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Corey Harper laughed despite the cramps in her ankles Her hands were okay They hadn’t tied thehtly, probably because she was a woman Still, the knots were secure and weren’t about to slip or slide

"That’s the funniest thing I’ve ever heard you say, Thoed at the ropes at his wrists, "One of these clowns must have been in the Navy in World War II These ropes are very well tied, not a bit of give to them Anybody want to try hands or teeth?"

"I would," Corey said, "but I’m tied to the wall over here Yeah, there’s a rope around my waist, and I can feel it’s wrapped around one of the wall boards And yes, it’s solid Even with big teeth and a long reach, I couldn’t get to you"

"I’m tied too," Thomas said, "Damn"

"At least everyone’s alive," Quinlan said "I wonder what happened to David?" But he ondering about Sally He was just afraid to say her name aloud

"He probably ran off the road," Thomas said matter-of-factly "He isn’t here Maybe he’s already dead"

"Or maybe somebody rescued him," Corey said

"What do youhe could see just an outline of so on the ropes, but they wouldn’t budge

"Do you think they’re going to keep us here for the next ten years?"

"I hope not," Quinlan said "They’re all so old they’d be dead theotten"

"You’re not funny, Quinlan"

"Maybe not, but I’," Corey said "I don’t want to fall into a funk We’ve got to think First of all, who did this to us?"

"That’s pretty damned obvious, isn’t it?" Thomas said "That da her the Aht the second I lay down on my bed"

"Where’s Sally?" Corey asked suddenly

"I don’t know," Quinlan said "I don’t know"