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The o inside”

He understood the effect that an order fro created It was not questioned, only obeyed, until another directive fro countermanded the first

On the screen, as Ni hustled away, Tang noticed so from the back pocket of his pants

“Focus on what he is carrying,” he immediately ordered

The camera’s focus zoomed as Ni continued to walk away, and the object became clear

A flashlight

He tapped one of the security men on the shoulder and un”

The man handed over the weapon

He checked the azine Fully loaded

“Take me to that area”

NI HAD PURPOSEFULLY STOPPED AND FACED THE CAMERA IF Karl Tang atching, which the premier had assured him would be the case, then he wanted him to knoas here

Now to see if his enemy had taken the bait

FIFTY-TWO

MALONE STARED DOWN THROUGH A WINDOW SMEARED BY RAIN at the toreen-forested mound rose like a boil from the flat brown landscape He’d read about the site round vaults spread over twenty square miles, most of them unexplored He’d even visited the terra-cotta warrior exhibition in London last year, but he’d never iht one day enter the tomb itself

The helicopter approached fro in over dun-colored hills at around a thousand feet A steady downpour drenched the ground Moreto the north About ahalls and other buildings that made up thethe rain

“We’ll land north,” Viktor said through the headphones “I’m told there’s a spot reserved for helicopters there”

Malone preferred to carry a weapon and hoped that a locker he’d spotted earlier was accessible When the latch opened he was instantly suspicious Inside, four pistols were secured by cla the last time he’d been inside a helicopter, with Viktor Toazine

Fully loaded Twenty rounds

He removed a few of the bullets and examined them No blanks

He replaced the aun to Pau Wen, nor did the older man ask

He slid the semi-automatic pistol beneath his shirt Cassiopeia did the same

The rotors eased, and they gradually lost altitude

TANG LEFT THE SECURITY BUILDING AND WAS HEADED FOR A waiting car when he spotted a o after Ni Yong, but he knew better

“Keep the car ready,” he ordered

Then he headed back inside

NI STOPPED AT THE RUSTED FENCE THAT ENCLOSED A CLUSTER of dilapidated buildings The pree-like structures beyond had been hastily built in the 1980s To the pree, no one had been inside the enclosure for twenty years—and fro, and gaping holes that dotted the thatched roofs, he could believe that clais stood maybe a hundred meters from the base of the er existed

He stared with a blend of fascination and wonder

The premier had also advised him that Pau Wen was most likely headed inside the tomb of Qin Shi

“How is that possible?” he’d asked

“There are tays inside Pau Wen knows one I know the other”