an Islamic government. They claimed that democracy and Islam were compatible in principle and practice. This was a remarkable rebuke to Khamenei's totalitarian Islam, which provides the government with a divine justification for its privileges and abuses. But in 2009, Iran's hard-liners and pragmatists conspired to smother one of the most important democratic movements in the annals of the modern Middle East.

Khamenei and Rouhani now represent political factions that have invested much in the nuclear program. Khamenei and his Praetorian Guard's vision of regional hegemony requires an enhanced military capability. Rouhani's memoirs chronicle his efforts on behalf of the fledgling atomic industry that the Islamic Republic inherited from the shah. Economic exigencies have pressed both men toward diplomacy on the issue, but whether it can propel them towardwe are able to save the Death Commandos. The Shan have gone too far! As soon as we get in touch and arrange things, the nine bulu shall rise up together and avenge the dead."

As he spoke, Yu Jin's eyes burned with vengeance. Miss Qi knew that once he got started on the uprising, nothing else mattered. She sighed and gently gathered together her long hair.

"Let's get inside, out of this strong sandy wind," she said.

Yu Jin looked up and saw that the late rain was already falling. The bluish-green flames of the snake lamps at every window flickered. From amid the purple clouds, the bluish shafts of light slowly descended and closed. Yu Jin once again felt that gnawing depression. He knew he would never leave this