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His intentions were clear。 Weyland was going to sacrifice himself in order to give her and Sebastian more of a head start。
〃I'm not letting you die down here；〃 said Lex。
Weyland grinned。 〃You didn't； Lex。 Go。 I'll buy you whatever time I can。〃
The Predator was ing； moving very deliberately up the stairs。 Weyland spied it and grabbed the ice axe； brandishing it like a weapon。
〃Go！ Go now；〃 he cried。
Lex reached for Weyland； but Sebastian grabbed her arm and dragged her up the stairs。 Weyland and Lex shared a final look； then the man turned to face the presence growing nearer。
Not bothering to cloak itself； the Predator walked right up to Weyland。 The human rose to his full height； staring impassively at the otherworldly creature。 For a long moment； Weyland faced the Predator squarely； eye to eye； then lifted the axe and charged。
The Predator reached out； snatched the axe out of Weyland's hand and tossed it aside as Weyland's futile swing carried him past the Predator and set him stumbling down a step into an elaborately etched wall panel。
The creature turned and stared down at Weyland。 As blank eyes on the Predator's faceplate glowed with crimson fire； the human felt a strange warmth inside his chest。 Reaching out； the Predator clutched Wey…land's shoulders； held him fast and examined him from head to toe。
Then； snorting contemptuously； the creature pushed Weyland aside and turned his back on him。
Weyland understood what that meant。 Somehow the Predator could sense his frailty and did not regard him as a threat…in fact； Weyland was sure that； to this monster； he was nothing more than a sick； helpless animal！
Choking on a rush of helpless rage； Weyland clenched his teeth and searched for a way to strike back。 He had no weapon； but his fingers closed on the oxygen tank slung over his back。
Ripping the cylinder off his shoulder； Weyland set the tank down and propped it against his foot。 Kneeling； he opened the valve until it was gushing full blast。 As pure oxygen filled the chamber； he yanked an emergency flare from his utility belt and held it up。
〃Don't you turn your back on me！〃 he cried。
At the sound of the human's voice； the Predator spun…and Weyland ignited the flare。
The bustible oxygen instantly exploded in a bright yellow fireball that engulfed the Predator。 Clutching the tank and directing the oxygen flow； Weyland doused the thrashing； flailing creature with blistering fire。
When Weyland heard the Predator's pain…wracked cries echoing off the walls； he laughed like a madman。 〃That's right； you son of a bitch！ Burn 。。。〃
The black silhouette in the center of the conflagration screeched again。 Then； still wreathed in flames； the Predator lurched forward as it unsheathed twin wrist blades。 With one quick thrust the Predator plunged the long； wicked knives into Charles Weyland's soft； unprotected belly。
Weyland died with scarcely a sigh； blood starting from his nose and mouth。 Snarling； the Predator hauled the limp； bloodstained body into the inferno to be consumed。 But with Weyland's corpse came the oxygen tank； still clutched in his dead hands。 Licked by the flames； the pressurized contents of the cylinder detonated like a bomb。 A billowing orange blast and a bright yellow fireball surged along the stairway； scorching everything in its fiery path。
In the Labyrinth
Lex and Sebastian stumbled blindly through the semidarkness； once again lost in the maze of stone corridors。 The pyramid rumbled as it shifted shape yet again； shaking the dust of millennia loose to choke and blind them。 Over the noise and the pounding of their boots on the stone floor； they heard Weyland's cries； then the explosion。
〃Weyland！〃
〃You can't help him；〃 Sebastian said； dragging her along。
Lex struggled against him。
〃Lex； we have to go 。。。 hurry！〃
From behind came a blast of hot air…and something else。 They both saw a flickering light at the far end of the corridor。 Then a fiery figure hurled out of the darkness toward them…the Predator； its form sheathed in roaring flames that did not seem to harm the creature in the least。
Sebastian grabbed her arm and they both ran。 They hadn't gotten more than a few yards before Lex heard the sound of massive feet pounding through the darkness； gaining on them。
Sebastian rounded a corner and spied a stone barrier rising up from the floor directly in front of them。 If it closed before they got through it； they would be trapped in the corridor with the Predator。
By the time they reached the threshold； the barrier was halfway up。 Sebastian lifted Lex and practically threw her over the stone wall。 Then he leaped up and caught the edge； hauling himself across the top of the door and down the other side。
Just as the opening was about to seal； one of the Predator's throwing disks sailed through and ricocheted off the far wall in a shower of sparks。
On the opposite side of the door； the Predator turned away from the stone barrier to see a black monstrosity uncoiling from a pillar； its segmented black exoskeleton blending in perfect camouflage with the architecture。
Rearing up； the Alien prepared to strike。
But the Predator was faster。 Its throwing disk streaked through the air and bit deep into the Alien's shoulder； severing its arm。 Then the metallic disk arced gracefully around and vanished into the shadows。
The Alien flailed its ravaged limb； spraying acid blood on the surrounding pillars。
The Predator slammed into the Alien； its booted foot snapping its foe's bony chest plates。 The monster howled as it was hurled to the floor； the Predator weighing it down。 They battled； hand to hand； as the Alien's lifeblood gushed from its hemorrhaging stump。
Finally； the Predator pinned the squirming Alien to the stone floor with one clawed hand。 A throwing disk whizzed over their heads； and the Predator lifted its free hand to snatch it out of the air。
With one quick； violent motion he brought the disk down on the Alien； severing its tittering head from its thrashing body。 Bubbling acid gushed from the wound； sizzling on the cold flagstones beneath it。 The dead Alien twitched once； then stilled。
In the Hieroglyphics Chamber
Sebastian and Lex raced through another doorway and discovered a new chamber。
The cavernous room was lined with millions of hieroglyphic characters and dozens of elaborately painted panels covered in pictographs and artistic representations depicting； Sebastian assumed； events of historical significance to the long…lost civilization that had built this pyramid。
Sebastian approached a thick stone wall etched with a swirling； abstract design。 A dozen or more small peepholes had been cut into the wall…each affording a glimpse into the chamber of pillars from which they had just barely escaped。 Sebastian peered through one of the holes。
〃Look！〃 he whispered。
Lex joined Sebastian and glanced through the opening。
From high above they could observe the grisly brutality of the scene。 The Predator loomed over the bloody carcass of the Alien it had just decapitated。 As the humans watched； the hunter threw back its arms and looked heavenward； as if in prayer。 Drawing a knife fro