Not just me. A strange calm came over her. This was all Karl Petrovas plan . . . and hes a far better lover than you could ever be, Pater Thijs.

Thijss eyes finally lost their focus and he slumped to the floor. Gabrielle stared around the suddenly silent banquet hall, at all the bodies surrounding her, their eyes bulging and faces contorted.

The door at the far end burst open, and Karl himself strode in, dressed in cold-weather gear. A pair of breather masks dangled by their straps from one hand, and a spare jacket was slung over his shoulder. She had never been so relieved to see someone in all of her life.

Where are the rest of the guards? asked Gabrielle, puzzled to see him alone.

Up on the main decks, preparing for the evacuation, he said, kneeling by the body of a banqueter sprawled on the floor. As far as they know, Im here to round you and everyone else up.

What are you doing? asked Gabrielle, as Karl touched two fingers of his free hand to the dead mans throat. He then glanced around the rest of the room, before nodding to himself in satisfaction.

Checking theyre all dead, Karl replied, then threw her a look that sent a shiver through her. I thought perhaps you wouldnt be able to manage it, but youve proven yourself a regular little angel of death, havent you?

Dont call me that, she snapped, horrified that he could say something so vile.

Here, he said, stepping forward and handing her one of the masks. We dont have much time.

She pulled the mask over her mouth and nose, strapping it on as Karl affixed his own. He then handed her the jacket, which she pulled on over her robes, before tugging her towards the door with unexpected roughness.

Why is the barge being evacuated? asked Gabrielle, as Karl dragged her after him by one arm. They were almost running along a passageway. Whats going on? Abramovic said a tidal wave was on its way here . . . that there had been some kind of impact in the ocean. How could that be?

I guess its just coincidence, he replied, as if not greatly concerned. At least we wont be here when it arrives.

Something horrible then occurred to her. It simply wasnt possible such a thing could be just coincidence . . . could it?

Karl, she asked, her voice trembling, do you have anything to do with it? With that wave or whatever just landed in the ocean?

They had now arrived at an airlock, beyond which lay the main deck. He pulled her inside, then grabbed her by the shoulder, twisting her around until she was facing away from him. She gasped with shock as something was stabbed into the soft flesh at the top of her neck, just below her skull.