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〃Give me a hand here！〃 he called out。
Immediately； several people began throwing themselves against it。 The rusty hinges gave way with a loud screech； and water gushed through the opening。
〃Smithback！ Find anything？〃
〃I got his flashlight！〃 came the disembodied voice。
〃Good boy。 Now e on back！〃
As D'Agosta moved through the door； he noticed an iron D ring on the other side as well。 He stood back and ushered the group through； counting。 Thirty…seven。 Bailey was gone。 Smithback brought up the rear。
〃All right； let's shut this thing！〃 D'Agosta yelled。
Against the heavy flow of the water； the door groaned slowly shut。
〃Smithback！ Shine one of the lights here。 Maybe we can find a way to bar this door。〃
He looked at it for a second。 If they could jam a piece of metal through the D ring； it just might hold。 He turned to the group。 〃I need something； anything； made of metal！〃 he called。 〃Does anyone have a piece of metal we can use to bar this door？〃
The Mayor passed quickly through the group； then came up to D'Agosta； thrusting a small collection of metal items into his hands。 As Smithback held the light； D'Agosta inspected the pins； necklaces； bs。 〃There's nothing here；〃 he muttered。
They heard a sudden splashing on the other side of the door； and a deep grunt。 A stench filtered through the low slats in the door。 A soft thump and a brief squeal of hinges； and the door was pushed ajar。
〃Christ！ You there； help me shut this door！〃
As before； people flung themselves against the door； forcing it shut。 There was a rattle and then a louder boom as the thing met their force； then pushed them back。 The door creaked open farther。
At D'Agosta's shout； others joined the effort。
〃Keep pushing！〃
Another roar； then a tremendous thump heaved everyone back once again。 The door groaned under the opposing weights； but continued to open； first six inches； then a foot。 The stench became intolerable。 Watching the door inch its way from the frame； D'Agosta saw three long talons snake their way around the edge。 The shape felt along the door； then swiped forward； the talons alternately sheathing and unsheathing。
〃Jesus； Mary； and Joseph；〃 D'Agosta heard the Mayor say； quite matter…of…factly。 Somebody else began chanting a prayer in a strange singsong。 D'Agosta placed the barrel of the gun near the monstrosity and fired once。 There was a terrible roar and the shape vanished into churning water。
〃The flashlight！〃 Smithback cried。 〃It'll fit perfectly！ Shove it into the ring！〃
〃That'll leave us with just one light；〃 D'Agosta panted。
〃Got a better idea？〃
〃No；〃 D'Agosta said under his breath。 Then； louder： 〃Everybody； push！〃
With a final heave they slammed the door back into its iron frame； and Smithback shoved the flashlight through the D ring。 It slid through easily； its flared end ing to rest against the metal hasp。 As D'Agosta caught his breath； they heard another； sudden crash and the door shuddered； but held firm。
〃Run； people！〃 cried D'Agosta。 〃Run！〃 They thrashed through the roiling water； falling and sliding。 D'Agosta； buffeted from behind； fell face first into the rushing water。 He rose and continued forward； trying to ignore the monster's roaring and pounding…he did not think he could hear it and remain sane。 He willed himself to think about the flashlight instead。 It was a good； heavy police…issue flashlight。 It would hold。 He hoped to God it would hold。 The group stopped at the second fork in the tunnel； crying and shivering。 Time to radio Pendergast and get the fuck out of this maze； D'Agosta thought。 He clapped his hand to his radio holster； and with a shock realized it was empty。
Coffey stood inside the forward security station； staring moodily at a monitor。 He was unable to reach either Pendergast or D'Agosta。 Inside the perimeter； Garcia in Security mand and Waters in the puter Room were still responding。 Had everybody else been killed？ When he thought of the Mayor dead； and the headlines that were sure to follow； a hollow feeling grew in his stomach。
An acetylene torch； flickering near the silver expanse of the metal security door at the east end of the Rotunda； cast ghostly shadows across the tall ceiling。 The acrid smell of molten steel filled the air。 The Rotunda had grown strangely quiet。 Field amputations were still taking place by the security door； but all the other guests had left for home or area hospitals。 The journalists had finally been contained behind police barriers。 Mobile intensive care units were set up on nearby side streets and medevacs were standing by。
The SWAT team mander came over； buckling an ammo belt over his black fatigues。 〃We're ready；〃 he said。
Coffey nodded。 〃Give me a tactical。〃
The leader pushed a bank of emergency phones aside and unfolded a sheet。
〃Our spotter will be leading us by radio。 He's got the detailed diagrams from this station。 Phase One： We're punching a hole through the roof； here； and dropping to the fifth floor。 According to the specs of the security system； this door here will blow with one charge。 That gives us access to the next cell。 Then we proceed down to this props storage room on the fourth floor。 It's right above the Hall of the Heavens。 There's a trapdoor in the floor that Maintenance uses for cleaning and servicing the chandelier。 We'll lower our men and haul the wounded up in sling chairs。 Phase Two： Rescue those in the subbasement； the Mayor and the large group with him。 Phase Three： Search for those who may be elsewhere within the perimeter。 I understand that people are trapped in the puter Room and Security mand。 The Museum Director； Ian Cuthbert； and a woman as yet unidentified may have gone upstairs。 And don't you have agents of your own within the perimeter； sir？ The man from the New Orleans field office…〃
〃Let me worry about him；〃 Coffey snapped。 〃Who developed these plans？〃
〃We did； with the assistance of Security mand。 That guy Allen has the cell layouts down cold。 Anyway； according to the specs of this security system…〃
〃You did。 And who's in charge here？〃
〃Sir； as you know； in emergency situations the SWAT team mander…〃
〃I want you to go in there and kill the son of a bitch。 Got it？〃
〃Sir； our first priority is to rescue hostages and save lives。 Only then can we deal with…〃
〃Calling me stupid； mander？ If we kill the thing in there； all our other problems are solved。 Right？ This is not your typical situation； mander； and it requires creative thinking。〃
〃In a hostage situation； if you take away the killer's hostages； you've removed his base of power…〃
〃mander； were you asleep during our crisis…control briefing？ We may have an animal in there； not a person。〃
〃But the wounded…〃
〃Use some of your men to get the damn wounded out。 But I want the rest of you to go after what's in there and kill it。 Then we rescue any stragglers at leisure； in safety and fort。 Those are your direct orders。〃
〃I understand； sir。 I would remend； however…〃
〃Don't remend jack shit； mander。 Go in the way you planned； but do the job right。 Kill the motherfucker。〃
The mander looked curiously at Coffey。 〃You sure about this thi