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The carved door opened into a corner office that was al as the reception area and repeated the Central A , his back to the door

"Sir, if you have a moment"

Halcon halfturned, displaying the aquiline nose, set in a pale, narrow face, the profile that had earned hi "Come here, Guzman," he said

Guzer man Halcon was in his forties, taller than Guzman by an inch or two He was ascetically lean, al else about Halcon, appearances were deceiving In a concession to his role as a businesstail, tri unifor Yet under his expensive tailored suit still lurked the cruel body of the matador known as the Haho had used his quickness and power to dispatch dozens of brave bulls If there had been any complaint from the aficionados who followed his brief but illustrious career, it was that the Hawk's kills were coldly efficient and lacked passion In another age he would have been a deadly swords hearts of men, not bulls

"Do you knohy I chose to build this particular office in this particular location, Guzman?"

"If I would venture a guess, Don Halcon, it offers a good view of s"

Halcon chuckled at the response An honestly blunt answer, as I would expect fro one I a an eye on his fields"

"My apologies, Don Halcon, I did not mean to offend"

"No offense taken It was a natural assumption, but an erroneous one" His se dangerous people give their voices "I chose this office for one reason: the view it offers of the Mission San Antonio de Valero It reminds estured out at the sprawl of the city visible through the tinted floor-to-ceiling s "I often stand here and think of how history can veer off in unexpected directions, drastically changed by the actions of the few The Ala of the end for Santa Anna He was captured at San Jacinto, and in one decisive engagement Texas became independent from Mexico The lesson of history is clear, is it not?"

"It wouldn't be the first tiht down the powerful"

"Precisely Nor will it be the last What happened once can happen again The Alaainst six thousand Mexican troops, showing that the determined few can transforhts, staring out at the sprawling city After afrom a dream

"Why did you want to see me?"

"There's a matter of some importance, sir I just intercepted this transmission from Morocco to the University of Pennsylvania" He handed the file over

Halcon leafed through theon the sketch, and " He looked up "There can be no mistake?"

"Our surveillance systeical expedition in the world sends proposals to our Ti for funds and volunteers Those with serious potential are assigned priority The computers automatically access all transmissions froraes"