Gaylord reached the inside door. Silently, its eye-beam opened it before him.
I raised the sash ... poised ... held my breath....
Now Gaylord came through the doorway, intent and striding. Looking neither to right nor left, he crossed the narrow strip between inner door and outer. Ahead of him, the heavy portal to the street swung wide.
Swiftly, I darted in behind him; flipped my tunic-sash up and then down in a wide loop that snapped it tight around his neck.
Gaylord jerked back in mid-stride. He started to cry out.
Savagely, I wrenched the sash-noose tighter. The cry cut off unuttered. When my victim would have struggled, I dragged him back off balance and rammed a knee into his spine.
Rizal's controller made small, choking sounds. His eyes began to bulge, his face to darken.
Jerking him back into the offset niche between the double doors, out of view, I spoke into his ear: "Calm down, you fool! I don't want to kill you."
His eyes rolled wildly, trying to glimpse me. He stopped struggling.
Warily, I loosened the noose ... waited while he sucked in air in great, chest-filling gulps.