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The ramp dropped at a steep angle that sorely tested the electric cart's brakes； but the important thing was that they were leaving the facility behind。
Rand was encouraged。 According to his own calculations the passageway was indeed leading them in the direction of the arena。 〃Piece of cake；〃 he said from his unfortable position atop the Protoculture canisters stacked in the bed of the cart。 〃We should have taken more while we had the chance。〃
〃Don't be so smart；〃 Scott said stiffly。 〃We're not out of here yet。〃
Rand leaned forward between the front seats。 〃What's there to worry about now？ The concert's on； we've got the 'Culture； Lunk'll be waiting for us with open arms。。。〃
〃Mr。 Confidence all of a sudden；〃 Rook snorted from the shotgun seat。 Scott was easing up on the brakes； and the cart was traveling along at a good clip now。 Rook was holding her hair in place with one hand when the cart's headlamp revealed a solid wall blocking their exit。
〃Hold on！〃 Scott yelled； pulling up on the hand brake。
The rear end of the cart bounced and swerved as the brakes locked； but Scott managed to remain in control and brought the vehicle to a halt with room to spare。 The trio regarded the wall and began to wonder whether they might have missed a turnoff earlier on。
〃I didn't see any side tunnels；〃 said Scott。 〃And according to Lancer's map there's only supposed to be this one passageway。〃
〃The map's been accurate up to now；〃 Rook added； running her fingers through her tangled hair。 〃Where'd we go wrong？〃
〃Maybe we have to give the wall a push or something； like up top；〃 Rand suggested。
Scott was just about to step out and have a look； when he heard a deep rumbling sound behind him。 The trio turned to watch helplessly as a massive stone partition dropped from the tunnel's ceiling。
〃Now what？〃 Scott said after a moment。
〃They must be on to us somehow！〃 Rook said。 But Scott disagreed。 〃Those a/v scramblers still have fifteen minutes of life left in them。 I think we must have…〃
Scott cut himself off as a new sound began to infiltrate their silent tomb。 It began with a grating sound of stone moving against stone； then softened to a sibilance before gushing loud and clear。
〃Water！〃 Rand yelled。 〃We're being flooded！〃
CHAPTER NINE
It was just a case of overpensation again： We went from having no plan to too much plan！
Rand； Notes on the Run
Yellow Dancer pranced across the stage； pointing and gesturing to the crowd； swinging the microphone over her head as though it were a lariat。 She was in the midst of a hard driving number now； a flat…out rocker that had the audience dancing in the aisles and pressing forward toward the stage。
Annie was helping this along。
〃Let's get this party under way！〃 she shouted from her cramped space near the front。 〃Let's get up on stage！〃
Yellow spied Annie in the crowd and smiled while she sang。 She threw herself into an impromptu spin； shaking her hips and urging the band to kick up the volume somewhat。 She turned again and launched herself across the stage in a kind of Jagger strut； inching her way to ward the edge with each pass and beckoning the fans to join her。
Woods and the colonel looked on from the wings。
〃What an incredible performer；〃 Briggs was saying。 Woods noticed the glint in the colonel's eye as he watched Yellow twirl herself like some sort of singing acrobat。 〃She's amazing。。。And these kids look like they're ready to jump out of their socks。〃
The man is practically drooling。 Woods laughed to himself。 〃They are beginning to get a bit out of hand；〃 he told Briggs； a forced note of concern in his voice。 He motioned to the front ranks of the audience； where the crowds were pushing hard against the security force's arm…link cordon。 〃Don't you think it would be wise to keep a van ready out back just in case we have to get Yellow Dancer out of here in a hurry？〃
Woods saw Briggs blanch。 He called out to one of the men guarding the stage entrance and told him bring a van to the rear door； while Woods suppressed a smile and turned to watch Yellow strut her stuff。
On the cold stone floor of a small； seldom…used room beneath the stage； Lunk sat cross…legged； blowing up balloons。 Several hundred of these helium…filled colored globes had already been inflated and secreted in a partment behind the bandshell itself； but the ones Lunk was busy preparing had to serve a special purpose。 To each grouping of four balloons； Lunk added a carefully concealed propellant device in addition to a sensor that would allow the four…color group to home in on a prearranged beacon signal transmitted from the outskirts of Norristown； close to the spot where the team had left the Cyclones and the Veritech。
When Lunk had filled the last of the balloons； he crawled over and shut down the helium tanks； only then realizing how spaced out he was from inhaling the gas。 He glanced at the room's brick rear wall and moved over to it now； running his hands over the stones and searching for any signs of the doorway indicated on Lancer's map of the facility and linking passageway。 But he could find no evidence of seams or fractures in the mortar。 Perhaps it could be opened only from inside the tunnel； he thought； checking his watch。 He would know soon enough； in any case。。。
The cart turned out to be watertight。 Not that this would have been some wondrous piece of news under normal circumstances； but given the tunnel trio's present condition it was one of those small miracles to be thankful for。 It meant that they were able to remain seated while the water rose around them rather than have to exhaust themselves trying to remain afloat in water that was well over their heads。 Of course； this； too； seemed a minor consolation。
A few four…pack canisters of Protoculture were bobbing about in the cold water； and Rand was sitting on the front bumper of the cart looking like the world was about to end。
Which was certainly an appropriate enough response； seeing how the water was still pouring into their tomb with no signs of letting up； and the cold ceiling was only four feet above them 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。 Som