Brady nodded. “Yes. The Moon and sistrum is over it.”
In silence the five moved wearily to the center of the cavern and dropped rather than relaxed on the rock floor. They were tired out. Desquer alone sat straddle-legged, his gun ready in his hand, icy eyes flashing about.
“Sleep,” he said. “I’ll guard.”
Tony gratefully obeyed. Stillness closed over the cave. But—it was broken.
Very faintly, as though from an infinite distance, came a rhythmic chanting. Muffled and scarcely audible it whispered, almost below the threshold of hearing.
Brady’s breath hissed between his teeth. “Hear that?”
Desquer said, “Well?”
“The Chant of Set. Somewhere they’re beginning the ceremony of Osiris, where they’ll sacrifice Ruggiero.”
Tony said, “That’s where they tear the victim into pieces, isn’t it?”