After a minute or so, the door of the study opened, and Hi walked in. Wolfgang, remaining outside in the hallway, closed the door. For a moment, Hi and Eva just looked at each other. Hi's heart ached, but he didn't let on.

"Hello, Hi."

"Hello, Eva." Hi took an easy chair facing Eva's across the room. "What brings you out of the jungle?"

Eva was impressed. "You know that much already?"

"Yeah. A little bat told me. Just visiting?"

"Yes. I got homesick." She took a drag from the cigarette. "It was such a surprise to run into you."

"You were surprised?" He watched her lovely lips blow out the smoke. "You ought to quit smoking. It'll shorten your life."

"How did you quit?"

"I took up drinking instead." Hi nodded toward the closed door. "Who's the clown you've got with you?"

"His name is Wolfgang."

"So he claims."

"SS. He is assigned to protect me. I hope he didn't hurt you."

"Nah." Hi fidgeted in his chair, not because he was nervous but because he was in excruciating physical pain. "We just worked out together."

"What are you doing in Argentina? So far from lost cities."

"I'm here for the funeral. Haven't you heard? You're dead. Everybody's in mourning."

"You must forget about me. Life must go on."

"They even fooled me with the body. The first time. But then, after you gave me the slip, I went back and saw it."

"Saw what?"

"They forgot the little wart." He watched her instinctively touch a tiny wart just below her right jaw. Hi sadly shook his head. "Nobody's perfect. But you were so close."

Hi got up from his chair. He was mad now, began pacing. "You fell for the Führer?" he asked accusingly.

"Not really. He did the falling." Eva sighed. "I was so sick of Juan. Then I met the Führer. He offered me immortal power."

"Pretty hard to turn down," Hi cracked cynically. "Eva, you're really on a power kick."

"I was. I should have stuck with the soaps. And you. But I did do some good for my country. Till I met him."

"What happened to his first Eva? Braun."

"He left her in the bunker in Berlin."

"Nice guy."

"She didn't want to be a vampire. Smart move."

"You can't be in love with him. Can you?"

"Of course not. I'm ashamed to be with him." She tensely crushed out her cigarette. "It was the mother of all mistakes. I can't get far enough away from him. I've moved my quarters to the bottom floor of our building. I told him that I don't like heights."

"How can you go back to him?"

"What choice do I have?" she said loudly, then glanced at the door, suspecting that Wolfgang was listening behind it. She sighed, then rose from her chair to pace too, speaking quietly again. "Do you think Adolf would let me leave and not return?" She gestured toward the door. "Do you think he sends Wolfgang only to protect me? No." Eva paused despairingly. There were tears in her eyes. "There is no other place for me. Not now."

She was standing by a painting of herself as First Lady. She wistfully regarded the portrait. "It's just that I had to see Argentina."

"Maybe get a little Argentine blood?"

Eva turned to him. He saw the hurt in her eyes. "Sorry," he said softly.

"Do you think for an instant I enjoy it?"

"Hell, you might as well try."

They looked at each other for a moment.

"Don't come after us, Hi. Please."

"Concerned for my health?"

"Yes." She smiled sadly. "I didn't stop loving you when I married Juan."

"You might as well have."

"And you didn't stop loving me."

"No, I didn't."

"Can I kiss you goodbye?"

She walked over to him. They gazed into each other's eyes, then her lips moved toward his.

"Just don't go for the neck," Hi whispered.

As they enjoyed a lingering kiss, Hi half-opened his eyes, to be sure he was right about something. Yes, she was wearing vilca-wood earrings. Hi knew where he had seen those before.

Their lips parted. Eva looked at him lovingly, said goodbye, and walked out of the room.

Wolfgang again blindfolded Hi for the ride back to town. As Wolfgang drove the car into the outskirts of B.A., day was breaking and most of the fog had lifted.

"You can take off the blindfold," the Nazi told Hi, sitting in the right front seat. "We are in Buenos Aires."

Hi took off the blindfold, and was surprised to see daylight. He looked over at Wolfgang. "Shouldn't you be in a coffin somewhere?"

Wolfgang chuckled. "You have seen too many Dracula films. Vampires can function all hours."

Hi studied him. "But not at full strength. That's why you're night people. No supernatural powers in the daytime. Right?"

Wolfgang shrugged. "We have powers, but diminished. Have you ever stayed up for twenty-four hours?"

"Yeah. It's a draining experience." Hi shook his head with amazement. "You know, Wolfie, you're pretty dumb. Driving into town with me sitting here wearing a blindfold. Don't you think folks might get suspicious?" Hi then pretended to catch on. "I get it. You're only dumb in the day."

For a moment Wolfgang drove silently, sulking. Then he blew out a sigh of frustration. "Señora Perón is a fool. You know too much. She ought to let me kill you."

Soto stood smoking a cigarette in front of Hi's bungalow as the car Wolfgang was driving pulled up at the curb. Hi sat looking at the waiting Soto with fascination. "Do you know who he is?" Hi asked Wolfgang.

"No," Wolfgang said. "Who?"

Hi looked at Wolfgang and smiled. "You know, Wolfie, right now, in the full light of day, with those diminished powers and all, I bet I could take you."

Wolfgang smiled back at him. "There is one way to find out. Why don't you try me?"

Hi chuckled dismissively. "Lucky for you," he said, "I've got too much else to go do." Hi opened the car door and got out.

"What have you got to do?" Wolfgang asked.

Hi leaned in at the open window and said, "Clean up my place. It's a mess."

Hi walked over to Soto as Wolfgang drove away. "Well!" Hi said with a friendly smile. "Been to Cuco's Cabaret lately?"

Soto, all business, threw away his cigarette butt. "You have been approached by MI6," he said.

"Who told you that?"

The Englishman."

"He told you that?"

"Not directly. I have been following you."

"You're pulling my leg."

"Why would I pull on your leg?"

"It's just an expression. I know you've been tailing me. Remember being lost in the fog?"

"The Englishman works for MI6."

"How do you know he's not CIA?"

"Whatever. I was given his picture. I was told he's a spook. He has been here to see you. That can only mean one thing."

"What's that?"

"How should I know? I am only quoting El Presidente."

"Juan Perón?"

Soto produced an ID and held it for Hi to see. "My name is Soto. I work for the Argentine government."

Hi glanced at the ID. "Congratulations."

Before you do anything for this Englishman, El Presidente wishes to see you."

"The man who stole my gal. When it rains, it pours, Soto. That's another expression in English."