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“It’s the risk I came here to take,” Anna said “You can find us a place An… an interview roouard’s stance settled deeper into his knees and hips, immovable

“Can stay here until the sun burns out,” he said “That door’s staying closed”

“It’s all right,” Clarissa said

“No it isn’t,” Anna said “I’s we need to talk about are private Please open the door and take us someplace we can talk”

“Jojo,” the captain at the far end of the hall said Ashford That was his naht You can put them in the meat freezer It’s not in use and it locks froet a dead preacher, ano sa?”

“I believe that you won’t,” Anna said

“Then you believe in vacuuuard said, but he unlocked the cell door The bars swung open Clarissa hesitated Behind guard and priest, the disgraced Captain Ashford watched her, peering through his bars to get a look He needed to shave and he looked like he’d been crying For a ripped the cold steel bars of her door The urge to pull the

“It’s all right,” Anna said

Clarissa let go of the door and stepped out The guard drew his sidearainst the back of her neck Anna looked pained Ashford’s expression didn’t shift a milliuard said and prodded Clarissa to er than the galley back on the Cerisier Strips ofand both walls with notches every few centimeters to allow the Mormon colonists who never were to lock walls and partitions into place It made sense that the veterinary stalls that had been pressed into service as her prison would be near the slaughterhouse Harsh white light spilled fro hard shadows

“I’uard said as he pushed Clarissa through the doorway “Anything looks funny, I’ll shoot you”

“Thank you for giving us privacy,” Anna said, stepping through after her The door closed The latch sounded like the gates of hell, closing The lights flickered, and the first thought that flashed across Clarissa’snet to the same circuit as the control board It was like a relic froathered herself, smiled, and put out her hand

“We’ve met before,” she said, “but we haven’t really been introduced My name’s Anna”

A lifetime’s etiquette accepted the offered hand on Clarissa’s behalf The woers were very warm

“My priest?” Clarissa said

“Sorry about that,” Anna said “I didn’t ry, and I tried to pull rank”

“I know people who do worse When they’re angry”

Clarissa released the woman’s hand

“I’m a friend of Tilly’s She helpedvery straight, and she helped ood that way”

“She knew your sister too Your father The whole faether iiven us chairs I feel like we’re standing around at a bus ter out her nose, then sat there in the s crossed She patted theat her side Clarissa hesitated, then lowered herself to sit She had the overwhel in kindergarten

“That’s better,” Anna said “So, Tilly’s told me a lot about you She’s worried”

Clarissa tilted her head From just the form, it seee to speak, and she couldn’t iine what she would say After ato

“I’m worried about you too”