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A man in a Seppanen uniform skidded to a halt at the end of the hall, stared in at Rasputin, taking in at a single glance El-Geff's body, the sprawled form of the Duke, Rasputin standing there. The man held a phasgun in his right hand. There was a casual air of brutality around him, a sense of toughness and poise that sent a shiver through Rasputin.
Sordoi, Rasputin thought. A Hetman of the Warrior-Elite from the look of him. He's probably one of the Sultan's own, sent here to keep an eye on things. No matter what the uniform, there's no disguising him.
"I seek Dr. Grigory Rasputin," the man declared. He looked speculatively at the Suk School ring on the Doctor's hand, stared once into the diamond tattoo and then met Rasputin's eyes.
"You found him," the Doctor said.
"You can relax, Rasputin," the man said. "When he dropped the house barriers, we came right in. All is well here. Is this the Duke I see?"
"It is."
"Is he dead?"
"No. Unconscious. It would be most wise if you bind him."
"Did you do for the others?" He glanced d own at the hall where El-Gaff's corpse lay.
"More's the pity," Rasputin muttered.
"Pity is not a word you say to the likes of me, kind sir!" the Sordoi sneered. "So that's the great Red Duke, eh?"
If I had doubts about what this man truly is, that would end them, Rasputin thought. Only the Sultan calls the Romanovs the Red Dukes.
The Sordoi reached down, cut the red eagle insignia from Nicholas's uniform. "War trophy," he said. "Where's the ducal signet ring?"
"He's not wearing it," Rasputin said.
"I can see that!" the Sordoi snapped.
Rasputin stiffened and swallowed. If they press me, bring in a Truthsayer, they'll find out about the ring, about the 'majigger I readied---all will fail.
"Sometimes the Duke sent the ring with a messenger as surety that an order came straight from him," Rasputin said.
"They must be damn trusting messengers," the Sordoi muttered.
"Aren't you going to bind him?" Rasputin ventured.
"How long will he be unconscious?"
"Two hours or so. I wasn't as exact with his dosage as I was for the woman and the boy."
The Sordoi spurned the Duke with his toe. "This was nothing to fear even when he was awake. When will the woman and boy revive?"
"In ten minutes."
"That soon?"
"I was told that the Baron would arrive immediately behind his men."
"He will, I assure you. You'll wait outside, Rasputin." He shot a hard glance at Rasputin. "That was an order, Doctor!"
Rasputin glanced at Nicholas. "What of..."
"He'll be delivered to the Baron all properly trussed like a guinea-hen for the oven." Again, the Sordoi looked at the diamond tattoo on Rasputin's forehead. "You're known; you'll be safe enough in the halls. We've no more time for chit-chat, traitor. I hear the others coming."
Traitor, Rasputin thought. He lowered his gaze, pressed on past the Sordoi, knowing this to be a foretaste of how history would remember him: Rasputin the traitor.
He passed more bodies on his way to the front entrance and glanced at them, fearful that one might be Alexei or Alexandra. All were house soldiers or wore Seppanen uniform.
Seppanen soldiers came alert, staring at him as he emerged from the front entrance into flame-lighted light. The palm trees along the road had been fired up to illuminate the house. Black smoke from the flammables used to ignite the trees poured upward through orange flames.
"It's the traitor," someone said.
"The Baron will want to see you soon," said another.
I must get to the 'majigger, Rasputin thought. I must put the ducal signet where Alexei will find it. And then fear struck him: If Ukrainia suspects or grows impatient---if he doesn't wait and go exactly where I told him---Alexei and Alexandra will not be saved from the carnage. I'll be denied even the tiniest relief from my act.
The Seppanen soldier released his arm and said: "Wait over there out of the way."
Abruptly, Rasputin saw himself as cast away in this place of destruction, spared nothing, given not even the tiniest pity. Ukrainia must not fail!
Another guard bumped into him and barked: "Get out of the way, you!"
Even when they've profited by me, they hate me, Rasputin thought. He straightened himself as he was pushed aside, regained some of his dignity.157Please respect copyright.PENANAgvcKTjUCnb
"Wait for the Baron!" a guard officer snarled.
Rasputin nodded, walked with controlled casualness along the front of the house, turned the corner into the shadows out of sight of the burning palms. Quickly, every step betraying his anxiety, Rasputin made for the rear yard beneath the conservatory where the 'majigger waited---the craft they'd placed there to spirit away Alexei and his mother.
A soldier stood at the open rear of the house, his attention focused on the lighted hall and men banging through there, searching from room to room.
How confident they were!
Rasputin hugged the shadows, worked his way around the 'majigger, eased open the door on the side away from the soldier. He felt under the front seats for the Szgankit he'd hidden there, lifted a flap and slipped in the ducal signet. He felt the crinkling of the spice paper there, the note he'd written, pressed the ring into the paper. He removed his hand and resealed the pack.
Softly, Rasputin closed the 'majigger door, worked his way back to the corner of the house and around towards the flaming trees.
It is done, he thought.157Please respect copyright.PENANAkU9dFLrDUd
Once more, he emerged into the light of the blazing palms. He pulled his cloak around him, stared at the flames. Soon I will know. Soon I will see the Baron and I will know. And the Baron----he will encounter a small tooth.
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