Yet here, now, he had no choice—not feeling the way he did about Ariadne; not knowing the things he knew from that brief session before the inverter's scanning screen.
And the time remaining was so short ... less than an hour, as of this moment.
"This way, my lord Dion."
Wordless, once more Burke fell in behind the girl.
Their destination proved to be an ornate suite where Burke stumbled over furniture in the darkness.
Ariadne squeezed his hand. "No one will disturb us here—those who occupy this apartment are visiting at Phaestos." And then, changing position: "I've a lamp. Give me fire."
Burke fumbled out his lighter; flicked the wheel.
The flame showed his companion close beside him. In seconds, the lamp she held was sputtering to life.
The girl turned quickly. "There's a manhole back here, in the ante-room to the bath."
She led Burke to it as she spoke; held the lamp low so he could see the cover-slab.