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Okay Let’s hear yours

We stay together Take our chances hoever’s holed up in the courthouse

And Nugget?

They won’t hurt hiet? God, Zombie, there are hundreds of kids--

Yeah, there are But I rave developer’s delusion will drive her to seek shelter with the very things she was tasked to destroy She will share with the she knows about our operations We’ve dispatched three more squads to preempt her, but I’m afraid it may be too late If it is too late, we’ll have no choice but to execute the option of last resort"

His eyes burn with their own pale blue fire I actually shiver when he turns away, cold all of a sudden, and very, very scared

What is the option of last resort?

He ht it, but he did rent it I’et has a chance

He turns back as if he’s just re

Crap Here it co Sorry to be the bearer of bad tidings, but we’re pulling you off the painon you"

"Debriefing, sir?"

"Co, Ben It plays tricks on your ram It should take about six hours for your systeet it, Zoave us the slip? It’s a little over-the-top, if you ask er

Why?

So they’ll put me on meds

Why?

To buy ht there from the chopper

Take you where?

So I don’t have to ask what Vosch is talking about, but I ask anyway: "You’re plugging er at an orderly, who coe and a tiny silver pellet

"We’re plugging you in to Wonderland"

65

WE FELL ASLEEP last night in front of the fireplace, and thisI woke up in our bed--no, not our bed My bed Val’s bed? The bed, and I don’t re the stairs, so he must have carried me up and tucked me in, only he isn’t in bed with me now I’m a little panicky when I realize he’s not here It’s a lot easier to push down my doubt when he’s with me When I can see those eyes the color of melted chocolate and hear his deep voice that falls over ht Oh, you’re such a hopeless case, Cassie Such a train wreck

I dress quickly in the weak light of dawn and go downstairs He’s not there, either, but ainst the mantel I call out his naun The last time I fired it was on Crucifix Soldier Day

Not your fault, Cassie And not his fault

I closeht before Vosch walked over and silenced him

His fault Not yours Not the Crucifix Soldier’s His

I have a very vivid iainst Vosch’s te his head off his shoulders

First I have to find him And then politely ask hiainst his temple and blow his head off his shoulders

I find myself on the sofa next to Bear, and I cradle them both, Bear in one arm, my rifle in the other, like I’m back in the woods in my tent under the trees that were under the sky that was under the baleful eye of the mothership that was beneath the explosion of stars of which ours is just one--and what are the freaking odds that the Others would pick our star out of the 100 sextillion in the universe to set up shop?

It’s too much for me to handle I can’t defeat the Others I’o with Evan’s mayfly metaphor; mayflies are prettier, and at least they can fly But I can take out a few of the bastards before le day on Earth is over And I plan to start with Vosch

A hand falls on ?"

"I’ies This damn bear is full of dust"

He sits down next to un side

"Where were you?" I ask to change the subject

"Checking out the weather"

"And?" Full sentences, please I’m cold and I need your warm-blanky voice to keepe of the sofa cushion

"I think we’re good for tonight" Theover theand paints his face golden The light shimmers in his dark hair, sparkles in his eyes

"Good" I snuffle loudly

"Cassie" He touches h my jeans "I had this weird idea"

"All of this is just a really bad dreahs nervously "I don’t want you to take this the wrong way, so heara lot about this, and I wouldn’t even mention it if I didn’t think--"