| � They whipped us and then lined us up to die.� I brought me head up at the voice. It was Dad. � Were you trying to escape?� He looked me square in the eye. � Yes.� I humphed and released them. � Well, because they didn�t follow orders, I�ll let you two go free. But don�t think I�ll let it go again.� � Of course not,� answered the other man, whose voice was also familiar. After a moment, I realized it was Skinner. I glanced around for any guards, then said, � That wasn�t smart. Don�t try to get out anymore.� � Why not?� � Because then I�ll have to kill you!� I snapped. I pulled a pad of paper and a pen from the nearby (and empty) guardhouse. I scribbled a note and signed it, then folded it into a little square and taped it shut. � Now get to the hospital and give this to the doctor on duty. He�ll take care of you. And don�t break the tape or he won�t treat you, okay?� Dad took the note. � Why are you helping us?� � Because Will and I aren�t the mistakes you wish we were.� With that, I went back into the building and to my bed. Eagle Slave Camp Eagle, Colorado Wednesday, September 19, 2001 3:47 P.M. I�d managed to slip out without my bodyguards for once and walked around the camp by myself, inspecting all the jobs. It was a clear, warm day and there was a gentle breeze--perfect working conditions for those doing the more back-breaking work. I was heading back to my office when it happened. It started as a dull throb in my abdomen, quickly spreading and becoming a full-body ache. And from an ache it became a stabbing pain that I could not ignore. I collapsed forward onto the sandy ground of the camp. Almost immediately, prisoners appeared to finish me off. Vultures to carrion. Why had I gone out without my guards? The prisoners were moving in when Dad happened upon the scene. He quickly assessed the situation and stepped in. � Don�t!� he commanded, getting between them and me before they could attack. He turned to glare at me. � Can�t you see that this is a ploy so she can justify killing you?!� It was pretty lame because I could do what I wanted to them--justification or no. But it was good enough to cause nearly all of them to change their minds. � Get up!� he ordered. � We won�t be fooled by you!� Get up, Princess. I struggled to my feet as normally as I could muster and waited until they returned to work. My guards arrived and escorted me back to my office. We�re even now. Yes, we were. I sat in my plushy chair and sighed at the mixed look of disgust and worry on Dad�s face. He still didn�t forgive me for brushing him off and most certainly not for �trading sides�and becoming the enemy. If he only knew it was infiltration . . . But even though he believed me to be a traitor, paternal instinct wouldn�t let him remain totally indifferent to my pain. What had happened out there anyway? It wasn�t even hot enough for heat stroke. I�d felt fine until that point, so . . . Just as I was deciding to go talk to Aunt Sam, pain shot through me again and I crumpled to the floor with a dull thud. An undescribable tightness squeezed my chest and I had a second to wonder if it was a heart attack before my body completely shut down in self-defense and blackness swallowed me whole. Eagle Slave Camp Eagle, Colorado Saturday, September 22, 2001 9:28 A.M. I opened my eyes and looked around. Unable to recognize where I was, I sat up to get a better view. I was in the hospital in a small room. There was the bed I was on, a chair, and lots of medical equipment. I was getting ready to pull everything out of me when the door opened and Aunt Sam walked in. � Oh, you�re awake!� She set her things down and came over to me. � Lay back down, Echo. I haven�t gotten the test results back yet.� � Aunt Sam, what�s wrong with me?� � I don�t know. That�s what the test results are going to tell me.� � How did I get here?� � Emily heard a thump from your office and called you, but you didn�t answer. She came in to check on you and found you on the floor. Then she called me and I had you brought here.� She retrieved her things and pulled the chair closer to my bed. � I thought you were dead at first. Your entire body had shut down. The only thing that said you were still alive was your circulating blood. Somehow, your blood can move through the organs without help.� There was a knock on the door and Aunt Sam answered. She opened the door just enough for her to be seen, but not enough that my plight was revealed. She shut the door and sat down. � Thanks.� � For what?� � Not letting them see me.� She smiled. � Well, I know that word would get around and things would start to go really bad for you. As it is there�ll probably be some talk.� � I�m sure. It happened before.� � It did? Why didn�t you say anything?� � It only happened a few minutes before I passed out in the office. I was going to talk to you when this last one hit.� � Where did it happen?� � Out in the yard in front of a bunch of workers.� She made a face and I nodded. � Dad saved me.� � See? What did I tell you?� � He was just repaying me for giving he and a friend better medical attention through a note.� � Oh?� � Yeah. Last night Dad and his friend and a few other prisoners tried to escape. The guard team on duty killed three of them without my permission. I only managed to save Dad and his friend.� She nodded and opened the folder. After reading through several things, she frowned and read over it again. � Aunt Sam?� � Are you sure you want to hear this?� � . . . Yes.� She sighed. � Well they�re trying to keep it a secret and changed a lot of stuff, but they missed one thing that I didn�t.� <--Division 4 Division 6--> |