THE BUILDING'S ROOF WAS FLAT AND SQUARE AND

had the appearance of a sheet of reddish-brown stone. The crumbled edges curved down to vertical walls that dropped ten meters to the ground. The spire was a thick white column curving upward from the center of the roof to reach a height of twenty meters before it ended in a jagged break. Paul was on his knees near the edge of the roof, looking out toward the roadway. By the time he and Erich Frakes had reached the shelter of the building, the deacons and Sons of God who had followed the combat car on foot were close behind them. Even though he couldn't see them from the roof, Paul knew they were out there now, probably putting their plans together. Sabastran was sure the boys would be the first wave of attack.

Paul shifted his gaze farther along the broad roadway that led from the temple. A large crowd had gathered there. Hundreds of them had followed the Sons of God from the temple. They were milling about, talking among themselves and look181

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