The two of them hurried toward the terminal, Ann struggling to keep up with Richard and find out what in heaven's name was going on. Murray looked after them, a sudden hatred burning in his eyes.

***

The cotillion was well underway. The boys and girls swirling around on the dance floor looked wonderfully old-fashioned. The cadets were dressed in formal uniform, while most of the young girls wore floor-length white gowns and corsages.

Over against the far wall, near the table with the punchbowl, stood those who were not dancing, either out of shyness or disinterest; girls off to one side, boys off to the other. Although they exchanged glances and giggled, they made no other overtures.

In another part of the room, Damien stood with Sergeant Neff, both watching the dancers. Across the room was the young girl with the two bodyguards. She was looking at Damien with interest, and Neff took notice. ‘You'll need courage to dance with her,' he said.

'The governor's daughter?' asked Damien. He knew exactly what Neff meant.

Neff nodded.

Damien smiled. 'You forget I know the family,' he said, and proceeded to walk across the room.

As Neff watched, a satisfied look came into his eyes.

***

Richard was rushing through the main floor of the museum, heading for the stairs that led to the basement. Ann was fast upon is heels.

'You can't make me believe it!' she said breathlessly, trying to catch up.

'You've got to believe it!' he said. 'He killed Mark. He killed Atherton, and Pasarian-'

'Stop it!' she cried, finally catching up and grabbing his arm.

Richard turned on her. 'He'll go on killing. He'll kill anyone he thinks is endangering him.' He broke away from Ann's grasp and headed down the wide marble stairs leading to the basement level.

Ann was furious. 'How?' she asked. 'How did he kill them? Did he make the ice crack-'

'No,' said Richard, 'not by himself-'

'Or tear the gas pipe apart?'

Richard stopped in his tracks and looked at her. ‘There are others,' he said, 'surrounding him, helping him. Keeping him safe!'

Ann swallowed hard. She could not believe she was actually hearing her husband say these things. 'Richard,' she said, attempting to seem calm. 'listen to yourself. Listen to how crazy you sound! "Others"? More devils? A conspiracy of devils? Richard, please!'

Richard grabbed hold of her hands. 'Ann,' he said, pleading with her to believe him, 'I saw Charles killed-'

Ann gasped. This was the first mention of Charles's death.

'And I saw Damien's face on Yigael's Wall!'

There was a long, suspenseful moment. The two of them faced each other in a terrific battle of wills—Richard wanting so much for her to believe him, Ann wanting so much for Richard to take it all back, to admit it was all some sort of terrible joke.