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The terrible silence began anew The Vico left to do but pray, went down on his knees and

prayed As for me, my blood beat so fiercely that I had to take my

heart in both hands, lest it should burst At last, we heard Erik's

voice: "The two rasshopper! "Erik," cried Christine, "do you swear to me, monster, do

you swear to me that the scorpion is the one to turn?

"Yes, to hop at our wedding"

"Ah, you see! You said, to hop!"

"At our wedding, ingenuous child!The scorpion opens the ball

But that will do!You won't have the scorpion? Then I turn the

grasshopper!"

"Erik!"

"Enough!"

I was crying out in concert with Christine M de Chagny was still on

his knees, praying

"Erik! I have turned the scorpion!"

Oh, the second through which we passed!

Waiting! Waiting to find ourselves in frag crack beneath our feet, hearing an appalling hiss

through the open trap-door, a hiss like the first sound of a rocket!

It came softly, at first, then louder, then very loud But it was not