"Okay, George," Evans said.
"No, not tonight."
"Harry's waiting, George."
"I said,not tonight. "
There was a deep-throated growl in the darkness, and a silver Ferrari convertible pulled up alongside the limousine.
"My car," Morton said. He started down the stairs, lurching a bit.
Sarah said, "George, I don't think--"
But he was singing again: "And you told me not to drive, but I made it home alive, so you said that only proves that I'm in-sayyy-nnne."
One of the reporters muttered, "He's insane, all right."
Evans followed Morton, very concerned. Morton gave the parking attendant a hundred dollar bill, saying "A twenty for you, my good man." He fumbled with the Ferrari door. "These crummy Italian imports." Then he got behind the wheel of the convertible, gunned the engine, and smiled. "Ah, a manly sound."
Evans leaned over the car. "George, let Harry drive you. Besides," he added, "don't we need to talk about something?"
"We do not."
"But I thought--"
"Kid, get out of my way." The camera lights were still on them. But Morton moved so that he was in the shadow cast by Evans's body. "You know, the Buddhists have a saying."
"What saying?"
"Remember it, kid. Goes like this: 'All that matters is not remote from where the Buddha sits.'"
"George, I really think you should not be driving."
"Will you remember what I just said to you?"
"Yes."
"Wisdom of the ages. Good-bye, kid."
And he accelerated, roaring out of the parking lot as Evans jumped back. The Ferrari squealed around the corner, ignoring a stop sign, and was gone.
"Peter, come on."
Evans turned, and saw Sarah standing by the limousine. Harry was getting in behind the wheel. Evans got in the back seat with Sarah, and they drove off after Morton.
The Ferrari turned left at the bottom of the hill, disappearing around the corner. Harry accelerated, handling the huge limousine with skill.
Evans said, "Do you know where he's going?"
"No idea," she said.
"Who wrote his speech?"
"He did."
"Really?"
"He was working in the house all day yesterday, and he wouldn't let me see what he was doing..."
"Jesus," Evans said. "Montaigne?"
"He had a book of quotations out."
"Where'd he come up with Dorothy?"
She shook her head. "I have no idea."
They passed Golden Gate Park. Traffic was light; the Ferrari was moving fast, weaving among the cars. Ahead was the Golden Gate Bridge, brightly lit in the night. Morton accelerated. The Ferrari was going almost ninety miles an hour.
"He's going to Marin," Sarah said.
Evans's cell phone rang. It was Drake. "Will you tell me what the hell that was all about?"
"I'm sorry, Nick. I don't know."
"Was he serious? About withdrawing his support?"
"I think he was."
"That's unbelievable. He's obviously suffered a nervous breakdown."
"I couldn't say."
"I was afraid of this," Drake said. "I was afraid something like this might happen. You remember, on the plane coming back from Iceland? I said it to you, and you told me I shouldn't worry. Is that your opinion now? That I shouldn't worry?"
"I don't know what you're asking, Nick."
"Ann Garner said he signed some papers on the plane."
"That's right. He did."
"Are they related to this sudden and inexplicable withdrawal of support for the organization that he loved and cherished?"
"He seems to have changed his mind about that," Evans said.
"And why didn't you tell me?"
"He instructed me not to."
"Fuck you, Evans."
"I'm sorry," Evans said.
"Not as sorry as you will be."
The phone went dead. Drake had hung up. Evans flipped the phone shut.
Sarah said, "Drake is mad?"
"Furious."
Off the bridge, Morton headed west, away from the lights of the freeway, onto a dark road skirting the cliffs. He was driving faster than ever.
Evans said to Harry, "Do you know where we are?"
"I believe we're in a state park."
Harry was trying to keep up, but on this narrow, twisting road, the limousine was no match for the Ferrari. It moved farther and farther ahead. Soon they could see only the taillights, disappearing around curves a quarter mile ahead.
"We're going to lose him," Evans said.
"I doubt it, sir."
But the limousine fell steadily behind. After Harry took one turn too fast--the big rear end lost traction and swung wide toward a cliff's edge--they were obliged to slow down even more. They were in a desolate area now. The night was dark and the cliffs deserted. A rising moon put a streak of silver on the black water far below.
Up ahead, they no longer saw any taillights. It seemed they were alone on the dark road.
They came around a curve, and saw the next curve a hundred yards ahead--obscured by billowing gray smoke.
"Oh no," Sarah said, putting her hand to her mouth.