Flinn returned to awareness slowly. First he was conscious only of how
tired he was, and then he knew that a voice was trying to reach him,
and he felt a handkerchief swabbing at his face.
Wilmer bent over him in the gloom.
Hayes said in Flinn's ear: "Dobbs is awake. He knows something's wrong.
He's moving around in there."
"Then go ahead," Flinn heard his voice say. "There won't be a better
time."
"Maybe we should wait," Wilmer cautioned.
"No! Do it now. Hurry!"
The agent stiffened, stepped back, and disappeared.
They heard the door to Dobbs' room open and close and the sound of
voices.
There was an exclamation, then Dobb's voice shouting: "What are you
doing? Are you crazy? I warn you, _I'll take every one of you with
me_!" Then a sudden explosion, muffled, but still shockingly loud, and
the thump of a heavy object falling.
Flinn could not bring himself to move a muscle.
* * * * *
The silence seemed absolute. It was as if even the house itself were
listening, straining, preparing itself for the inevitable.
One second passed.
Two.
Five.
Ten.
_Nothing happened._