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"True," Astrid acknowledged "I was… I was doing penance"

Edilio smiled affectionately "Old-school, huh? Like a her off to the wilderness to "

"But you ed"

"Ah Like that?" Her silence was confirh bad times, they lose their faith But they come back to it"

"I didn’t lose ht and I stared right at it and for the first ti I’d read so I’d heard I didn’t worry about what anyone would think I didn’t worry about looking like a fool I was all alone and I had no one to be right to Except esture with her fingers, like things blowing away, scattering in the wind "There was nothing there"

Edilio looked very sad

"Edilio," she said, "you have to believe what’s right for you, what you feel But so do I It’s hard for someone who has had to carry the nickna" She made a wry smile "But I found out that I was … not happier, ht word Not about happy But … honest Honest withto myself?" Edilio asked softly

Astrid shook her head "Never But I was"

Edilio stood up "I have to get back out there" He came to stand beside her, put his arood to have you back, Astrid You should get some sleep" He nodded "Use Sam’s bunk"

Astrid felt weariness rise up and almost close her eyes where she sat A nap Just a brief one She made her way to Sam’s bunk and flopped down

The bed smelled of salt and Sam The two smells had always been connected in her mind

She wondered who he had found to be with Surely soood Good Sam needed someone to take care of hi for a pillow She hadn’t had a pillow in a long, long time, and now the idea of one seemed incredibly luxurious

Instead of a pillow her hand touched sheer, silky fabric She pulled it to her and ran the fabric against her cheek She knew it It was her old nightgown, the fil she used to wear back in the days when she didn’t need to sleep with her clothes on and a shotgun nestled to her breast

Her old nightgown Sam kept it with him, in his bed

TEN

34 HOURS, 31 MINUTES

"I’M GOING TO risk soreat idea," Dekka said

Sareenish sun, began to form in midair It created ht as far as he could without hts banished some of the shadows

"Okay, everyone kneel down real slowly and check all around your feet," Sam instructed

"Aaahh!" Jack yelled