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"What are you grabbing me for? Get off me!"

Astrid released her but leaned in even closer "That inforets Caine killed, too You understandout of theirto cram onto the boats Boats moored farther out saw that there was an evacuation under way and fired up engines or dipped oars to come in and pick up their friends

The evacuation had been practiced

And then, in a blaze of swift-ht that practically flew over the hills: Gaia

FOURTEEN

39 HOURS, 40 MINUTES

TWIN BEAMS OF green light, so bright you couldn’t look at theht to left, from a motor home that burst instantly into flame to a tent near the dock that seemed to simply disappear in the heat

"Jump!" Astrid yelled, and took her own advice

Orc saas happening, flashed on Dahra, and dived down the steps Dahra was up, hobbling, and he just had time to wonder how he could turn around with her in his arehen the houseboat blew up

It did not burn; it blew up

Orc was thrown against a bulkhead, which dissolved before he hit it Fire was everywhere and, an instant later, water He sucked in a lungful, gagged, and vos, fending off debris from every direction--shattered plywood, a toilet, blankets and bits of clothing like poltergeists floating and swirling and tangling The only light was the yellow of the fire that now burned directly above hi for Dahra, but nothing His lungs burning, he kicked his ravel is much heavier than flesh

Orc sank toward the lake bottom Air bubbles rose from the thousands of crevices in his body

Below him he saw a picnic cooler, bound with chain, and wondered what it was And whether itto be co She heard noises and agitated voices up above It all sounded important, so she climbed painfully out of the bunk Astrid had let her use Then she saw Orc co toward her in a rush

And then she was torn apart by the explosion

Diana and Astrid had already hit the water

When Astrid clawed her way back to air, she saw Diana in the water beside her, facedown, seely unconscious Three quick strokes and Astrid was beside Diana She twisted her around and tilted her head back to face up toward the sky

Diana coughed water and opened her dark eyes, reflecting reen lasers