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“Good instincts,” Jason s outside Everything’s clear for the moment How’s Tina?”

“Moht now”

“Morbid, but I can’t say I disagree”

“Do you think they’ll co, I mean”

“I don’t see how Their leader’s the only one as alive there, and I doubt if he’d be foolish enough to try attacking us by himself” Jason paused “I hope not, at least”

“If he does, we’ll be ready for him” Mark slipped the pistol into a holster on his belt and Jason s his arms around the boy

“You’re doggone right ill”

Chapter 10

Washington, DC

The drama and horror—both old and fresh—that had ensued in the base made all the more stark the differences between the subterranean labyrinth and the cool, clear air of the outside world The eence of the three survivors into a sharp breeze and the whisking away of the scent of death that had perh Neither was the silence and peace that still reigned over the area after the previous battle that had been fought The only thoughts on the minds of Rick, Oles and Dr Evans as they stepped forth back into the natural sunlight were contemplations of their mortality and remembrances of their friend

The grounds of the old naval observatory wereareas, but there were a few places with grass and potted plants that looked like they ell-maintained, once upon a tirass and soil, that Rick, Dr Evans and Oles stood over aearth Mo nervously as he looked at the others

“Should we say so?”

“We’ve already said everything we need to” Rick sighed as he leaned on a shovel they had found in a srounds “She was a friend to us and a genuinely good person For her to die here is unjust and unfair… but so’s everything that’s going on She didn’t have to help us, but she did” Rick slaround and looked at Oles and Dr Evans with moist, steely eyes “So let’s finish this”

“For her,” added Dr Evans, aze

“For her,” Oles finished