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¡¡¡¡With¡¡another¡¡laugh£»¡¡the¡¡marimba¡¡player¡¡continued¡¡the¡¡jest¡¡by¡¡plucking¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡larger¡¡gourds¡¡from¡¡beneath¡¡the¡¡keyboard¡£¡¡He¡¡fingered¡¡it£»¡¡then¡¡passed¡¡it¡¡through¡¡the¡¡bars¡£¡¡As¡¡The¡¡Shadow¡¡received¡¡the¡¡gourd£»¡¡the¡¡laughter¡¡of¡¡the¡¡guards¡¡increased¡£
¡¡¡¡Not¡¡to¡¡be¡¡outdone£»¡¡The¡¡Shadow¡¡decided¡¡to¡¡plant¡¡the¡¡gourd¡£¡¡He¡¡set¡¡it¡¡in¡¡the¡¡useless¡¡hole¡¡that¡¡he¡¡had¡¡dug¡£¡¡Then£»¡¡to¡¡the¡¡continued¡¡amusement¡¡of¡¡the¡¡onlookers£»¡¡he¡¡pushed¡¡the¡¡loose¡¡stones¡¡back¡¡in¡¡place£»¡¡wedging¡¡them¡¡more¡¡tightly¡¡than¡¡he¡¡had¡¡found¡¡them¡£
¡¡¡¡The¡¡guards¡¡admired¡¡The¡¡Shadow's¡¡sang¡froid£»¡¡and¡¡declared¡¡that¡¡Castenago¡¡would¡¡have¡¡appreciated¡¡it¡£¡¡They¡¡promised¡¡to¡¡relate¡¡the¡¡incident¡¡to¡¡the¡¡dictator¡£¡¡So¡¡they¡¡had¡¡another¡¡round¡¡of¡¡champagne£»¡¡while¡¡the¡¡marimba¡¡player¡¡banged¡¡out¡¡more¡¡music£»¡¡unhampered¡¡by¡¡the¡¡missing¡¡key¡£
¡¡¡¡Faint¡¡streaks¡¡of¡¡dawn¡¡were¡¡showing¡¡through¡¡the¡¡window¡£¡¡The¡¡Shadow¡¡drew¡¡a¡¡slip¡¡of¡¡paper¡¡from¡¡beneath¡¡his¡¡cloak¡¡and¡¡wrote¡¡a¡¡brief¡¡message¡£¡¡With¡¡a¡¡headshake£»¡¡he¡¡tore¡¡it¡¡up¡¡and¡¡let¡¡fragments¡¡fall¡¡to¡¡the¡¡floor¡£
¡¡¡¡From¡¡his¡¡pocket£»¡¡he¡¡produced¡¡some¡¡gold¡¡coins¡¡and¡¡reached¡¡through¡¡the¡¡bars£»¡¡pressing¡¡them¡¡into¡¡the¡¡marimba¡¡player's¡¡hand¡¡as¡¡payment¡¡for¡¡the¡¡music¡£
¡¡¡¡The¡¡clank¡¡of¡¡a¡¡saber¡¡announced¡¡the¡¡captain¡¡of¡¡the¡¡guard¡£¡¡The¡¡soldiers¡¡came¡¡to¡¡attention¡¡while¡¡the¡¡door¡¡of¡¡the¡¡cell¡¡was¡¡being¡¡unlocked¡£¡¡The¡¡time¡¡for¡¡The¡¡Shadow's¡¡execution¡¡had¡¡arrived¡£¡¡There¡¡was¡¡only¡¡a¡¡few¡¡minutes¡¡more¡¡of¡¡the¡¡final¡¡half¡¡hour¡£
¡¡¡¡Marching¡¡toward¡¡the¡¡courtyard£»¡¡between¡¡the¡¡ranks¡¡of¡¡riflemen£»¡¡The¡¡Shadow¡¡glanced¡¡behind¡¡him¡¡and¡¡saw¡¡the¡¡marimba¡¡player¡¡following£»¡¡with¡¡his¡¡bulky¡¡instrument¡£¡¡As¡¡they¡¡reached¡¡the¡¡door£»¡¡they¡¡turned¡¡toward¡¡the¡¡courtyard£»¡¡where¡¡the¡¡firing¡¡squad¡¡awaited¡£
¡¡¡¡Dawn¡¡and¡¡death¡£¡¡Odd¡¡that¡¡the¡¡bination¡¡should¡¡have¡¡brought¡¡a¡¡whispered¡¡laugh¡¡from¡¡The¡¡Shadow's¡¡lips£¡
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡CHAPTER¡¡XVIII¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡DEATH¡¡BY¡¡DAYLIGHT¡¡
¡¡¡¡CEREMONY¡¡was¡¡brief¡¡when¡¡they¡¡reached¡¡the¡¡courtyard¡£¡¡Guards¡¡were¡¡everywhere£»¡¡with¡¡gatomontes¡¡in¡¡reserve¡£¡¡Faces¡¡showed¡¡at¡¡windows¡¡of¡¡the¡¡palace¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡those¡¡of¡¡Castenago¡¡and¡¡his¡¡council¡but¡¡neither¡¡Peridor¡¡nor¡¡Mariquita¡¡were¡¡witnesses¡¡of¡¡the¡¡ing¡¡scene¡£
¡¡¡¡The¡¡Shadow's¡¡only¡¡approach¡¡to¡¡a¡¡friend¡¡was¡¡the¡¡marimba¡¡player£»¡¡who¡¡stopped¡¡beneath¡¡an¡¡archway¡¡and¡¡set¡¡down¡¡the¡¡marimba¡¡while¡¡he¡¡rested¡£
¡¡¡¡It¡¡might¡¡be¡¡that¡¡he¡¡was¡¡only¡¡curious¡¡about¡¡the¡¡execution¡£¡¡Many¡¡enemies¡¡of¡¡Castenago¡¡had¡¡met¡¡death¡¡in¡¡this¡¡courtyard£»¡¡but¡¡seldom¡¡were¡¡members¡¡of¡¡the¡¡outside¡¡public¡¡allowed¡¡to¡¡witness¡¡such¡¡events¡£
¡¡¡¡The¡¡captain¡¡of¡¡the¡¡guard¡¡was¡¡very¡¡polite¡£¡¡He¡¡marched¡¡The¡¡Shadow¡¡to¡¡a¡¡wall£»¡¡and¡¡offered¡¡him¡¡a¡¡blindfold¡£¡¡The¡¡Shadow¡¡shook¡¡his¡¡head£»¡¡he¡¡didn't¡¡want¡¡it¡£
¡¡¡¡Looking¡¡toward¡¡Castenago's¡¡window£»¡¡he¡¡saw¡¡the¡¡dictator¡¡acknowledge¡¡his¡¡glance¡¡with¡¡a¡¡bow¡£¡¡Castenago¡¡was¡¡always¡¡pleased¡¡when¡¡men¡¡were¡¡brave¡¡enough¡¡to¡¡face¡¡a¡¡death¡¡squad¡¡without¡¡their¡¡eyes¡¡being¡¡covered¡£
¡¡¡¡All¡¡the¡¡while£»¡¡The¡¡Shadow¡¡was¡¡mentally¡¡counting¡¡the¡¡minutes¡£¡¡He¡¡still¡¡had¡¡nearly¡¡two¡¡to¡¡go¡¡before¡¡the¡¡half¡¡hour¡¡was¡¡plete¡£¡¡He¡¡could¡¡see¡¡the¡¡edge¡¡of¡¡the¡¡sun¡¡above¡¡the¡¡low¡¡wall£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡fitted¡¡perfectly¡¡with¡¡the¡¡next¡¡phase¡¡of¡¡his¡¡plan¡£
¡¡¡¡Turning¡¡to¡¡the¡¡guard¡¡captain£»¡¡The¡¡Shadow¡¡transcended¡¡all¡¡tradition¡£¡¡He¡¡had¡¡refused¡¡the¡¡blindfold£»¡¡which¡¡helped¡¡the¡¡show£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡wanted¡¡to¡¡add¡¡an¡¡unprecedented¡¡touch¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¨The¡¡sun¡¡is¡¡shining¡¡in¡¡the¡¡eyes¡¡of¡¡the¡¡firing¡¡squad£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡declared¡£¡¡¡¨They¡¡should¡¡not¡¡be¡¡inconvenienced¡¡by¡¡it¡£¡¡I¡¡would¡¡prefer¡¡to¡¡take¡¡the¡¡burden¡£¡¡A¡¡favor£»¡¡perhaps£»¡¡but¡¡it¡¡is¡¡very¡¡slight£»¡¡considering¡¡that¡¡I¡¡shall¡¡not¡¡be¡¡with¡¡you¡¡long¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡With¡¡his¡¡gestures£»¡¡The¡¡Shadow¡¡explained¡¡the¡¡words¡¡to¡¡those¡¡who¡¡could¡¡not¡¡hear¡¡them£»¡¡Castenago¡¡and¡¡the¡¡council¡¡members¡£
¡¡¡¡Catching¡¡the¡¡inference¡¡first£»¡¡Castenago¡¡passed¡¡it¡¡along¡¡to¡¡the¡¡others¡£¡¡The¡¡scene¡¡delighted¡¡the¡¡dictator¡£¡¡Never¡¡before¡¡had¡¡any¡¡of¡¡his¡¡victims¡¡accepted¡¡the¡¡firing¡¡squad¡¡with¡¡such¡¡magnificent¡¡grace¡£¡¡Castenago¡¡waved¡¡from¡¡the¡¡window£»¡¡and¡¡The¡¡Shadow¡¡returned¡¡it¡¡with¡¡a¡¡bow¡£
¡¡¡¡The¡¡captain¡¡therewith¡¡gave¡¡The¡¡Shadow¡¡the¡¡privilege¡¡of¡¡choosing¡¡his¡¡spot¡¡along¡¡the¡¡wall¡£¡¡The¡¡Shadow¡¡deliberated£»¡¡counting¡¡down¡¡to¡¡the¡¡last¡¡dozen¡¡seconds¡£¡¡Then£»¡¡beckoning¡¡to¡¡the¡¡captain£»¡¡he¡¡started¡¡for¡¡the¡¡spot¡¡he¡¡wanted¡£¡¡It¡¡happened¡¡to¡¡be¡¡against¡¡the¡¡wall¡¡outside¡¡the¡¡very¡¡cell¡¡where¡¡The¡¡Shadow¡¡had¡¡been¡¡confined¡£
¡¡¡¡Fifteen¡¡seconds¡¡to¡¡cross¡¡the¡¡courtyard¡£¡¡That¡¡was¡¡why¡¡The¡¡Shadow¡¡allowed¡¡only¡¡ten¡£¡¡He¡¡and¡¡the¡¡acpanying¡¡captain¡¡had¡¡slightly¡¡more¡¡than¡¡twenty¡¡feet¡¡to¡¡go£»¡¡when¡¡they¡¡were¡¡hurled¡¡back¡¡on¡¡their¡¡tracks¡£
¡¡¡¡The¡¡thing¡¡that¡¡stopped¡¡them¡¡was¡¡an¡¡explosion¡¡quite¡¡as¡¡terrific¡¡as¡¡the¡¡one¡¡at¡¡Peridor's¡£¡¡The¡¡blast¡¡not¡¡only¡¡staggered¡¡The¡¡Shadow¡¡and¡¡his¡¡panion£»¡¡it¡¡caused¡¡the¡¡firing¡¡squad¡¡to¡¡flatten¡¡on¡¡their¡¡faces£»¡¡for¡¡it¡¡sounded¡¡like¡¡a¡¡sudden¡¡eruption¡¡of¡¡Mount¡¡Lotomoro¡£
¡¡¡¡Castenago¡¡and¡¡his¡¡councilors¡¡ducked£»¡¡for¡¡the¡¡window¡¡from¡¡which¡¡they¡¡gazed¡¡came¡¡crashing¡¡back¡¡into¡¡their¡¡faces¡£
¡¡¡¡That¡¡damage¡¡was¡¡trivial¡¡pared¡¡with¡¡the¡¡real¡¡wreckage¡¡that¡¡the¡¡bomb¡¡produced¡£¡¡The¡¡blast¡¡ripped¡¡a¡¡huge¡¡hole¡¡in¡¡the¡¡center¡¡of¡¡the¡¡cell¡¡block£»¡¡at¡¡the¡¡very¡¡spot¡¡where¡¡The¡¡Shadow¡¡had¡¡been¡¡a¡¡prisoner¡£
¡¡¡¡First¡¡to¡¡recover£»¡¡The¡¡Shadow¡¡was¡¡on¡¡his¡¡feet£»¡¡dashing¡¡for¡¡the¡¡jagged¡¡opening¡¡in¡¡the¡¡wall¡£¡¡Again£»¡¡he¡¡was¡¡performing¡¡the¡¡unexpected¡£¡¡The¡¡Shadow¡¡hadn't¡¡managed¡¡to¡¡break¡¡out¡¡of¡¡that¡¡cell£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡had¡¡found¡¡a¡¡way¡¡of¡¡breaking¡¡into¡¡it£¡
¡¡¡¡Castenago¡¡was¡¡bellowing¡¡from¡¡the¡¡window£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡members¡¡of¡¡the¡¡firing¡¡squad¡¡were¡¡grabbing¡¡up¡¡their¡¡rifles¡£¡¡By¡¡then£»¡¡The¡¡Shadow¡¡was¡¡gone¡¡through¡¡the¡¡grayish¡¡smoke¡¡that¡¡clouded¡¡the¡¡gaping¡¡wall¡£
¡¡¡¡They¡¡fired£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡crack¡¡of¡¡the¡¡rifles¡¡was¡¡answered¡¡by¡¡a¡¡trailing¡¡laugh£º
¡¡¡¡the¡¡farewell¡¡of¡¡The¡¡Shadow¡£¡¡A¡¡mocking¡¡tone¡¡that¡¡always¡¡came¡¡when¡¡bullets¡¡missed¡¡their¡¡cloaked¡¡target£¡
¡¡¡¡For¡¡The¡¡Shadow¡¡was¡¡in¡¡the¡¡cell¡¡before¡¡the¡¡guns¡¡were¡¡fired£»¡¡and¡¡once¡¡in¡¡it£»¡¡he¡¡was¡¡on¡¡the¡¡way¡¡out¡£
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¡¡¡¡NO¡¡one¡¡had¡¡thought¡¡of¡¡locking¡¡the¡¡huge¡¡door¡¡again£»¡¡because¡¡it¡¡was¡¡unnecessary¡¡and¡¡too¡¡much¡¡trouble¡£¡¡In¡¡one¡¡way£»¡¡through£»¡¡and¡¡out¡¡the¡¡other£»¡¡The¡¡Shadow¡¡was¡¡dashing¡¡along¡¡the¡¡cell¡¡block£»¡¡to¡¡the¡¡door¡¡where¡¡a¡¡surprised¡¡guard¡¡stared¡¡as¡¡though¡¡viewing¡¡a¡¡black¡clad¡¡ghost¡£
¡¡¡¡As¡¡he¡¡went£»¡¡a¡¡great¡¡clang¡¡sounded¡¡behind¡¡him¡£¡¡In¡¡leaving¡¡the¡¡cell£»¡¡The¡¡Shadow¡¡had¡¡done¡¡the¡¡work¡¡that¡¡ordinarily¡¡took¡¡two¡¡men¡£¡¡He¡¡had¡¡swung¡¡the¡¡heavy¡¡door¡¡of¡¡the¡¡death¡¡cell¡£¡¡One¡¡of¡¡its¡¡locks¡¡worked¡¡automatically£»¡¡a¡¡point¡¡that¡¡The¡¡Shadow¡¡had¡¡remembered¡£
¡¡¡¡Piling¡¡through¡¡the¡¡smoke¡cleared¡¡hole¡¡in¡¡the¡¡wall£»¡¡the¡¡members¡¡of¡¡the¡¡firing¡¡squad¡¡were¡¡stopped¡¡short¡¡by¡¡the¡¡cell¡¡door£»¡¡where¡¡they¡¡gabbled¡¡like¡¡monkeys¡¡in¡¡a¡¡cage¡¡while¡¡the¡¡captain¡¡was¡¡trying¡¡to¡¡find¡¡the¡¡key¡¡that¡¡would¡¡open¡¡it£¡
¡¡¡¡At¡¡that¡¡moment£»¡¡The¡¡Shadow¡¡was¡¡reappearing¡¡in¡¡the¡¡courtyard¡£¡¡Two¡¡gatomontes¡¡saw¡¡him£»¡¡but¡¡hadn't¡¡time¡¡to¡¡draw¡¡their¡¡revolvers¡£¡¡The¡¡Shadow¡¡settled¡¡them¡¡with¡¡the¡¡rifle¡¡that¡¡he¡¡plucked¡¡when¡¡the¡¡astonished¡¡guard¡¡dropped¡¡it¡£¡¡He¡¡drove¡¡the¡¡butt¡¡end¡¡of¡¡the¡¡rifle¡¡against¡¡one¡¡man's¡¡chest£»¡¡made¡¡a¡¡cross¡swing¡¡that¡¡brought¡¡the¡¡barrel¡¡against¡¡the¡¡other's¡¡head¡£
¡¡¡¡Turning¡¡toward¡¡Castenago's¡¡window£»¡¡The¡¡Shadow¡¡was¡¡ready¡¡to¡¡aim¡¡the¡¡rifle£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡big¡jawed¡¡dictator¡¡had¡¡taken¡¡another¡¡dive¡£
¡¡¡¡So¡¡The¡¡Shadow¡¡sped¡¡out¡¡through¡¡the¡¡archway¡£¡¡He¡¡saw¡¡gatomontes¡¡running¡¡one¡¡direction£»¡¡so¡¡he¡¡took¡¡the¡¡other£»¡¡to¡¡a¡¡corner¡¡of¡¡the¡¡wall¡£¡¡There£»¡¡The¡¡Shadow¡¡turned¡¡to¡¡see¡¡what¡¡was¡¡happening¡£
¡¡¡¡Castenago's¡¡green¡clad¡¡storm¡¡troopers¡¡were¡¡chasing¡¡the¡¡marimba¡¡player£»¡¡who¡¡was¡¡packing¡¡his¡¡musical¡¡instrument¡¡on¡¡a¡¡cart¡£
¡¡¡¡A¡¡girl¡¡screamed¡¡from¡¡a¡¡window¡¡of¡¡the¡¡palace¡£¡¡The¡¡voice¡¡was¡¡Mariquita's¡£
¡¡¡¡She¡¡and¡¡her¡¡father¡¡had¡¡been¡¡awaiting¡¡the¡¡announcement¡¡of¡¡the¡¡verdict£»¡¡not¡¡knowing¡¡that¡¡Castenago¡¡intended¡¡it¡¡to¡¡be¡¡the¡¡shots¡¡of¡¡a¡¡firing¡¡squad¡£
¡¡¡¡Instead£»¡¡a¡¡huge¡¡blast¡¡had¡¡told¡¡of¡¡Castenago's¡¡treachery£»¡¡but¡¡in¡¡looking¡¡for¡¡the¡¡cause£»¡¡Mariquita¡¡saw¡¡only¡¡the¡¡fleeing¡¡marimba¡¡player¡£
¡¡¡¡She¡¡recognized¡¡him£»¡¡which¡¡wasn't¡¡at¡¡all¡¡surprising£»¡¡for¡¡she¡¡loved¡¡him¡£¡¡The¡¡fleeing¡¡man¡¡was¡¡Colin¡¡Nayre£¡
¡¡¡¡Before¡¡pursuers¡¡could¡¡overtake¡¡the¡¡fugitive£»¡¡The¡¡Shadow's¡¡rifle¡¡crackled¡£
¡¡¡¡Its¡¡shots¡¡spilled¡¡gatomontes¡¡as¡¡fast¡¡as¡¡they¡¡grabbed¡¡for¡¡Nayre£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡others¡¡dived¡¡for¡¡shelter¡¡where¡¡The¡¡Shadow¡¡couldn't¡¡reach¡¡them¡£
¡¡¡¡By¡¡then£»¡¡more¡¡shots¡¡were¡¡unnecessary¡£¡¡Nayre¡¡was¡¡on¡¡the¡¡cart£»¡¡which¡¡was¡¡starting¡¡away¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡plucking¡¡gourds¡¡from¡¡his¡¡marimba£»¡¡like¡¡grapes¡¡off¡¡a¡¡bunch£»¡¡and¡¡tossing¡¡them¡¡behind¡¡him¡£
¡¡¡¡Each¡¡gourd¡¡exploded¡¡as¡¡it¡¡struck£»¡¡taking¡¡a¡¡vast¡¡chunk¡¡from¡¡the¡¡street¡£
¡¡¡¡Nayre¡¡was¡¡quite¡¡close¡¡to¡¡the¡¡gatomontes¡¡when¡¡he¡¡chucked¡¡the¡¡first¡¡few¡¡gourds¡£
¡¡¡¡After¡¡that£»¡¡he¡¡didn't¡¡have¡¡to¡¡worry¡£¡¡The¡¡disguised¡¡bombs¡¡had¡¡abolished¡¡the¡¡nearest¡¡foemen£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡rest¡¡were¡¡climbing¡¡for¡¡the¡¡palace¡¡windows£»¡¡hoping¡¡they'd¡¡be¡¡safe¡¡inside¡£
¡¡¡¡Dragged¡¡by¡¡a¡¡pair¡¡of¡¡ardently¡¡galloping¡¡mules£»¡¡the¡¡cart¡¡vanished¡¡around¡¡the¡¡corner¡¡of¡¡the¡¡palace¡£
¡¡¡¡Tossing¡¡away¡¡the¡¡rifle£»¡¡the¡¡Shadow¡¡turned¡¡the¡¡other¡¡way¡£¡¡The¡¡thick¡¡green¡¡foliage¡¡of¡¡a¡¡plaza¡¡offered¡¡all¡¡the¡¡cover¡¡that¡¡he¡¡needed¡£¡¡Like¡¡Nayre£»¡¡The¡¡Shadow¡¡was¡¡gone¡¡when¡¡guards¡¡began¡¡streaming¡¡from¡¡the¡¡courtyard¡£
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¡¡¡¡FROM¡¡dawn¡¡on£»¡¡that¡¡day¡¡became¡¡the¡¡most¡¡exciting¡¡in¡¡the¡¡whole¡¡regime¡¡of¡¡Luis¡¡Castenago¡£¡¡The¡¡dictator¡¡sent¡¡Peridor¡¡and¡¡his¡¡daughter¡¡back¡¡to¡¡their¡¡mansion£»¡¡shipped¡¡the¡¡councilors¡¡from¡¡the¡¡palace£»¡¡and¡¡began¡¡issuing¡¡manifestoes¡¡by¡¡the¡¡dozen¡£¡¡The¡¡national¡¡currency¡¡went¡¡up¡¡in¡¡value£»¡¡because¡¡the¡¡printing¡¡presses¡¡were¡¡busy¡¡turning¡¡out¡¡proclamations¡£
¡¡¡¡Rewards¡¡were¡¡offered¡¡for¡¡the¡¡capture¡¡of¡¡The¡¡Shadow¡¡and¡¡a¡¡marimba¡¡player¡¡who¡¡might¡¡be¡¡Colin¡¡Nayre¡£¡¡As¡¡fast¡¡as¡¡the¡¡gatomontes¡¡posted¡¡one¡¡batch¡¡of¡¡bills£»¡¡another¡¡was¡¡ready£»¡¡offering¡¡a¡¡higher¡¡price¡£
¡¡¡¡It¡¡wasn't¡¡until¡¡noon¡¡that¡¡Castenago¡¡settled¡¡down¡£¡¡Rewards£»¡¡no¡¡matter¡¡how¡¡great¡¡their¡¡promise£»¡¡wouldn't¡¡bring¡¡results¡£¡¡Having¡¡gone¡¡beyond¡¡a¡¡reasonable¡¡limit£»¡¡Castenago¡¡thought¡¡it¡¡over¡£
¡¡¡¡He¡¡issued¡¡a¡¡new¡¡proclamation¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡addressed¡¡to¡¡Kent¡¡Allard¡£¡¡It¡¡stated¡¡that¡¡he¡¡was¡¡exonerated¡¡of¡¡all¡¡blame¡¡in¡¡the¡¡escape¡¡of¡¡The¡¡Shadow£»¡¡but¡¡that¡¡he¡¡was¡¡advised¡¡to¡¡leave¡¡Centralba¡¡within¡¡the¡¡next¡¡twenty¡four¡¡hours¡£¡¡His¡¡plane¡¡was¡¡waiting¡¡at¡¡the¡¡airport£»¡¡fully¡¡gassed£»¡¡and¡¡nothing¡¡would¡¡be¡¡done¡¡to¡¡impede¡¡his¡¡departure¡£
¡¡¡¡Word¡¡of¡¡that¡¡order¡¡passed¡¡among¡¡Allard's¡¡friends¡£¡¡Following¡¡their¡¡afternoon¡¡siesta£»¡¡they¡¡gathered¡¡to¡¡discuss¡¡it¡£¡¡Apparently£»¡¡they¡¡were¡¡free¡¡to¡¡leave¡¡Libertad¡¡whenever¡¡they¡¡chose£»¡¡either¡¡in¡¡Allard's¡¡plane£»¡¡or¡¡in¡¡some¡¡other¡¡manner¡£
¡¡¡¡Most¡¡of¡¡them¡¡preferred¡¡to¡¡leave¡¡with¡¡Allard£»¡¡if¡¡he¡¡could¡¡be¡¡found¡£¡¡Since¡¡he¡¡hadn't¡¡shown¡¡himself£»¡¡it¡¡seemed¡¡more¡¡sensible¡¡to¡¡take¡¡the¡¡night¡¡train¡¡to¡¡the¡¡coast¡£¡¡So¡¡they¡¡packed£»¡¡with¡¡one¡¡exception¡£
¡¡¡¡The¡¡exception¡¡was¡¡Margo¡¡Lane¡£¡¡She¡¡was¡¡in¡¡an¡¡absolute¡¡dilemma¡£¡¡Castenago's¡¡proclamation£»¡¡very¡¡oddly£»¡¡backe