26.

Annja turned back to the window. "Sorry about that, Tuk."

"What happened? I can't see a thing in this place but I heard you fighting."

"We were momentarily interrupted." Annja cast a quick glance at the dead solider and the rapidly expanding pool of blood spreading out from his corpse. "I don't think it will happen again."

"You killed him?"

"I had no choice."

Tuk stayed silent for a moment. "Well, now you most certainly have to figure out how to free me. If you've killed one of their people-whoever they are-then they will hold me responsible for his death."

Annja shook her head. "How could you kill him if you were inside this cell? They can't blame you for it."

"All the same, I'd rather take my chances with you."

Annja searched the dead soldier's pockets and found nothing to indicate how the cell operated. She patted him down and didn't even find an identification card. Annja frowned. There were no tags of any type except for one red star on his epaulets.

She stood and walked over to the other wall, but again, could find nothing to indicate how the stone walls operated. As far as Annja could see, they were set perfectly flush with the other part of the corridor.

Tuk was trapped.

"I can't find anything," she said to Tuk.

"There's got to be a way. Some kind of trip switch. When I was pushed inside, the wall slammed shut quickly. There's got to be an activation b.u.t.ton," he said.

Annja turned her attention away from the walls of the cell to the area behind her. She had to take care not to slip in the soldier's blood. But her heart thundered and she knew that if she didn't find the trip switch soon, she'd have a lot of company to worry about.

Finally, on the third time around the walls, she found a shallow depression painted exactly to match the color of the stone walls. She pressed into the depression and heard the rumbling sound of walls sliding away.

Turning, she saw Tuk standing there looking relived. He rushed over to her and smiled. "Thank you!"

Annja nodded. "We don't have any time. We've got to get out of here and figure out what happened to Mike."

"We need to get my phone back, too," Tuk said. "It's critical that we find a way to get Garin here. He can help us."

Annja nodded. "Much as I hate to admit it, I'm sure he can. But how are we going to do that. Didn't you say that Guge took it?"

"Yes. He told me that for me to cross back over, I couldn't have any technology with me."

"Probably just a con to get you to give up the phone."

"I know that now."

Annja indicated the corridor running off to their right side. "He went that way after he and the soldier had a few choice words."

Tuk looked down the darkened hallway. "I suppose we should go that way, too, huh?"

"As much as I'd rather get the h.e.l.l out of here, yes, we need to go in that direction," she said.

"What about Mike?"

Annja shook her head. "I don't know what to do about Mike. As far as I know he's on his own somewhere. Right now our priority is to get the phone, get Mike and then figure out a way to get some help to get out. This place is no longer a paradise. And I have serious doubt as to whether it ever was."

"Meaning what?"

"Meaning this whole thing feels staged."

"For whose benefit?"

Annja frowned. "Mine, yours, who knows? Whatever it's for, it's not anything good."

Tuk nodded. "All right, Annja. I'm with you. Let's go."

Annja summoned her sword from the otherwhere and they stole down the hallway. Annja would have liked to dispose of the soldier's body properly but there was no time. And they would have had to clean the blood off the floor, anyway-a nearly impossible task given the little time they had. They would have to take a chance that there were too few people around to notice the body for a while.

Something told Annja it wouldn't happen that way but there were no other options.

Ahead of them, the corridor forked and Annja frowned. She wanted to cover both hallways at once, but she'd only just reunited with Tuk. And splitting their forces didn't seem prudent at this point.

"Which way?" she muttered.

Tuk sighed. "Left?"

Annja nodded. "Left, it is."

The hallway descended and the air grew starkly colder. Annja's breath appeared in front of her face. Just where were they? Annja wondered. Behind her, she heard Tuk's teeth chattering. She glanced back and put a finger to her lips. "Keep the noise down, Tuk. You'd be surprised what people can hear in the darkness," she whispered.

Tuk clamped a hand over his mouth and they traveled on. Annja's sword lit the hallway for a small area around them, reflecting the flickering torches up ahead.

The floor started to slope back up and then Annja stopped.

She could hear voices.

Tuk had stopped immediately, keenly aware of Annja's movements, as she suspected he would be given his past as a tracker. Annja crept up inch by inch and heard more voices.

"Mandarin," Tuk whispered.

Is this entire thing some type of Chinese operation? she wondered. And, if so, how high up did it go? All the way to Beijing?

She took a calming breath and moved forward a few more feet. The torches ahead seemed to bracket a doorway carved out of the tunnel. Annja wanted to see what was beyond that doorway.

More soldiers?

The shadowy figure she'd fought before?

Guge?

She frowned. She couldn't just burst into the room, although it was tempting. Not being able to see what lay beyond was a problem. She didn't know if she could get that close without alerting them to her presence.

She felt Tuk nudge her from behind. She turned and saw him gesturing to himself. Annja frowned and then understood. Tuk wanted to do the recon.

She raised her eyebrows. Are you sure?

He nodded. He could do it.

Annja moved out of his way and watched as the little man crept soundlessly up the corridor toward the twin torches. Fortunately, because the torches were in front of him, they cast Tuk's shadow behind.

The little spy moved easily and quickly and Annja almost thought at one point that he had become part of the wall. It was easy to see why Tuk's skills had been so highly valued by the intelligence services of so many countries.

He must have some stories, Annja thought.

She looked back down the corridor and then up at Tuk. At any second, they might be discovered. Annja kept a firm hand on her sword and then watched as Tuk reached the periphery of the doorway, sank down on his knees and, ever so slowly, peered around the corner.

Don't stay too long, Annja thought. Just get a glimpse of the room and then come on back.

The little man seemed to know exactly how much time he had and retreated back down the corridor toward Annja quickly and silently. He motioned for her to follow him back into the darkness and there he squatted. Annja crouched next to him and whispered, "What did you see?"

Tuk cupped his hand to Annja's ear and replied. "Guge is in there. He's not dressed like my father anymore."

"How is he dressed?"

"Military fatigues."

"Chinese?"

"I don't think so."

"What else?"

"There are several soldiers in there. They're all armed with automatic weapons. And there's one other person in there, as well."

"Who?"

Tuk frowned. "Hsu Xiao."

Annja sighed. So the a.s.sa.s.sin was involved in this somehow. But what did Guge have to do with this and why were they connected?

"How should we play this?" Tuk asked.

"We need your phone, right?"

"Yes."

"And Guge has it, so we need to get it back from him. The sooner we can call in the cavalry, the better."

"You mean Garin."

Annja nodded. "I'd settle for a Boy Scout troop if I thought it would help. But yes, Garin should be brought in here if possible."

Tuk nodded. "All right, then. Let's go get the phone."

Annja stopped him. "How many soldiers?"

"Four."

Annja frowned. Six to two. Not good odds. Especially since Tuk was unarmed and they were facing automatic weapons and a top-drawer a.s.sa.s.sin. Taking the room down would be a challenge even if Tuk had a weapon. But going in there without one was virtually suicidal.

"Stay here," she said.

Tuk frowned. "I'm going with you."

Annja shook her head. "I understand that you want to come with me, but you can't. You don't have a weapon, and the instant the bullets start flying I won't be able to protect you. Those soldiers will turn you into Swiss cheese if they get even half a chance."

"Don't I have any say in this?"

"No. I rescued you back there, so you owe me, right?"

"I suppose."

"Then do as I say."

Tuk held her arm. "Annja, that a.s.sa.s.sin-Hsu Xiao-she's not going to be easy to kill."

Annja shrugged. "They never are."

Tuk released her arm. "Just be careful."

"As much as I can."

Annja crept back up the corridor. She could sense Tuk watching her from behind and hoped he would be all right. She didn't like the idea of leaving him alone in the corridor, but it was better than if he came with her.

She paused outside of the room and checked her position. Inside an animated conversation continued.

Wish I knew what they were saying, Annja thought.

She gripped her sword and looked into the blade. Her own reflection stared back at her and she smiled in spite of herself. Here we go again, she thought.

She took several deep breaths, flus.h.i.+ng her system with an abundance of oxygen. Adrenaline dripped into her veins and Annja's heart thundered again, ticking into overdrive in preparation for battle.

There was movement in the room. Some part of Annja's gut told her that, in a few short seconds, the hallway was going to become very crowded.

It was time.