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“Tell me”

“I don’t know” Kate wiped another layer of sweat off her face “Thethe over… I think, I don’t know I’… some of myself”

David’s eyes raked over her, as if he were not sure what to say

Kate tried to focus “Maybe I’e when the Atlantean therapy, whatever the tube does, the memory restoration, takes over and—”

“Nothing is taking over You’re going to stay exactly the way you are”

“There’s so”

David cut his eyes to the two scientists “What?”

“I don’t know”

Kate closed her eyes, but no memories came this time Only sleep

CHAPTER 78

Over the Mediterranean Sea

Kate awoke to vibrations on her thigh The first thing she saas David’s eyes

She took the vibrating phone frolanced at the nuia The CDC Continuity Paul Brenner The revelations washed over the stupor of her sleep as she answered the call She listened Paul Brenner was panicked now He spoke quickly, the phrases hitting her like punches Trial failed No alternative therapies Euthanasia Protocol has been authorized Can you help?

“Hang on,” she said into the phone

She sat up “It didn’t work,” she said to David, Chang, and Janus

“There’s enetic puzzle,” Janus said “We need more time”

“We have so,” Kate said into the phone She listened, then nodded “Yes, okay What? Okay, no, we’re…”

She looked at David “How close are we to Malta?”

“Malta?”

Kate nodded

“Two hours, maybe a little less at top speed”

“The Orchid Districts in Malta—they report no casualties So there”

David didn’t say a word He clian talking to Shaw and Ka a course for Malta, Kate assumed

Kate rubbed her head There was so different about the way she felt She was more… detached, clinical, numb Almost robotic She had full command of herto soer was intense—the annihilation of ninety percent of the huh she were in the middle of a science experiment, where the outcome was uncertain but would have no is, her e away

When David returned, he slumped back onto the bench beside Kate “We can be in Malta within two hours”

Kate held the phone to her ear and began conversing with Paul We’re going to check it out—Can you hold them off—We don’t knohat’s there—Do your best, Paul—This isn’t over

She ended the call and focused on the group

Janus spoke before she had a chance “It was here the entire ti Martin’s note “Missing Alpha Leads to Treasure of Atlantis MALTA”

Kate watched as David scanned the code His face changed What was that: guilt?