by Mike Crowson
Chapter 25
Cornelius sat back from the hotel breakfast table. "It's a damn nuisance not having the car," he said, "Apart from the inconvenience of hiring another and having just the one driver, we've lost several days as well."
"Not to mention losing Stella," said Ian, despondently. "And the injuries to Juliana. The doctor says her leg was so crushed that she may never walk properly. At least, I think that's what he says. His English isn't much better than my Spanish."
"We can manage without her. Stella is a loss, but we can manage without her as well."
"I wouldn't have said it to her face," said Ian, "but she was so personally ambitious that she was difficult to work with."
"It wasn't her ambition. We're all ambitious but she was always certain that she knew best. One would have needed that amulet to control her."
Ian thought that Cornelius had possibly wanted that for himself.
The big man continued, "I don't suppose there's much risk of your archaeologists beating us to the rings."
"We can't be too sure of that," Ian said morosely.
He looked around at the small hotel in Medina Sidonia in which Gill, Alan and Manjy had stayed just a few days previously.
"Stella obviously thought there was something urgent on the astral."
"On further reflection, I don't believe it was anything to do with the rings," said Cornelius. "There was no way she could have got like she was from a clash with your archaeologists."
"You wouldn't think so," agreed Ian. "Anyway, I ought to visit Juliana again today," he added.
"It will have to wait until we have finished our business at Boloña."
"Can't we go round via the hospital?"
"Oh ... very well." Cornelius was irritated and not in the best of moods. "But hurry up," he grumbled.