| � And?� � You�re pregnant.� � What?!� � Shh!� I ducked at the reprimand and lowered my voice. � Let me see!� She brought the folder over and pointed the things out to me. � . . . And right here is the giveaway.� � But I haven�t . . .� Then I remembered how I�d felt so defiled at the Slave Camp. I remembered that one particular test, though they didn�t know I was awake, had involved a long needle inserted in my lower stomach. � Those bastards are trying to propagate themselves through the hybrids!� � We mustn�t let them know that we know,� Aunt Sam cautioned me. � They won�t let us live.� � Okay, but can you do a test on Emily? I mean, do the tests yourself? She said she�d felt the same feeling I had back at Camp. Like we�d been soiled. And none of the soldiers at that camp raped either of us.� � Has she had fainting spells too?� � Not that I know of. But she�s a full hybrid and I�m not. She may not be reacting at all because she has more alien in her than me and her body isn�t trying to reject the thing like mine is.� Aunt Sam shook her head. � Something�s going wrong with you. I�ll need a sample of blood to test along with Emily�s, okay?� � Sure.� She filled a syringe and said, � Well, since you�re okay by this report, I can�t keep you here. Just make sure you stay in your office as much as possible so if it happens again nobody sees it.� � But Aunt Sam, I�m a busy-body.� � Then get a lazy-body. You can�t risk an attempted overthrow by the prisoners because of this. It might get Fox hurt.� Or killed. That part was left hanging, a curse to be spoken. Eagle Slave Camp Eagle, Colorado Sunday, September 23, 2001 5:26 P.M. I watched the guards escort him to the building to make sure they didn�t get rough. The other prisoners that were working along his path looked at him pityingly because anyone who entered my office by escort left in a body bag. I peeked into Emily�s small office through the door on the left side of the far wall. � Dad�s coming. When he gets here, just send him in, okay? Make the guards wait out here and if they question it, show them The Letter.� � Gotcha.� � And if Aunt Sam comes by, let her in.� � Sure thing.� I retreated to my chair and flopped into it so my back was propped against the right arm and my knees were bent over the left. I folded my arms over my stomach and leaned against the back, tilting the chair backwards some. I closed my eyes to do a little meditation. I think I actually fell asleep because I never heard the door open. I only heard a very familiar voice calling me and felt a very familiar hand touching my face with the utmost tenderness. One of only a few voices and touches I�d known since birth and could never ignore even if I�d been brainwashed. I took a waking breath and opened my eyes. Dad�s eyes smiled a greeting at me even as his face retained its indifference. � It�s about time. I was going to make them put me back out to work.� He moved back around to put the desk between us. I sat up, though my knees remained over the arm of the chair, and rubbed at my eyes. � How long was I asleep?� � A few minutes, I think. I thought you were messing around for a while. So what did you want me for? I know that anyone who comes in here by escort leaves with a bullet hole somewhere on their body. Gonna off your own father for security reasons?� � No,� I spat angrily. � Why do you insist that I�m a traitor? Did it not occur to you that maybe I�m doing infiltration work and finding everybody else? Finding everybody else so we can get free and get back together?� He blinked. � The last thing I remember before this big mess was timid Emily who let the family push her around. Since when were you so confrontational?� � Since you started to turn your back on me.� He didn�t bother to fight me about it. � So why did you call me here?� � I accessed the prisoner I.D. network and found Mom and Will and the kids. I�ve kept tabs on them so far and I�m hoping to get each of you free over the shortest amount of time possible.� � You�re going to bust me out?� � Yes, but I can�t give you a schedule because a new one is made up every day as I�m sure you know.� I paused to think. � I could send it through Emily . . . No, too suspicious . . .� � Emily?� I nodded at the door. � My secretary.� He turned to stare at the shut door, obviously bringing up the image of her in his photographic memory. He suddenly spun around. � Emily Sims?� I nodded. � She was in the camp I was put in. We decided to suck up and get inside to help you all. She remembers you and Mom and wants to talk you both whenever we have time to reflect.� � So she wasn�t dead?� � Probably not. They still could�ve transferred her memories and other such things to another body.� He came around the desk and sat on my calendar on the desktop. � So how will you get the schedule to me again?� I relaxed in the chair and gazed down at my knees. � I�m not sure yet. I can�t go out there and neither can Emily. I don�t trust the guards and---� I lifted my head to look at him. � Where�s your bed?� � Bribes will get you nowhere.� I snorted. He pointed over his shoulder. � In building A1. Second door on the left. The bottom bunk right across from the door.� I nodded. � I�ll seal it in an envelope and put it under your mattress.� � When?� � Not tonight, but sometime in the next three days, okay?� There was a light knock. That told me who it was right away. I put a hand on Dad�s knee to keep him where he was. � No, it�s all right. It�s just my doctor.� � How do you know?� � I recognize her knock. And don�t worry, I think you�ll like her.� Louder, I called, � Enter!� The door opened and Aunt Sam came in. She made sure the door was closed before saying, � I got those results.� � Great. Thanks, Aunt Sam. Just set them on the desk for now until I�m done with Dad.� <--Division 5 Division 7--> |