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isible； barely…for we are eighteen stories above her。 All of Kalika's windows are covered with vertical blinds； however。 We have better views of her two balconies and the large pool far below。 Of course； we have a dear view of the roof of the tower。 It is at this spot that I stare as my doubts continue to grow。
Dr。 Seter and his son have not assembled a group of spiritual fanatics and trained them how to aim and fire automatic weapons。 Instead they have managed to construct the equivalent of a highly trained mando unit。 I am staggered by the way they go about surrounding Kalika； who； by the way； is definitely at home。 Their attack is much more coordinated than the attack the LAPD and the FBI sprang to capture me and Joel。
There are two units： Alpha Top and Alpha Bottom。 The former has somehow managed to make it onto the roof of the building with ropes and pulleys。 Alpha Bottom is already on Kalika's floor。 The security guards are apparently unconscious； if we are to believe the radio reports that are constantly streaming in。 We're all tied together with short wave。 Both Alpha Top and Alpha Bottom have ten members each； male and female； all dressed in black。 They have night goggles； gas grenades； even grenade launchers。 Where they bought all this stuff； I have no idea。
I watch as the last of the Alpha Top team assembles on the roof。
〃How do they plan on getting down to Kalika's balcony？〃 I ask James； pointing at the people on the roof。 James is also dressed in black； a radio in his hand。 His face shines with excitement。 Apparently he likes playing soldier。 The whole situation strikes me as odd； and yet I am the one who instigated it…I think。
〃The same way they got on the roof；〃 he says。 〃We will lower six of them onto the balconies before we attack； three onto each balcony。 We won't attack until everyone is in position。 Why？〃
〃She will hear them on the balcony；〃 I say。
James peers through a pair of binoculars hung around his neck。 〃We have pretty much determined that she is asleep。〃
〃I wouldn't count on that；〃 Seymour mutters。
〃We must give her a chance to cooperate；〃 Dr。 Seter says for perhaps the tenth time。 Although the doctor is supposed to be the boss； it is clear to me the attack units are taking orders only from James。
〃She'll be given every chance she deserves；〃 James says。 He clicks on his radio。 〃Alpha Bottom； this is Control。 Are you still holding by the eighteenth floor elevators？ Over。〃
〃Control； this is Alpha Bottom。 We are near the elevators。 Over。〃
〃Alpha Bottom； this is Control Alpha Top will be swinging onto the balconies momentarily。 Do not move toward Suite Eighteen Twenty…one until you are ordered。 Over。〃
〃Control； this is Alpha Bottom。 Understood。 Out。〃
James studies the top group through his binoculars。 Then he clicks his radio back on。 〃Alpha Top； this is Control。 Any signs that Kalika is in the living room or kitchen area？ Over。〃
〃Control； this is Alpha Top。 We have detected no activity in the living room or kitchen area。 Over。〃
〃Alpha Top； are your ropes in place？ Over。〃
〃Control； we are ready to swing down。 Over。〃
〃Alpha Top； this is Control。 You may start down。 But hold on the balconies until you hear from me。 Over。〃
〃Control； understood。 Alpha Top out。〃
〃You guys seem to know what you're doing；〃 I say。
James smiles。 〃You sound disappointed。〃
I give a wan smile。 〃I always have a thing for the underdog。〃 More than a thing。 Watching them all converge on Kalika； I feel sick to my stomach。 I have to keep telling myself that Kalika is totally unpredictable； that they have to be careful Dr。 Seter puts a hand on my arm。
〃We have trained for this day for a long time；〃 he says。 〃But we will not shoot first； I promise you that。 She will be given every chance to surrender。〃
I shake my head。 〃She will never surrender。〃
In teams of three； dropping off from two points on the roof； the Alpha Top people begin to slide down toward the balconies。 They land in seconds； I watch as they unclip the ropes from their belts。 Each carries a weapon； has a radio in an ear； and night goggles。 The guy in charge of Alpha Top es back on the line； speaking in hushed whispers。
〃Control； we are in position。 Over。〃
〃He shouldn't be talking；〃 I say。 〃She'll hear him。 In fact； they should be ready for her to attack。 Now。 Tell them to get their weapons drawn。 She could e at them any second。〃
James ignores me。 He talks into his radio。
〃Alpha Top； this is Control。 You will go on my mand。 Stand ready。 Over。〃
Separated by a corner of the building； neither group of three can see the other group。 This is a major weakness in the plan。 They should know to the split second what every one of them is doing。 Their radios are not fast enough。 James continues to bark instructions。
〃Alpha Bottom； this is Control。 Move toward Suite Eighteen Twenty…one。 Alpha Top is in position on the balconies。 Over。〃
〃Control； this is Alpha Bottom。 Understood。 Over。〃
The ten people on the Alpha Bottom team will crowd one another as they move along the hallway。 I point this out to James and suggest he hold back half of them by the elevators。 He brushes aside my ment。
〃They know what they're doing；〃 he says。 〃They won't accidentally shoot each other。〃
〃You don't understand how fast she can move；〃 I say。 〃The more room they have； the more chance they have of getting off a clean shot。〃
〃I want Alpha Bottom to knock at the door first；〃 Dr。 Seter says。 〃She has to be told that she is surrounded and that escape is impossible。〃
〃She doesn't think in terms of impossibilities；〃 Seymour mutters。 〃I think it will be a mistake to knock。〃
James checks with me。 〃Do you agree？〃
I think of Kalika riddled with bullets while she lies in bed。
〃I agree。〃 I turn to Dr。 Seter。 〃There is no point in talking to her。 Honestly。〃
Dr。 Seter trembles。 〃But this could be cold…blooded murder。〃
〃I say we listen to Alisa；〃 James says。 Before anyone can protest he clicks on his radio。 〃Alpha Top and Alpha Bottom； this is Control。 We will move on the count of five。 One。。。 two。。。 three。。。〃
He does not reach five。
There is loud screaming。
We hear it over the radio and through the air。
We look down to see that the balcony farthest from us is empty…of Suzama people； that is。 Kalika； alone； is out there； her hair hanging down the back of her white robe。 Below her； three individuals in black float down toward the large swimming pool。 Float is perhaps too kind a word。 They are falling to their deaths； and they know it。 The few feet of pool water are not going to absorb their falls。 Their horrified screams rend the air and I scream at myself for believing that Kalika would just lie down and die。
The three hit the water； landing on top of each other； crashing through to the bottom。 Their limbs and skulls explode on contact。 The pool is well lit。 Within seconds a red wave expands across the blue water。 The screams cease。 I turn to James。
〃Call off the attack！〃 I yell。 〃Get your people out of there！ She may let them go if they pull back now！〃
James stares down in horror as b