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And even as he stared, he was caught, his ed into slow motion So were the others

Like flies in flypaper, Kaitlyn thought Gnats in a web

"What did you do to the slowly from Sasha to Mr Zetes

"The unfortunate pilot study," Mr Zetes said blandly "Don’t look so alarmed You’ll find it isn’t so bad after a while"

"Muhhh," said Sasha

Rob tried to move toward Mr Zetes-Kaitlyn saw the determination in his face, saw hisatching hihter

Kaitlyn could feel it happening as well as see it Rob stopped fighting and stood panting

"Ibu should have stayed away, Rob," Joyce said, in a voice that seee of tears "I wish you had; I really do"

Rob didn’t glance at her He looked at Kaitlyn

I’m sorry, Kait I blew it

Kaitlyn felt wetness spill from her eyes I’m the one who’s sorry It’sif there was any hope The people of the Fellowship were born to a psychic race, they had all sorts of ancient knowledge Was there some weapon?

But Ta mutely at the two creatures on the floor, her lips parted with pity and helpless sorrow She didn’t even see

Aspect, Kaitlyn thought The philosophy of the fellowship nonviolence passive resistance

It wasn’t going to get Ta would be so productive," Mr Zetes said happily He was doing everything but rubbing his hands, gloating "These last two days have been splendid-just splendid And noe’ll finish up"

He took a step toward Rob, unaffected by the dragging power of the huet acquainted with my former students," he said "I think in a short time you’ll all be on the same level of communication -especially if I tie you in actual contact with the crystal Contact is quite painful, especially in large doses in the beginning But of course you know that already"

"We can’t just disappear," Anna said "Our parents will co My parents know about you already They’ll find out what you’ve done and then they’ll kill you"

"In other words, I won’t get aith it," Mr Zetes translated, still bland "Go on, say it, my dear; I don’t et aith it Literally, you see I have many different residences across the country; even abroad And the crystal isn’t as ht think I’ve already brought it to the United States from a very far place" He looked at Tamsin as if this were a shared joke

She didn’t respond He shrugged very slightly and went on "So, you see, I can take o-and that’s all I need I’ll leave you here, of course In your parents’ care"

He gave his terrible smile

Kaitlyn was proud of her mind-mates They stood in the doorway, snarled with invisible thread, but none of theh on her slim neck, her dark eyes proud and self-contained Lewis stood squarely, fists clenched, his round face stern and unreadable Rob looked like a young and angry angel

I love you, Kaitlyn told them I love you and I’m so proud of you

A voice broke into her ado with you! I’ll stay here with them," Lydia said passionately

Mr Zetes frowned just a little "Don’t be ridiculous"

"I won’t go! I hate what you’re doing I hate you!" Lydia’s elboere at her sides, fists held shaking near her shoulders "I don’t care if you win this time; I don’t care what happens to me; I don’t care, I don’t care- "

"Be quiet!" Mr Zetes said brutally Lydia was quiet But she shook her head, dark hair flying from side to side

"You’ll do as you’re told," Mr Zetes said "Or you will be left here, and I don’t think you’ll like that" He looked at Joyce, his pleasure in the ht," he said abruptly "Let’s finish, so we can get to breakfast Take those chains off the boys and bring them over here"

Kaitlyn’s eyes went to the chains on Parte King and Sasha They had one on each ankle Which meant one for her, Rob, Anna, and Lewis each Taht

Then Kaitlyn looked up, because so to obey Mr Zetes She was shaking her head

"I’ you Joyce!"

Joyce shook her head again, slowly and decisively, her aquamarine eyes on Mr Z’s face

"Good for you, Joyce," Kaitlyn said To Mr Zetes, she said, "Can’t you see? They’re all turning against you It’s going to keep happening, too You can’t win"

Mr Zetes had gone purple

"Disobedience! Disobedience and insubordination!" he shouted "Is there anyone here who still understands loyalty?" The piercing eyes flashed around the roo, Renny with his shoulders angrily hunched They were both shaking their heads slowly

Mr Z’s gaze settled on Jackal Mac "John! Take the key from Joyce and remove those chains immediately!"

Jackal Mac obeyed He started to feel all over Joyce’s pockets for the key, but she slapped his hand away and pulled it out, slowly, staring at Mr Zetes all the while

Sha to the center of the room, Mac unlocked the chains from Sasha

"Give them to me," Mr Zetes said impatiently "Then remove the others"

When Mac did, Mr Z looked at Rob Kaitlyn could see that he was fighting to regain his sry old le," he told Rob "You won’t be able to move And when I have you chained, these boys on the floor will reat crystal, the last of the ancient firestones Go ahead, take a look at it" He gestured at the obscene thing towering in the middle of the floor the crystal that shone with its own

for

them all

"The moment you touch it, your mind will start to burn," Mr Zetes went on with some of his old fervor

"In a utted house Your poill reht the chain to Rob’s ankle "And now"

"I don’t think so," Gabriel said

While Mr Zetes had been talking to Rob, while the huhtly controlled for the chaining, while Jackal Mac was unlocking the other chains, Gabriel had been inching forward Kaitlyn had seen it, but hadn’t knohat he could do He was eht

But as Gabriel spoke, she heard a swishing snick The sound she’d heard in Marisol’s roo-loaded knife snapped out of his sleeve

Only this ti the crystal shard by its thick end, holding it underhanded, like a sword ready to thrust up

Its tip was only a foot or so froiant crystal in the center of the room

Now Kaitlyn understood why he had been the last one downstairs He’d been in Joyce’s roo the shard

"Don’t close that chain," Gabriel said "Or I’ll put it on the crystal"

Kaitlyn heard a metallic click and knew that Mr Z had done it anyway He straightened up to look at Gabriel He was alarmed but not panicked

"Now, Gabriel," he said, and moved a little toward him

Just a little Gabriel stiffened The tip of the shard quivered Kaitlyn could see it reaching for one of the outgrowths of the crystal, like a stalactite and a stalag to kiss

"Stay there!"

Mr Z stopped

"Now," Gabriel said "Everyone who doesn’t want to die, step back"

At the sa the huainst the wall"

Parte King, the cricketlike one, rolled over on his side to look at Gabriel Sasha turned his swollen white head They were both srins

Kaitlyn felt the power surge up again, sweeping around Gabriel like sticky running tree sap around a fly, turning to ae forward, then freeze in place, the tip of the shard only inches frorowth

Her throat swelled, and then she was shouting "Come on! Everybody! If we all move at once- maybe they can’t hold us"

She stood, heard Mr Z yell, and felt the drag of air She fought it, shouting, "Get to the shard!

Soet to the shard!"

Then it see to stop solower had turned to a look of grim resolve, and Kaitlyn realized she’d finally decided which side she was on Frost was stopping her, blocking her like a basketball guard Renny was trying towith hi to get to Gabriel, mostly with their feet stuck to the floor, but occasionallyround and round a He couldn’t deal with them all at once

Then Kaitlyn saw that Lydia was free and-slowly but steadily-toward Gabriel and the shard

"Joyce!" Mr Zetes shouted "Stop her! She’s right beside you! Stop her!"

But Joyce shook her head "It’s time it was over, Eht in the sticky air, too Lydia still struggled on desperately