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Clark’s trainer and maid busied theistered theround noise, because La Clark si there

"Thank you for seeing us, Miss Clark," I said "My name is - "

"Joanne Baldwin, yes, I know," she said She had a contralto voice, and she used it the way ain one brilliant stroke "You represent these Wardens I’ve been hearing so much about And your companion?"

"David Prince," he said

"You’re one of the Djinn?" She tried the taste of the word, and I could tell she liked it

When he nodded, Clark’s eyes drifted half closed, and she sat back against the cushions, studying hiht there were no surprises left in the world, but here you are Like soht out of a fairy tale The old kind, of course The frightening ones"

She offered us coffee, tea, drinks Neither of us felt thirsty, but I accepted a delicate little teacup stea with French Roast, just toable to say I had coffee with Cynthia Clark didn’t factor into that decision at all Well, not much

Clark blew on the surface of her own brew and studied us both with X-ray eyes that had reportedly once made Steve McQueen swoon "How can I help you?" she asked

"Just a few questions, and then, I promise, we’ll certainly be out of your way," I said

"First, can you tell me why you didn’t leave the ship before departure, as you were asked to do?"

"Well, you’re direct," sheIt’s all a bit e to make me seem like a horrible tyrant I was terribly tired, and I left strict instructions not to be disturbed for any reason prior to departure I’ht have taken those instructions a bit too literally When I finally rose for breakfast, I was informed of the evacuation order, but it was too late for us to e odd about Clark’s aura It seeolds, but it also felt artificial "What kind of arrangeet out as quickly as possible"

"I really can’t go into details," she said "But it was entirely accidental that we ended up staying here, on the ship We won’t be any trouble to you I’ave me a cool smile "It’s so difficult to find privacy these days out in the real world"

I wondered, because a curl of hot enta drifted over her aura Resentment, maybe She wasn’t the It Girl anymore when it careat deal of effort to get herself photographed at all, except in retire at sixty-five"

"Routine questions, Miss Clark We just want to be sure we’re aware of any probleht come up," I said

"Such as?"

"Oh, I don’t knowTrouble between you and another passenger, reements?"

"Alas, I don’t have that many enemies, Miss Baldwin I’m sure I’d feel much more important if I did No, I have no fears, and I’m sure that none of my little party represents any sort of difficulty for you"

I wished I could figure out as bothering ht Was she scared? No, not really, but when I concentrated on her aura, I saw flecks like floating ice

I wasn’t sure what it meant, but I was sure that it wasn’t nor "Is that all?" Clark asked, suddenly a good deal less welcoa It keeps hly recommend it"

"May I speak with your employees?" I asked her

"No," Cynthia Clark said Just the one word, cold and final I blinked and glanced at David, as staring at Clark with very dark eyes I didn’t knohat he was seeing, but it wasn’t good Not good at all

Then he looked from Clark to where her two employees stood at the other end of the room

"Jo," he said, and touched o"

"I - What?"

"Now" The touch turned into a painful squeeze "Now" I stood up, but it was too late I barely sensed the snap of power co before it hit me like a pile driver to the chest - not just on the physical plane but on the aetheric, too I knew this sensation

It had hit me before It had killed a whole lot of my friends

The blitz attack sentheap I flew across the cabin and sla thump I hardly had time to process the shock of pain before pressure closed around me, deep as the black depths of the ocean, and drove all the air fro, overloading, on the verge of burnout There was an unearthly shrieking roar infelt wrong , so wrong

I fought I flailed, trying to throw it off, but I couldn’t, because there was nothing to grab hold of I blinked away darkness and saw David ht toward the two at the far end of the roo too fast, unbelievably fast

I was going to die, and he wouldn’t be able to stop it

You can stop it, Joanne All you have to do is let go

The thought bubbled up on soreasy tide from the depths of rabbed it, desperate to stop the pain, the shrieking, the sickening and inevitable feeling of every cell incrushed into slio, Joanne You can save yourself if you choose

With the weight offor release, withlike a burned-out bulb, I believed it was the only choice

Then I felt the eager, hot twinge of the blackfrom

No