Chapter 12

The moon seemed enormous in the desert night, and the field of stars above seemed to roll on

forever. The night hung close to the low rooftops of Luxor, and put on a more breathtaking

display than they could ever over a big city like Cairo, or Toronto, for that matter.

A girl who had spent almost every night of her young life deep within a city sure could get

used to stars like that, kept Baxter reflected, not for the first time. As a night wore on, the

flying squirrel found her eyes drifting to the heavens on display more often than perhaps they should have, but she was certain that the boss had things under control.

"'Anything yet?' she asked at last.

"'Our playmates haven't so much as shifted in their seats for an hour,' the Red Panda replied gravely.

"'You're sure they're not dummies, she asked helpfully.

Thanks, he said Riley. I have them on infrared.

Not going to be easy tracking them when they do move, she offered, still not looking.

Rooftop density ain't what it could be, and we don't know the terrain.

I think we'll make out all right,' he said.

"'What's your basing on?' "'An abiding faith in the power of dumb luck,' he offered.

She smiled and looked away from the stars toward the shadows where he crouched, watching.

She shifted her ground and leaned around him to gain a

better view of the street below. The maneuver brought her body closer to his than she usually

allowed herself to get, but she resisted the impulse to correct this, in part because she didn't

want to draw attention to the sudden proximity, and in part because she

wondered how long she could get away with it.

They watched in silence like that for several minutes, until she had to admit that she was

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