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nsby wrestled the ramp over to one side； then motioned to Meadows and Jones。
〃You two first；〃 he said。 〃Pull the ramp aside when you hit bottom。 I'll close the cover。〃
Meadows and Jones started climbing down the ladder。 Hornsby walked over to the charge on the metal tube and armed the device。 The light flicked red。 He was walking back to the hole when Hanley came over the radio。
〃The police are less than a hundred feet away；〃 he said quickly。
〃Where are you at？〃
Hornsby climbed down the ladder a few feet； then reached up and slid the manhole cover back in place。 He flicked a tiny switch on the lapel of his thin jacket and spoke。
〃We're armed and the door closed；〃 he said。 〃Give me ten seconds to reach the bottom。〃
〃Got it；〃 Hanley said。
Hornsby reached the bottom of the ladder and stared at the crate containing the Golden Buddha。 〃So what have you guys been up to？〃 he asked。
Hanley pushed a button and increased the flow of gas to the dragon's mouth。 A flame shot forty feet forward and the crowd backed away。 Then he pushed the button to ignite the charge。 A small explosion ripped into the side of the metal tank containing the aluminum powder。 It began to burn with a hot white light。 Almost instantly the fabric covering of the float ignited and began to burn。 In a few seconds； the float was a maelstrom； with flames reaching twenty feet into the air。
〃We need fire and rescue；〃 one of the officers said； giving the address。
Then he stared at the firestorm； waiting for a pair of men to run screaming forth。
But no one emerged from the glowing pile。
THE WHITE CHEVROLET SUV pulled to the side of the road and Cabrillo climbed into the front seat。 The helicopter pilot； George Adams； pulled away from the curb。
〃Gorgeous George；〃 he said； 〃any problems？〃 Adams looked like a poster child for the American way。 He had a chiseled jaw； short brown hair parted to one side； and a smile that could sell toothpaste。 Strangely enough； in spite of his looks； he was almost without ego。 Married to his high school sweetheart； he had been an army warrant officer before joining the Corporation。
〃No； sir；〃 he said。
〃Monica？〃 Cabrillo said； turning to the rear seat。
〃No； boss；〃 she said。 〃Our guest is still out of it； however。〃
Cabrillo stared at Spenser slumped against the window。 Then back to the rear partment； where the speaker frame holding the fake Buddha was sitting。
〃Did the folding ramp work？〃 he asked Adams。
〃Like a dream；〃 Adams said。 〃We just adjusted the legs to the same height as the helicopter floor； then pushed the package across on the wheels。〃
〃Good。 We've rented part of a small hangar at the airport；〃 he said to Adams。 〃We need to go there now。〃
Adams nodded and steered the Chevrolet back toward the bridge。
ALIGHT RAIN began falling over Macau。 Sung Rhee and Ling Po were standing on the front porch of the mansion staring toward the city。 Po disconnected his cellular telephone and turned to Rhee。 Down the hill； near the Maritime Museum； the lights from the fire trucks that had extinguished the burning Peugeot were still visible。 To the right； along the parade route； a column of smoke lit by the city lights was visible from the burning float。
〃Whoever's stealing Buddhas tonight； they're well trained and well funded；〃 Po said to Rhee。
Rhee's mind was back to normal。 And he was as mad as a Dobei man。 It was bad enough that some team of thieves was using his city as a playgroundit was worse that he had been made part of the heist。
〃Whatever happens；〃 he said； 〃they still have to spirit the icons out of the country。〃
〃I have men at the airport and patrolling the waters；〃 Po said； 〃and the border into China has been alerted to be on the lookout。 They won't be able to leave Macau； that's for sure。〃
〃All of the suspects except the British art dealer are American；〃 Rhee said。 〃Did you pull up the list of tourist visas？〃
〃The tourism authority is closed for the night；〃 Po admitted； 〃but I'll have someone there first thing in the morning。〃
〃These guys are professionals；〃 Rhee said quietly。 〃They won't hang around。 By the time we get the list and begin to question all the Americans； they will be long gone。〃
Po's telephone rang and he unfolded it and pushed the button。
〃Po。〃
〃The fire reached part of one of the buildings；〃 an officer at the parade reported； 〃but the fire department has got that under control。 They are hosing down the float as we speak； but the framework is still hot and it melted in onto itself。 There is a pile of twisted metal that is still too hot for inspection。〃
〃Can you see the motorcycles inside the wreckage？〃
〃It seems they are inside the frame；〃 the officer said； 〃but it's hard to be certain。〃
〃I'm ing down there；〃 Po said。 〃Keep the crowd back and order the rest of the floats to the end of the route。 The parade has officially ended。〃
〃Excellent； sir；〃 the officer said。 〃See you shortly。〃
Po disconnected and turned to Rhee。 〃I'm going down to the parade。 Would you like to e along； sir？〃
Rhee considered this for a moment。 〃I don't think so； Ling；〃 he said。 〃We're going to get some flack over thisI think it's best if I go to headquarters and coordinate efforts there。〃
〃I understand； sir；〃 Po said as he started to walk down the driveway。
〃You find these men；〃 Rhee said； 〃and recover the objects。〃
〃I'll do my best； sir；〃 Po said。
Then Rhee opened the door to the mansion and went inside to report to the mayor of Macau。
〃Good luck； Mr。 Chairman；〃 Hanley said。 〃Cabrillo out。〃
INSIDE THE CHEVROLET SUV； Juan Cabrillo adjusted his radio and called the Oregon。 〃Where are we at； Max？〃 There was a slight lag as the scrambled signal was rearranged and delivered。
〃The Ross team took a casualty；〃 Hanley said。 〃He's being worked on in the clinic。〃
〃Report to me as soon as you know more；〃 Cabrillo said。 〃What else？〃
〃The temple team has made it to the catabs； as planned。〃
〃I saw the smoke；〃 Cabrillo said。 〃No injuries？〃
〃None；〃 Hanley said。 〃So far so good。 They are initiating the extraction。〃
〃What about the others？〃
〃Most everyone staying in town has reported in；〃 Hanley said。 〃King made it back to the boat and is going to direct offensive actions until Murphy returns。〃
〃Target three？〃
〃The 737 landed a few moments ago；〃 Hanley reported。 〃They should be going through customs as we speak。〃
〃Our man is still with them？〃
〃Awaiting instructions。〃
〃What else？〃
〃The second leg of the journey is almost ready to activate；〃 Hanley said。 〃The way it looks so far； we can deliver the package on time。〃
〃Good；〃 Cabrillo said。 〃We're almost at the airport。〃
Hanley stared at the flashing blip on one of the monitors。 〃I've gol you made； Juan。〃
〃Now all I have to do is collect on our side deal；〃 Cabrillo said； 〃and we can be on our way。〃
MEADOWS； JONES AND Hornsby looked like three tourists on an Arizona mine tour。
They were wearing silver hard hats made from pressed metal； with small battery…operated lamps that spewed beams of light from the front。 Hornsby was holding a blueprint that showed the undergr