             ,,*APT] ,,XIV
     ,,! ,,NI<T ,,( ,,! ,,FIF? ,,(
                ,,OCTOB]

  ,,IVAN ,,OG>EFF'S PLAN _H BE5 3TRIV$ )
! GRTE/ C>E1 & EXCEPT = "S UN=ESE5
A3ID5T HE 2LIEV$ T X M/ SU3E$4 ,X 0 (
IMPORT.E T ! ,BOL*AIA ,GATE %D 2 UNGU>D$
OR ONLY FEEBLY HELD :5 HE GAVE X UP4 ,!
ATT5;N (! 2SIEG$ 0 "!=E 6BE DRAWN 6ANO!R
"P (! T[N4 ,A DIV].N 0 AGRE$ ^U )!
,EMIR4
  ,? DIV].N 0 6BE E6ECT$ BO? UP & D[N !
RIV]1 ON ! ,IRKUTSK BANK4 ,! ATTACK ON
^! TWO PO9TS 0 6BE 3DUCT$ 9 E>NE/1 & AT
! SAME "T A FEIGN$ ATTEMPT AT CROSS+ !
,ANG>A F ! LEFT BANK 0 6BE MADE4 ,!
,BOL*AIA ,GATE1 WD 2 PROBABLY DES]T$1 S
M* ! M 2C ON ? SIDE ! ,T>T> \TPO/S HAV+
DRAWN BACK1 WD APPE> 6H BROK5 UP4
  ,X 0 ! #E? ( ,OCTOB]4 ,9 F\R & TW5TY
H\RS1 ! CAPITAL ( ,EA/]N ,SIB]IA WD 2 9
! H&S (! ,EMIR1 &! ,GR& ,DUKE 9 ! P[] (,IVAN ,OG>EFF4                      #DEF
  ,DUR+ ! "D1 AN UNUSUAL /IR 0 GO+ ON 9
! ,ANG>A CAMP4 ,F ! W9D[S (! PALACE
IMPORTANT PREP>,NS ON ! OPPOSITE %ORE CD
2 4T9CTLY SE54 ,NUM]\S ,T>T> DETA*;TS 7
3V]G+ T[>DS ! CAMP1 & F H\R 6H\R RE9=C$
! ,EMIR'S TROOPS4 ,^! MOVE;TS1 9T5D$
6DCV ! 2SIEG$1 7 3DUCT$ 9 ! MO/ OP5
MANN] POSSI# 2F _! EYES4
  ,OG>EFF _H W>N$ ! ,GR& ,DUKE T AN
ATTACK 0 6BE FE>$4 ,HE KNEW1 HE SD1 T AN
ASSAULT 0 6BE MADE1 BO? ABV & 2L ! T[N1
& HE C\NSELL$ ! ,DUKE 6RE9=CE ! TWO
DIRECTLY ?R1T5$ PO9TS4 ,ACLY1 AF A
C\NCIL ( W> _H BE5 HELD 9 ! PALACE1
ORD]S 7 ISSU$ 63C5TRATE ! DEF5SE ON !
BANK (! ,ANG>A & AT ! TWO 5DS (! T[N1 ":
! E>?"WS PROTECT$ ! RIV]4
  ,? 0 EXACTLY :AT ,OG>EFF WI%$4 ,HE DID
N EXPECT T ! ,BOL*AIA ,GATE WD 2 LEFT
5TIRELY )\T DEF5D]S1 B T "! WD ONLY 2 A
SMALL NUMB]4 ,2SS1 ,OG>EFF M1NT 6GIVE S*
IMPORT.E 6! DIV].N1 T ! ,GR& ,DUKE WD 2
OBLIG$ 6OPPOSE X ) ALL 8 AVAILA# =CES4
,! TRAITOR PLANN$ AL 6PRODUCE S F"R;L ACATA/ROPHE T T]ROR M/ 9EVITABLY     #DEG
OV]:ELM ! HE>TS (! 2SIEG$4
  ,ALL "D ! G>RISON & POPUL,N ( ,IRKUTSK
7 ON ! AL]T4 ,! M1SURES 6REPEL AN ATTACK
ON ! PO9TS HI!RTO UNASSAIL$ _H BE5 TAK54
,! ,GR& ,DUKE & ,G5]AL ,VORANZ(F VISIT$
! PO/S1 /R5G!N$ 0_! ORD]S4 ,WASSILI
,F$OR'S CORPS O3UPI$ ! ,NOR? (! T[N1 B )
ORD]S 6?R[ !MVS ": ! DANG] 0 GRTE/4 ,!
"R BANK (! ,ANG>A _H BE5 PROTECT$ )! FEW
GUNS POSSESS$ 0! DEF5D]S4 ,) ^! M1SURES1
TAK5 9 "T1 ?ANKS 6! ADVICE S OPPORTUNELY
GIV5 0,IVAN ,OG>EFF1 "! 0 GD R1SON 6HOPE
T ! EXPECT$ ATTACK WD 2 REPULS$4 ,9 T
CASE ! ,T>T>S1 MO;T>ILY 4C\RAG$1 WD NO
D\BT N MAKE ANO!R ATTEMPT AG/ ! T[N =
S"EAL "DS4 ,N[ ! TROOPS EXPECT$ 0! ,GR&
,DUKE MI<T >RIVE AT ANY H\R4 ,! SAFETY
OR ! LOSS ( ,IRKUTSK HUNG ONLY 0A ?R1D4
  ,ON ? "D1 ! SUN : _H RIS5 AT TW5TY
M9UTES 6SIX1 SET AT =TY M9UTES PA/ FIVE1
HAV+ TRAC$ XS DIURNAL >C = ELEV5 H\RS
ABV ! HORIZON4 ,! TWILI<T WD /RU7LE )!
NI<T = ANO!R TWO H\RS4 ,!N X WD 2
9T5SELY D>K1 =! SKY 0 CL\DY1 & "! WD 2NO MOON4 ,? GLOOM WD FAVOR !        #DEH
PLANS ( ,IVAN ,OG>EFF4
  ,=A FEW "DS ALR A %>P FRO/ _H GIV5
W>N+ (! APPROA*+ RIGOR (! ,SIB]IAN W9T]1
& ? EV5+ X 0 ESPECI,Y SEV]E4 ,!
,RUSSIANS PO/$ 0! BANK (! ,ANG>A1 OBLIG$
63C1L _! POSI;N1 LI<T$ NO FIRES4 ,!Y
SU6]$ CRUELLY F ! L[ TEMP]ATURE4 ,A FEW
FEET 2L !M1 ! ICE 9 L>GE MASSES DRIFT$
D[N ! CURR5T4 ,ALL "D ^! MASSES _H BE5
SE5 PASS+ RAPIDLY 2T ! TWO BANKS4
  ,? _H BE5 3SID]$ 0! ,GR& ,DUKE & 8
(FIC]S Z =TUNATE4 ,%D ! *ANNEL (! ,ANG>A
3T9UE 6BE ?US OB/RUCT$1 ! PASSAGE M/ 2
IMPRACTICA#4 ,! ,T>T>S CD USE NEI RAFTS
NOR BOATS4 ,Z 6_! CROSS+ ! RIV] ON !
ICE1 T 0 N POSSI#4 ,! NEWLY-FROZ5 PLA9
CD N BE> ! WEI<T ( AN ASSAULT+ COLUMN4
  ,? CIRCUM/.E1 Z X APPE>$ FAVORA# 6!
DEF5D]S ( ,IRKUTSK1 ,OG>EFF MI<T H
REGRETT$4 ,HE DID N D S1 H["E4 ,!
TRAITOR KNEW WELL T ! ,T>T>S WD N TRY
6PASS ! ,ANG>A1 & T1 ON XS SIDE AT L1/1
_! ATTEMPT 0 ONLY A FE9T4
  ,AB T5 9 ! EV5+1 ! /ATE (! RIV]S5SIBLY IMPROV$1 6! GRT SURPRISE    #DEI
(! 2SIEG$ & / M 6_! 4ADVANTAGE4 ,!
PASSAGE TILL !N IMPRACTICA#1 2CAME ALL
AT ONCE POSSI#4 ,! B$ (! ,ANG>A 0 CLE>4
,! BLOCKS ( ICE1 : _H = "S "DS DRIFT$
PA/ 9 L>GE NUMB]S1 4APPE>$ D[N ! CURR5T1
& FIVE OR SIX ONLY N[ O3UPI$ ! SPACE 2T
! BANKS4 ,! ,RUSSIAN (FIC]S REPORT$ ?
*ANGE 9 ! RIV] 6! ,GR& ,DUKE4 ,!Y SU7E/$
T X 0 PROBABLY CAUS$ 0! CIRCUM/.E T 9 "S
N>R[] "P (! ,ANG>A1 ! BLOCKS _H
A3UMULAT$ S Z 6=M A B>RI]4
  ,WE "K ? 0 ! CASE4 ,! PASSAGE (!
,ANG>A 0 ?US OP5 6! 2SIEG]S4 ,"! 0 GRT
R1SON =! ,RUSSIANS 6BE ON _! GU>D4
  ,UP 6MIDNI<T NO?+ _H O3URR$4 ,ON !
,EA/]N SIDE1 2Y ! ,BOL*AIA ,GATE1 ALL 0
QUIET4 ,N A GLIMM] 0 SE5 9 ! D5SE =E/1 :
APPE>$ 3F.D$ ON ! HORIZON )! MASSES (
CL\DS HANG+ L[ D[N 9 ! SKY4 ,LI<TS
FLITT+ 6& FRO 9 ! ,ANG>A CAMP1 %[$ T A
3SID]A# MOVE;T 0 TAK+ PLACE4 ,F A V]/
ABV & 2L ! PO9T ": ! SC>P MET ! RIV]'S
BANK1 CAME A DULL MURMUR1 PROV+ T !
,T>T>S 7 ON FOOT1 EXPECT+ "S SIGNAL4 ,ANH\R PASS$4 ,NO?+ NEW4               #DFJ
  ,! BELL (! ,IRKUTSK CA!DRAL 0 AB
6/RIKE TWO O'C 9 ! MORN+1 & N A MOVE;T
AM;G/ ! 2SIEG]S _H YET %[N T !Y 7 AB
6-M;E ! ASSAULT4 ,! ,GR& ,DUKE & 8
(FIC]S 2GAN 6SUSPECT T !Y _H BE5
MISTAK54 ,_H X RE,Y BE5 ! ,T>T>S' PLAN
6SURPRISE ! T[N8 ,! PREC$+ NI<TS _H N
BE5 NE>LY S QUIET--MUSKETRY RATTL+ F !
\TPO/S1 %ELLS :I/L+ "? ! AIR2 & ? "T1
NO?+4 ,! (FIC]S WAIT$1 R1DY 6GIVE _!
ORD]S1 AC 6CIRCUM/.ES4
  ,WE H SD T ,OG>EFF O3UPI$ A ROOM 9 !
PALACE4 ,X 0 A L>GE *AMB] ON ! GR.D
FLOOR1 XS W9D[S OP5+ ON A SIDE T]RACE4
,0TAK+ A FEW /EPS AL;G ? T]RACE1 A VIEW
(! RIV] CD 2 OBTA9$4
  ,PROF.D D>K;S REIGN$ 9 ! ROOM4 ,OG>EFF
/OOD 0A W9D[1 AWAIT+ ! H\R 6ACT4 ,!
SIGNAL1 ( C\RSE1 CD -E F HM1 AL"O4 ,?
SIGNAL ONCE GIV51 :5 ! GRT] "P (!
DEF5D]S ( ,IRKUTSK WD 2 SUMMON$ 6! PO9TS
OP5LY ATTACK$1 8 PLAN 0 6L1VE ! PALACE &
HURRY 6! ,BOL*AIA ,GATE4 ,IF X 0
UNGU>D$1 HE WD OP5 X2 OR AT L1/ HE WDDIRECT ! OV]:ELM+ MASS ( XS         #DFA
ASSAILANTS AG/ ! FEW DEF5D]S4
  ,HE N[ CR\*$ 9 ! %AD[1 L A WILD B1/
R1DY 6SPR+ ON XS PREY4 ,A FEW M9UTES 2F
TWO O'C1 ! ,GR& ,DUKE DESIR$ T ,MI*AEL
,/ROG(F--: 0 ! ONLY "N !Y CD GIVE 6,IVAN
,OG>EFF--%D 2 BR"\ 6HM4 ,AN AIDE-DE-CAMP
CAME 6! ROOM1 ! DOOR ( : 0 CLOS$4 ,HE
CALL$4
  ,OG>EFF1 MO;N.S NE> ! W9D[1 & 9VISI# 9
! %ADE DID N ANSW]4 ,! ,GR& ,DUKE 0 "!=E
9=M$ T ! ,CZ>'S C\RI] 0 N AT T MO;T 9 !
PALACE4
  ,TWO O'C /RUCK4 ,N[ 0 ! "T 6CAUSE !
DIV].N AGRE$ ^U )! ,T>T>S1 WAIT+ =!
ASSAULT4 ,IVAN ,OG>EFF OP5$ ! W9D[ &
/,N$ HMF AT ! ,NOR? ANGLE (! SIDE
T]RACE4
  ,2L HM FL[$ ! RO>+ WAT]S (! ,ANG>A4
,OG>EFF TOOK A MAT* F 8 POCKET1 /RUCK X
& LI<T$ A SMALL BUN* ( T[1 IMPREGNAT$ )
PRIM+ P[D]1 : HE ?REW 96! RIV]4
  ,X 0 0! ORD]S ( ,IVAN ,OG>EFF T !
TORR5TS ( M9]AL OIL _H BE5 ?R[N ON !
SURFACE (! ,ANG>A6 ,"! >E NUM]\S NAPH?ASPR+S ABV ,IRKUTSK1 ON ! "R BANK1   #DFB
2T ! SUBURB ( ,PO%KAVSK &! T[N4 ,OG>EFF
_H RESOLV$ 6EMPLOY ? T]RI# M1NS 6C>RY
FIRE 96,IRKUTSK4 ,HE "!=E TOOK POSSES.N
(! IMM5SE RES]VOIRS : 3TA9$ ! -BU/I#
LIQUID4 ,X 0 ONLY NEC 6DEMOLI% A PIECE (
WALL 9 ORD] 6ALL[ X 6FL[ \ 9 A VA/ /R1M4
  ,? _H BE5 D"O T NI<T1 A FEW H\RS
PREVI\SLY1 & ? 0 ! R1SON T ! RAFT :
C>RI$ ! TRUE ,C\RI] (! ,CZ>1 ,NADIA1 &!
FUGITIVES1 FLOAT$ ON A CURR5T ( M9]AL
OIL4 ,"? ! BR1*ES 9 ^! RES]VOIRS (
ENORM\S DIM5.NS RU%$ ! NAPH?A 9 TORR5TS1
&1 FOLL[+ ! 9CL9,N (! GR.D1 X SPR1D OV]
! SURFACE (! RIV]1 ": XS D5S;Y ALL[$ X
6FLOAT4 ,? 0 ! WAY ,IVAN ,OG>EFF C>RI$
ON W>F>E6 ,ALLI$ ) ,T>T>S1 HE ACT$ L A
,T>T>1 & AG/ 8 [N C.TRYM56
  ,! T[ _H BE5 ?R[N ON ! WAT]S (!
,ANG>A4 ,9 AN 9/ANT1 ) ELECTRICAL
RAPID;Y1 Z IF ! CURR5T _H BE5 ( ALCOHOL1
! :OLE RIV] 0 9 A BLAZE ABV & 2L ! T[N4
,COLUMNS ( BLUE FLAMES RAN 2T ! TWO
BANKS4 ,VOLUMES ( VAPOR CURL$ UP ABV4 ,!
FEW PIECES ( ICE : / DRIFT$ 7 SEIZ$ 0!BURN+ LIQUID1 & MELT$ L WAX ON !    #DFC
TOP (A FURNACE1 ! EVAPORAT$ WAT] ESCAP+
9 %RILL HISSES4
  ,AT ! SAME MO;T1 FIR+ BROKE \ ON !
,NOR? & ,S\? (! T[N4 ,! 5EMY'S BATT]IES
4*>G$ _! GUNS AT R&OM4 ,S"EAL ?\S&
,T>T>S RU%$ 6! ASSAULT (! E>?-"WS4 ,!
H\SES ON ! BANK1 BUILT ( WOOD1 TOOK FIRE
9 E DIREC;N4 ,A B"R LI<T 4SIPAT$ ! D>K;S
(! NI<T4
  8,AT LA/60 SD ,IVAN ,OG>EFF4
  ,HE _H GD R1SON = 3GRATULAT+ HMF4 ,!
DIV].N : HE _H PLANN$ 0 T]RI#4 ,!
DEF5D]S ( ,IRKUTSK F.D !MVS 2T ! ATTACK
(! ,T>T>S &! FE>;L E6ECTS ( FIRE4 ,!
BELLS RANG1 & ALL ! A#-BODI$ (! POPUL,N
RAN1 "S T[>DS ! PO9TS ATTACK$1 & O!RS
T[>DS ! H\SES 9 ! GRASP (! FLAMES1 : X
SEEM$ TOO PROBA# WD ]E L;G 5VELOP ! :OLE
T[N4
  ,! ,GATE ( ,BOL*AIA 0 NE>LY FREE4
,ONLY A V SMALL GU>D _H BE5 LEFT "!4 ,&
0! TRAITOR'S SU7ES;N1 & 9 ORD] T ! EV5T
MI<T 2 EXPLA9$ A"P F HM1 Z IF 0POLITICAL
HATE1 ? SMALL GU>D _H BE5 *OS5 F ! LL B&( EXILES4                           #DFD
  ,OG>EFF RE-5T]$ 8 ROOM1 N[ BRILLIANTLY
LI<T$ 0! FLAMES F ! ,ANG>A2 !N HE MADE
R1DY 6G \4 ,B SC>CELY _H HE OP5$ ! DOOR1
:5 A WOMAN RU%$ 96! ROOM1 H] CLO!S
DR5*$1 H] HAIR 9 4ORD]4
  8,SANG>RE60 EXCLAIM$ ,OG>EFF1 9 ! F/
MO;T ( SURPRISE1 & N SUPPOS+ T X CD 2
ANY O!R WOMAN ?AN ! GYPSY4
  ,X 0 N ,SANG>RE2 X 0 ,NADIA6
  ,AT ! MO;T :51 FLOAT+ ON ! ICE1 ! GIRL
_H UTT]$ A CRY ON SEE+ ! FIRE SPR1D+
AL;G ! CURR5T1 ,MI*AEL _H SEIZ$ H] 9 8
>MS1 & PLUNG$ ) H] 96! RIV] XF 6SEEK A
REFUGE 9 XS DEP?S F ! FLAMES4 ,! BLOCK :
BORE !M 0 N ?IRTY FA?OMS F ! F/ QUAY (
,IRKUTSK4
  ,SWIMM+ 2N ! WAT]1 ,MI*AEL MANAG$ 6GET
A FOOT+ ) ,NADIA ON ! QUAY4 ,MI*AEL
,/ROG(F _H R1*$ 8 J\RNEY'S 5D6 ,HE 0 9
,IRKUTSK6
  8,6! GOV]NOR'S PALACE60 SD HE 6,NADIA4
  ,9 LESS ?AN T5 M9UTES1 !Y >RIV$ AT !
5TR.E 6! PALACE4 ,L;G T;GUES ( FLAME F !
,ANG>A LICK$ XS WALLS1 B 7 P[].S 6SET XON FIRE4 ,2Y ! H\SES ON ! BANK 7    #DFE
9 A BLAZE4
  ,! PALACE 2+ OP5 6ALL1 ,MI*AEL &
,NADIA 5T]$ )\T DI6ICULTY4 ,9 ! 3FU.N1
NO "O REM>K$ !M1 AL? _! G>;TS 7 DRIPP+4
,A CR[D ( (FIC]S -+ = ORD]S1 &( SOLDI]S
RUNN+ 6EXECUTE !M1 FILL$ ! GRT HALL ON !
GR.D FLOOR4 ,"!1 9 A SU45 $DY (! 3FUS$
MULTITUDE1 ,MI*AEL &! "Y GIRL 7 SEP>AT$
F EA* O!R4
  ,NADIA RAN 4TRACT$ "? ! PASSAGES1
CALL+ H] -PANION1 & ASK+ 6BE TAK5 6!
,GR& ,DUKE4 ,A DOOR 96A ROOM FLOOD$ )
LI<T OP5$ 2F H]4 ,%E 5T]$1 & F.D H]F
SU45LY FACE 6FACE )! MAN :OM %E _H MET
AT ,I*IM1 :OM %E _H SE5 AT ,TOMSK2 FACE
6FACE )! "O ^: VILLA9\S H& WD AN 9/ANT
LAT] 2TRAY ! T[N6
  8,IVAN ,OG>EFF60 %E CRI$4
  ,ON HE>+ 8 "N PRON\NC$1 ! WRET* />T$4
,8 R1L "N "KN1 ALL 8 PLANS WD 2 BALK$4
,"! 0 B "O ?+ 6BE D"O3 6KILL ! P]SON :O
_H J UTT]$ X4 ,OG>EFF D>T$ AT ,NADIA2 B
! GIRL1 A KNIFE 9 H] H&1 RETR1T$ AG/ !
WALL1 DET]M9$ 6DEF5D H]F4  8,IVAN ,OG>EFF60 AG CRI$          #DFF
,NADIA1 "K+ WELL T S DETE/$ A "N WD SOON
BR+ H] HELP4
  8,AH6 ,2 SIL5T60 HISS$ \ ! TRAITOR 2T
8 CL5*$ TEE?4
  8,IVAN ,OG>EFF60 EXCLAIM$ A ?IRD "T !
BRAVE "Y GIRL1 9 A VOICE 6: HATE _H A4$
T5-FOLD /R5G?4
  ,MAD ) FURY1 ,OG>EFF1 DRAW+ A DA7] F 8
BELT1 AG RU%$ AT ,NADIA & -PELL$ H]
6RETR1T 96A CORN] (! ROOM4 ,H] LA/ HOPE
APPE>$ G"O1 :5 ! VILLA91 SU45LY LIFT$
0AN IRRESI/I# =CE1 0 DA%$ 6! GR.D4
  8,MI*AEL60 CRI$ ,NADIA4
  ,X 0 ,MI*AEL ,/ROG(F4 ,MI*AEL _H HE>D
,NADIA'S CALL4 ,GUID$ 0H] VOICE1 HE _H J
9 "T R1*$ ,IVAN ,OG>EFF'S ROOM1 & 5T]$
0! OP5 DOOR4
  8,FE> NO?+1 ,NADIA10 SD HE1 PLAC+ HMF
2T H] & ,OG>EFF4
  8,AH60 CRI$ ! GIRL1 8TAKE C>E1 BRO!R6
,! TRAITOR IS >M$6 ,HE C SEE60
  ,OG>EFF ROSE1 &1 ?9K+ HE _H AN
IMM1SURA# ADVANTAGE OV] ! BL MAN L1P$ ^U
HM4 ,B ) "O H&1 ! BL MAN GRASP$ ! >M ( 85EMY1 SEIZ$ 8 W1PON1 & HURL$ HM     #DFG
AG 6! GR.D4
  ,PALE ) RAGE & %AME1 ,OG>EFF REMEMB]$
T HE WORE A SWORD4 ,HE DREW X & RETURN$
A SECOND "T 6! *>GE4 ,A BL MAN6 ,OG>EFF
_H ONLY 6D1L )A BL MAN6 ,HE 0 M ?AN A
MAT* = HM6
  ,NADIA1 T]RIFI$ AT ! DANG] : ?R1T5$ H]
-PANION RAN 6! DOOR CALL+ = HELP6
  8,CLOSE ! DOOR1 ,NADIA60 SD ,MI*AEL4
8,CALL NO "O1 & L1VE ME AL"O6 ,! ,CZ>'S
C\RI] HAS NO?+ 6FE> TO-"D F ? VILLA96
,LET HM -E ON1 IF HE D>ES6 ,I AM R1DY =
HM40
  ,9 ! M1N "T1 ,OG>EFF1 GA!R+ HMF TGR L
A TIG] AB 6SPR+1 UTT]$ N A ^W4 ,! NOISE
( 8 FOOT/EPS1 8 V BR1?+1 HE 5D1VOR$
63C1L F ! E> (! BL MAN4 ,8 OBJECT 0
6/RIKE 2F 8 OPPON5T 0 AW>E ( 8 APPROA*1
6/RIKE HM )A D1DLY BL[4
  ,NADIA1 T]RIFI$ & AT ! SAME "T 3FID5T1
WAT*$ ? T]RI# SC5E ) 9VOLUNT>Y ADMIR,N4
,MI*AEL'S CALM BE>+ SEEM$ 6H 9SPIR$ H]4
,MI*AEL'S SOLE W1PON 0 8 ,SIB]IAN KNIFE4
,HE DID N SEE 8 ADV]S>Y >M$ )A SWORD1 XIS TRUE2 B ,H1V5'S SUPPORT SEEM$    #DFH
6BE AF=D$ HM4 ,H[1 ALM )\T /IRR+1 DID HE
ALW FACE ! PO9T (! SWORD8
  ,IVAN ,OG>EFF WAT*$ 8 /RANGE ADV]S>Y )
VISI# ANXIETY4 ,8 SUP]HUMAN CALM _H AN
E6ECT ^U HM4 ,9 VA91 APP1L+ 6HIS R1SON1
DID HE TELL HMF T 9 S UNEQUAL A -BAT ALL
! ADVANTAGES 7 ON 8 SIDE4 ,! IMMOBIL;Y (
! BL MAN FROZE HM4 ,HE _H SETTL$ ON !
PLACE ": HE WD /RIKE 8 VICTIM4 ,HE _H
FIX$ ^U X6 ,:AT1 !N1 H9D]$ HM F PUTT+ AN
5D 6HIS BL ANTAGONI/8
  ,AT LA/1 )A SPR+ HE DROVE 8 SWORD FULL
AT ,MI*AEL'S BR1/4 ,AN IMP]CEPTI# MOVE;T
(! BL MAN'S KNIFE TURN$ ASIDE ! BL[4
,MI*AEL _H N BE5 T\*$1 & COOLLY HE
AWAIT$ A SECOND ATTACK4
  ,COLD DROPS /OOD ON ,OG>EFF'S BR[4 ,HE
DREW BACK A /EP1 !N AG L1P$ =W>D4 ,B Z
_H ! F/1 ? SECOND ATTEMPT FAIL$4 ,!
KNIFE _H SIMPLY P>RI$ ! BL[ F !
TRAITOR'S USE.S SWORD4
  ,MAD ) RAGE & T]ROR 2F ? LIV+ /ATUE1
HE GAZ$ 96! WIDE-OP5 EYES (! BL MAN4 ,^?
EYES : SEEM$ 6PI]CE 6! BOTTOM ( 8 S\L1 &YET : DID N1 CD N1 SEE--EX]CIS$ A   #DFI
SORT ( DR1D;L FASC9,N OV] HM4
  ,ALL AT ONCE1 ,OG>EFF UTT]$ A CRY4 ,A
SU45 LI<T FLA%$ ACR 8 BRA94 8,HE SEES60
HE EXCLAIM$1 8HE SEES60 ,& L A WILD B1/
TRY+ 6RETR1T 96XS D51 /EP 0/EP1 T]RIFI$1
HE DREW BACK 6! 5D (! ROOM4
  ,!N ! /ATUE 2CAME ANIMAT$1 ! BL MAN
WALK$ /RAI<T UP 6,IVAN ,OG>EFF1 & PLAC+
HMF "R 2F HM1 8,YES1 ,I SEE60 SD HE4 8,I
SEE ! M>K (! KN\T : ,I GAVE Y1 TRAITOR &
C[>D6 ,I SEE ! PLACE ": ,I AM AB 6/RIKE
Y6 ,DEF5D YR LIFE6 ,X IS A DUEL ,I DEIGN
6(F] Y6 ,MY KNIFE AG/ YR SWORD60
  8,HE SEES60 SD ,NADIA4 8,GRACI\S
,H1V51 IS X POSSI#60
  ,OG>EFF FELT T HE 0 LO/4 ,B MU/]+ ALL
8 C\RAGE1 HE SPRANG =W>D ON 8 IMPASSI#
ADV]S>Y4 ,! TWO BLADES CROSS$1 B AT A
T\* F ,MI*AEL'S KNIFE1 WIELD$ 9 ! H& (!
,SIB]IAN HUNT]1 ! SWORD FLEW 9 SPL9T]S1
&! WRET*1 /A2$ 6! HE>T1 FELL LIFE.S ON !
GR.D4
  ,AT ! SAME MO;T1 ! DOOR 0 ?R[N OP54 ,!
,GR& ,DUKE1 A3OMPANI$ 0"S ( 8 (FIC]S1APPE>$ ON ! ?RE%OLD4 ,! ,GR&        #DGJ
,DUKE ADV.ED4 ,9 ! BODY LY+ ON ! GR.D1
HE RECOGNIZ$ ! MAN :OM HE 2LIEV$ 6BE !
,CZ>'S C\RI]4
  ,!N1 9 A ?R1T5+ VOICE1 8,:O KILL$ T
MAN80 HE ASK$4
  ;,I1 REPLI$ ,MI*AEL4
  ,"O (! (FIC]S PUT A PI/OL 6HIS TEMPLE1
R1DY 6FIRE4
  8,YR "N80 ASK$ ! ,GR& ,DUKE1 2F GIV+ !
ORD] = 8 BRA9S 6BE BL[N \4
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