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Please understand, Nathan, I thought, and wished that there was so, and why I was doing it It was the only option I had left, but that didn’t ht It didn’twhat I hoped would look like a sincere s a half step forward--which was harder than I expected, thanks to all the dauns ai seely, Dr Banks said, "I told you I could do it It was simple, really"

"Sally?" Colonel Mitchell sounded like he was afraid of his own question, like he was afraid of asking it where anyone else could hear "Is that really you?"

"My head hurts," I said, which wasn’t an answer That made it the perfect reply I took another step forward, and still the uns didn’t fire on ed--in relief or sorrow, I didn’t know, andhad happened to Sally’sit easy to take another two steps with stuuns didn’t track me

"Are you here forfirst tobehindColonel Mitchell’s gaze as an excuse, I twisted to look back overBeverly’s leash He looked resigned, like he hated this as much as I did, but understood its necessity That madehio, because ould never be able to fight our way out of here together Soed to teach hio That was a lesson I had never wanted him to learn

If Nathan was resigned, Fishy and Beverly were confused My dog was straining against her leash, struggling to get tohis head slowly froh not to argue when there were thathim any happier with the situation And as for Dr Banks…

Dr Banks looked proud of himself That was the worst part of all

I turned back to Colonel Mitchell "You need to let theo," I said

His eyes snapped to ht irl back; she’s theirs, and Dr Banks took her without peret o" I took a deep breath "And they have a bomb They’ll kill us all if you don’t let them leave"

"It’s true," said Fishy "Boom, baby, boom"

Colonel Mitchell frowned slowly, and with every part of his face, eyes hardening and brows drawing doard until he was nothing but suspicion I felt suddenly unsure, and wanted to run back to the elevator, where I would be safe, where I wouldn’t have to pretend to be someone I’d never met Would Sally have requested the freedom of a bunch of people she didn’t care about? Joyce hadn’t liked her very much She hadn’t been a very nice person

I forcedat Colonel Mitchell If I looked aere lost "You have to let theht now Any shock could causeshock"

He narrowed his eyes I held my breath If he called et into bed with the enehter back He wasn’t going to let ain Colonel Mitchell looked away first, then said, "Your friends are free to go Steven, you’re with ue He was as trapped as the rest of us, even if he was the one who had originally built the cage He crossed the floor to stand beside me, and we fell into step with Colonel Mitchell as he turned and led us away I didn’t look back

It’s all right, Nathan, I thought I’ll find my way home I always do

The broken doors were open We had so far left to go

INTERLUDE IV: ANAPHASE

I ains

–SHERMAN LEWIS (SUBJECT VIII, ITERATION III)

Novely easy for Ronnie to reach the reservoir It was still under guard, of course; the soldiers supplied by USAMRIID and sent in with the doctors fro the borders of the area, rifles in hand and nervous sweat on their throats and te to fear fro since learned what her (his) pheromone trailthe territory of a greater colony

The water had been capped, of course, to keep seagulls fro in it and-- the water supply of an entire region This was the reservoir that fed the largest of the quarantine settlements Some people drank bottled water, of course, but they were all higher-ups, people who could afford the luxury of worrying about contae man on the street, crammed six to a bedroom in their shantytown containment, what came out of the faucet was the only option