“Go and pentominos likely have things in common and things not in common. Are pentominos a Western invention, by any chance?”

“Technically they’re a Manikin invention, but they were adopted in the West of Ge first and foremost. To this day Easterners seldom use pentominos as a design motif.”

“Then has it occurred to you that Wu Chin and Starbright might be teaching each other?”

“No. But wouldn’t that make Shet’s plan even more stupid?”

“Perhaps, but we would be stupid not to try to carry it out.”

“Hmph. So we’ll walk into a death trap just to kill one little Admiral.”

“I live to die.” Osirin stood proudly with his wings outstretched.

“You are an idiot. I want to survive this plan.”

“Oh, you will.”

Osirin and Blackstar turned to see the speaker. He appeared to be an Adami male, an Easterner, with long white hair and a long white beard. He was very tall, and he was dressed all in white; he had his hands behind his back.

“And just who are you?” Blackstar asked sharply.

“Some call me the Jade Dragon. Some call me Master Pain. Choose what you prefer.”

**********

(Continued in The Birds of Prey Six…)