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Slowly； for me； my wound healed。
Somehow I managed to stagger back to the city。 Ory's poison was still in my veins but maybe it had lost some of its potency。 When the city finally came into view； I saw that Ory's day had passed； as had Suzama's。 Either Ory had lost control of his precious earth element or else Suzama had seized control of it at the last moment and stuffed it down his throat。 The worship of Isis and Set was over for that time。
A gash in the earth as thick as the Great Pyramid had opened up and swallowed the bulk of the city。 The pyramid and all the other temples were gone。 Those buildings that had not fallen into the chasm were nevertheless flattened。 A handful of survivors stumbled around in the midst of this destruction but few looked as if they still possessed their wits。
I searched for Suzama but never found her。
Not long afterward I left Egypt。
16
We cannot get a flight to Lake Tahoe or even into Reno。 San Francisco is our next best choice。 The four of us； Seymour； James； Dr。 Seter； and I； fly to San Francisco and rent a car in the Bay Area。 Airport security has not allowed us to take weapons with us； so along the way； close to ten o'clock； I have the others wait while I break into a gun shop and steal two shotguns and several rounds of ammunition。 James seems impressed when I get back to the car。 He sits up front with me while Seymour talks to Dr。 Seter in the backseat。 The doctor is not looking good； and I wonder if he suffered a mild heart attack the previous night。 〃How did you get into the store？〃 James asks as we race back onto the freeway and head east at high speed。
〃I picked the lock；〃 I say； doing the driving。
〃Did an alarm go off？〃 James asks。
〃Not one that I could hear。〃 I glance over my shoulder。 〃Do you need to use the restroom； Dr。 Seter？ There's a gas station a couple of miles ahead。〃
His face is ghastly white but he shakes his head。 〃We don't have time。 We have to get there before she does。〃 He pauses。 〃I'm still furious at myself that I didn't allow you to see all of the scripture the first night。 How were you able to decipher the clues as to the child's location so quickly？〃
〃I had a little help；〃 I say。
〃From whom？〃 James asks。
〃You wouldn't believe me if I told you。〃
〃I think everyone in this car is ready to believe anything；〃 Seymour mutters。
〃Ain't that the truth；〃 Dr。 Seter says。
Yet I hesitate to talk about Mike。 〃A little bird helped me。〃
James gently persists。 〃Does this bird have a name？〃
I give him a look。 〃Not that I can remember。〃
We reach the mountains surrounding Lake Tahoe and I plow up the winding road that leads to the lake。 The others sit； clutching the ceiling grips； I have rented a Lexus sports coupe and I push the car to its limit。 Dr。 Seter looks as if he will vomit over the backseat but he doesn't plain。 There's too much at stake。
As we e over the rim of the mountain and see the lake； I smell Kalika。 I am surprised at my own surprise because I should have expected her to be here； but in reality I didn't。 Yet I still don't think she has deciphered Suzama's code before me。 On the contrary； I think she is following us； using some invisible psychic tracking。 I believe she still waits to see what moves we'll make next。 And this is a paradox for me because I realize I might endanger the child most by trying to find it to protect it。 Certainly there must have been a reason why my daughter has left so many of us alive。 She didn't know where I was when I was at the hospital with the child。 Yet she knew where I was when I was living in Pacific Palisades with Seymour。 I have to wonder if the child has a mystical shield around him that Kalika can't pierce but maybe I can。
It may not matter。
If I can smell her； she can see us。
But I cannot have e this far just to turn away from the child。 I cannot trust in my theories。 I only know that if I can find Paula and her baby I can take them to some safe place。 That is logical； it is something I can envision without employing the wisdom or intuition of Suzama。 Starting downhill； I floor the accelerator and turn toward Emerald Bay。
We reach it twenty minutes later。
The spot is one of the most enchanting in all of nature。 The bay is maybe two hundred yards across； sheltered on three sides by majestic cliffs with tall pines hugging them。 The isthmus is narrow； giving the bay excellent shelter from the lake itself； which can get rough in stormy weather。 There is a tiny island in the center of the water； a place for children to play and adults to relax。 Even at midnight； beneath the brilliant moon； the circular bay is magical。 But tonight it is silver； not emerald。 Silver like the dagger Ory stabbed in me。
For some reason； I have to remind myself that that was long ago。
My abdomen cramps and I brush away a fly that has entered the car。
The odor of Kalika overpowers my other senses。 Truly； since being touched by Yaksha's blood； my sense of smell has bee my most potent weapon。 Rolling down my window all the way； I use my nose like a needle on a pass； and it doesn't fail me。 It points in only one direction； toward a small wooden house set on redwood stilts above an abandoned stone church at the floor of the cliff； not far above the water。 The place is almost hidden in the trees； but I see it。
I drive faster。
I stop some distance from the house。 The road we're on circles all of Lake Tahoe but at this place it is three hundred yards up the side of the mountain。 Grabbing a shotgun and ignoring the others； I slip six shells into it。 The remainder of the ammunition is in the box that I stuff into my pocket。 Popping open the driver's door； I am almost outside when James grabs my arm。
〃Where are you going？〃 he demands。
〃Some things you can't help me with；〃 I say。
〃Alisa；〃 Seymour says。 The others only know me by that name。
〃It has to be this way。〃 I shake off James。 〃Stay and take care of one another。 She may e this way yet。〃
I don't give them a chance to respond。 Jumping out of the car； I run around the bend； and the moment I am out of sight I switch into hyper…mode。 The tangled trees and uneven boulders don't even slow me。 I reach the house in thirty seconds。
The front door has already been kicked in。
Kalika was watching which way my nose turned。
Inside I find Paula staring out a window that overlooks Emerald Bay。 There is a small boat on the cold water； with an outboard motor softly churning through the night； heading away from us。 Grabbing Paula from behind； I turn her around。
〃Did she take the child？〃 I demand。
Pretty dark…haired Paula is the color of dirty snow。
〃Yes；〃 she says with a dry voice。
〃Stay here。〃 I pump my shotgun。 〃I will get him back。〃
The next moment finds me outside； running along the edge of the bay。 In places this is difficult because the sides are sheer stone。 When I e to such a spot I jump higher for any inch of ledge that will support my feet and keep running。 Kalika's outboard motor is not very strong。 I reach the isthmus seconds before her boat does。 Dressed in a long white coat； the baby