "He's going to try and get to Angkor-Vat." "I gave him all my documents." " Good morning, Berakov." " Good morning." "Sit down and have a cup of tea:" " it will do you good after your long trip." " Thank you." " When did you arrive?" " Yesterday." "I was watching Indonesian harbours when I was ordered to meet you here." "Well, this is the Orient." "Norwald must have thought: "We need Berakov and his two-ways ideas. "" "Yeah." "Do you know what happened in Naples." "Yeah." "Biamante lost a man and you lost the girl." "Yes but, in my opinion, Mrs. Latour will take Karin to her father." "Yes." "No doubt about that." "She arrived yesterday, in the company of a Mr. Brandes and Karin Johansson." " Did you put a tail on her?" " Yes, of course." " The result?" " Awful." "Three of my agents were killed." "The fools fell into a trap." "At a level crossing, I almost caught up with the lady but the train was coming and she took advantage of it." " What about Miss Johansson?" " Unfortunately, we lost her." "Your hunting specialists are not up to the job." "What do you propose to make up for that disaster, Berakov?" "Quiet." "Relax a little." "Getting excited is really useless." "I'm fed up with fishing in a dry pond." "I'm waiting for a phone call." "You should try to help me, honey, instead of giving me advice that you wouldn't like me to follow." "But, father, what you ask is impossible." "Those people will stop at nothing." "They'll kill you." "Yes, I know." "That was a most informative and pleasant conversation." "Things being what they are, your father will be taken to my friend Wang's gambling house." "There, I think we'll be able to change his mind." "This is useless, madam." "My father decided not to work for you, and we shall not talk, whatever the cost." "When I'm finished with you, you won't be a pretty sight." " I don't care." " You'll change your mind." "I don't doubt that your father will reconsider his decision." "Fernando." "Berakov." "Are you sure?" "Good." "As I thought, we picked up the track again." "Miss Johansson, her father and Dr Lin-Chor are in the floating house of a Chinese named Wang." " Where?" " Here, in this area." "Let's go then." "We have no time to lose." "The boss not here." "Nobody here." "The Police!" "Quick." "Search the ground floor." "You, there!" "Look this way." "Karin..." "Karin!" "Did you speak with your father?" " Yes." " Where?" " Here." " Where is he?" "Do you know where they took him." "Karin!" "Will you tell me where they took the professor?" " Where is the nearest hospital?" " The Police's rescue station." "The boatman knows where it is." " I'll join you there very soon." " Good." "My conversation with Mr. Secretive, here, is not over." "OK." "Where did they take the professor?" "He's tough." "He didn't say a word." "She's suffering from shock." "But you will be alright in a couple of days, Miss." "I'll come back later." " Excuse me." "I regret." " It's too late for regrets." "I warned you." "I ordered you not to go anywhere without me." "Two of my men and three of Berakov's agents are dead." "That's the result." "Karin, try to understand, that I've got a very precise and important task" " to perform, and I want..." " Shut up." "I can't take any more." "Do you think it was easy for me when she told me she would kill him?" "Are you sure that he will talk?" "Oh, yes." "What with this, he'll certainly talk." "Why do you suffer, Johansson?" "To save your kind?" "They're not worth it." "No, you won't make me change my mind." "You're crazy." "The coolie talked." "Dr Lin-Chor escaped." "What about my father?" "They took him somewhere else, but I know where he is." "We must go there immediately." "We'll need the local Police, Lundström." "We'll have to urge them to spare the professor's life." " I'll go with you." " No, you'll stay here, Karin." "If we want to bring back the professor alive, we must act quickly." "Come on, Karin, be sensible." "You're well-guarded this time." "Your threats are useless." "The Chinese want me alive, so your men must take care not to cross the lethal limit and make me worthless." "They're experts." "They know exactly how far they may go." "When they reach the point where you'll pray for death..." " I already do." " You'll gain nothing if you become mad." "What about you?" "I won't even be able to give you the exact formula of water." "Professor, please." "I beseech you." "Give her the formula." "Watching you suffer like this is intolerable." "Just look the other way then." "The fight is uneven." "Your resistance is useless." "It's hopeless." "To the gambling room?" "Please, Gentlemen." "Give me a whisky." "With water." " Johansson, I want the formula." " Never." "Tie him up!" " Fool!" " Madam..." " The Police!" " Meet me at Wang's." "My father..." "Did you see him?" "You told me yourself that it was what he wished for." "Yes." "It was his dearest wish, but I still had a faint hope." "We arrived too late." "Mrs. Latour and Brandes escaped." "They are looking for Lin-Chor." "As for me, I received orders from Norwald." "I must find Lin-Chor at all cost." " Don't leave me alone." " No." "This time, you'll come with me." "Everywhere you go, I'll follow." "I have only you in the world now, Peter." " What can I do for you, Madam?" " Help me find Lin-Chor." "I was informed of that and I did my best, Madam, as always." " Is the airport watched?" " Of course it is." " Find a car for me." " All the streets are blocked." "Every car going out of town is controlled, Madam." " Find something else then." " I did, Madam." "You'll leave town then go upriver in my junk until you reach this farm that my guide will point out to you, Madam." " And then?" " The farmer is a man I trust." " He'll guide you further on." " Very well, Mr. Wang." "You also must ensure that we're not given chase." "I'll ensure it, Madam." "If we meet with trouble there, your men must be able to cover our retreat." " I'll ensure everything, Madam." " Good." " Are you ready?" " Yes." "Yes, of course." "Yes." " Tell me, Mr. Wang..." " I am entirely at your service, Madam." "What if the Interpol people take a plane?" "Imagine that it doesn't reach its destination then." "You are a valuable man, Mr. Wang." "At least, we're sure that Lin-Chor is on his way to Angkor-Vat." "Yes." "Let's hope you'll catch up with him before he falls in Mrs. Latour's hands." "Goodbye." " And good luck." " Thank you." "We'll need it." "So Lundström and Karin were aboard the small aircraft carrying them to Cambodia." "The pilot was following the course of the Mekong." "They had a pleasant trip." "But suddenly..." "We must land." "Duck!" "This is Polaris." "This is Polaris." "Crash landing." "Plane smashed." "Pilot killed." "Can't give exact position." "About 300 kilometres North-East of Bangkok." "300 kilometres North-East of Bangkok." "Will try to go on by foot and hope to reach Angkor-Vat after a three day walk." " Warn Berakov now." "Over." " Will do." " You can rest here." " Yes, fine, fine." "One of the village coolies says a man looking like Lin-Chor" " passed through here." " When?" "Two days ago." "He rested for one hour then he left." "He'll be in Angkor-Vat before us." "Where are we exactly?" "We'll need at least two days before we reach our goal." "What?" "With the dugout canoe?" "No." "Fortunately, the farmer provided us with an ox-drawn cart." " I think we should let the men rest a little." " Why?" "The hardest part is still ahead of us." "Sparing them would be wise." "You won't have me believe that they're less sturdy than I am." "Yes, as a matter of fact, I will." "They do need some rest." "All right." "Tell them we'll stay here for a while." " Let them prepare water and food for us." " The peasants are poor." " We'll pay." " I'll see what they have." "So you think that everything can be bought?" "I only have to look at you in order to be convinced of that." " Let go of me!" " We are alone." " I know that." " Do you know you're beautiful?" "I know that too." "It was very useful to me." "You are disgusting." "Get out." "I'm stronger than you are anyway." " You wouldn't dare." " Do you think so?" " We have to cross this swamp." " No, Peter." "No, I'm afraid." "We have to, Karin." "Or we might lose valuable time as well as our way." "Easy now." "Test the ground before you put your weight on it." "Too bad." "It was of no use to us anymore." "Why did you throw the transmitter away?" "The battery was wet." "It couldn't work again." "Get away!" "Peter!" "Peter, help!" "Peter!" "Peter!" "Peter, help!" "I'm sinking." "Peter, Peter, help!" "Peter!" "Peter, quick, Peter, help!" "Peter!" "Don't move." "Grab my foot... and the stick." "Hold fast and don't let go." "Hold on." "Hold on." "Mrs. Latour would like Lun-Tan to rid her of Brandes." "You'll give him this for his work." " You speak Chinese?" " I speak eight languages." " You never told me that." " Why should I have?" "And may I know what this mysterious proposition is?" "Wang will send us a plane to Angkor-Vat so we can take Lin-Chor directly to China." "Why did the two of you discuss that in Chinese?" "Our host probably thought it wasn't your business." " I don't believe you." " Maybe you're not wrong." " What does this mean?" " Guess." "But..." "Are you forgetting that I'm your associate?" "No." "You're dead weight." " Beware." " Goodbye, Mr. Brandes." "We're going to rest for a while." "No, Peter, not on my account, I can go on." "I'm exhausted, Karin." "Just for a little while." "Here, drink." "Drink some water." "Easy, we must ration it." "And now, you'll try to sleep." " Lun-Tan is dead." " We all die some day." "Yes, but not always when it's convenient." " What do you think of that?" " Nothing." "You are a cruel monster." "You tried to have me killed and that's all you can tell me?" "I failed." "Let's forget it." "You'll try to do better next time?" "It all depends on your sleep." "If I were you, I would close only one eye at a time." "All right, give me my money and I'll go back to Europe now." "I'm willing to write you a check for $100000 but my account isn't provisioned." "Sorry?" "You told me..." "I did what you asked." " I gave you Karin, didn't I?" " Our business is not over." "Then,just give me half of it." "$50000." " You are pathetic, Brandes." " You ruined me." "Better still: you destroyed me." "An honest man like Johansson can be destroyed." "You can't." "You do not exist." "Look, Brandes:" "I'm offering you one last chance." "Without me, you can't do anything here." "Put that gun away." "I!" "I give the orders now." "I've got the money!" "I'm paying." "I'm the one you will obey." "Is that understood?" "Karin." "Karin, wake up." "I must kill this tiger so we can start on our way again." "Don't say anything." " Peter!" " It's over." "It's dead." "Come." "Come on!" "Hurry up, you lazy bones!" "Faster!" "Come on." "Faster." "Will you go forward already!" "What?" "What do they want?" "Them no want to cross." "Cart too heavy." "I have to cross this river." "Make them understand that." "Not with cart." "All right." "Carry everything." "I'll cross with the empty cart, alone." "Are you tired?" "We can rest for an hour." "No, no I think we must go as far as we can before nightfall." "As you wish." "Faster, you lazy louts." "Come on." "Faster than that." "Walk, you!" "This way now." "Come on." "Hey, you, there, faster!" " Will you walk!" " Mooooo!" "Hurry up!" "Come on, walk, walk!" "What does the young stranger seek near the temple?" " Did you lose your way?" " I don't know." "Tell me, my son, where do you want to go?" "We'd like to find the way to Angkor-Vat." "One does not seek the way of the holy place, the way of the temple, with a weapon in one's hand." "This weapon, father, is our only protection." "This is no time to stop." "Come on: walk!" "I know whom you seek:" "our brother Lin-Chor." " How does he know?" " My child, I know everything." "Dr Lin-Chor was my father's assistant." "Yes." "Lin-Chor often told me about you and your father." "So you're professor Johansson's daughter?" "Yes." "Show us the way to Angkor-Vat, father." "Just go..." "We've reached it, Karin." "No one can enter the temple with a weapon, Sir." "Do as he says, Peter." " Oh!" "Lin-Chor!" " Don't come any nearer." "What do these young men say?" "They say this man killed the monk in the small temple." " What?" " No, it isn't true, Lin-Chor." "They swear he did it in front of them." "The shots were intended for Peter, not for the monk, Lin-Chor, I can swear it." "You'll have the opportunity to repeat that oath." "I have to see the abbot and explain the purpose of my mission." "Yes." "I'll try." "Come." "Here, in our temple, the very heart of the holy place, in front of Buddha's golden throne," "on the steps going up to his divinity, here is a haven and peace for all." "Even a murderer." "Lin-chor, you doubt us but still you help us." " I promised your father." " My father was killed." "Killed?" "He had foreseen that, and that's why..." " That's why he gave you the formula." " You know?" "He entrusted you with the secret for which he was willing to die." "Lin-Chor." "Where is the formula?" " I promised the professor..." " You must give me the formula." " I too shall know how to die." " No, Lin-Chor." "No more sacrifices." "Understand that I came here so the formula won't fall into other hands." "Don't worry." "The formula is in a safe place." "Wait for me here." "Lin-Chor." "The Father wants to talk to you now." "Don't go from here." "I'll be back." "The death of our brother from the small temple must be atoned for." "I'm asking that you receive the stranger, so he can clear himself." "We have no business judging a man, Lin-Chor, my son." "We must leave that task for men's justice." "Father, I know the woman is entirely innocent." "I respect your mercy, Lin-Chor, but your heart betrays you." "I thought a lot about it, and I'm firmly convinced that the woman is not guilty." "She's the daughter of the scientist with whom I collaborated for so many years." "I would swear to it, Father." "To speak like this is to accuse your younger brothers of perjury." "No, no, Father." "Just of being mistaken." "My young brothers are children and fear must have misled them." "Please, listen to the stranger." "Lend him a favourable ear." "They'll pay for their faults in front of the judges of the Earth." "Only the Gods can be favourable." "Help me!" "Help!" " Did you see Berakov?" " No." " Where are you going?" " Something is happening." " I must go and see what it is." " Peter!" " Lin-Chor." "What happened?" " It's him!" "Brandes!" "He took the formula." " I'm sure of it." " I'm listening, my son." "Obviously that man killed our brother when he aimed for the stranger." "We're now going to gather into the temple and pray." "Stop!" "No man can enter here with weapons." "I can't follow that law, my friend." "Let us through." "It's forbidden." "Berakov!" "He's got a gun!" "This way!" "Stop!" "No one can enter our temple with a weapon." " Get out of my way." " No!" "This is sacrilege." " Murderer!" " Yes, but whose fault is that?" " No!" "Don't touch me!" " You're coming with me." " Let go of me." " Karin!" "Now I've got the formula and we'll get the power." "Never!" "You betrayed my father." "Enough." "You'll come with me and I'll use you as a shield to get out of here." "Here it is." "Just a piece of paper." " What should I do with it, Father?" " The decision is not mine, my child." "What you'll do will be well done, Karin." "I give you thanks, daughter, for this proof of world-saving wisdom." "May the Gods bless you." "Translation:" "Goupli66 September 2011"