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She whirled

Everything in the darkness seemed frozen

Three meters ao forms appeared in the archway that led out to the hall A third forht

Silhouettes of guns materialized, pointed her way

“Lay the lalish

She considered shooting her way out, then decided that was foolishness

She could not evade all three

“The gun, too,” the voice said

TWENTY-EIGHT

MALONE HEARD A VOICE JUST AS HE FOUND THE TOP OF THE stairs—a un Apparently, some of the six individuals ere inside had found Cassiopeia He recalled froh a portrait gallery with a collection of miniatures, then one door down the hall

He passed through the gallery, threading his way around dark shapes, careful not to bu out, a quick look confir into another room

Both held weapons

Elaborate paintings inside thick fra was parquetry, which meant, unlike the marble he’d traversed so far, it would announce his presence Since he needed to do so and there was no time for subtlety, he decided the direct approach would be best

“Excuse me,” he said

Both men whirled

One of the un and fired

NI STOOD DOWNSTAIRS WITH PAU WEN HE DID NOT LIKE ANYTHING about this situation He was a high-ranking official in the Chinese govern—yet here he was inside a Belgian larized

He heard a voice from up the main staircase

Then another

And a shot

Pau said soo—then, with a flick of his wrist, dismissed him

The acolyte darted up the staircase

“This could escalate,” Pau said “I confess that I thought no one would be here Apparently, I rong We must leave”

More shots rang out

“There’s quite a fight happening up there,” Ni said

Pau grabbed his arm and they started for the terrace door “All the more reason for us to leave We can retreat to our previous position, away froarden, and observe My associate will do what he can to secure the lamp He’s—”

“Expendable?”

“I was thinking capable But he is certainly both”

CASSIOPEIA HEARD A VOICE SAY “EXCUSE ME,” SAW THE TWO MEN react, and decided to use their ht She’d laid the laun, as ordered, she swung around and fired at the third man

But the dooras empty

She scooped up the lamp just as the two men in the archway opened fire If she didn’t know better she’d swear the voice had been Cotton’s But that would be too fortuitous even to wish for

More shots erupted, but they were directed away from her

She decided that since the tere occupied, the third reater threat So she darted to the doorway, peered into the next rooht of movement The roos Another exit opened ten meters aith many places to hide in between

All problems