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Rubens pointed to Rockman, signaling him to take the line back. As he turned back toward Telach, Johnny Bib ran into the room.

“They’re using fractals,” shouted Johnny, arms flying crazily. His head bounced back and forth; he seemed to be having one of his fits.

Perfect timing.

“Excuse me, Johnny,” said Rubens.

“Look,” said Bib. He shoved some pictures in Rubens’ hand. “They’re at the base of the photos, these sequences down here. We’re working on them, but the significant thing isn’t the cipher, it’s the pictures.”

“These pictures are of Perovskaya,” said Rubens.

“It’s a setup to discredit him. They’ve just started to circulate. From the president’s office, with information about a coup.”

The pictures showed the defense secretary and a young male in bathing suits. Perovskaya had his hand around the man’s waist, reaching toward his crotch.

“Oh,” said Rubens aloud. “Oh.”

Rubens realized why it wasn’t clear who was behind the coup. Even before Martin had turned up alive, it had been obvious the Russians were hiding something important concerning the Wave Three target — now he knew what it was.

He turned to Hadash.

“Perovskaya’s the assassin’s target,” he said. “Perovskaya, not Kurakin. Kurakin set it all up.”

“Why would he do that? He could just fire the defense minister.”

“Yes,” said Rubens. “It’s a cover — the Wave Three target — we must strike the lasers immediately. This was all arranged by Kurakin to cover an attack on us.”

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