with

us rather than against us. Even if they did refer this case to the Bureau of

Thaumaturgy—something I was hoping to avoid, though arguments can be made in

favor of it—I am not without some influence mere, after all—" His voice

cracked,

just like a young boy's changing voice has a tendency to crack. For a moment

he

sounded like Billy once again, only without the Cockney accent. He cleared Ms

throat several times and continued. "Anyway, I'm sure I could explain to them

about Morgana and how she was killed by Al'Hassan."

"And you could explain about who killed Al'Hassan?" said Kira. "And who

clouded

the mind of the New York police detective who was in charge of the case? And

who

paid off Boston Mutual and the Annendale Corporation and arranged for the

U.S.R.

to drop all charges? And where all that money came from?"

Merlin took a deep breath and slowly let it out. "Yes, I see the problem. The

Bureau of Thaumaturgy cannot very well afford to overlook thaumaturgic

felonies."

"Or the fact that our partner, the man we're trying to rescue, is otherwise

known as Morpheus, possibly the most wanted criminal in the entire world,"

said

Kira.

"Yes," Merlin said with a sigh, "Modred always was difficult. You're quite

right. I had hoped to persuade the authorities to help us without actually

having to tell them everything, but I see now that that will be impossible. I

could probably deceive the police without much trouble, but I could not

deceive

the Bureau. They are all sorcerers, and I taught every one of them. They

might

not guess the truth, but they'd know enough to look for it."

"That still leaves us with one more option," Makepeace said. "Sort of a

compromise solution."

"What do you mean?" said Wyrdrune.

"We prevail upon our friend Michael to help us without telling anyone else

about

it. Put him under a spell."

"Could you do that?" Kira said. She glanced from Makepeace to Wyrdrune. "I

mean,

could you guys compel him?"

"That sort of thing's beyond my level," Wyrdrune told her. "It takes a

full-fledged sorcerer, and at best I'm an unofficial lower-level wizard."

"Good Lord, Karpinski," Merlin said, "I never thought I'd live to hear you

admit

that you had limitations!"

"You didn't," Wyrdrune replied wryly.

"Ha, ha, guess 'e told you, 'ey, old man?" said Billy.