the ground with his hapless servant tied to a nearby tree. De Wardes was still alive when they had left, so just to be on the safe side, the Gascon had given the governor of the port a precise description of 'D'Artagnan,' whom the governor had been ordered to arrest if he arrived in Calais. The description D'Artagnan had given the governor was that of the Count de Wardes. Lucas congratulated him on his initiative and, with their clearance secured, they set sail for England. It was just as well that they had not eaten, for alone of the four, Lucas was the only one who was not seasick. But then, a little trip across the channel was nothing to a man who had sailed under Lord Nelson and served under John Paul Jones.
They arrived in England at ten o'clock and obtained post-horses for their trip to London. It was at this point that D'Artagnan realized that there were two aspects of the mission's planning that he had entirely overlooked. This knowledge came to him with something of a shock the moment he set foot in England. For one thing, he had no idea how to get to London, and for another, he didn't speak a word of English. Fortunately for the Gascon, Lucas both spoke English and knew the way to London, so they immediately headed for the residence of Lord Buckingham.
Upon arriving there, they were told that the duke was at Windsor, hunting with the king. Patrick, the duke's valet, offered to conduct them personally when told that they had come upon a mission of life and death, and he quickly had a horse saddled for himself and they were off to Windsor Castle. Once there, they were directed to the marshes, where Buckingham was hawking with the king. When they came within sight of the hunting party, Patrick bade them to wait at a distance while he rode up to the duke and informed him of their arrival.
'How shall I announce you to His Lordship?' the valet had asked.
'Tell him it is the young man who sought a quarrel with him one night in the Rue Vaugirard,' D'Artagnan said.
Patrick raised his eyebrows. 'A most unusual introduction,' he said.
'I think you will find that it will be sufficient,' said D'Artagnan.
Patrick rode off and, moments later, returned with George Villiers, the Duke of Buckingham, at his side. He had, of course, instantly remembered D'Artagnan and he was most concerned that some misfortune had befallen the queen. As Buckingham was fluent in French, there was no need for Lucas to act as an interpreter, so he and Andre drew away when they noticed Patrick beckoning to them.
'Glad you made it, Priest,' said Patrick. 'Wolverine, TIA.'
Lucas shook his head in amazement. 'Boy, when you people infiltrate, you don't kid around, do you?'
'I've been expecting you,' said the agent. 'I've heard all about it, of course. I received a message from the safehouse a little while ago. Terrible business.'
'Then Cobra's contacted Delaney?' Lucas said, anxiously. 'He's got his proof?'
'I'm afraid I have some bad news for you,' the agent said. 'Very bad news.'
Using a laser, Cobra burned through the lock upon the door and quietly took his men inside. Finn waited, tensely, in the street.
From where he stood, Delaney could see the front door, the lighted window where the conspirators were, and the room on the second floor of Moreau's Tavern, where the two TIA agents had taken up their posts. He knew that Cobra thought that he was doing him a favor by placing him in the least dangerous position, but just the same, he would have felt a great deal better if he had gone along with them inside. Still, the raid looked almost foolproof. If Cobra hit them hard and fast, with the element of surprise upon his side, the chances of any of the Timekeepers being able to escape via chronoplate were virtually nil.
As Finn watched, the window on the second floor of Moreau's Tavern was opened quietly. He saw agent Jaguar peer out, cautiously, then he saw him raise his hand toward the wall of the other building, just across a narrow alley. The agent had some sort of object in his hand, which he seemed to be aiming at the wall. A moment later, Finn heard a faint popping sound and a metallic sounding clink and he realized what the TIA man had done. Aiming at a spot on the wall considerably higher than the shuttered window, he had fired a metal dart attached to a length of nysteel line into the opposite wall. It would enable him to swing across. He saw the agent taking position, crouching in the window frame, his feet on the very edge, his hands holding the nysteel line taut. Any second now, thought Finn. As soon as Cobra gives the word. He held his laser ready.
Jaguar glanced down at him for a brief moment and nodded, then swayed for an agonizing second and, as Finn watched, horrified, he lost his balance, shouted 'Shit!' and swung out into the air.
'Jesus…' Finn whispered.
The agent swung across the narrow alley, but instead of jackknifing and hitting the wooden shutter with his feet, he slammed into it full length with a resounding thud, knocking himself out and dropping into the alley.
The other agent on the second floor of Moreau's Tavern fired into the shuttered window. There was a tremendous racket inside the house. Finn heard shouting and then he heard someone scream. Feeling helpless, he remained rooted to the spot, watching frantically for a sign of any of the terrorists. It was over almost as quickly as it had started. The front door opened and someone shouted, 'Don't fire, Delaney!'
Cobra walked out alone.
'What the hell happened?' he demanded.
Finn told him. 'I guess Jaguar lost his balance and swung across before you gave the word. He fell down in the alley. Probably knocked himself out.'
'I hope the damn fool broke his neck,' said Cobra, savagely.
“Well? Did you get them?' '
Cobra bit his lower lip. 'Taylor got away,' he said.
'Oh, that's just dandy,' Finn said, grimly. 'How did you manage that?'
Cobra sighed. 'Freytag bought him the time. He didn't need much. He must've had the plate set in advance. Freytag took out both my men before I got him.'
'What about Mongoose?' Finn said.
'He's still alive,' said Cobra. 'He wants to see you.'
Finn went into the house with Cobra. Mongoose was not a pretty sight. Fortunately for him, he had not been alone with Taylor very long. The Timekeepers had evidently intended to torture him to death. They had tied him to a chair and gagged him, then performed some delicate surgery with a laser. They had started with his face. Finn had to force himself to look at him.
'We've got to get him medical attention right away,' said Cobra, 'but when he found out you were here, he wouldn't let us touch him until he saw you.'
Something vaguely resembling a rasping chuckle emerged from the agent's mouth as Mongoose looked at him. 'Just wanted you to see this,' he rasped. 'Thought you might get a kick out of it.'
'This isn't exactly my idea of kicks,' said Finn.
Mongoose nodded, head lolling. 'I really screwed it up, didn't I?'
Finn did not respond.
'I didn't go over,' Mongoose said, emphatically. 'I just wanted you to know that. I wanted you to understand. I thought Freytag….' He shook his head. 'I wanted him, Delaney. I wanted him all to myself. Just him and me. The best against the best-'
Finn turned away. He looked at Cobra. 'You got anybody at the palace?' he said.
'Sparrow should be there. But this is only her first field assignment-'
'I suggest we hotfoot it over there and fast,' Delaney said.
'Delaney-' Mongoose croaked.
Finn glanced at him briefly. 'I haven't got time for you,' he said. 'Go and get your face fixed.'
Lucas listened to the news grimly. He quickly glanced back at D'Artagnan and Buckingham. Buckingham had read the letter and was engaged in an animated discussion with the Gascon.
'We haven't got much time,' he said. 'What happens now? Taylor could be anywhere with that plate.'
'If he's clocked out to another time, we've lost him,' the agent said. 'But Cobra doesn't think he's given up yet.'
'No, I don't think he would, from what I've heard,' said Lucas. 'So we just ride it out?'
The agent nodded. 'Watch yourself, for God's sake. I'll look after Buckingham. We-'
They were interrupted by a shout from Buckingham and they wheeled their horses and galloped off after
