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“I think Carlton made it out with his assistant Gupta, too”

“Even if they aren’t all dead, it’ll take theroup from that mess”

When they reached the opening to the exit tunnel, the anxious guard stationed there asked Mallik and Torkan what the screaet an answer Torkan viciously chopped hiuard fell to his knees, his windpipe collapsed

“The other guards will co at the dead man “Even you can’t kill all of theet off the Library property”

“No they won’t,” Torkan replied He took the guard’s guns and re knives froo”

Mallik didn’t ask what Torkan had inwas Mallik’s skill, tactical creativity was Torkan’s Mallik siehere they took off at a trot

As they got close to the end of the long tunnel, the sound of footsteps pounding behind theun while Mallik activated the lion heads control The barrier slowly lowered, and they dove to the ground to avoid the guards’ bullets that were pinging off the corridor walls

By the tione They’d be chased down outside long before they got to their waiting car and executed on the spot

They stepped across the barrier as it started to close with the rising water Torkan turned and shoved the blades of each knife he’d taken froap between the barrier and the wall

The hardened steel of the knives squealed as the barrier caes to keep the barrier froush over it The te back the water fro to drop

They ran up the steps and out onto the dry path Mallik looked back, and the da into the tunnel at a fearsouards behind them would almost certainly drown before they could make the quarter mile back to the Library

“Quick thinking,” Mallik said as they headed back to their car

“Carlton will co he can,” Torkan said

“I knoe’re in a race against each other”

Torkan silently nodded, his expression soe the course of civilization forever