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"Yes" He straightened, all traces of apology leaving his eyes "All the patients who survived the… incident… dehts So did three of our researchers They’re in quarantine nohile we figure out how to proceed"

I suddenly realized asfrom the room My eyes widened as I looked at him "Joyce?" I asked

He looked away

I closedsons We , now that we knoe’re dealing with We’ve started her on a course of antiparasitics" I openedhis lips, utterly insincere, but clearly meant to comfort me "She’ll be fine"

"No" I shook my head "She won’t You don’t--she won’t be fine" I slid off?"

"I need a phone" What I was about to do ht cause problems for a lot of people, but I couldn’t let my sister die I couldn’t "There’s someone I need to call"

"Sally--"

"You askedyou to trust me Please Isn’t Joyce’s life worth it?"

Slowly--very slowly--he nodded "All right," he said "Let’s get you to a phone"

They weren’t willing to leave me alone while I called Nathan I didn’t knothe incident in the lab, but it was enough that the survivors were edgy and inclined to twitch when anyone made any sudden movements Dad followed uards stood to either side of aoddly like I had somehow tripped and fallen into a spy movie, I picked up the receiver and dialed the number for the San Francisco City Hospital An electronic receptionist ca and what I needed I selected the options for Parasitology and dialed Nathan’s extension

"Please be at work," I whispered "Please oh please oh please be at work…" I didn’t have the number for Dr Cale’s lab If he was still with her, still hiding, I’d have no way of reaching hi Joyce

The phone clicked "San Francisco City Hospital, Dr Kie of the desk for balance "Nathan, it’s me"

"Sal?" His voice spiked upward as he saidhoorried he’d been--and hoorried he still was "Where are you? Are you all right? Your father told lare at rounded"

"Grounded?" Now Nathan sounded confused