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〃Yes！〃 Margo shouted。 〃But I'm lost！ Help！ Can anyone hear us？〃
Pendergast lowered his voice。 〃It must have heard that。 Now we can only wait。〃 He dropped to one knee； right hand aiming the 。45； left hand bracing right wrist。 〃Keep playing the light toward the bend in the hallway； move it around as if you're lost。 When I see the creature； I'll give you the word。 Turn on the miner's light； and keep it aimed on the creature； no matter what。 If it's angry…if it's just hunting for revenge now…we have to use any means possible to slow it down。 We only have a hundred feet of corridor in which to kill it。 If it can run as quickly as you think it can； the beast can cover that distance in a couple of seconds。 You can't hesitate； and you can't panic。〃
〃A couple of seconds；〃 Margo said。 〃I understand。〃
ˉ
Garcia kneeled in front of the monitor bank； the butt of his shotgun snug against his cheek； the barrel pointing into the gloom。 Before him； the outline of the door was faintly visible。 Behind him stood Waters in a bat stance。 〃When it es through； just start firing； and don't stop。〃 Garcia said。 〃I've only got eight rounds。 I'll try to space my shots so you can reload at least once before it reaches us。 And turn off that flashlight。 You trying to give us away？〃
The others in Security mand…Allen； the programmer； and Nesbitt the guard…had retreated to the far wall and were crouched beneath the darkened schematic of the Museum's security grid。
Waters was shaking。 〃It blew away a SWAT team；〃 he said； his voice breaking。
There was another crash； and the door groaned； its hinges popping。 Waters screamed； jumped up and scrambled backward into the dark； his gun lying forgotten on the floor。
〃Waters； you prick； get back here！〃
Garcia heard the sickening thud of bone against metal as Waters stumbled under the desks toward the far wall； banging his skull。 〃Don't let it get me！〃 he screamed。
Garcia forced himself to turn back toward the door。 He tried to steady the shotgun。 The foul reek of the creature filled his nostrils as the door shuddered under another heavy blow。 More than anything； he did not want to see what was about to force its way into the room。 He cursed and wiped his forehead with the back of a hand。 Except for Waters's sobbing； there was silence。
Margo shined the flashlight down the hall； trying to imitate the random motions of somebody searching for a way out。 The light licked across the walls and floor； giving dim illumination to the display cabinets。 Her heart was hammering； her breath ing in short gasps。
〃Help！〃 she cried again。 〃We're lost！〃 Her voice sounded unnaturally hoarse in her ears。
There were no more sounds from around the corner。 The creature was listening。
〃Hello？〃 she called； willing herself to speak again。 〃Is anybody there？〃
The voice echoed and died in the corridor。 She waited； staring into the gloom； straining to see any movement。
A dark shape began to resolve itself against the far darkness； at a distance where the flashlight beam failed。 The movement stopped。 It seemed to have its head up。 A strange； liquid snuffling sound came toward them。
〃Not yet；〃 Pendergast whispered。
It moved a little farther around the corner。 The snuffling noise grew louder； and then the stench； wafting down the hall； violated her nostrils。
The beast took another step。
〃Not yet；〃 Pendergast whispered。
Garcia's hand was shaking so violently he could hardly press the transmit button。
〃Coffey！〃 he hissed。 〃Coffey； for God's sake！ Do you copy？〃
〃This is Agent Slade from the Forward mand Post。 Who's speaking； please？〃
〃This is Security mand；〃 Garcia said； breathing thick and fast。 〃Where's Coffey？ Where's Coffey？〃
〃Special Agent Coffey is temporarily indisposed。 As of now； I'm taking mand of the operation； pending the arrival of the regional director。 What's your status？〃
〃What's our status？〃 Garcia laughed raggedly。 〃Our status is； we're fucked。 It's outside the door。 It's breaking in。 I'm begging you； send a team in。〃
〃Hell！〃 came the voice of Slade。 〃Why wasn't I informed？〃 Garcia heard some muffled talk。 〃Garcia？ Do you have your weapon？〃
〃What good's a shotgun？〃 Garcia whispered； almost in tears。 〃You need to get in here with a fucking bazooka。 Help us； please。〃
〃Garcia； we're trying to pick up the pieces here。 mand…and…control is all screwed up。 Just hold tight a moment。 It can't get through the Security mand door； right？ It's metal； isn't it？〃
〃It's wood； Slade； it's just a goddamn institutional door！〃 Garcia said； the tears running freely down his face。
〃Wood？ What kind of place is this？ Garcia； listen to me now。 Even if we sent someone in； it'd take them twenty minutes to get to you。〃
〃Please 。。。〃
〃You've got to handle it yourself。 I don't know what you're up against； Garcia； but get a grip on yourself。 We'll be in as soon as we can。 Just keep cool and aim…〃
Garcia sank to the floor； his finger slipping from the button in despair。 It was hopeless； they were all dead men。
= 60 =
Smithback gripped the belt； playing a few more inches back toward the group。 If anything； he thought； the water was rising even faster than before； there were surges every few minutes now； and although the current didn't seem to be getting stronger； the roar at the end of the tunnel had grown deafening。 The oldest； the weakest； and the poorest swimmers were directly behind Smithback； clutching to the rope of belts； behind them the others were clinging together； treading water desperately。 Everyone was silent now； there was no energy left to weep； moan； or even speak。 Smithback looked up： two more feet； and he'd be able to grab the ladder。
〃Must be a mother of a storm out there；〃 said D'Agosta。 He was next to Smithback； supporting an older woman。 〃Sure rained on the Museum's party；〃 he added with a weak laugh。
Smithback merely looked up； snapping on the light。 Eighteen more inches。
〃Smithback； quit switching the light on and off； all right？〃 D'Agosta said irritably。 〃I'll tell you when to check。〃
Smithback felt another surge； which buffeted him against the brick walls of the tunnel。 There were some gasps among the group but no one cut loose。 If the belt rope gave way； they'd all be drowned in thirty seconds。 Smithback tried not to think about it。
In a shaky but determined voice； the Mayor started telling a story to the group。 It involved several well…known people in City Hall。 Smithback； despite scenting a scoop； felt sleepier and sleepier…a sign； he remembered； of hypothermia。
〃Okay； Smithback。 Check the ladder。〃 The gruff voice of D'Agosta jerked him awake。
He shined the light upward； rattling it into life。 In the past fifteen minutes the water had risen another foot； bringing the end of the ladder almost within reach。 With a croak of delight； Smithback played more of the belts back to the group。
〃Here's what we're gonna do；〃 said D'Agosta。 〃You're gonna go up first。 I'll help from down here； then I'll follow last。 Okay？〃
〃Okay；〃 Smithback said； shaking himself into consciousness。
D'Agosta pulled the belt taut； then grabbed Smithback by the waistband and he