The Templar Throne

"E.T.?"

"The Extra-Terrestrial. He was in the movie, the guy at the back of the room. One of the kids. Tyler, I think. He's been in all sorts of things since."

"The dark-haired one or the man sitting with him?"

"The dark-haired one."

"That's quite a memory you have," commented Sister Meg.

"C. Thomas Howell," said Holliday, getting it at last.

"Never heard of him."

"That's because you aren't a film buff."

"I assure you, nuns watch movies," the woman answered curtly.

"Nun movies?"

"There's such a classification?"

"Sure," Holliday said and nodded. "The Nun's Story, Sister Faustina, Agnes of God, Song of Bernadette, The Singing Nun, Lilies of the Field, Two Mules for Sister Sarah, The Bells of St. Mary's, Dead Man Walking. I could go on."

"Please don't," said Sister Meg. A young waiter appeared and they ordered. Meg asked for the goulash and Holliday chose the breaded veal with French fries.

"I had a Czech friend who once told me the only two words I need to be able to speak in Czech: hranolky and pivo. French fries and beer. At least that way you wouldn't starve to death or die of thirst."

"So what's next?" Sister Meg asked.

"After dinner?" Holliday replied. "After dinner we go outside for a nice walk in the evening air and see if there's a green late-model BMW in the parking lot with Austrian license plate MD 337 CA."

"Pardon?"

"Do you remember a man who came into the hotel after us when we checked in? He sat down and started to read the paper."

Sister Meg thought for a moment and nodded. "Vaguely. He had a shaved head. He was fat."

"That's the one."

"What about him?"

"He was in the Nordsee restaurant outside of Nuremberg. He had fish and chips and a Coke. Twice. Once in the restaurant as well as a take-out order."

"You're sure?"

"Positive."

"Maybe it's just a coincidence?"

"Somehow I don't think so."