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g around the interior of the van as if he's stoned。 〃Put on one of those flak jackets；〃 I tell him。
〃Does there have to be shooting？〃 he asks。
〃There will be a lot of shooting。〃 I speak to Lenny。 〃What's the top speed of this van？〃
〃Eighty miles an hour。〃
I groan。 〃I need a cop car。〃
〃There are a lot of them behind and in front of us；〃 Lenny says。
I peer at the chopper in the sky。 〃They hang close to the ground。〃
〃They're heavily armed；〃 Lenny says。 〃They won't let you escape。〃
I climb in the front seat beside him； shoving the men aside。 The flak jacket is a little large on me。 〃You think I should surrender？〃
〃Yes。〃 He adds quickly； 〃That's just my opinion。〃
〃You just follow my orders if you want to live；〃 I say； studying the cruisers in front； in back。 Sixteen altogether…two officers in each； I know。 Plus there are at least three unmarked cars…FBI agents。 It continues to amaze me how quickly they took Joel into custody。 They hardly gave him a chance to speak。 I call back to him； 〃e up here。 We're going to switch vehicles in a few minutes。〃
Joel pokes his head close to my shoulder； flak jacket in place。 〃The chopper is a problem；〃 he says。 〃It doesn't matter how good a driver you are or how many cop cars you disable。 It'll stay with us； lighting us up。〃
〃Maybe。 Put on a seat belt。〃 I brace a foot on the dashboard and point to an approaching alley。 〃There； Lenny； I want you to take a hard left。 Floor it as soon as you e out of the turn。〃
Lenny sweats。 〃OK。〃
I start to hand Joel Lenny's revolver。 〃Don't be afraid to cover my back。〃 I pause and catch his eye。 〃You are on my side； aren't you？〃
Joel hesitates。 〃I won't kill anybody。〃
〃Will you try to kill me？〃
〃No。〃
I give him the revolver。 〃All right。〃 The alley closes。 〃Get ready； Lenny。 No tricks。 Just put as much distance between us and the procession as you can。〃
Lenny veers to the left。 The alley is narrow； the van shoots through it at high speed； knocking over garbage cans and crates。 The response from the cops is immediate。 Half the cars jam into the alley in pursuit。 But half is better than all； and locked in behind us as they are； the cops can't fire at us so easily。
Unfortunately； the alley crosses several streets。 Fortunately； it's midnight； with almost no traffic。 At the first street we're lucky。 But we lose two police cars to a collision。 At the second crossing we're also fortunate。 But as we drive into the third cross street we smash sideways into the only vehicle on the street； an open produce truck loaded with oranges。 The fruit spills over the van。 Lenny has bumped his head on the steering wheel and appears to be dazed。 He gets another bump on his head when a squad car smashes into us from behind。 This is what I wanted…a pileup。 〃e on！〃 I call to Joel。 I jump out of the side of the van and raise the machine gun and fire a spray of bullets at the cars piled up behind us。 They are pinned down； but I know it won't be long before a herd of fresh cars es around the block。 The suddenness of my attack causes them to scramble from their vehicles。 Overhead； the chopper swoops dangerously low； the spotlight momentarily focused straight on me。 I look through the glare of the light and see a marksman stand in the open doorway and raise a high…powered rifle。 Pumping the shotgun； I take aim at him and pull the trigger。
The man loses the top of his head。
His lifeless body falls onto the roof of a nearby building。
I am not finished。
My next shot takes out the spotlight。 My third hits the small vertical rotor at the rear。 The blade sputters but continues to spin。 Pumping the shotgun； I put another round in it； and this time the propeller dies。 It is the vertical rotor that prevents fuselage rotation and also provides rudder control。 In other words； it gives stability to the helicopter。 Immediately the flying machine veers out of control。 To the horror of the watching police officers； it crash…lands in the midst of their line of cars。 The explosion is violent； crushing several officers； setting a few ablaze。 I use the distraction to reach in and pull Joel out of the van。 We run down the block； faster than any human could。
All this has happened in ten seconds。
So far； not a single shot has been fired at us。
A second line of cop cars es around the block。
I jump into the middle of the street and pour two shotgun rounds into the window of the first one； killing both officers inside。 The vehicle loses control and crashes into a parked car。 The police cars behind it slam on their brakes。 A spray of bullets from my machine gun makes them scramble out of their vehicles in search of cover。 I run toward the second car； shielding Joel with my body。 To the police； I know； my movements appear as nothing more than a blur。 They can't get a lock on me。 Nevertheless； they do open fire and a hail of bullets flies around me。 My flak jacket takes several rounds； causing no damage。 But one bullet catches me in the leg above my left knee and I stumble； although I don't fall。 Another shot hits me in my right upper arm。 Somehow； I reach the second police car and shove Joel inside。 I want to drive； I am bleeding； and the pain is intense； but I am in too much of a hurry to acknowledge it。
〃Keep your head down！〃 I snap at Joel as I throw the car in gear。 Peeling out； we are treated to another shower of bullets。 I take my own advice and duck。 Both the front and rear windshields shatter。 Glass pellets litter my long blond hair。 It will take a special brand of shampoo to get them out。
We escape； but are a marked couple in a highly visible car。 I jump on the Harbor Freeway； heading north； hoping to put as much distance between us and our pursuers as quickly as possible。 I keep the accelerator floored； weaving in and out of the few cars。 But I have two police cars on my tail。 Worse； another helicopter has appeared in the sky。 This pilot has learned from his predecessor。 He keeps the chopper up high； but not so high that he can't track us。
〃We can't hide from a chopper；〃 Joel says again。
〃This is a big city；〃 I reply。 〃There are many places to hide。〃
He sees I am bloody。 〃How bad are your injuries？〃
It is an interesting question because already…in the space of a few minutes…they have pletely healed。 Yaksha's blood…it is an amazing potion。
〃I am all right；〃 I say。 〃Are you injured？〃
〃No。〃 He pauses。 〃How many men have died since this started？〃
〃At least ten。 Try not to count。〃
〃Is that what you did after a few thousand years？ You stopped counting？〃
〃I stopped thinking。〃
I have a goal。 Because I know we cannot stay on the freeway long； I decide that the only way we can escape the helicopters is to get into one ourselves。 Atop several of the high…rises in downtown Los Angeles there are helicopter pads with choppers waiting to whisk executives to high…level meetings。 I can fly a helicopter。 I can operate any piece of machinery humankind has developed。
I exit the freeway on Third Street。 By now I have ten black…and…whites on my tail。 ing down the off ramp； I see several cop cars struggling to block the road in front of me