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Vanya said soible and led the woman back into the treatment area

“How are you doing?” Sa down on a bench next to Re now that all the doors and ere shut

“I’m fine But that was too close for comfort”

“With any luck, this will be over soon”

“I don’t feel very lucky right now,” she said

Vanya returned five minutes later followed by the woe of the bench, Saiven a tranquilizer—her lids were heavy and her movements hesitant Vanya took a seat across froh “I hope the police arrive soon The construction co in any of the areas but the patient treatly afternoon”

“Is she going to be all right?” Re the woman

“Oh, I suspect so She’s worried about her daughter Fourteen Seee around here if they can’t take the rigors of adolescence You knohat it’s like—theyto school and working all day, then co Mom and Dad order them around”

“She sounded pretty upset,” Sam observed

“Yes, well, I’d argue we haveher watch and standing “I’ on”

She moved to the admissions counter, where several of the nurses were huddled around a portable radio A burst of static cut across the waiting area when Vanya turned the volume up and the deep baritone of a male announcer’s voice came over the tinny speaker

“Looting has been reported in some of the don areas, but it appears to be contained to a few blocks The chief of police has issued a state the laill be dealt with swiftly using the full weight of t

he depart reserve forces, and are being deployed as we speak The chief’s statement stressed that there will be a zero-tolerance policy for crihborhoods can be expected to be taken into custody unless they can show good reason for being there

“The administration is expected to make an announcement shortly

“In related news, troubling reports are circulating that the rebel ers in reovernment has condemned the rebels as terrorists and vowed to pursue them into the mountains until they have been eradicated As reported earlier, the prime minister has officially requested the assistance of coalition forces to deal with the imminent threat and the first of the troops are expected to land within the next twelve hours”