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IT was only after Lucien Salvant and Susan Wu had sewn their rectangular para-wings together-two king-size silk bed sheets each with crude channels that narrowed toward the rear to slow down the air-that they began to have second thoughts about the whole idea Would they or wouldnt they work Susan was on her hands and knees separating the folds on hers Theyre big and strong and weve got channels just like those in the picture The twine harness was crude but could withstand a hard yank and could hold Salvants weight Whether a mans weight hanging from a shower rod meant anything neither one of them had any idea All they wanted to do was crash land into the brush on the side of the hill without breaking too many bones Maybe we should wait it out Salvant said Maybe Sing Sing Boyd will come through Susan Wu stepped to the window and checked her whist watch Its going to get tight soon One way or the other well have to make up our minds If we could get our hands on one of Paks powerboats with any darkness at all left we could make it to that island out there Susan turned and the window imploded into the room They both stood for a moment stunned Are you okay Salvant asked Susan was shaken Im fine A high-powered rifle Salvant pointed at the ceiling Sing Sing Boyd telling us hes on his way Salvant looked out of the window The boat dock Ill bet Susan Wu joined him She held out her hand feeling the wind that was deflected up the face of the cliff Plenty of wind if we have to jump I think our best bet is to stay put now Boyds people know where we are But if Pak comes we jump Susan leaned against Lucien Salvant I agree If Pak comes we jump Shhhh Whats that Helicopters I think Lucien Salvant and Susan Wu saw the running lights of Pak Tze Fans helicopters in the distance coming from Lung Chau At the very least they had regarded their para-sail project as a way of keeping occupied for two days Now they were thankful they had done it They had given themselves an option in the unfolding drama They started tying on their makeshift harnesses just in case James Burlane began his breathing exercises inhaling deeply and exhaling slowly telling his body that it was time requesting his subconscious mind to come up with the proper image to prepare him for battle Then he remembered duck hunting on the Umatilla River saw the mist running off the water saw the hill with the sagebrush on the far side of the river Yes this was what he wanted He saw the ducks coming high but in range He remembered swinging his twelve-gauge in front of one and pulling the trigger Saw the mallard fold and tumble to the river and land with a soft splash in the current Felt Gutlys haunches tighten as the big Chesapeake Bay headed for the water The gunpowder had smelled curiously sweet in the cold air He readied his weapons a Bee-Vee-made American M60 machine gun mounted on each door and firing tracers so Burlane could see what he was doing Below him he saw a blaze of lights He said I believe its time.