CHAPTER 11

To everyone's surprise, Tomás and Catherine promised to contact any 
relatives they wanted, and guaranteed their location would not be 
revealed.

"How?" Doggett asked skeptically.

Tomás answered, "We have been doing this for many years. As have 
others all over the world. If you wanted us to get a message to 
someone in Tibet, we could do it. And quickly, too."

Catherine waved her arms over the table in the refectory where the 
little gathering was talking. "For centuries, people like us have 
been burned as witches, imprisoned in asylums, subjected to shock 
treatments..." She breathed deeply and watched Doggett and Reyes' 
expressions. "But we have also been revered -- as mystics, shamans, 
seers. When we use our gifts in the service of religion we are safe, 
and often also powerful. But although we work for the Church, in our 
case, our primary duty is toward others of our kind. To protect them 
and help them." Gibson nodded with gratitude. Catherine 
continued, "To lead them toward safety, and shelter them along the 
way."

"Like the Underground Railroad?" Reyes asked.

Catherine smiled enigmatically. "Where do you think Harriet Tubman 
got the idea?"

"Lemme get this straight," Doggett interrupted. He turned to Gibson 
and asked, "So you stayed in touch with Agent Mulder when you were on 
the run?" Gibson nodded. "And these... people of the Via sheltered 
you?" Gibson nodded again. Doggett turned to Sister 
Catherine. "And if we join you, do we have to live here? Or join 
some religious..."

"Cult?" finished Catherine. "We are not a cult. And you don't have 
to live here, or in any other kind of monastery to be part of the 
Via. Times have changed, and we don't need to hide like we used to. 
But many of us feel more comfortable living in seclusion, away from 
society, for our own peace of mind. The thoughts of others can be 
quite... overwhelming to some of us." Doggett looked at Gibson, who 
looked away, blushing.

"We can train him to block out what he finds uncomfortable," Tomás 
offered. "And we can train you to be more open to others' thoughts," 
he continued, looking directly into Doggett's crystal blue 
eyes. "And to each other's," he added, nodding toward Reyes.

Reyes blushed. "I'd like that," she said softly. Doggett looked at 
her with disgust bordering on contempt, then saw her raise her eyes 
to his. She smiled and said, "I'd like to know what you're thinking."

It took a moment for him to grasp her meaning, and when he did, he 
couldn't help smirking. Yes, he admitted to himself. Love-making 
between two psychically linked people could be incredible. Reyes' 
smile broadened when she saw that he understood.

"So where do we sign up?" Doggett asked.

Catherine and Tomás escorted the pilgrims to the little library, 
where Agatha sat at ta computer with a Mexican girl of about fifteen 
looking on. The girl turned and looked admiringly at Gibson, who 
blushed.

"Rosalit," said Catherine with uncharacteristic kindness and 
affection. "Please find Sister Martha and ask her to join us here."

Rosalita shyly shuffled past the group, but as she passed Gibson she 
sneaked another glance at him, eliciting another blush on his part.

Agath rose and stood to the side as Catherine took over. "Here," she 
clicked on an icon. She waved Monica, John, and Gibson closer, and 
they obediently looked over her shoulder. "The Via Sub Rosa has just 
started using the internet. We have set up e-mail accounts for all 
of you. Whereever you go you can contact one of us, and we will find 
a way to help you with whatever you need."

Reyes nodded admiringly as Doggett pursed his lips skeptically. "How 
do we know you won't monitor our e-mail?" he asked.

Catherine laughed. "Count on it! That's part of how it works."

Reyes backed away warily. "I don't think I like that."

"You think your e-mails haven't been monitored by the FBI?" 
Doggett's eyes met Reyes' over the top of Catherine's head. "And not 
just by your old boyfriend," Catherine added. At their surprised 
reactions Catherine turned around to face them. "Of course I know 
about that," she said. "I think he'll be very useful to us." 
Doggett rolled his eyes and his lip curled into a slight sneer. 
Catherine looked at Reyes and added, "He's been looking for you."

Monica gasped and felt her heart racing. "How do you know?" she 
asked breathily.

"Like I said, the Via Sub Rosa is a large network, and very 
efficient." Reyes' panicked eyes sought Doggett's. "But don't you 
worry," Catherine added smugly. "We won't let him find you until it 
suits our purposes -- or until you want him to."

"No, that's okay," Reyes said hurriedly. "We're not ready to be 
found." Instinctively, Doggett reached for her hand and gave it a 
gentle squeeze. She smiled gratefully, and he moved his hand up her 
arm and across her shoulders. She leaned her head against his arm 
and sighed. "I don't want to go back at all if it will mean owing 
Brad a favor," she said softly but firmly.

"Me neither," Doggett agreed. He kissed the top of her head and 
added, "Or anybody else." Reyes put her arms around his waist and he 
responded by pulling her closer.

"Oh please!" Gibson groaned, rolling his eyes. Doggett and Reyes 
parted, making Gibson grin victoriously.

"You're one to talk," Catherine snorted. "I heard what you were 
thinking about Rosalita!"

John and Monica grinned at Gibson, who said, "What?"

"Nothing," Doggett feigned innocence. "I didn't say a thing.

"Don't look at me!" Reyes laughed.

Mother Catherine cleared her throat and said commandingly, "Anyway... 
As you might imagine, face-to-face we have very few security 
problems... But when we write, on paper or in e-mail, we write in 
code. Only Father Tomás, Sister Martha, and Sister Mary will be able 
to read your e-mails. They will translate them to a new code and 
pass them to the others who will translate them into another code, 
and so on... For now, we will only teach you one code."

"Isn't this how terrorist networks operate?" Doggett scoffed.

"I wouldn't know," she answered haughtily.

Reyes' forehead crinkled in thought. "Why can't *you* read our mail?"

"Because," Ctherine nodded to Gibson, "As the boy said, I'm not as 
good at blocking snoopy telepaths."

Tomás leaned back on his heels and stared into Gibson's eyes. Gibson 
stared back defiantly, but a bead of sweat on his brow and a quiver 
in his lip belied his confidence.

"STOP IT!!!" Doggett yelled, forcefully pulling Gibson by the arm, as 
he had before.

Reyes whirled and threw a fist into Tomás' stomach. Tomás doubled 
over, groaning loudly before straightening despite a violent cough.

Catherine smiled admiringly at Reyes, then grinned at Tomás. "Tsk 
tsk," she chided. "You should have seen that coming!"