stream of smoke overhead； illuminating the laser beams that crisscrossed the field。 Dark woods and ruins surrounded the verge of the meadow； and it was impossible to see where the beams were ing from。 When the cigarette went out； he lit another。
In five minutes they were across。 Pendergast ground out the stub of cigarette； rose； and moved at a crouch to an empty door frame； withdrawing his light and directing it inside。 The beam briefly illuminated a long passageway； rooms fronted with metal bars facing each other across the corridor。 To D'Agosta it looked almost like a prison。 The ceilings had caved in； along with some of the walls； leaving a maze of broken masonry； beams； and tile。
Pendergast paused in the doorway to wave a handheld meter of some kind； then advanced cautiously。 What was left of the edifice seemed about to collapse； and from time to time D'Agosta could hear the creaking and groaning of a beam or the rattle of falling plaster。 As they moved through the vast crumbling space； the faint light ahead grew stronger； ing in through a row of shattered windows at the far end。 Reaching the windows； they cautiously peered out。
An astonishing sight greeted D'Agosta's eyes。 Beyond the ruined building was a double…chain…link fence； topped with concertina wire； enclosing a sweeping lawn swathed in light。 A new building stood there behind trimmed shrubbery and flowers； a postmodern structure in glass； titanium； and white paneling； glowing like a crystal in the night。 To the far right； D'Agosta could see a guardhouse and a gate in the fence。
They moved away from the window； and Pendergast sat against the wall。 He seemed to be thinking。 Several minutes passed before he roused himself and motioned D'Agosta to follow。 Keeping low； they moved the length of the far wall and exited a side door。 Thick brush and gooseberry bushes grew up to within about ten yards of the double fence； where the closely clipped lawn began。
They wormed their way into the brush and began crawling forward。 Then D'Agosta felt Pendergast freeze。 The sound of voices was rapidly approaching； along with the probing of a bright spotlight。 D'Agosta flattened himself in the bushes； hoping to God his black outfit and face paint would keep him invisible。 But the voices were getting close； too close； and they were loud； and the light was drawing ever nearer。
53
D'Agosta lay motionless； hardly daring to breathe； while thebeam of the spotlight lanced through the leaves and vines。 The voices were even closer now； and he could make out what the men were saying。 They were American。 There were two of them； it seemed； and they were walking slowly along the inner perimeter of the fence。 He felt a sudden； almost irresistible desire to look up。 But then the brilliant beam landed square on his back； and he went still as death。 The beam lingered； unmoving。 The men had stopped。 There was a scratching sound； the flaring of a match； followed by the faint smell of cigarette smoke。
〃。 。 。 real bastard；〃 came one of the voices。 〃If it weren't for the money； I'd go back to Brooklyn。〃
〃The way things are going； we might all be heading back；〃 replied the other。
〃The fucker's gone crazy。〃
A grunt of assent。
〃They say he lives in a villa once owned by Machiavelli。〃
〃Who？〃
〃Machiavelli。〃
〃He's that new tight end for the Rams； right？〃
〃Forget it。〃 The light abruptly swiveled away； leaving sudden darkness in its wake。 It was a handheld torch； D'Agosta realized； carried by one of the men。
The cigarette arced through the darkness； landing near D'Agosta's left thigh； and the men continued on。
Several minutes passed。 Then； abruptly； Pendergast was at his side。
〃Vincent；〃 he whispered； 〃the security here is considerably more sophisticated than I had hoped。 This is a system designed not just to thwart corporate espionage； but to keep out the CIA itself。 We can't hope to get inside with the tools at hand。 We must retreat and plan another avenue of attack。〃
〃Such as？〃
〃I have developed a sudden interest in Machiavelli。〃
〃I hear you。〃
They crept back the way they had e； through the groaning； ruined building。 The trip seemed longer than before。 When they were halfway through； Pendergast paused。 〃Nasty odor；〃 he murmured。
D'Agosta smelled it； too。 The wind had shifted； and the scent of decay reached them from a far room。 Pendergast opened a shutter on the flashlight； allowing a faint illumination。 The greenish light disclosed what had once been a small laboratory； its roof caved in。 Below； several heavy beams lay crisscrossed on the ground； and…protruding from them…a rotting； partly skeletonized head of a boar； its tusks broken off into stubs。
〃Booby trap？〃 whispered D'Agosta。
Pendergast nodded。 〃Designed as an unstable； rotting building。〃 He let the shaft of green light fall here and there； finally pausing on a doorsill。 〃There's the trigger。 Step on that and you bring down the works。〃
D'Agosta shivered； thinking how he'd blithely crossed this very threshold not ten minutes before。
They passed carefully through the rest of the building； warning creaks of wood sounding occasionally over their heads。 Beyond lay the broad field。 It looked to D'Agosta like a lake of blackness。 Pendergast lit another cigarette； then knelt and moved forward cautiously； blowing smoke before him once again； until the first laser beam became visible； pencil…thin and glowing dully。 Pendergast nodded over his shoulder； and they returned to the laborious work of crawling through the field； keeping under the beams。
This time the process seemed interminable。 When D'Agosta finally allowed himself a glance ahead； he was shocked to find they had only reached the middle of the field。
Just then there was a sudden motion in the grass ahead of them。 A family of hares burst into view； startled； leaping in several directions at once and bounding off into the blackness。
Pendergast paused； took in another lungful of smoke； and blew it at the spot where the rabbits had been。 A crisscrossing of laser beams became visible。
〃Nasty bit of luck；〃 he said。
〃Triggered the beam？〃
〃I'm afraid so。〃
〃What do we do now？〃
〃We run。〃
Pendergast leaped up and flew like a bat across the field。 D'Agosta rose and began to follow； doing his best to keep up with the agent。
Instead of heading back the way they had e； Pendergast was making for the woods to their left。 As they approached the trees； D'Agosta heard distant shouts and the starting of car engines。 A moment later； several pairs of headlights came sawing across the meadow； trailed by the much more brilliant beam of a mounted spotlight； as a pair of military…style jeeps came tearing around the ruined buildings。
Pendergast and D'Agosta crashed into the dense undergrowth of the woods； clawing through brambles and heavy brush。 After a hundred yards； Pendergast took a sharp turn and continued at a right angle to their previous course； the haversack bouncing wildly on his shoulder。 D'Agosta followed； heart hammering in his ears。
Pendergast took another sharp turn and they plunged on。 Suddenly they emerged onto an old road filled with waist…high grass。 They pushed through it； D'Agosta struggling to keep Pendergast in sight。 Already he was growing winded； but fear and adrenaline spurred him on。
A powerful beam lanced down the length of the road and they dived to the ground。 Once it swept past； Pendergast was up and running again； this time into another copse at the far end of the abandoned road。 More beams flickered through the trees； farther away； and voices floated toward them over the sullen air。
Inside the copse； Pendergast stopped to pull out his map and scan it with the green flashlight while D'Agosta caught up。 Then they continued on； this time along a gentle rise。 The woods grew thicker； and it seemed they had managed to put space between themselves and their pursuers。 For the first time； D'Agosta allowed himself to hope they might escape； after all。
The trees thinned and D'Agosta saw a scattering of starlight。 And then suddenly rising before them was an immensity of black…a wall； twenty feet high； all rotten bricks； dangling vegetation； and vines。
〃This isn't on the map；〃 said Pendergast。 〃Another blast wall…a late addition； it seems。〃
He glanced in either direction。 Through the trees below； D'Agosta could see the flicker of flashlights。 Pendergast turned and ran along the base of the wall。 It curved along the top of a gentle ridge； its overgrown rim outlined against the night sky。
Ahead； where the wall descended； D'Agosta could see dancing lights through the vegetation。
〃We climb；〃 said Pendergast。
He turned； seized a root； pulled himself up。 D'Agosta did likewise。 He grabbed a stem； another； found a foothold。 In his haste； one of the plants tore out of the wall； sending down a shower of rotting brick。 D'Agosta dangled； recovered。 He could see Pendergast already far above him； climbing like a cat。 The lights below were ing up the hill； while another group to their right was also closing in。
〃Faster！〃 Pendergast hissed。
D'Agosta seized a vine； another； slipping； scrambling； one leg scrabbling in space。
He n