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Six months later he had awakened an important sleeper in order to kill Minck's wife； sleeping alone and vulnerable in their bed in rural Maryland。 One shot from a pistol Protorov…and Minck… knew well at close range through the left temple。
Still it had not been enough。 So the war went on。 And on。
Protorov sighed now； alone in his inner sanctum。 He pushed his glasses up onto the dome of his forehead； scrubbed at his face with a palm。 He found that he had been sweating。 Though Tengu； his second agent within the Tenshin Shoden Katori ryu； had been killed； his backup…the last agent Protorov had in that field… was making progress。 At that moment； the pact cipher machine began to buzz； preparatory to decoding an Alpha…three。 His satellite was about to whisper in his ear once again。
Croaker grabbed Alix's slim wrist and jerked hard； hearing her short； high scream of surprise and pain as he used his strength to roll her across to the far side of the bed and out of harm's way。
At the same time； his hand snaked beneath the bed to where the gun lay and； without aiming fully； shot out the lamplight in the room。
Now only the oblong of illumination filtering in through the open doorway to the hall pushed back the darkness。 And in its midst； the shadow rushed into the room。
He's a goddamned bull； Croaker thought； as he pushed Alix's inquisitive head down to the carpeting and rose at the instant he felt the shadow at its closest。
He lifted his arm； brought the muzzle of the pistol down in a vicious slash across the shadow's cheekbone； felt the contact with pleasure； the split of skin； flesh； and the pressured scrape against bone。
But despite the blow； the shadow's momentum was enough to keep him ing on。 And such was his strength that he slammed full tilt into Croaker； knocking the pistol from his grip。 It skidded across the floor in the darkness； lost。
Oh； Christ； Croaker thought； we're in for it now。 He felt a heavy blow land on his shoulder； twisting him； and blindly he kicked upward； missing once； his knee connecting with the shadow's thigh bone； adjusting his aim accordingly and plowing into the shadow's groin。
He heard the whoosh of air and a groan； and the weight and pressure on him eased sufficiently for him to squirm out from under。
〃e on！〃 he yelled at Alix； fumbling for her hand and half dragging her from the room； down the blindingly lit hallway to the exit door and the stairs。
Down the metal and concrete staircase they ran until at last they burst out into the soft…skinned night。 The car would have been the best bet； but Croaker had left the keys back in the room。
He took a quick look around。 There were few people about except at the entrance of the hotel where locals were drawing up as they went into the disco in the lobby； one of the only nightspots in the area。 Croaker took them that way though they were certainly not dressed for the occasion。 People in dinner dress watched their approach with more amusement than alarm。 But he saw it was going to be no go right away。 They stood out like beggars at a masked ball； so he veered them away； rushing down the sloped scimitar drive toward Highway 70； dodging the slowly approaching line of cars； pushing Alix out of the illumination of the headlights。
He did not turn his head to see if the Blue Monster was after them； he assumed the worst。 If he had been dogged enough… and； Croaker had to admit to himself； smart enough…to follow them all the way from Key West； he wouldn't be so stupid as to lose them now。
He rushed them across the six…lane highway on the amber with the traffic already beginning to pile up and move； jockeying for position for turns。
〃Christ！〃 Alix breathed。 〃Where are we going？〃
Croaker made no reply。 He thought it wiser to let her believe that he knew what he was doing。 Ahead of them loomed the darkened mass of the shopping mall； all angles and black shadows； a silent； deserted city in the heart of the darkness。
Croaker took them down an exit ramp and they were plunged into the wide； spotless avenues of the arcades。 Their footfalls made no sound on the stone flooring and Croaker was grateful at least that he had his topsiders on。 But Alix was barefoot and though from an aural point of view that was good； still with all the running they were doing he was fearful of sharp objects she might inadvertently step on。 Well； he thought； there's no help for it now。 We have to go on。
Deep inside the mall he stopped them。 Though they were both in reasonably good shape； a breather was nevertheless called for。 Alix's chest heaved with exertion and fear。 She stared around her； wide…eyed。 Shoe stores； clothing boutiques； a local Sears； endless rows of glass…paneled windows featuring a bewildering variety of wares crouched on either side of them； closed and unhelpful。
〃What are we go…〃
Croaker put his palm quickly over her mouth and said in her ear； 〃No； talking。 The sound will carry and bring him to us like a beacon。 Okay？〃 She nodded her head vigorously and he took his hand away。
He wiped the sweat from his face with his shirtsleeve； straining his ears for some semblance of sound； but he heard nothing above the soft susurrus of the faraway traffic on Highway 70。
Dim light filtered across their shoulders in thick swatches from the interiors of the shops along the arcade。 But patches of deep shadow remained all about them like impenetrable stands of trees。 They were in a forest of metal and glass。
Alix grabbed his shoulder and leaned her lips against his ear。 〃What are we waiting here for？〃 she whispered。 〃Let's go out of here before he finds us。〃
Croaker debated with himself whether to tell her the truth。 He knew it would probably be better to keep her in the dark as long as possible。 But on the other hand she was in this as deeply as he was and it was unfair to keep her ignorant about such a thing。 Besides； if she did not know； she might do something stupid at the last minute and screw things up。
He put his mouth to her ear and said softly； 〃I've got news for you。 Your former keeper's followed us this far； he's not gonna stop now。 Even assuming we could find a car and I could boost it； we wouldn't lose him。 Not now。〃
Her large clear eyes stared into his for the moment it took her to put it together。 〃No！〃 she said。 〃There's been one killing already。〃
〃Yeah；〃 Croaker sighed； 〃and there'll be a lot more unless he's stopped。〃 He looked at her。 〃It has to be done； Alix。 You know it does。〃
After a time her eyes slid away from him。 Her cheeks were wet and he heard her whisper； 〃I wish now he'd never saved me。 I wish I'd drowned that day in Key West。〃
〃You don't mean that；〃 he said automatically。
〃The hell I don't！〃 she flared； her eyes bright。 〃What kind of life is this I'm living？ Can you tell me th…〃
Croaker shoved her hard； sending her spinning flat on her back across the cool stone flooring as the whine turned into the spang！ of a ricochet。 He saw the place where the bullet had gouged out chips of stone and dived after her； pulling her up onto her knees； then to her feet； dragging her after him down the arcade； turning right； then right again； pushing her into a darkened doorway where they both