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no good expecting a cop to pop up here。 But immediately he saw the man stalking him along the periphery of the crowd as； spying Vincent； he leapt forward。
Vincent whirled； darting back into the thick of the throng on the sidewalk。 He began to run again but this； he knew； would only spread the toxin more quickly。 Already his heart was pounding furiously and the tips of his fingers felt numb： a bad sign。 Yet since the man was pursuing him still； perhaps there was a chance that he had not inhaled a sufficient amount of the poison。
Death was very close now； Vincent knew。 It rode his shoulder like an expectant predator。 He realized now just how much he wanted to live； how strong the drive still was inside him。 This knowledge came as a revelation and it buoyed him for a time。 He would need all his wits to overe this demon； he knew。 He was overmatched； but he put this thought out of his mind as he ran on and on into the spangled night。
He cut to his right； stumbling off the kerb； but again he was balked by the man。 No good。 A cab was definitely out。
He coughed as he ran now； trying to retch。 He felt as if he could not get enough oxygen into his system。 His arms felt weak and he had to force his legs to work。 He heard a harsh shout from behind him and the sound of running feet。 He pushed his way frantically through the crowd； his mind whirling； trying to alight on some 。。。 The mist！ What a fool he'd been！ It was being absorbed through the pores of his skin … the burning should have told him。 Inhaling was only peripheral。
Have to find 。。。 He was aware of how terribly exposed he was here on this mean street where no help would be forthing。 A restaurant was no good： too well lighted。 He needed some dark place。
It was right in front of him。 He put on a last burst of speed； feeling his heart pounding painfully as if it were being overworked。
He skidded to a stop in front of a movie theatre。 In front was a billboard dominated by a cut…out of a blonde with large breasts。 Beneath it； a blown…up newspaper review of the film。 'An erection！' proclaimed a banner。 'Highest rated！' Vincent shoved a man away from the ticket booth； threw a bill at the man inside the booth。 He pushed through the turnstile； ignoring the shouts。 'Hey； mister！ Wait I Your change！'
Into the darkness； smelling of mildew； stale sweat and dried sperm。 Hazy images moved on the screen and there was the sound of heavy breathing； magnified by the speakers； amplified throughout the theatre。 There was a liquid sound and a moaning。
Vincent blinked several times； adjusting to the low light。 He looked for the men's room； found that it was two flights up； past the balcony。 He didn't think he could make it。
He moved cautiously along the rear aisle； past two people standing watching the screen。 He came upon a bank of machines。 Popcorn。 Candy。 Soda。
He dug in his trouser pocket； fumbled out two quarters。 He rolled them into the slot； stabbed a button at random。 He waited impatiently while the waxed…paper cup clattered down； followed by the soda and the syrup。 He stuck his hand in； caught the shaved ice as it came down the vertical chute。 He rubbed the ice over his face。 He blinked and blinked； feeling the cold water running into his eyes； over his face。 Perhaps he had got to it in time。 The ice was like a soothing balm； diminishing the pain。 There was a chance。 The cab had been air…conditioned； the windows closed； but he had got out very quickly。 He tried to judge the overall time； gave it up as hopeless。
He turned his head to look at the doorway。 Someone came in； someone went out。 They were shadows to him。 Was his pursuer here already？ There was no way of knowing and here； in the rear； he was a perfect target。
He turned into the theatre proper； went quickly down the aisle。 His vision had seemed to clear and he could see men sitting as still as statues； staring at the screen filled with writhing bodies。
He slipped into a row midway down； moving to his right all the way over until he was wedged against one wall。 In the darkest part of the theatre he sat down。 The floor was sticky； the place smelled of accelerated age。 His head swivelled around。 People were ing and going。 Flickering light played over their faces。 He turned back。
His hands had begun to shake but this might be because of the increased adrenalin。 His mouth was dry and his breathing raspy。 Otherwise； he felt better than he had before。 Obviously the dose had been less than lethal。 He tried to 〃lax； breathing deeply； but his side hurt intermittently； perhaps from the frantic running。 Meanwhile； his mind was going over the alternatives。 There didn't seem to be many。 Having e in here； he was now quite effectively trapped。 The ninja； too； was here somewhere。 If he made a move to leave； he would be dead before he got half way to the door。
He would have to fight。 It was the only alternative。 He was not a sensei or a haragei adept as Nicholas was … or Terry had been。 He turned his mind away from Terry： that way led to despair； if Terry had been defeated 。。。
But Terry had been surprised and then there had been Ei to think of。 Vincent was forewarned。 He needed time and he was getting it； he was feeling better every moment。 Think I he screamed at himself。 You've got to get out of this somehow。
There were people in back of him； to his left。 Shadows moving in the aisle； up and down； bobbing； rustling as people sat down or got up。 Someone slid into his row； one seat away from him； and he stiffened； his eyes sliding that way so that he could see 。。。 a youngish businessman； clean…cut； Brooks Brothers suit； thin leather attache case on his knees。 A model businessman。
Vincent removed his attention； went back to thinking。 Something touched his arm and he jumped； turned his head。 It was the businessman； clean…shaven； reddened cheeks； lived just over the river along the Jersey Palisades perhaps with the wife and two kids； the dog and the two cars。 The man was tapping him gently on the arm。 He leaned forward； his eyes searching Vincent's。 He whispered something but Vincent could not hear him over the amplified moaning。 He leaned over； across the vacant 。。cat between them。 'Want to move over here next to me？' the man said hopefully。
Vincent stared at him dumbfounded for a full minute until he shook his head violently from side to side； withdrew。
He wiped at his forehead and his fingers came away wet。 But he knew what he had to do now and all he could do was wait。
There was a movement along the aisle； a shadow had stopped at the end of his row。 Vincent turned his head slightly but all he saw was a black blotch。 The businessman who had propositioned him was moving slightly in his seat； his hands invisible under the shield of his attache case； it was too warm to carry a raincoat。
Someone was ing into Vincent's row now and he held his breath； his heart pumping furiously。 Was it the ninja？ The figure moved slowly； approaching Vincent。 He looked up。 The man was just on the other side of the engrossed businessman。 He saw a glint of reflected light from the screen dance off the man's eyes。 It was the ninja。 He bent； said something to the businessman； who moved his legs； not taking his eyes off the screen。
He was ing。 Vincent prepared himself for what he had to do。 It would take speed and strength and … Now the man was at the seat next to Vincent's。 He did not sit down。
Now was the time。 Now！
Vincent moved。 Nothing happened。 His eyes bulged in disbelief。 He was paralysed。
He struggled to lift his hands but his arms were immobile； as if they had been encased in lead while his attention had been elsewhere。 He tried to stand up but there was no feeling in his legs。 No feet； no ankles； nothing。 Then he knew with a swift unalterable certainty that the spray had never been meant to kill him but merely to render him motionless。
The shadow loomed over him； blotting out all light。 He heard animal cries； lustful sobs； he felt the movement over him with exaggerated slowness； watching calmly and detachedly as the ninja leaned over him and gently put one forearm against his left clavicle。 He felt the pressure and his eyes blinked。 Perhaps the tip of one finger twitched where it lay on the wooden