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his gaze。 “Doc has promised me that if I show him how to perform the separation； you will give the
released souls safe conduct to another life on another planet。 No killing。”
Jared nodded thoughtfully； his eyes flickering back to Doc。 “I can agree to those terms。 And I can make
sure the others follow through。 I assume you have a plan to get them off…planet？”
“It will be no more dangerous than what we did tonight。 Just the opposite—adding to the stack rather
than taking from it。”
“Okay。”
“Did you… have a time schedule in mind？” Doc asked。 He tried to sound nonchalant； but I could hear
the eagerness behind his voice。
He just wanted the answer that had eluded him for so long； I tried to tell myself。 It wasn’t that he was in
“I have to take the jeep back—can you wait？ I’d like to watch this。”
“Sure； Jared；” Doc agreed。
“Won’t take me long；” Jared promised as he shoved himself back into the vent。
That I was sure of。 It wouldn’t take enough time at all。
Doc and I did not speak until the sound of Jared’s scrambling exit had faded。
“You didn’t talk about… Melanie？” he asked softly。
I shook my head。 “I think he sees where this is going。 He must guess my plan。”
“But not all of it。 He won’t allow —”
“He won’t get a say；” I interrupted severely。 “All or nothing； Doc。”
Doc sighed。 After a moment of silence； he stretched and glanced toward the main exit。 “I’m going to go
talk to Jeb； get things ready。”
He reached for a bottle on the table。 The chloroform。 I was sure the souls had something better to use。 I
would have to try to find it for Doc； before I was gone。
“Who knows about this？”
“Still just Jeb； Aaron； and Brandt。 They all want to watch。”
This didn’t surprise me； Aaron and Brandt would be suspicious。 “Don’t tell anyone else。 Not tonight。”
Doc nodded； then he disappeared into the black corridor。
I went to sit against the wall； as far from the prepared cot as I could get。 I’d have my turn on top of it all
too soon。
Trying to think of something besides that grim fact； I realized that I hadn’t heard from Melanie since…
When was the last time she’d spoken to me？ When I’d made the deal with Doc？ I was belatedly
surprised that the sleeping arrangements by the jeep today had not elicited a reaction from her。
Mel？
No answer。
It wasn’t like before； so I didn’t panic。 I could definitely feel her there in my head； but she was…
ignoring me？ What was she doing？
Mel？ What’s going on？
No answer。
She interrupted me； exasperated。Oh； stop。 I’m not madat you。 Leave me alone。
Why won’t you talk to me？
No answer。
I pushed a little harder； hoping to pick up the direction of her thoughts。 She tried to keep me out； to put
the wall in place； but it was too weak from disuse。 I saw her plan。
I tried to keep my mental tone even。Have you lost your mind？
In a manner of speaking；she teased halfheartedly。
You think that if you can make yourself disappear； that will stop me？
What else can I do to stop you？ If you’ve got a better idea； please share。
I don’t get it； Melanie。 Don’t youwantthem back？ Don’t you want to be with Jared again？ With
Jamie？
She writhed； fighting the obviousness of the answer。Yes； but… I can’t… She took a moment to steady
herself。I find myself unable to be the death of you； Wanda。 I can’t stand it。
I saw the depth of her pain； and tears formed in my eyes。
Love you too； Mel。 But there’s not room for the both of us here。 In this body； in this cave； in their
lives…
I disagree。
Look； just stop trying to annihilate yourself； okay？ Because if I think you can do it； I’ll make Doc
pull me out today。 Or I’ll tell Jared。 Just imagine what he would do。
I imagined it for her； smiling a little through my tears。Remember？ He said no guarantees about what
he would or wouldn’t do to keep you here。 I thought of those burning kisses in the hall… thought of
other kisses and other nights in her memory。 My face warmed as I blushed。
You fight dirty。
You bet I do。
I’m not giving up。
You’ve been warned。 No more silent treatment。
We thought of other things then； things that didn’t hurt。 Like where we would send the Seeker。 Mel was
all for the Mists Planet after my story tonight； but I thought the Planet of the Flowers would be more
We thought of my memories； the pretty ones。 The ice castles and the night music and the colored suns。
They were like fairytales to her。 And she told me fairytales； too。 Glass slippers； poisoned apples；
mermaids who wanted to have souls…
Of course； we didn’t have time to tell many stories。
They all returned together。 Jared had e back through the main entrance。 It had taken so very little
time—perhaps he’d just driven the jeep around to the north side and hidden it under the overhang there。
In a hurry。
I heard their voices ing； subdued； serious； low； and knew from their tone that the Seeker was with
them。 Knew that the time had e for the first stage of my death。
No。
Pay attention。 You’re going to have to help them do this when I’m —
No！
But she wasn’t protesting my instruction； just the conclusion of my thought。
Jared was the one who carried the Seeker into the room。 He came first； the others behind。 Aaron and
Brandt both had the guns ready—in case she was only feigning unconsciousness； perhaps； and about to
jump up and attack them with her tiny hands。 Jeb and Doc came last； and I knew Jeb’s canny eyes
would be on my face。 How much had he figured out already with his crazy； insightful shrewdness？
I kept myself focused on the task at hand。
Jared laid the Seeker’s inert form on the cot with exceptional gentleness。 This might have bothered me
before； but now it touched me。 I understood that he did this for me； wishing that he could have treated
me this way in the beginning。
“Doc； where’s the No Pain？”
“I’ll get it for you；” he murmured。
I stared at the Seeker’s face while I waited； wondering what it would look like when her host was fre