The Merlin descended in a graceful arc, swift as lightning, deftly following the erratic course laid down by the blackbird ahead of it. The blackbird's speedy but broken flight path clearly revealed its desperation, having found itself the target of a hunter even faster and more agile in the air than itself. The small but powerful falcon in pursuit was a master of such aerial antics, matching turn for turn, dive for dive, deftly closing the range while toying with its prey. It was just a matter