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"Are you talking aboutAmy?"

"So it would seem" Fleet hunched over the table "Greer is not my first concern He’s an escaped prisoner, and he’ll be dealt with But Aarded your claims about her with considerable skepticism, she is nevertheless an i at Peter with renewed intensity "We know you visited both of the to say, I suggest you say it now"

It took Peter a"You think I know about this?"

"Do you, Lieutenant?"

Peter’s mind wrestled with three ideas simultaneously Amy had broken Lucius out of jail; the two of theeneral suspected hi an accoh to knock hihts on the i in the back of his mind, was a new question: what did Amy’s disappearance have to do with the woman on the Oil Road? Surely the three

"Absolutely not, General They didn’t tell oes into the record as your official statement"

"Yes, I’m certain I’m as amazed as you are"

"And you have no idea where the two of thearded Peter for another moment, his face set He looked toward Chase, who nodded

"Very well, Jaxon I’ll take you at your word Colonel Apgar has relayed your wishes to return to Fort Vorhees as soon as possible I’rant that request Report to the duty officer at the ive you a space on the next transport"

Suddenly this was the last thing Peter wanted The general’s intentions were clear: Peter was being banished to guarantee his silence

"If it’s all right, sir, I’d like to return to the refinery"

"That’s not an option, Lieutenant You have your orders"

A thought occurred to hihed heavily "My understanding is that’s what you do, Lieutenant You et it over with"

"What about Martinez?"

"What about hiar quickly met Peter’s eye Tread carefully

"The man in the cave ’He left us’-those were his words"

"I’m aware of that, Jaxon I’ve read the report What’s your point?"

"He wasn’t where he was supposed to be, either Maybe Greer and A for hiether "Maybe they knohere he is"

A frozenidea, Lieutenant Is there anything else?"

Just like that, the idea had been put aside Or maybe not Either way, Peter sensed that his words had hit the eneral’s eyes darkened arning "As I said, you’re not to discuss these matters with anyone I don’t think I have to tell you that any indiscretion would not be looked on kindly You’re free to go, Lieutenant"

"I’ was never away for the day The defensive posture of the wo past her

"Will you at least tell Caleb I was here?"

"Of course, Lieutenant" Her eyes darted past hi observed "Now, if you will excuse me "

Peter returned to the barracks to pass a restless afternoon on his bunk, gazing at the ceiling His transport would be leaving the nextat 0600; he had no doubt that such a swift departure was by design Men cah the rooistered in his consciousness Aone? And why the two of theether? How could she have broken him out, and how had they made it past the sentries at the portal? He scoured hiseither of the such an escape The only thing he could coe serenity that had radiated froed him were inconsequential, their substance illusory How could that be so?

It was aelse about the last thirty days The whole thing left the i just beyond the barriers of a heavy fog, there and not there

As the ehts were borne back to his evening a the sisters: his tiy and cleverness; the joy in A there; the quiet moment they’d shared as he esture had felt entirely natural, an involuntary reflex without hesitation or resistance; it seemed to have risen from both a deep well inside him and someplace far away, like the forces that propelled the waves he loved to look at, curling onto the beach Of all the events of the last few days, their moment in the doorway stood most vividly in his recollection, and he closed his eyes, replaying it in his ht force of her embrace; the way Amy had looked at their joined hands Do you re these words in his mind as he fell asleep

He awoke in darkness; his mouth tasted of dryness and dust He was surprised he’d slept so long; he was surprised he’d slept at all He was reaching to lift his canteen fro on the adjacent bunk

"Colonel?"

Apgar was facing hi on the floor, hands braced on his knees He took a long breath before speaking Peter understood that the man’s presence hat had awakened hiht about what happened in there today So what I’m about to tell you is just between us, is that understood?"

Peter nodded