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I’d never looked up from the ground； so it startled me when he put his hand over my eyes。 I faltered；
and he pulled us to a walk。
“We’re okay now。 Just ahead…”
He left his hand over my eyes and tugged me forward。 I heard our footsteps echo off something。 The
desert wasn’t as flat here。
“Get in。”
His hand disappeared。
It was nearly as dark as it was with him covering my eyes。 Another cave。 Not a deep one。 If I turned
around； I would be able to see out of it。 I didn’t turn。
The jeep faced into the darkness。 It looked just the same as I remembered it； this vehicle I had never
seen。 I swung myself over the door into the seat。
Jared was in his seat already。 He leaned over and tied the blindfold over my eyes again。 I held still to
make it easier。
The noise of the engine scared me。 It seemed too dangerous。 There were so many people who shouldn’t
find us now。
We moved in reverse briefly； and then the wind was blasting my face。 There was a funny sound behind
the jeep； something that didn’t fit Melanie’s memories。
“We’re going to Tucson；” he told me。 “We never raid there—it’s too close。 But we don’t have time for
anything else。 I know where a small hospital is； not too deep into town。”
“Not Saint Mary’s？”
He heard the alarm in my voice。 “No； why？”
“I know someone there。”
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”
“No。 No one will know my face。 We don’t have… wanted people。 Not like you did。”
“Okay。”
But he had me thinking now； thinking about my appearance。 Before I could voice my concerns； he took
my hand and folded it around something very small。
“Keep that close to you。”
“What is it？”
“If they guess that you’re… with us； if they’re going to… put someone else in Mel’s body； you put that
in your mouth and bite down on it hard。”
“Poison？”
“Yes。”
I thought about that for a moment。 And then I laughed； I couldn’t help it。 My nerves were frayed with
worry。
“It’s not a joke； Wanda；” he said angrily。 “If you can’t do it； then I have to take you back。”
“No； no； I can。” I tried to get a hold of myself。 “I know I can。 That’s why I’m laughing。”
His voice was harsh。 “I don’t get the joke。”
“Don’t you see？ For millions of my own kind； I’ve never been able to do that。 Not for my own…
children。 I was always too afraid to die that final time。 But I can do it for one alien child。” I laughed again。
“It doesn’t make any sense。 Don’t worry； though。 I can die to protect Jamie。”
“I’m trusting you to do just that。”
It was silent for a moment； and then I remembered what I looked like。
“Jared； I don’t look right。 For walking into a hospital。”
“We’ve got better clothes stashed with the… less…conspicuous vehicles。 That’s where we’re headed
now。 About five more minutes。”
That wasn’t what I meant； but he was right。 These clothes would never do。 I waited to talk to him about
the rest。 I needed to look at myself first。
The jeep stopped； and he pulled off the blindfold。
“You don’t have to keep your eyes down；” he told me when my head ducked automatically。 “There’s
nothing here to give us away。 Just in case this place was ever discovered。”
The jeep was already lodged in a tight space。 I was so close to the rock； I had to climb over the back of
the jeep to get out。 There was something odd attached to the bumper—chains and two very dirty tarps；
all ragged and torn。
“Here；” Jared said； and led the way to a shadowy crevice just a little shorter than he was。 He brushed
aside a dusty； dirt…colored tarp and rifled through a pile hiding behind it。 He pulled out a T…shirt； soft and
clean； with tags still attached。 He ripped those off and threw the shirt to me。 Then he dug until he found a
pair of khaki pants。 He checked the size； then flipped them to me； too。
“Put them on。”
I hesitated for a moment while he waited； wondering what my problem was。 I flushed and then turned
my back to him。 I yanked my ragged shirt over my head and replaced it as quickly as my fumbling fingers
could manage。
I heard him clear his throat。 “Oh。 I’ll； uh； get the car。” His footsteps moved away。
I stripped off my tattered cutoff sweats and pulled the crisp new pants into place。 My shoes were in bad
shape； but they weren’t that noticeable。 Besides； fortable shoes weren’t always easy to e by。 I
could pretend I had an attachment to this pair。
Another engine came to life； quieter than the jeep’s。 I turned to see a modest； unremarkable sedan pull
out of a deep shadow under a boulder。 Jared got out and chained the tattered tarps from the jeep to this
car’s rear bumper。 Then he drove it to where I stood； and as I saw the heavy tarps wipe the tire tracks
from the dirt； I prehended their purpose。
Jared leaned across the seat to open the passenger door。 There was a backpack on the seat。 It lay flat；
empty。 I nodded to myself。 Yes； this I needed。
“Let’s go。”
“Hold on；” I said。
I crouched to look at myself in the side mirror。
Not good。 I flipped my chin…length hair over my cheek； but it wasn’t enough。 I touched my cheek and
bit my lip。
“Jared。 I can’t go in with my face like this。” I pointed to the long； jagged scar across my skin。
“What？” he demanded。
“No soul would have a scar like this。 They would have had it treated。 They’ll wonder where I’ve been。
They’ll ask questions。”
His eyes widened and then narrowed。 “Maybe you should have thought of this before I snuck you out。 If
we go back now； they’ll think it was a ploy for you to learn the way out。”
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。
His got harder to match it。 “What do you propose we do； then； Wanda？”
“I’ll need a rock。” I sighed。 “You’re going to have to hit me。”
CHAPTER 44
Healed
Wanda…”
“We don’t have time。 I’d do it myself； but I can’t get the angle right。 There’s no other way。”
“I don’t think I can… do it。”
“For Jamie； even？” I pushed the good side of my face as hard as I could