The metal door slid open at his approach and Six slammed through, his patience long spent. Number Two raised his head to watch him from the depths of the black chair. As he descended the ramp he realized the man was trying to smile with that fat lip of his. He felt some pleasure at the sight of it.

Midway down the ramp the the light came on. It was different today. It gave him the sensation of crawling insects. So subtle as to almost not be there. He ignored it.

"My property was taken." He leaned hard on the desk. "I want it back."

"It doesn't matter what you want, Number Six." Two said, still easy in his chair. "I should have thought you would understand that by now."

"Never."

Two's distorted mouth twisted with derision."Then I'm afraid you are in for a very unpleasant time."

Number Six heard the door slide open behind him. He wheeled on it, expecting an attack. It was the little Butler with his cart and tray. He felt no easier.

"You're jumpy as a cat." Number Two laughed. "I've missed my breakfast. Care to join me?"

Six turned back angrily. The tension still high. The light still needling his nerves. "What are you playing at?"

"Just now, breakfast." Number Two reached for the button to bring up the table. "What comes next, well that all depends on you, doesn't it old man?"

Six gave no answer, his fingers drummed the smooth surface of the desk as the Butler set the table and freshened Two's coffee.

Number Two expression of bemusement irritated him. The light irritated him. He glared up at it suddenly then back at Two.

"Why don't you turn that thing off. Face me like a man?"

Number Two touched his lip. "I rather like the technological advantage."

Six said with contempt. "Borrowed power."

Two shrugged dismissively. "It's better than no power at all. Which is what you have, Number Six."

The Butler had finished with the table and now stepped round to the desk. His hand went into his pocket of his long coat and withdrew the mirror. He held it out to Number Two.

Six tensed at the sight of it. It passed silently into the hand of his enemy, who took it with another one of those broken smiles.

"Thank you." Two said. "That will be all."

With a smart bow the little man turned and wheeled his cart up the ramp and out, leaving them alone, with each other.

Two rubbed his finger across the flowered top of the little compact and said. "A bit feminine for you, I should think, Number Six."

Six ignored him. He could take the mirror easily enough, but he would only manage to keep it if Two permitted it.

"That girl means to kill you." He said.

Setting the mirror aside Two reached for a the cup of coffee, "I'm confident you will do everything in your power to prevent that."

"I haven't got any power." Six said angrily. "Remember?"

"You have whatever power I grant you, Six," Two settled back with his coffee. "It won't be much but it will be enough to deal with the girl."

"I deal with her on my terms or not at all."

"Oh really, Six? You expect me to believe you would let her assassinate me?"

"Why not?"

"The repercussions of course."

"Suppose I don't care."

That gave Number Two pause. He studied Number Six for a long moment. Then took a bite of toast. Chewed thoughtfully and said. "I don't believe you."

"It's your funeral."

"And many others."

Six leaned in suddenly and picked up the mirror. A small act of defiance that could earn him a great deal of misery.

"There you have it. A little bit of power." Number Two said. "Contact that girl. Bring her back to the Village."

"Not with this." Six said and put the mirror away in his pocket. "I must meet with her in person. Convince her it is in her best interest to return. That she has nothing to fear from The Village. That she will be safe."

There was no hiding the shock. It was all over Two's face. He sat forward in his chair. "Out of the question."

"There is no other way."

"Signal her. Make her come down."

"She won't."

Two waved a hand in irritation. "I'm afraid you under estimate your influence over the girl. She's about had it, I should think. She's looking for a way out. Take your pretty little mirror and give her one."

Six shook his head.

"You are positively mad if you think I will allow you to walk out of The Village."

"You will. And alone."

"Preposterous."

"She isn't going to come down just because someone flashes a mirror at her." Six said. "And she isn't going show her face if she sees anyone other then myself coming up that mountain. I will go and I will go alone."

They stared at one anther for a long heavy moment then Two composed himself and sat back, again taking charge. "I've had men searching for two days." he said. "What makes you think you will find her?"

"She will find me."

"I suppose she would." Two said. "Too bad for her she will never have the chance. In fact she hasn't any chance at all."

Six let it pass. Something in Two's manner troubled him. Something was on the man's mind. Something very nasty and he knew he would find out what it was soon enough. For his part Number Two seemed content to eat his breakfast and let him wonder. The man was all together too content.

Contentment was something in which he was in short supply. "What's it all about?" He demanded.

Number Two set his plate aside and wiped his lips carefully. "What is always about." He said.

"My resignation?"

"A trivial matter."

"Such an attitude." Six chided. "Would your Masters approve?"

"My Masters approve of results."

"You haven't gotten any results."

"You believe this to be a stale mate, don't you Number Six?"

"I only play to win." Six said. "A stale mate will not satisfy me."

Uneasiness creased Number Two's brow. He seemed to shrink is his chair ever so slightly, like a flower wilting beneath a brutal sun. But his voice was confident when he said, "You were never one to be reasonable."

"I have been more than reasonable." He slammed the desk with the flat of his palms and leaned over it to stare down at Number Two. "I have yet to burn this place to the ground."

"I can't imagine what goes on in the head of yours." Two said as he stood and leaned over the desk towards Six so that they stood inches apart. "But I am going to find out."

Six narrowed his eyes. "Interrogation?"

"Of course,"

"It's been tried."

"I trust we will enjoy success this time."

"You won't."

"Such confidence, Six." Two said. But he was leaning a bit back now, giving himself some space. "Of course you could save us some trouble."

"I wouldn't dream of it."

Two laughed. "You do like it the hard way. Very well." He went back to his chair and settled like a bird returning to its nest. "When I ask just the right way, you'll talk."

Six spun away from the desk, the light gnawing at his nerves as he mounted the steps. Behind him a phone buzzed. He stopped at the unopened door and turned back as Number Two lifted the instrument and listened. Whatever was said to him gave him a good deal of satisfaction. He set the phone down and reached for a button on his desk.

"I think you'll want to see this, Number Six."

The door remained closed, compelling him to comply. He turned his attention to the screen. It showed the mountains. A thin line of smoke rose up from the trees. A camp fire. Casey would never be so reckless. She had become inpatient. She was going to make her move against Two. Fresh anger welled up. He came back down the ramp and stood before the screen.

"Seems the cold and wet has driven our little friend to an act of desperation." Two said coming to stand beside him. "We won't have any trouble finding her now."

She had fooled them once. She was going to fool them again. Whatever this was it was meant to draw them away from her true purpose.

"It's a ruse." He snapped. "She's trying to draw you out."

"Perhaps." Two said, his tone that of a dismissive parent. "Or perhaps we are dealing with a young girl who has gotten in over her head and panicked."

"If you had any sense you would let me go after her."

"You won't get anywhere with that, Six." Two scoffed. "My men are moving in now. We'll soon see what's what. "

Six thrust a finger at the screen. "Whatever you find up there, don't you believe."

"Leave that to me."

Turning Six faced the man in a near rage, "You're a fool."

With an icy look Two retreated to the safety of the desk. "The next time we speak you will be in a more agreeable frame of mind, I've no doubt." He said.

"You will get nothing from me."

"I will break you, Number Six." Number Two's hand hovered cautiously over the controls. "I will crack open your mind and pull whatever I want from it."

Six regarded him across the expanse of floor and said nothing.

Retaking his seat, Number Two opened the door and said, "Get out."

Six crossed the plaza and made for the watch tower. His shadows were still lurking, he was aware of their eyes as he passed. The Village felt close, like the closing walls of a trap. He needed to be away. Up in those mountains. He needed to find Casey. To change her mind about this foolishness before she took a sledgehammer to his plans. And he needed to do so in private, where no one would see or hear. A difficult thing indeed, in this place.

The smoke from her fire still drifted lazily up towards the peeks. The fools would go right to it like moths to a flame. He mounted the steps of the watchtower and went to the top. It gave him a better view of her decoy but no clearer idea her treachery.

The Village was stirring to life, sirens wailed as cars raced towards the mountains. His eyes swept back to the high tree covered slope and the ever rising smoke. The sudden bright flash stabbed at him. An SOS, repeated rapidly like a frightened scream. His pulse jumped at the sight of it. But he wasn't ready to believe. The girl would die before she called on her enemies for help. What they would offer was far worse than any death she could face alone in wilderness.

But a man often sees what he wants to see. He turned towards the Green Dome. Number Two would believe whatever fiction Casey had invented for him. He would walk right into her trap.

Frustration spun him back towards the steps. He could not expect a desperate man to listen to reason but he must try.

They were there, at the base of the tower. Seven men, waiting for him the way a polar bear waits for a seal. There would be no escape.