Page 107 (1/2)

Diana recalled that there were places where she ht throw herself down a crevasse and end her hellish life If Drake didn’t stop her

No, not Drake noas Brittney The sound of her breathing was different fro faster? She dared to hope that Drake eakening She dared to hope that he and Penny would go after each other

Diana relaxed a little Brittney was as e as was Drake, but she lacked Drake’s own personal hate-fueled insanity

She also, unfortunately, had less knowledge of the path And she did not intimidate Penny

"You knoould be creepy, Diana?" Penny asked "If you were pregnant again Only this tiry rats!"

Diana felt her belly swelling, felt the hundreds of--

"No," Brittney said calun, ended abruptly

"Shut up, Brittney," Penny said "Maybe I listen to Drake, but I don’t listen to you You’re nobody"

Brittney didn’t argue She just said, "She gave birth to our lord"

Pennywith the baby in her ar Diana over

The baby hit solid rock with a sickening thud

From the darkness a thin wail of baby fury It was the first time the baby had cried It cried just like any baby

Diana felt her heart respond And her body, as her breasts leaked milk

She felt in the dark and touched the baby’s arm She fuain began to suck vigorously

In that first contact Diana had read the baby’s power level A four bar now The equal of Caine or Sam

A four bar And still just a baby!

"Our lady should carry our lord," Brittney said

"Are you"Are you that stupid? You think this is Jesus in the er and she’s Mary, you dumb metal-mouthed hick?"

"I alk in front," Brittney announced "I will ht the way of the lord"

Diana looked down at the baby She could see its cheek I could be seen in this absolute darkness

And yet, she did see the baby’s cheek And her squeezed-shut eyes And her little rosebudon And then her fat little arm, and her tiny fist pressed into her ives us her light!"

"That’s it, I’ve tried to put up with your--"