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Paul steeled himself and moved in unison with Marchetti as they pressed into the heart of the conflagration

By now Paul could feel the heat fro lava rocks A neave of fire spewed to the left of theround

Paul pulled hiet back”

“I told you, one of my men is down here!”

Another small explosion buffeted them, and a wall of flame rose up, only to be forced back by the water from the two hoses

The engine rooth and filled with equip the roof in places, everything was obscured If they weren’t losing the battle, it was at least a stalemate

“We have to flood the compartment,” Paul said “It’s the only way”

“We tried,” Marchetti said “The fire-suppression syste It should have kicked on at one hundred and seventy-five degrees but didn’t We tried to trigger it fro happened”

“There has to be an override,” Paul said, “a er down here somewhere”

Marchetti began looking around “There are four,” he said “The closest should be that way By the generator stack”

“We need to activate it”

Marchetti hesitated “The doors will auto-seal as soon as we trigger it,” he explained “Whoever does it will be trapped inside”

“How long?”

“Until the fire goes out and the temperature drops”

“Then let’s not waste any more time”