Rising quickly, Hal saw from whence the signal had come.

In the aperture made by an open skylight overhead appeared the head of a dark-skinned young man.

His bright, restless eyes took in everything in the room, our hero included.

“You are an American?” he asked, as Hal stepped under the skylight.

“Yes.”

“Then I am your friend. But have you an enemy?”

“I—I fear I have.”

“Look out of the window toward the harbor. Then come back.”

Hal quickly obeyed, returning with a perturbed face.

“You saw Senor Vasquez approaching, with two officers and a squad of soldiers?”