'It's too dangerous to go into the Maze at night,' he said. 'And I wouldn't gothere in the day unless I had several bodyguards. Besides, I am having companytonight. You should have brought the child here.'
'She's too sick to be moved,' Masha said. 'I beg you to come.'
Nadeesh was adamant, but he did give her some powders which she could use tocool the child's fever.
She thanked him audibly and cursed him silently. On the way back, while only ablock from her apartment, she heard a sudden thud of footsteps behind her. Shejumped to one side and whirled, drawing her dagger at the same time. There wasno moon, and the nearest light was from oil lamps shining through some ironbarred windows in the second storey above her.
By its faintness she saw a dark bulk. It was robed and hooded, a man by itstallness. Then she heard a low hoarse curse and knew it was a man. He hadthought to grab or strike her from behind, but Masha's unexpected leap had savedher. Momentarily, at least. Now the man rushed her, and she glimpsed somethinglong and dark in his uplifted hand. A club.
Instead of standing there frozen with fear or trying to run away, she crouchedlow and charged him. That took him by surprise. Before he could recover, he wasstruck in the throat with her blade.
Still, his body knocked her down, and he fell hard upon her. For a moment, thebreath was knocked out of her. She was helpless, and when another bulk loomedabove her, she knew that she had no chance.
The second man, also robed and hooded, lifted a club to bring it down on herexposed head.
Writhing, pinned down by the corpse, Masha could do nothing but await the blow.She thought briefly of little Kheem, and then she saw the man drop the club. And