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Her presence barely registered in Peter’s mind; it was Alicia he wanted "You knew!" He barreled past Amy, seized Alicia by the ar!"

Amy cried, "Peter, stop!"

He dropped to his knees and straddled Alicia’s waist; his fingers wrapped her throat His eyes and ht of her "He wasat hiht just as well have been calling to hi sound; her lips were paling to a bluish color She was squinting into the azes met In her eyes, Peter saw not fear but fatalistic acceptance Go ahead, her eyes said We’ve done everything else together, why not this? Beneath the pads of his thuristle of her trachea He shifted the them in the spoonlike depression at the base of her throat Hands had grabbed hi to pry his fingers from her neck "He was my friend and you killed him! You killed all of them!" One hard push to crush her larynx and that would be the end of her "Say it, you traitor! Say you knew!"

A tremendous force yanked him away He crashed onto his back in the dust Hollis

"Take a breath, Peter"

The man had positioned hih A her head

"We all heard her," Hollis said "She was trying to warn us"

Peter’s face was burning; his hands, clenched into fists, shook with adrenaline "She lied to us"

"I understand your anger We all do But she didn’t know"

Peter’s awareness expanded The others atching hi on his crutches The oldhis bucket

"Now, do I have your agreement to leave her be--yes or no?" Hollis said

Peter sed The fog of fury had begun to dissipate Another ht, then," said Hollis

He extended a hand and pulled Peter to his feet Alicia’s coughing had eased soet Sara"

Aht of Alicia, she startled