The beautiful Astarte escorted Napoleon across a courtyard brimming with potted palm trees and plants; at its center was the statue of languorous woman leaning forward, pouring water from an urn into a fountain that surrounded her.
Napoleon followed behind Astarte, watching her hips sway seductively.
"Lovely indeed," he thought with a slight smile, then chastised himself to get his mind out of the bedroom. She lead him to an intimate drawing room, its walls white and its floor cool terracotta tiles. There were several more large marble statues of nude women in the classic Grecian poses, as well as male statuary looking as though they were frozen in time, in deep contemplation.
The room felt somewhat cooler perhaps it was the thickness of the walls fending off the heat as he was shown to a pair of dark green high back leather chairs in its center. A large ceiling fan turned above them, circulating the warm are enough to make it more comfortable.
Dr. Stonghilos appeared through one of the side doors, still dressed in a cool white linen suit.
"Ah Mr. Vaughn welcome to my humble abode, please have a seat."
A servant appeared carrying a tray of drinks, offering one first to the guest.
As Napoleon picked up the glass, he detected an odd odor coming from it. He looked questionably at the drink, then at his host.
"I see you are concerned by the scent of your libation. It is a local drink called Masthi...made from mastic, a resin found in the bark of a particluar Mediterreanean tree. I assure you it is quite refreshing." Stronghilos smiled, making the scar along his chin line more prominent as he took a sip from his own tumbler.
Napoleon tipped the glass to his lips... it tasted better than it smelled and seemed like a cross between lemonade and tonic with a hint of herbs.
"Interesting," he smiled, raising his eyebrows, nodding his approval. "Surprisingly good."
"You will find many such delights here on Santorini, but I think you already know that.," the doctor said as he reached up to Astarte, stroking her arm with the back of his hand and she stood beside him.
"Yes to say the least, " Napoleon replied.
The doctor drew a gold pocket watch from his vest and looked a the time. "Please Mr. Vaughn join me out on the terrace for our repast, once we have eaten we can enjoy the spectacular sunset. It is a local ritual here to pause and view it each evening."
"And will Miss Lovely be joining us?"
"But of course, " she smiled.
Dr. Stronghilos and Astarte walked ahead of Napoleon, leading him up a short flight of stairs to a terrace that faced out to the caldera, giving them a full view of the entire side of the island. Another terrace directly below them contained a pool, its lining decorated with turquoise and black mosiacs in geometric Greek patterns.
"I'm surprised to see that," Napoleon said, " Isn't water in short suppy here? It's my understanding that the crops aren't even watered and survive only on the dew from the air."
"That is quite correct about the crops Mr. Vaughn, but as for the swimming pool; some creature comforts are necessary here in this un-godly hot climate, for those who can afford it."
Napoleon was seated at the table with the others as they were served Greek salad that included kapari, a locally grown vegtable the size of a pea. Sides of fava cooked in a red sauce with wild capers, kalamata olives, keftes...mint scented fried tomatos, eggplant fritters with tzaziki, a yogurt and cubumber dish.
The food continued to arrive, with the main course consisting of grilled fish and baked moussaka made with sliced white eggplant, lean groung beef, onions, tomatoes, with butter, eggs, and seasonings.
Astarte was was busy being a little nymphette, pushing Napoleon's buttons at her every opportunity.
"Our Moussaka is made with eggplants grown only here you know...they're white, round and are called the apples of love," she said as her hands brushed her breasts suggestively." It's said they are quite effective as an aphrodisiac."
"It remains to be seen what arises I suppose?" he flirted back with her, thinking he'd have to keep the situation under control.
The leisurely meal was served with sweet Santorini wine and the conversation was light it as it was nearly half past eight in the evening and nearly time to view that famed sunset. They stood along the railing on the high terrace overlooking the caldera as the golden sun drifted down in the sky, seeming so close that it looked as if it were about to fall into the sea.
The light of the sun and the smoke from the active volcano in the calder affected the colors spectrum, first casting pinks and lavenders on the white of the clouds and the houses along the rim and cliffside. Then as the sun became lower, the colors changed to yellow and oranges, reflecting on the water, making it look like an iridescent kaleidoscope on the shifting tides of the waters below.
Astarte clasped her arm with Napoleons' leaning her head against his shoulder. "Isn't that possibly the most spectacular thing you've ever seen? It positively makes one swoon," she said sotto vocce.
"Oh boy," Napoleon thought, this was going to get complicated.
"So Mr. Vaughn..." Astarte said.
"Please, call me James." Napoleon answered sipping his wine.
"Yes, why of course James, Stavros tells me you work for the Metropolitan Museum of Art?"
"That's correct, department of antiquities."
"Really, that sounds so divine. Getting to commune with history...with the ancients." she cooed.
"Not really. I'm more in the financial end, getting grants of sponsorship for archaeologists at the present."
"Oh yes, you mean Hektor and Spyros...they are so dull and classless, always with their heads buried in the ground."
"Yes, but their latest project, the search for an intact Antikythera is most exciting would you not agree?" Stavros said.
"I suppose?"
"You seem disinterested in their work," said Stavros. "How is it then you came to be involved in their funding?"
Napoleon could feel himself squirming, concerned that Stronghilos was somehow becoming suspicioius of him.
"We heard of their dig at the Met and given the malaise over the funding of archaelogical projects in Greece right now, we thought them worthy recipients."
"Really Mr. Vaughn, if that is indeed your name. How could that be? You see Hektor and Spyros have been keeping their project out of the public eye due to it's spectacular nature." There was a sharp tone of deliberateness to the Doctor's voice. "How do you know about them...you don't work for the museum do you? Just who are you?" He asked many impatient questions.
Astarte was up beside Napoleon in an instant, moving smoothley as cat, gliding quickly to him; pressing a razor-sharp stiletto blade to his throat.
Solo raised his chin carefully as he smiled with confidence.
"What's so amusing, " she said, still with a seductive purr to her voice.
"That wouldn't be a very smart thing to do...Central would be quite displeased if you were to injure me."
"Central," she hesitated with doubt in her voice." What is that?"
"Yes tell us?" Stronghilos said. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table.
"Come come," Napoleon said. "You're both members of T.H.R.U.S.H. aren't you? We can speak plainly now, I believe. I was sent here Doctor Stronghilos, or would your prefer Dr. Strong, or Starke perhaps? We are concerned about the progress of your current project to obtain the Antikythera device. Ich bin hier, um ihrenbericht, Herr Doktor_ I am here for your status report," he spoke in German, hoping that would make him sound more believable, but he uttered a silent prayer his bluff would work with the two of them.
The Doctor waived Astarte to step back away from Napoleon.
"Why shoud I believe you? And why would Central have sent someone without notifying me?"
"It is not the habit of Central to tell someone they are going to receive a surprise visit." Napoleon became indignant. " Fine, don't believe me. Contact Central if you please, but if you do so, there will be consequences for questioning a representative of the Central Council itself."
Napoleon's bold move seemed to have worked and Stronghilos backed down.
"No no, my sincerest apologies. I am just surprised to be hearing from Central so soon."
"And are you ready to give me your status report Doctor?" Napoleon spoke with authority in his voice attempting to keep Stronghilos on the defensive.
"The two archaeologists, Hektor and Spyros are very close, I can feel it. They are being very close-mouthed and evasive, making me think they may have the Antikythera in their possession soon, if not already."
"Yes, umm. That was Central's thinking as well and that's why I was sent. Now once you get the device in your possession..."
" I'll use it to power up the crystal solar cannon of course, a demonstration of it's power will be in order." Stronghilos bragged. " I have it safely in place, waiting for the control mechanism...just think of it, an actual laser developed in Atlantis thousands of years ago and so powerful it will make T.H.R.U.S.H. the masters of the world in no time."
"And where have you hidden the solar cannon?"
"Stronghilos eyed him warily. " It is safe I can assure you." he smiled as he drew a pocket watch from his vest. " It is late and I find the intensity of the heat today has been most draining. Mr. Vaughn, I insist that you stay here as my guest this evening as walking the dark paths down the cliffside can be quite dangerous at night. Many foolish people have fallen to their death into to the caldera. Now, if you'll excuse me, I will bid you good night. Astarte, if you will see to Mr. Vaughn's amusement please?"
"Of course, Stavros, " she smiled as he disappeared to another part of the villa. "I am so terribly hot, " she then sighed to Napoleon " I feel like a swim, care to join me James?"
"Sorry no bathing trunks," he smiled.
"And that is a problem, for a man like yourself I hardly think so. You do not strike me as the shy type?" she coaxed.
"I'm not really in the mood to swim. It's not exactly one of my favorite evening pastimes."
Astarte pressed her body against him. " And what is your favorite thing to do?" her lips pouted on that last word.
"That's for me to know and you to find out, later." Napoleon took the risk, leaning forward, he kissed Astarte on the lips; teasing her with his tongue.
"Mmm, why wait?" she whispered as she took his hand, grabbing a bottle of ouzo from the table and a pair of glasses; she lead him downstairs to her room. Once inside, she kissed Napoleon hungrily, and he returned her embrace, running his hands across her body, and as he took hold of her breasts in his hands. Astarte moaned loudly. Napleon bent her backwards in a deep kiss, then held onto her as she went limp in his arms.
He pullled the small sleep dart from the back of her neck where he had injected her with it, then he picked her up placing her on the bed as he proceeded to remove her clothing. He looked at her gorgeous body for a moment, drinking her in, then shook his head.
"There would have been the day..." he thought to himself with a smile. Then he sprinkled some of the alchohol on her, the bedding and her clothes then finally took a quick swig from the bottle before he placed it on the night stand.
He left Astarte alone in her bedroom and when she would wake in the morning, she'd have a slight headache, not remembering the night's fun, or so that's what she would have thought she'd had.
Napoleon left the bedroom, closing the door quietly behind him as he proceeded to move carefully through the house until he found what looked like Stronghilos' office. There were several computers set up, maps, diagrams and drawings posted on the walls. Several of which drew the agent's immediate attention.
One was a sketch, a rendering of what a supposed complete Antikythera might look like, and the other was a drawing of what appeared to be something that resembled immense faceted crystal with ten sides mounted on some sort support with wheels. He looked closely at it, checking the dimenstions written on the paper, guessing this was the crystal solar cannon. The measurements indicated it was the size of a large console televison set, yet he could find nothing to tell him where Stronghilos had hidden it.
He searched the rest of the house, still finding nothing, then finally pulled out his communicator pen.
"Open Channel F-Kuryakin."
"Napoleon, where are you?" Illya asked
"I'm still at Stonghilos' villa, and will be spending the night. I convinced him that I'm a representative of Thrush Central here to check up on him."
"Clever, and he fell for it?"
"For now. Look, he spoke about something called a crystal solar-powered cannon, built by the people of Atlantis. I saw a drawing of it. It has ten triangular panels, five on each side, about 3'x 3'. The Antikythera is the mechanism that controls this thing."
"A decahedron laser? Illya said. "Napoleon I have been to the grotto with Hektor and Spyros and we found the device. It is an amazing constuction, I cannot wait to analyze..."
"Hold your horses partner, don't go getting all scientist on me. This sounds like a pretty dangerous machine and Stronghilos won't hesitate to use it if he gets his hands on it. We may have to destroy it and the crystal cannon."
"Napoleon the Antikythera is a priceless archaeological artifact. It is an astrological computer as well, although I cannot see how it could be used to control a weapon such as you described?"
"I know tovarish, I know."
"I understand," Illya said with disappointment in his voice as he repeated their mantra. "We do what ever it takes to complete the mission."