Page 98 (1/2)

"What’s that?" Chris said Norh in an excited sputter of static So either thean ear with a pinky, Chris walked a short distance away fros and held the walkie up to the other ear "Say again, Pru"

Can you hear ht, That’s not even re a bloodstained parka with an elbow, he bent, hooked the girl who’d been driving the supply wagon under the ars When Jayden nodded, they hefted the body, sidestepped a dead Changed boy with only a nubbin of a nose, and laid the girl out alongside the others Counting Aidan, Sam, and Lucian--all of whom had booked--they’d lost nine kids total Not a disaster, but one kid was too many They were also down the two horses Aidan and Sauys had better keep away fro reallyout the parka, he draped it over the girl’s head and shoulders There, that was the last Once they rearranged the supplies, they’d load the dead, including Mina, anda full day with the dead sent shivers up his spine They couldn’t waste tiive away their position If the gunfire hasn’t already But no one other than Chris had co up the road, and he’d said Finn was close but not yet in Rule

"Think they found them?" Jayden had come to stand next to him The other boy had a new collection of bruises to add to the ones he’d gotten earlier His right eye, crusted with blood, was already swelling shut "To of Chris’s back, heard hi into the radio Crap As sorry as he was about Lena, he was glad Chris shot her Sure would be nice for soe

"Oh brother," Jayden said Chris had spun on his heel, but not to head back to the out orders into the walkie

"Chris, wait!" Greg jogged over, Jayden on his heels "Where are you going? Did they--"

"I have to go back" Chris’s bruised and battered face was tight He swung up onto Night’s saddle "You guys get out of here Leave your radio on I’ll catch up when I can"

"Why? But you’re here What--"

"They found the kids about a half ht’s reins "But listen to this: Finn also has Peter"

"Peter?" Greg felt his lips numb "Chris, we can’t leave Peter--"

"I know that" Chris’s voice was gri to Peter, ed Not all the way, but the kids said he’s pretty far gone"

Greg’s stomach worked itself into a cold knot "If he’s still Peter, we need to get to hiet yourselves killed?" Jayden put a hand on Greg’s ar do you two really have before they blow? Finn’s there by now, or pretty close Tom ait until they’re in the square, but that’s all"

"Look, I just killed a girl I knew pretty damn well I can’t abandon Peter, not if there’s a chance he can come back to us You and Hannah and Isaac have your way, and I have rab Too, not again"

"What?" Greg wasn’t sure he’d heard right "Alex? What does she--"

"The guards were already dohen Pru got there Toht around "And she’s headed to Rule"

119

A bomb A red swoop of terror nearly knocked Alex’s feet out from under About the size of a small shoebox, the bomb consisted of an oversize alarm clock wrapped to a putty-like block, probably C4, with black electrical tape Wires snaked from some lead-colored tube to attach to the alarm’s bell and hammer The bomb was fixed to the console with et out of here Sweat suddenly pearled in the hollow of her throat Got to get out of the church Who knehen this thing was going to blow?

But that hen she noticed two things she hadn’t because of her fear One, the clock wasn’t ticking Two, the boht