Page 10 (1/2)

I want her to know that I understand now That I didn’t understand before She and I really are the same; in so many more ways than I could’ve known

But now she’s out of reach She’s gone soers who do not know her and would not care for her as I would She’s been dropped into another foreign environment with no time to transition, and I’m worried about her A person in her situation--with her past--does not recover overnight And now, one of two things is bound to happen: She’s either going to co to explode

I sit up too fast, breaking free of the water, gasping for air

I push ainst the tiled wall, allowing the cool air to calhts

I have to find her before she breaks

I’ve never wanted to cooperate with ree with histo do just about anything to get her back

And I’er for any opportunity to snap Kent’s neck

That traitorous bastard The idiot who thinks he’s won hiirl He has no idea who she is No idea what she’s about to become

And if he thinks he’s even remotely suited to ave him credit for

Nineteen

"Where’s the coffee?" I ask,the table

Delalieu drops his fork The silverware clangs against the china plates He looks up, eyes wide "Sir?"

"I’d like to try it," I tell hi to spread butter on my toast with oing on about your coffee, aren’t you? I thought I--"

Delalieu jumps up from the table without a word Bolts out the door

I laugh silently into my plate

Delalieu carts the tea and coffee tray in himself and stations it by my chair His hands shake as he pours the dark liquid into a teacup, places it on a saucer, sets it on the table, and pushes it indown again before I take a sip It’s a strange, obscenely bitter sort of drink; not at all what I expected I glance up at hiin his day by bracing hi liquid I find I respect him for it

"This isn’t terrible," I tell him

His face splits into a smile so wide, so beatific, I wonder if he’swhen he says, "I take ar The taste is far better that w--"

"Sugar" I put ht back a sar to it Of course you do That makes so much more sense"

"Would you like some, sir?"

I hold up my hand Shaketo halt dayti, after curfew You will remain on base," I tell hih his men; carry out any deroup myself" I stop Hold his eyes "There will be nofor the civilians to see or speak of Do you understand?"

"Yes, sir," he says, his coffee forgotten "I’ll issue the orders at once"

"Good"

He stands up

I nod

He leaves

I’ to feel real hope for the first ti to find her Noith this new inforroup of clueless rebels--it seems impossible on’t

I take a deep breath Take another sip of this coffee

I’m surprised to discover how much I enjoy the bitter taste of it

Twenty

He’s waiting for me when I return to my room

"The orders have been issued," I tell hiht" I hesitate "So if you’ll excuse me, I have other matters to contend with"

"What’s it like," he asks, "to be so crippled?" He’s s that you’ve been disabled by your own subordinates?"

I pause outside the adjoining door to my office "What do you want?"

"What," he says, "is your fascination with that girl?"

My spine goes rigid

"She is more to you than just an experiment, isn’t she?" he says

I turn around slowly He’s standing in theat usted

"What are you talking about?"

"Look at yourself," he says "I haven’t even said her nahand is clenched You’re breathing too fast, and your entire body is tense" A pause "You have betrayed yourself, son You think you’re very clever," he says, "but you’re forgetting who taught you your tricks"