Maya stopped struggling.
The sudden change made Verne hesitate, his pressure on her throat easing slightly. It was the opening she needed.
Not to fight—she couldn't match his strength—but to think. To see.
Through the portable analyzer clutched in her left hand, she could see the sonic patterns filling the room. The visualization displayed waves of deep crimson and violet, pulsing with mathematical precision. Verne's masterpiece was building toward its crescendo, the patterns growing more complex by the second.
"You understand it, don't you?" Verne's voice was calm, though Maya could only see his lips moving. "You see what others can't. That's why I've always respected your work, Dr. Chen."
Maya's right hand reached slowly for her belt pack, hoping he wouldn't notice. "You're altering
