DATE WITH THE GODS

330 DATE WITH THE GODS

On December 19, 1974, the day I drove to New York
to see Harold Barton, breaking every speed law on the
way, I still had no idea I would never see him alive again.
When I couldn't see him, I decided to postpone my
appearance at the Beverly Hills court, pending my
return to the United States after working out Roy's
Peruvian horse deal.
I spent the Christmas holidays with Roy and Betty in
Michigan. We used this time to put together the details
on the venture. I was to go to Peru, buy the horses and
return to Ohio. I would stay in Peru a couple of months
to take care of the exportation procedures.
By the end of March, I wa s to come back with the
horses and stay at his Peruvian horse ranch in Ohio and
write my book. Everything so agreed, I was on a Braniff
flight from Miami to Lima, Peru, by January 2, 1975.
I fastened my seat belt and let out a sigh of relief. This
was the answer to my prayer, I thought. Some benevo­
lent spirit had picked up my mental images of going back
to Peru and sprayed them with that "thought material­
izer."
I arrived in Lima at 7 o'clock in the morning. I was a
familiar face to immigration and customs officials. I
entered the terminal and walked toward the car rental
counters.
I heard a familiar voice.
"Can I get you a taxi, senor?"
I turned around, dropping my luggage and brief case,
and ra n to kiss and hug the beautiful creature who had
called me.
"Rama, you sweet baby, how did you know I was on
this flight? Oh, never mind. How are you?"
"How do I look?"
"You look great! Let's rent a car and get out of this
madhouse."