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"Funny," the professor rave robbers and don’t hide the fact Yet, it’s how I began Stealing frorandfather" He cleared his throat "We’ve ten minutes--less now--toon?" Cade asked

The professor laughed "The opposition isits move"

There was no time to ask questions The professor sprinted off across the mill floor, and if she wanted answers, she had to follow Cade looked just as perplexed as she felt

They hurried after hilad of the distraction the professor presented, a reprieve fro of it warrabbed a taper and ran up the stairs, their feet clattering on the steps like a platoon of soldiers They passed the landing that led to the artifact roo open to who-knehat She had never explored beyond the third floor and was curious, but the professor’s pace did not waver When they reached the fifth floor, the professor dove through the doorway, and Karigan found herself pursuing his shadow

They eely empty but for a few chests and crates piled in the center of the rooled froan and Cade to join hiuish all but one of the tapers," he said, "and the one will stay here on the floor at dilow"

When this was done, he said, "I don’t believe I need to remind you to remain silent, but I will anyway Most likely we’d not be heard, but sound can carry in odd ways, and I’d rather not take a chance"

He pulled down on the rope hanging froth as it cale creak or groan It seean another clever innovation of this time

At the top of the ladder there was a trap door The professor climbed, worked a ain, itThe professor beckoned Karigan and Cade to follow

Karigan left behind the di on the floor beneath her and cli and poked her head out, she saw the dirty skies had cleared enough to peruide her She crawled onto the roof, rustedto her feet, she patted dust off her trousers Despite the professor’s urgency, all was quiet What was supposed to happen at two hour? Karigan was distracted by the unusual vantage point the roof presented She observed first not the sea of stars overhead, but the rivers of low spread and warped by the fog that snaked along at ground level She was draard the edge of the roof At first she’d thought it flat, but it had a subtle slant, perhaps to shed rainfall and snowliht and there was beauty in it Beauty in a city where she’d found so little The inventions of these people--her descendents--were als, like the city streets lit up at night, or the mechanical ic Harnessed etherea, as in the chronosphere Soic andbayed in the distance and Cade came up beside her He took her arht see your silhouette against the stars," he whispered, his lips al her ear She trembled

He released her She steadied herself with a deep breath, and silently berated herself for her carelessness She should know better, but the city seeht, asleep, abandoned Who would be up so late to chance sighting her?

Inspectors, she answered herself, and the view of those hundreds of street la than they had been just a azed off in the direction of what she guessed to be the Old City There were few lights in that direction, only tiny dots of illuleamed across the river, butagainst the starscape of the sky

What was the professor waiting for? What did he expect to happen?

The clanging of bells made her jump From the many towers of the s for two hour Karigan yawned as the bells reminded her she was up well past bedtiered on the air and then faded out, the professor waited, head cocked, but nothing changed Eventually he shrugged and indicated they should climb back down into the mill No one spoke until the professor, last on the ladder, closed the trap door after him and descended to the htening each taper

"I wasn’t sure I expected to see anything or hear anything Actually, I hoped to hear nothing, because it was supposed to happen at two, right on the bell"

"What was supposed to happen at two?" Cade asked, an edge to his voice

Karigan thought it interesting the professor kept things even fro--or at least I hope we have--to slon Silk’s drill project If we have succeeded, I am sure it will be the talk of town tole" style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-7451196230453695" data-ad-slot="9930101810" data-ad-format="auto" data-full-width-responsive="true">