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"I take great pleasure in raping wo--"

A brawny arhtened around his throat and choked off his words "This is for all the women you reen eyes, as he cast aside the poncho, jammed the barrel of the 45 Colt down the front of Aer

For the second ti sound of gunfire

Giordino hurled hi into the startled guard, crushing hiasp of pain He caught

the distorted look of horror and agony on A eyes, his lih the air as his hands clutched the roin And then Giordino punched the guard in the teeth and tore the automatic rifle fro around in a crouched firing position, h the doorway

This time Shannon didn't scream Instead, she crawled into a corner of the roo dus If she had been terrified earlier, she was now merely numb with shock Then she stared up at Pitt, lips taut, face pale, specks of blood in her blond hair

Rodgers was staring at Pitt too, with an expression of astonishnized the eyes, the animal-like movements "You're the diver from the cave," he said dazedly

Pitt nodded "One and the same"

"You're supposed to be back in the well," Shannonvoice

"Sir Edrinned slyly "I scramble up and down the walls of sinkholes like a human fly" He shoved a horrified Amaru to the floor as if the terrorist were a drunk on a sidewalk and placed a hand on Giordino's shoulder "You can relax, Al The other guards have seen the light of decency and virtue"

Giordino, with a se, laid aside the automatic rifle and embraced Pitt

"God, I never thought I'd see your gargoyle face again"

"The things you put o away for half an hour without you involving me in a local crime wave"

"Why the delay?" asked Giordino, not to be outdone "We expected you hours ago"

"I missed my bus Which reminds me, where is my Dixieland band?"