"You mean you don't even know where to start looking? Is that what you're saying?" "I know the location where they took him down. Well, I got a problem there too; the subsurface junction branches off in several directions." "Is it possible Xindral overcame his restraints and neutralized your team?" "Not likely, sir. The observer said he saw sufficient force used against Xindral when he resisted to render him unconscious." Narval sank back into his chair, head lowered, staring into his lap. Raising his head, he fixed burning eyes on Scarf. "Despite your assurances, Scarf, I think it not only possible, but likely, that Xindral got away from your team. For all you know, your goons may be in hiding, afraid to face you with the truth. If Xindral's still alive, he must have concluded by now that the attempt against him would not have occurred without my approval. So, we're committed, and I can't afford to wait." He pointed a shaking finger at Scarf. "Xindral can leave Coldfield only through an air lock. Post extra guards. Deploy patrols to strips leading to air locks on the perimeter. Mark him as a newly arrived renegade, a killer and genetic flake dangerous to Coldfield's safety. Order your people to take no chances with him; he is to be destroyed on sight. I want Xindral found, and I want him dead. Do it. Now! Move!" ## Hodak was back from scouting the tunnel up ahead. The way was clear with an exit a kilometer distant. The opposite direction would lead them back to the center of Coldfield. Brad cocked an eyebrow at Ram. Ram nodded. Hodak and Kumiko took point, Brad behind Ram. Zolan and Adari rear guard. They covered ground swiftly. The passageway widened, and a ramp led up to a mezzanine from which other tunnels branched. Ascending the ramp Hodak disappeared into a low, narrow entryway in the wall. The others followed. Ram folded to his knees and went flat to squeeze through. The cut ended abruptly at a rock face. A ladder rose to the dim outline of a manhole. Kumiko climbed and slipped a slender filament through the tiny gap between the edge of the utility cover and its frame. Below, Zolan inserted the free end of the filament into a clip on the bridge of a pair of goggles, and donned them. "Up a mite," he called to Kumiko. "OK, hold it, now scan a 360, slow." He gave the goggles to Brad who donned them and scoped the ground level through the filament. "The manhole is in a cul-de-sac, closed in on three sides by walls set back about two meters from where we are. The cul-de-sac accesses a street on which traffic is passing. The dome's inside wall is on the far side, and I see some markings on it. Each of you, look about and get your bearings. Speak up if you recognize the area or the markings." The goggles passed from one to the other. Zolan tossed them up to Kumiko at the top of the ladder and caught them when they were lowered. He handed them to Ram who peered at the ground scene as he listened.