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〃He discovered Sevrin； not you。 Listen； rade； I assure you you're safe to continue your vital work。 Please continue to do everything you can to agitate the banking crisis and the stock market crash。〃
〃No need to worry。 We all want that to happen。〃
The phone came to life。 Both men stared at it。 It only sounded once。 One ring。 The code； danger； leaped into their heads。 Aghast Suslev grabbed the hidden gun； remembering his fingerprints were on it as he hurtled through the kitchen for the back door； Plumm close behind him。 He ripped open the door； letting Plumm through first onto the exit landing。 At that moment there was the pounding of approaching feet and a crash against the front door behind them which held but buckled slightly。 Suslev closed the back door silently； easing a bar into place。 Another crash。 He peered through a crack。 Another crash。 The front locks shattered。 For an instant he saw the silhouettes of four men against the hall light； then he fled。 Plumm was already down the stairs； covering him from the next landing； automatic out； and Suslev went down the steps three at a time past him to the next landing； then turned to cover in his turn。 Above him the back door buckled nauseatingly。 Silently Plumm ran past him and again covered him as they fled downward to the next landing。 Then Plumm pulled away some camouflaging crates from the false door exit that branched off the main one。 Footsteps noisily raced up toward them from downstairs。 Another crash against the back door above。 Suslev guarded as Plumm squeezed through the opening into the dark and he followed； pulling the partial door closed after him。 Already Plumm had found the flashlight that was waiting in a clip。 Footsteps raced closer。 Cautiously Plumm led the way downward； both men moving well and silently。 The footsteps passed with the sound of muffled voices。 Both men stopped momentarily； trying to hear what was being said。 But the sound was too indistinct and muted and they could not even tell if it was English or Chinese。
Plumm turned again and led the way downward。 They hurried but with great caution； not wanting to make any unnecessary noise。 Soon they were near the secret exit。 Without hesitation the two men lifted the false floor and went below into the cool wet of the culvert。 Once they were there and safe； they stopped for breath； their hearts pounding with the suddenness of it all。
When he could talk； Suslev whispered； 〃Kuomintang？〃
Plumm just shrugged。 He wiped the sweat off。 A car rumbled overhead。 He directed his light to the dripping ceiling。 There were many cracks and another avalanche of stones and mud cascaded。 The floor was awash with half a foot of water that covered their shoes。
〃Best we part； old chap；〃 Plumm said softly and Suslev noticed that though the man was sweating； his voice was icy calm and the light never wavered。 〃I'll get Roger to deal with whatever shower that was at once。 Very bloody boring。〃
Suslev's heart was slowing。 He still found it difficult to speak。 〃Where do we meet tomorrow？〃
〃I'll let you know。〃 The Englishman's face was stark。 〃First Voranski； then Metkin and now this。 Too many leaks。〃 He jerked a thumb upward。 〃That was too close。 Maybe your Metkin knew more than you think he did。〃
〃No。 I tell you he knew nothing about Sevrin； nothing； or about that apartment or Clinker or any of it。 Only Voranski and me； we're the only ones who knew。 There's no leak from our side。〃
〃I hope you're right。〃 Plumm added grimly； 〃We'll find out； Roger'll find out one way or another； one day； and then God help the traitor！〃
〃Good。 I want him too。〃
After a pause Plumm said； 〃Call me every half an hour from various phone booths； from 7：30 p。m。 tomorrow。〃
〃All right。 If for any reason there's a problem I'll be at Ginny's from eleven onwards。 One last thing。 If we don't get to look at the AMG papers； what's your opinion about Dunross？〃
〃His memory's incredible。〃
〃Then we isolate him for a chemical interrogation？〃
〃Why not？〃
〃Good； tovarich。 I'll make all the preparations。〃
〃No。 We'll snatch him and we'll deliver him。 To the Ivanov？〃
Suslev nodded and told him Metkin's suggestion of blaming the Werewolves； not saying it was Metkin's idea。 〃Eh？〃
Plumm smiled。 〃Clever！ See you tomorrow。〃 He handed Suslev the flashlight； took out a pencil light and turned； going down the culvert； his feet still under water。 Suslev watched until the tall man had turned the corner and vanished。 He had never followed the culvert below。 Plumm had told him not to； that it was dangerous and subject to rockfalls。
He took a deep breath； now over his fright。 Another car rumbled heavily overhead。 That's probably a truck； he thought absently。 More mud and a piece of the concrete fell with a splash； startling him。 Suslev waited； then began to pick his way carefully up the slope。 Another tiny avalanche。 Suddenly Suslev hated the subterranean tube。 It made him feel insecure and doom ridden。
56
11：59 P。M。：
Dunross was looking at the sad hulk of the burned…out Floating Dragon restaurant that lay on her side in twenty feet of Aberdeen water。 The other multistoried eating palaces that floated nearby were still blazing with lights； gaudy and noisy； filled to capacity； their new； hastily erected； temporary kitchens on barges beside their mother ships； cauldrons smoking； fires under the cauldrons； and a mass of cooks and helpers like so many bees。 Waiters hurried up and down precarious gangways with trays and dishes。 Sampans sailed nearby； tourists staring； Hong Kong yan gaping； the hulk a great attraction。
Part of the hulk's superstructure jutted out of the water。 Salvage crews were already working on her under floodlights； salvaging her； readying to float what remained of her。 On her part of the wharf and parking lot temporary roofing and kitchens were set up。 Vendors were busily selling photographs of the blaze； souvenirs； foods of a hundred kinds； and a huge floodlit sign in Chinese and English proudly proclaimed that the new； ONLY TOTALLY MODERN AND FIREPROOF FLOATING RESTAURANT； THE FLOATING DRAGON would soon be in business； bigger than ever； better than ever 。。。 meanwhile sample the foods of our famous chefs。 It was business as usual except that temporarily the restaurant was on land and not on the sea。
Dunross walked along the wharf toward one of the sea steps。 There were clusters of sampans nearby； big and small。 Most of these were for hire； each small craft with one sculler； a man； woman or child of any age； each craft with a hooped canvas covering that sheltered half of the boat from sun or rain or prying eyes。 Some of the sampans were more elaborate。 Those were the nighttime Pleasure Boats。 Inside were reclining pillows and low tables； the better craft luxurious with plenty of room for two to eat and drink and then to pillow； the single oarsman discreetly not part of the cabin。 You could hire one for an hour or a night and the boat would lazily float the byways。 Other sampans would e with all manner of drinks and foods； fresh foods served piping hot； served delicately； and you and your lady could dream the night away in perfect privacy。
You could go alone if you wished。 Then； out