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hem in this condition。
At the Tenshin Shoden Katori he had learned koppo； the sub…specialization of ninjutsu which dealt in the breaking of bones。 In fact he had applied some of those techniques when he had gripped Protorov。 Now he needed to reverse the process on himself。
Using only thumb and forefinger； he gripped one finger at a time and began to explore。 Just as a safe's tumblers will somehow convey to the trained ear when they are about to fall into place； so Nicholas reached a moment in each exploration when his body told him the spot had been found。 More investigation revealed to him the precise angle he would need。
A Westerner would grit his teeth； tense his muscles against what his mind told him was ing； thus increasing the pain。 Nicholas relaxed his body and mind； decreasing the pain。 He floated in getsumei no michi as his body healed itself。
When his eyes returned from middle distance he saw that his fingers were set。 Ripping off a length of cloth from Protorov's dress blouse； he wound the coarse； heavy material around and around the line of breaks until it was thick enough to act as a temporary splint。 He used his teeth to tie it off； mindful of not cutting off local circulation。
Then he took stock。 It was not good。 He was in a strictly shut…ended situation。 He had been lucky up until now that no one had entered to see what Protorov was up to。 That could not last much longer； he knew。 He was in the center of a veritable fortress； in a room with one doorway； thick as a bank's vault。 He glanced upward。 This room； by its very isolated nature； had an oversized ventilation system。 It would have been entirely possible for him to get up to one of the vent ports high up near the room's ceiling and exit that way had it not been for his broken fingers and the residue of the drug。
He needed help but he had no allies for many miles around。 Therefore he would have to create one。
Using ichi； he gave as accurate an approximation of Viktor Protorov's voice as he could summon up； calling out for Russilov。 When the lieutenant appeared through the doorway； he heaved Protorov's limp form at him face first。
Russilov's reaction was predictable。 The first autonomic reaction of throwing his hands up to protect the body was quickly followed by a stunned cry as he recognized the identity of the corpse。
The bination was enough to paralyze him for the amount of time Nicholas needed to rush him and make him prisoner。 He touched Russilov's chest and the Russian felt his heart stutter。 He sagged a bit； feeling abruptly faint and unable to breathe。 He might just as well have ingested a toxic substance。 All color dropped out of his face； and cold sweat appeared on his upper lip and at his hairline。
Still his head whipped around to get another look。 〃Impossible！〃 he cried。 〃You're dead！〃
〃Then we have just proved that there is life beyond the grave！〃 Nicholas hissed in his ear。
There was blood on Russilov and； fastidiously； stupidly； he tried to brush it off。
Nicholas took his sidearm； searched him thoroughly for other weapons。 He found a knife on the inside of the Russian's left calf。 〃Now you're going to get me out of here。〃
〃Impossible as well；〃 Russilov said and； when Nicholas tightened his grip； said hurriedly； 〃No； it is the truth！ There is an electronic scanner。 Prisoners are stamped with an invisible mark that is renewed every week。 If we were to walk or drive out through any gate you would be fried…I along with you if we were in the same vehicle。〃
〃There must be some way to get it off prematurely；〃 Nicholas said。
〃There is；〃 Russilov nodded。 〃Protorov knew how。 Only Pro…torov。 You'll never get out of here； with me or without me。〃
Nicholas did not despair。 He had been taught to infiltrate and he knew that there was a way out of every manmade structure； just as there was a way in。
〃Quickly；〃 he said； 〃tell me about this place。〃
Russilov plied。 The building that Protorov had chosen as his base had originally been a barn plex which he had converted to his own uses。 There were two exits and； as Russilov had said； they were useless to Nicholas。 Stone walls had been erected inside the wooden ones； one extra story had been built； which was where they currently were。
Russilov laughed low in his throat。 〃There's nowhere for you to go but up； to the parapets。 From there you may leap into the dense woods； my friend。 Perhaps you will not die； perhaps you will be lucky and the fall will only break your legs！〃
Nicholas' mind was racing。 It was conceivable that Russilov had described his way out。
〃Out now！〃 he manded。 〃And whoever we run across must not bee suspicious； is that clear？ If you raise your voice； you die； if you make an unaccounted…for move； you die。 Clear？〃
The lieutenant nodded。
Outside in the hallway； they saw no one。 The two lieutenants had taken the doctor downstairs to a detention cell。 Russilov led him toward the stairs up to the roof。 On the way； they passed a number of bamboo and aluminum poles perhaps fifteen meters in length。
Nicholas stopped him。 〃What are these for？〃
〃Bamboo groves all around here；〃 Russilov said sullenly。 〃Farmers used to store and age these here。 The aluminum ones were for anchoring fledgling stands against the winter winds。〃
〃Take two；〃 Nicholas ordered。 And when Russilov did so； said； 〃No； the bamboo poles。〃
On the roof Nicholas manded the Russian to strip； ordering him to spread out each item on the stones。 In the meantime； employing Russilov's knife； he cut the bamboo poles in half。 Then he set about cutting off the arms of the lieutenant's blouse and jacket。 He cut his trousers in two； took the laces from the boots。
〃What are you doing？〃 Russilov asked； huddled naked in a corner。
Nicholas said nothing。 He sliced the Russian's heavy leather belt into four long strips。 Using these and the boot laces； he set to work constructing his scaffolding。 Then he attached the pieces of cloth。 He worked with the loving concentration of a father constructing his child's first kite。
What in fact he had made was a hito washi； what some ninja called 〃the human eagle。〃 It was a makeshift glider。
When he was finished he walked back to where Russilov knelt。 Stripped of his uniform； his rank； he seemed to have shrunk in size。 Like many military men； he very nearly had ceased to exist without the armor of his mand。
〃Good…bye； Russilov；〃 Nicholas said； bending down and touching the juka； one of the kyukon； the nine organ meridians。 This one was just beneath the ears。 Russilov immediately collapsed； unconscious。
Then Nicholas mounted the hito washi。 There was a fair wind blowing from the southwest； gusty and unpredictable。 He shrugged mentally。 Karma。 He was enormously tired and he wanted to sleep badly。 Soon； he thought。 Be careful now。
He mounted the stone parapet。 There was no moon and his chronometer had been taken from him。 It was deep into the night； the early hours of morning。 It was not yet that peculiar time of predawn when a special tinge of nameless color es into the world； but he did not know how long dawn would be in arriving。
Two good gusts came while he was still working out the vectors。 Then； as he set himself； th