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onfront him。 He stared。 Who could that be； in a protective suit almost like a spacesuit； with a hunting rifle in the crook of the right arm； and something clasped in the gloved left hand？
〃Ah。。。〃 a voice said。 The prince shivered。 Lepescu？ 〃You found them。
Congratulations。 Very good。。。 now shoot them。〃
〃What？〃 He had misunderstood。 He could not have heard the words his memory now replayed to him。 Behind him； he heard the girls' indrawn breath； Ronnie's muttered curse。
〃Shoot them； I said。〃 When he hesitated； Lepescu gestured with his rifle。
〃Either you shoot them；〃 Lepescu said； his voice only slightly distorted by his suit's filters； 〃or I will have to kill you； too。 Surely you see the necessity。〃
〃But they're ours；〃 the prince said。 His voice trembled slightly。 〃Can't you see？ This is Lord Thornbuckle's daughter … you can't kill her。 And Raffaele； and Ronnie Carruthers …〃
〃I thought you hated Ronnie；〃 Lepescu said。 〃Isn't he the one who dishonored you with your …〃
〃I do； of course； but … but I can't kill them。 Not just。。。 just shoot them。〃
Silently； he begged someone to shoot Lepescu。。。 but he had insisted on unloaded weapons。 The girls could not reload now。 If they tried； Lepescu would shoot。。。 and he was in the middle。 Sweat rolled down his sides； sudden and cold。
〃We should never have let him talk us into this … 〃 Bubbles muttered。 〃We knew better。 He can see me … can you … ？〃
〃Too late smart； too soon dead；〃 Raffa said Neither of them had sounded as frightened as the prince felt。 He wished he could see them。 He wished he could see any help at all。
Lepescu's hand turned； showing a slick gray canister。 〃It would be a more merciful death；〃 he said。 〃If you care about that。〃 The prince realized that fear had layers he had never imagined。。。。 That had to be a gas canister。 Riot gas？ Nerve gas？ He struggled to stay calm； he had to convince Lepescu。
〃But they're my friends；〃 the prince said。 〃You can't expect me to do it； there has to be another way。〃 This could not be happening； it must be some kind of joke or test。 He had to find the right thing to say。 〃We could agree to keep your secret。〃
〃I doubt it；〃 Lepescu said。 Even through the gleaming curve of his face mask； his eyes looked distinctly from face to face。 〃Lord Thornbuckle's daughter is not likely to keep such secrets from her father。〃
〃You're right about that；〃 came Bubbles's voice from behind the prince。 〃Not that killing us will do any good in the long run。 He'll find out； and then he'll find you。〃
Lepescu lifted the canister in a mock salute。 〃To your courage； my dear。 You may stop that shuffling you're doing； you cannot screen your friend as she reloads； I can shoot the prince； and you； before you shoot me。。。 and I'm wearing protection。〃 With a change in tone； he addressed the prince again。 〃As for your friend Ronnie； a young man who cannot keep from boasting about his amatorial conquests is hardly likely to hold his tongue about this； the next time he gets drunk。 The dark girl … well； it's a pity； but many have died already； and so it goes。 You choose： kill them； and I know you will not talk。
It would not be in your own best interests。 I have a flitter； we can escape somehow。 I always do。 But if you cannot kill them。。。 then I'm afraid you； too； must die。〃 After a moment he went on； 〃Go ahead … it won't be easier for waiting。〃
Heris followed the bootprints up the narrowing cleft。 Suddenly one pair stopped； whoever it was had shifted around； trampling his own prints； and then pletely new prints … larger； with a different tread … set off again。 She frowned at them； trying to remember where she'd seen that tread pattern； then shrugged。 It really didn't matter。
〃He put on overshoes；〃 Cecelia murmured； from behind her。 〃Why？〃 Heris waved a hand to hush her。 They had to be close； she could tell the slope was closing in ahead of them。
If she hadn't been following the tracks； she might have missed the angle to the cave entrance。。。 but the tracks led directly to it。 A mat of wilting ferns and moss； a gaping hole into darkness； and a voice … no； more than one voice。
She was sure one of the voices was Lepescu's。
She pulled Cecelia close and murmured into her ear。 〃He's there … ahead of us … and I think it's the youngsters。 Stay back； be ready to shoot if I go down。
And watch for anyone behind us。〃 Cecelia nodded； eyes hard again。 Heris crept nearer to the cave entrance； fighting down a surge of excitement that threatened to send her charging straight at Lepescu； no matter what Now she could hear his voice clearly。 She knelt in the mud； and peered around the edge of the hole into the dimness。 Nothing but water； a pool almost lapping the entrance。 She would have to go in。 Voices came from her left； around an angle of stone。 She gave Cecelia a last look and ducked inside。
Her eyes adjusted quickly； more light came in the entrance than she'd have thought from outside。 She flattened herself against the damp stone to her left and edged around it。 There。 A big； bulky shape in a protective suit； its back to her； and four faces beyond； pale against the black behind them。 The suit had to be Lepescu。 Could she get him without hitting them？ Was he wearing armor under the suit？ And why the suit； in this weather？ What contamination did he fear？ Then she saw the clenched left hand； and caught her breath。 If that was a gas grenade … She edged nearer； hoping none of the youngsters would notice her； although she knew she must be a very visible dark blot against the bright entrance。 Lepescu was still talking。。。。
〃Go ahead；〃 he was saying。 〃It won't be easier for waiting。〃
What did he mean？ And why four people？ Heris stared； just able to make out Ronnie； Bubbles； and Raffa。。。 but who was that fourth young man with the extravagant moustache and a gleam of earring？ A friend of Lepescu's？ She bit her lip； she could not possibly get both of them before someone else got shot。
She wondered if Lepescu was wearing armor under the suit； she reset her weapon for the alternate clip of ammunition。 This should penetrate personal armor。
More danger to bystanders； but not as much danger as a live Lepescu。
But as her eyes adjusted to the dim light； she saw the mysterious young man shift his weight； his expression changing from bewilderment and disbelief to mulish stubbornness。 〃I won't do it；〃 he said； and dropped his weapon。 〃And I think you'll find it impossible to explain my disappearance。〃 Heris aligned her sights； and shifted a little to clear Ronnie。 It was at best a tricky shot。。。。 The ricochets would be wicked。。。。
〃Not really；〃 Lepescu said。 〃An inconvenience； yes … but not nearly an impossibility。 It's a pity； and I'm sorry … this is not a sporting proposition； but … 〃 He rocked forward； blood spraying out the front of his protective suit。 Echoes of the shot and the impacts on him and on stone roared through the cave； deafening； confusing。 Lepescu dropped his rifle； the canister dropped from his left hand； bounced； and rolled along the stone toward the water。 Heris flinched； she was too far away to do anything more。 If its seal broke； they were all dead。 Ronnie and the prince leaped together and landed on it like two