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now。 But Rook； who seldom had a good word to say about anything； was trying to cheer Rand up。
〃C'mon； pal； try not to get so down in the dumps。〃
Rand stared at her in disbelief。 〃Down in the dumps？〃 he said； gesturing to the room； their situation。 〃What d'ya think； I should be happy about getting a chance to wash up before I die？〃
〃It's my fault；〃 Scott told them。 〃I should have considered the possibility that some of the older defensive systems would still be operational。〃
Rook shook her head。 〃Don't blame yourself； Scott。〃
〃Let 'im；〃 Rand argued。 〃Why not？ He got us into this； didn't he？〃
〃We got us into this；〃 Rook said； raising her voice。
Scott told them both to shut up。 〃Besides； we might get a lucky break yet。〃
Rand and Rook waited for an explanation。
〃If the a/v scramblers fade before the water gets much higher； we'll probably get to face a firing squad instead of drowning。〃
In the stage wings； the colonel looked out at Yellow's screaming audience and swung harshly to Woods。 〃If this mob gets any more unruly； the Invid are to going to send a few Troopers in here and we'll have all hell to pay！〃
Woods had to agree。 Yellow was supposed to have finished up already； but instead she was going into yet another encore。 The crowds were whipped up into such a frenzy that the arena seemed unable to contain it。
Yellow Dancer sensed Woods's concern and turned to him briefly as she gyrated around the stage。 Where is Scott？ she asked herself as the band revved up。 She took several giant steps toward the wings and tried to flash her acplice a signal； touching her earring and shaking her head as if to indicate that she hadn't heard from Lunk yet。
Woods acknowledged his understanding with a shrug and a slight gesture toward the chief； who was pacing in the wings like a nervous animal。
Yellow brought the mike up and asked if everyone was all right； holding the mike out to them as they screamed replies。 Again they strained at the security cordon； and several kids succeeded in making it onto the stage before being scooped up by guards and carried off。 Something had to be done quickly！
Scott； Rook； and Rand had scarcely a foot of breathing space left； and the water level was still rising。 Things had reached the desperate stage a few minutes before； and now the three of them were in the water pushing up against each and every ceiling stone； praying that one would give。
〃That story about the hero escaping through a loose stone is just a fairy tale；〃 Rand was saying； when his hands felt the stone budge。 For a moment he was speechless； but finally he managed to gulp out the words： 〃It moved！ The stone moved！〃
〃She's already gone a half hour overtime！〃 the chief shouted to Woods。 〃I want the concert wrapped up…and I mean now！〃
〃But look at the kids；〃 Woods tried。 〃They're having the time of their lives。 I mean； after all； when do they ever get a chance to let off a little…〃
〃Now！〃 the chief said firmly。 〃Or this will be the last chance they ever get。 Do you understand me？〃
Woods backed away and threw a signal to the control booth： They were to cut the power as soon as Yellow finished her song。。。
Lunk； meanwhile； was pacing back and forth in the small area beneath the stage。 Scott was way overdue。 There were no contingency plans other than to get out of Norristown as quickly as possible。 Annie and Lancer would be all right； but Lunk could be identified by the guards at the facility tower。 But just as he was resigning himself to this； he heard sounds of movement behind him。 He swung around in time to see his waterlogged friends step through the parted wall。 Each of them was toting Protoculture canister packs。
〃Well； it's about time；〃 Lunk said to them； eyeing their soaked clothing。 〃What happened to you guys…you e by way of the river； or what？〃
〃We'll explain later；〃 Scott said hurriedly； already fastening the packs to the balloon clusters。 〃Signal Lancer； and let's get this show on the road。〃
Yellow was aware that the control room and sound personnel had been ordered to cut the power； so she was milking the final song for all it was worth； extending the chorus and encouraging the audience to join in； in the hopes that Scott would appear in time。 But by now she had done all she could； the band was finishing up with an interminable one…chord wrap…up； and she was just about to make the grand leap that would cut it off。 Then she heard a small but unmistakable flashing tone emitted by her left earring。 It was Lunk's signal： Scott had made it！
〃Thank you！ Thank you； all of you！〃 Yellow yelled into the microphone over deafening applause。 Yellow gestured to Annie and watched as she began to worm her way toward the cordon； readying the pass that would admit her backstage。
People in the crowd were pointing to something in the air now； and Annie got a glimpse of a skyful of balloons before she disappeared through the door to the stage wings。
〃I love you！〃 Yellow added as she left the stage。
The plan called for Scott； Rook； and Rand to infiltrate themselves among Yellow Dancer's retinue of sidemen and bodyguards； all of whom had been handpicked by Woods。 At the same time； Lunk's role was to see to it that the waiting police van was rendered safe and secure。
This was easily acplished； thanks to the fact that the guard was napping when Lunk stole up to the driver's side door。 Lunk pummeled the man into a more lasting sleep。 Scott； Rook； and Rand took to the canvas…backed van； while Lunk dragged the guard off to one side and began to change into the man's police helmet； shirt； and trousers。 Annie appeared a moment later； followed by Yellow； who was clutching two wardrobe suitcases under her arms。 The colonel was inside the arena； waiting patiently at Yellow's dressing…room door for the singer to arrive。 Woods's team； meanwhile； had spirited her out a rear entry and was now doing its best to keep things backstage suitably chaotic。
〃So； you're alive after all；〃 Yellow said breathlessly； running to the truck and passing her valises up to Scott。
〃Never underestimate the best；〃 Rand said； full of importance。
Yellow gave Rand the once…over and smiled bemusedly。 〃Wh