〃Psychological？〃
〃The site was once Il Dinamitificio Nobel； one of Alfred Nobel's dynamite factories。〃 Pendergast checked his watch。 〃One of the great ironies of history is that Nobel； who established the Nobel Peace Prize； made his fortune with what at the time was the cruelest invention in human history。〃
〃Dynamite？〃
〃Exactly。 Seventeen times more powerful than gunpowder。 It revolutionized warfare。 We're so used to mass killing； Vincent； that we've forgotten what war was like with only black powder； cannon； and bullets。 A terrible thing； to be sure； but nothing like what it would bee。 Now a single bomb； instead of killing two or three； could kill hundreds。 Shells and bombs could blow up entire buildings； bridges； and factories。 With the invention of the airplane； bombs could level entire city blocks； burn cities to the ground； murder thousands。 We tend to focus on the terror of nuclear weapons； but the fact is； dynamite and its derivatives have killed and maimed millions more than the atomic bomb ever did； or probably ever will。〃 He slipped a clip into his weapon and quietly racked the slide。
〃Right。〃
〃Alfred Nobel had a patent on modern warfare。 At the height of his success； he had hundreds of factories all over Europe making dynamite。 These factories had to be built on large campuses like this one； because no matter how carefully they handled their materials； once in a while it went off； killing hundreds。 He sited his factories in impoverished areas which would provide an endless source of desperate； expendable workers。 This factory was one of his largest。〃 He swept his hand toward the darkness beyond the fence。
〃Nobel might have gone down in history as a thoroughly evil man had not a curious thing happened。 In 1888 his brother died； and the newspapers of Europe mistakenly reported his brother's death as his own。 'The Merchant of Death Is Dead；' ran the headlines。 Reading his own obituary shocked Nobel deeply； and made him realize how history would see him。 His reaction was to establish the Nobel prizes…including the famed Peace Prize…as a way to redirect what would certainly have been the dreadful judgment of history on his life。〃
〃Seems to have worked；〃 muttered D'Agosta。
〃Which brings me to the point。 By the time this factory closed； hundreds of people had been killed in explosions。 On top of that； many thousands had been devastated by some of the chemicals used in the manufacture of dynamite； chemicals that affected the brain。 As a result； this is a cursed place。 It is shunned by the locals。 Except for the visits of a caretaker； the area saw no human beings until Bullard bought the property seven years ago。〃
〃So Bullard's letting the rep of the place handle security for him；〃 D'Agosta said。 〃Clever。〃
〃It's a clever deterrent； at least for the locals。 Nevertheless； there will be security； and probably quite sophisticated security at that。 I can only speculate as to its nature…my inquiries； as you know； have not been fruitful。 But I have a few tools that should aid us。〃
Pendergast removed a haversack from his bag and slung it over one shoulder。 Reaching back into the bag； he removed several pieces of aluminum tubing and fitted them together； affixing a small disc to one end。 He approached the fence； slowly moving the device back and forth。 Reaching the fence； he bent down； sweeping the ground before him carefully。 A small red light glowed faintly on the small disc。
Pendergast rose； stepped back。 〃As I suspected。 There is a sixty…hertz alternating electromagnetic field； indicating electric current。〃
〃You're saying that fence is electrified？〃 D'Agosta asked。 〃That old thing？〃
〃Not the fence itself。 A pair of sensor wires are buried just inside to alert security if anyone passes over them。〃
〃So how do we deactivate it？〃
〃We don't。 Follow me。〃
Stowing their bags in the thicket； they crept along the fence until they reached a weak spot； where several large holes had been crudely patched with baling wire。 Pendergast knelt and； with a few deft twists； unwired the largest。 Then； carefully extending the detector through the hole； he scanned the ground inside the fence。 Numbers glowed from a tiny LED screen on the disc。
He withdrew the device and； reaching for a stick； carefully scraped away the leaves and dirt； exposing a pair of wires。 Then he repeated the process at another spot a few feet away； exposing more wires。 Reaching into his haversack； he retrieved a pair of alligator clips mated to tiny electronic devices。 He attached one of these clips to each end of the wire。
〃What are you doing？〃
〃I'm using these clip…and…capacitor ponents to reduce our electromagnetic signature to that of a seventy…kilogram wild boar and its mate。 They are mon in this area； and no doubt Bullard's night security detail is plagued by boars roaming the fence line。 Now； quickly。〃
They crawled through the hole； Pendergast swiftly wiring up the opening and removing the clips。 Then； with another stick； he filled the holes and covered them with dead leaves。 Finally； he pulled a small spritzer bottle and misted the disturbed ground。 An acrid smell reached D'Agosta。
〃Diluted boar urine。 Follow me。〃
The two ran parallel to the fence for a few hundred yards； crouching low； until they reached a heavy thicket。 As quietly as possible； they crawled deep inside。
〃Now we wait for security to investigate。 It will be a while。 Regulate your breathing and stay calm。 They'll be ing in with night vision and infrared； no doubt； so stay low and don't move。 Since they're already assuming it's a boar； their search will not be long。〃
Silence fell。 It was utterly black in the dense thicket。 D'Agosta waited。 To his left； Pendergast remained so motionless； so silent； that he seemed to disappear pletely。 The only noise was the faint rustle of wind； the occasional call of a night bird。 Three minutes passed； then five。
D'Agosta felt an ant moving on his ankle。 He reached down to flick it away。
〃No；〃 whispered Pendergast。
D'Agosta left the ant alone。
Soon he could feel it crawling over his shin； exploring with short； herky…jerky movements。 It worked its way down to his shoe； where it began trying to dig into his sock。 When he tried to think about something else； he realized his nose had begun to tickle。 How long had they been still？ Ten minutes？ Jesus； remaining motionless like this was harder than running a marathon。 D'Agosta could see absolutely nothing。 A cramp had e up in his leg。 He should have taken more care to seat himself fortably。 He longed to move。 His nose was itching fiercely now； all the worse for his not being able to scratch it。 More ants； emboldened by the investigations of their scout； began to crawl over his skin。 The cramp in his leg grew worse； and he could feel his calf muscle twitching involuntarily。
Then came the faint sound of voices。 D'Agosta held his breath。 He could see the distant gleam of a light； almost obscured by leaves。 More voices； a burst of static from a walkie…talkie； some desultory conversation in English。 Then silence returned。
D'Agosta expected Pendergast to give the all…clear； but the FBI agent said nothing。 Now all of his muscles were screaming with pain。 One of his legs had gone to sleep； and the ants were all over him。
〃All right。〃 Pendergast rose and D'Agosta followed； hugely grateful； shaking out his legs； rubbing his nose； slapping away the ants。
Pendergast glanced at him。 〃Someday； Vincent； I will teach you a useful meditation technique； perfect for situations such as that。〃
〃I could use it。 Talk about agony。〃
〃Now that we've bypassed the first layer of security； on to the second。 Keep directly behind me and stay in my tracks as much as possible。〃
They moved through the woods； Pendergast still scanning with his device。 The trees thinned and they emerged into an overgrown field。 Beyond stood a row of ruined buildings； enormous brick warehouses with peaked roofs and vacant doors。 Vines crawled up the sides； sprouting off in dark heads that nodded and swayed in the heavy air。
Pendergast consulted a small map； and they moved toward the first warehouse。 Inside it smelled of mold and dry rot； their fo