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Oops—hold on。”
He turned abruptly and ducked back into the river room。 I decided I wouldn’t argue with him。 I wanted
to see Walter before… Doc had promised to wait for me。 Would that first dose of painkiller wear off
soon？ My head swam。 There was so much to worry about； and I was so tired。 The adrenaline had
drained； leaving me empty。
Ian came back with the gun。 I frowned because this reminded me that I’d wished for it before。 I didn’t
like that。
“Let’s go。”
Without thinking； he handed the gun to me。 I let it fall into my open palms； but I couldn’t curl my hands
back of my head； the back of my leg—from resting on him too hard。
“How’d your clothes get so wet？” he asked。 We were passing under one of the fist…sized skylights； and
I could see the hint of a grim smile on his pale lips。
“I don’t know；” I muttered。 “Steam？”
We passed into darkness again。
“You’re missing a shoe。”
“Oh。”
We passed through another beam of light； and his eyes flashed sapphire。 They were serious now； locked
on my face。
“I’m…very glad that you weren’t hurt； Wanda。 Hurt worse； I should say。”
I didn’t answer。 I was afraid of giving him something to use against Kyle。
Jeb found us just before we hit the big cave。 There was enough light for me to see the sharp glint of
curiosity in his eyes when he saw me in Ian’s arms； face bleeding； the gun resting gingerly on my open
hands。
“You were right； then；” Jeb guessed。 The curiosity was strong； but the steel in his tone was stronger。 His
jaw was tight beneath the fan of his beard。 “I didn’t hear a shot。 Kyle？”
“He’s unconscious；” I said in a rush。 “You need to warn everyone—part of the floor collapsed in the
river room。 I don’t know how stable it is now。 Kyle hit his head really hard trying to get out of the way。
He needs Doc。”
Jeb raised one eyebrow so high it almost touched the faded bandanna at his hairline。
“That’s the story；” Ian said； making no effort to conceal his doubt。 “And she’s apparently sticking to it。”
Jeb laughed。 “Let me take that off your hands；” he said to me。
I let him have the gun willingly。 He laughed again at my expression。
“I’ll get Andy and Brandt to help me with Kyle。 We’ll follow behind you。”
“Keep a close eye on him when he wakes up；” Ian said in a hard tone。
“Can do。”
Jeb slouched off； looking for more hands。 Ian hurried me toward the hospital cave。
“Kyle’s head is harder than any rock in this place。”
The long tunnel felt longer than usual。 Was Kyle dying； despite my efforts？ Was he conscious again and
looking for me？ What about Walter？ Was he sleeping… or gone？ Had the Seeker given up her hunt； or
would she be back now that it was light again？
Will Jared still be with Doc？Mel added her questions to mine。Will he be angry when he sees you？
Will he know me？
When we reached the sunlit southern cave； Jared and Doc didn’t look like they’d moved much。 They
leaned； side by side； against Doc’s makeshift desk。 It was quiet as we approached。 They weren’t talking；
just watching Walter sleep。
They started up with wide eyes as Ian carried me into the light and laid me on the cot next to Walter’s。
He straightened my right leg carefully。
Walter was snoring。 That sound eased some of my tension。
“What now？” Doc demanded angrily。 He was bending over me as soon as the words were out； wiping
at the blood on my cheek。
Jared’s face was frozen in surprise。 He was being careful； not letting the expression give way to anything
else。
“Kyle；” Ian answered at the same time that I said； “The floor —”
Doc looked back and forth between us； confused。
Ian sighed and rolled his eyes。 Absently； he laid one hand lightly on my forehead。 “The floor crumbled by
the first river hole。 Kyle fell back and cracked his head on a rock。 Wanda saved his worthless life。 She
says she fell； too； when the floor gave。” Ian gave Doc a meaningful look。“Something；” he said the word
sarcastically； “bashed the back of her head pretty good。” He started listing。 “Her nose is bleeding but not
broken； I don’t think。 She’s got some damage to the muscle here。” He touched my sore thigh。 “Knees
sliced up pretty good； got her face again； but I think maybe I did that； trying to pull Kyle out of the hole。
Shouldn’t have bothered。” Ian muttered the last part。
“Anything else？” Doc asked。 At that moment； his fingers； probing along my side； reached the place
where Kyle had punched me。 I gasped。
Doc tugged my shirt up； and I heard both Ian and Jared hiss at what they saw。
“Let me guess；” Ian said in a voice like ice。 “You fell on a rock。”
“Good guess；” I agreed； breathless。 Doc was still touching my side； and I was trying to hold back
whimpers。
“Might have broken a rib； not sure；” Doc murmured。 “I wish I could give you something for the pain —”
“No； it will take some time to sleep that dose off；” Doc said。 He took my hand and started bending my
wrist； my elbow。
“I’m okay。”
His kind eyes were soft as he met my gaze。 “You will be。 You’ll just have to rest for a while。 I’ll keep an
eye on you。 Here； turn your head。”
I did as he asked； and then winced while he examined my wound。
“Not here；” Ian muttered。
I couldn’t see Doc； but Jared threw Ian a sharp look。
“They’re bringing Kyle。 I’m not having them in the same room。”
Doc nodded。 “Probably wise。”
“I’ll get a place ready for her。 I’ll need you to keep Kyle here until… until we decide what to do with
him。”
I started to speak； but Ian put his fingers on my lips。
“All right；” Doc agreed。 “I’ll tie him down； if you want。”
“If we have to。 Is it okay to move her？” Ian glanced toward the tunnel； his face anxious。
Doc hesitated。
“No；” I whispered； Ian’s fingers still touching my mouth。 “Walter。 I want to be here for Walter。”
“You’ve saved all the lives you can save today； Wanda；” Ian said； his voice gentle and sad。
“I want to say… to say good—goodbye。”
Ian nodded。 Then he looked at Jared。 “Can