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Below the drills One of the youngest, the little Darrell boy, et with a thunk The others began to laugh

"I’m sorry about your brother" Sanjay turned to face hi Peter’s attention back away froh the iave was one of compactness He kept his face clean-shaven, his hair, wisped with gray, trihtly to his scalp Small white teeth and deep-set eyes darkened by a heavy, wool-like brow "Theo was a good man It shouldn’t have happened"

Peter didn’t reply What was there to say?

"I’ve been thinking about what you told me," Sanjay continued "To be honest, not all of itwith Zander And what you were doing at the library"

Peter felt the quick shiver of his lie They had all agreed to hold to the original story and not tell anyone about the guns, at least for the ti But this had quickly proved itself a farthan Peter had anticipated Without the guns, their story was full of holes-what they were doing on the roof of the power station, how they’d rescued Caleb, Zander’s death, their presence in the library

"We told you everything," Peter said "Zander ht have happened at the library, so ent to check it out"

"But ould Theo take a risk like that? Or was it Alicia’s idea?"

"Why would you think that?"

Sanjay paused, clearing his throat "I know she is your friend, Peter, and I do not doubt her skills But she’s reckless Always quick with the hunt"

"It wasn’t her fault It wasn’t anyone’s It was just bad luck We decided as a group"

Sanjay paused once aze over the pits Peter said nothing, hoping his silence would bring about an end to the conversation

"Still, I find it hard to understand Out of character for your brother, to take a chance like that I suppose we’ll never know" Sanjay gave his head a preoccupied shake and turned to face Peter again, his expression softening "I’ you like this I’ as I have you here, there’s so else I need to speak with you about It concerns the Household Your brother’s spot"

Just the thought made Peter suddenly weary But the duty was his to perfor I want to talk to you about, Peter Your father erred, I believe, in passing his seat to your brother His seat rightfully belonged to Dana She was, and is, the oldest Jaxon"

"But she turned it down"

"That’s true But confidentially, I will tell you that we have not always beencomfortable with the way this came about Dana was upset Her father, as you recall, had just been killed Many of us think she would have been glad to serve if your father hadn’t pressured her to stand aside"

What was Sanjay saying? That the job was Dana’s? "I don’t knohat you’re talking about Theo never said a word to me about it"

"Well, I doubt that he would have" Sanjay let a silent moment pass "Your father and I did not always see eye to eye I’ Rides froo of the idea, even after he’d lost so many men It was his intention that your brother should revive the rides That is why he wanted Theo on the Household"

The trainees had in their laps around the periht in the control rooood at what he did? All of which only served to make Peter, at that o he would have gladly given away to the first person he saw

"I don’t know, Sanjay"

"You don’t have to know, Peter The Household has htfully Dana’s"

"And she wants it?"

"When I explained everything to her, yes" Sanjay put a hand on Peter’s shoulder-a gesture h it wasn’t, not at all "Please don’t take it badly It’s not a reflection on you We illing to overlook this irregularity because everyone held Theo in such high regard"

Just like that, Peter thought, the waters had closed over his brother Theo’s shirts were still folded in the drawers, his spare boots sitting under the bed, and it was as if he’d never even existed

Sanjay lifted his face past the pits "Well Here’s Soo"

Peter turned to see Soo Raate; with her was Jimmy Molyneau A tall, sandy-haired woman in her early forties, Soo had risen to the rank of First Captain after Willem’s death-a supremely competent woman with a te outbursts that made even the most hardened Watcher cower in fear

"Peter, I’ve been looking for you Take a few days off the Wall if you want Let ; I’d like to say a feords"

"I was just thinking the sa," Sanjay interjected "Let us know And by all means, take a few days There’s no hurry"

Soo’s arrival at precisely thishandled