CHAPTER TWELVE

THE NIGHT IS CHILLY, BUT NOT DARK

I tossed a pebble into the lake. I watched the ripples widen untilthey faded away.

I tossed another pebble.

I had spent the past five days doing things like this. I would gointo the Cavern of the Falls and just listen to the cascading water.Or I would close my eyes in the Whispering Gallery and let the softfragments of voices drift through my ears. Or I would find somesecluded corner of the Tunnels and merge with the silence.

I talked little with other people. That included Alexandra. Shehad spent those five days settling into the Tunnels. The Dwellersinitially responded to her with uncertainty and caution. Then theyrealized that she had changed. She had cast away secrecy and thetemptations of power. She now wanted to belong to a community thatcould truly accept her.

Eventually the Dwellers did accept her. On the third night thechildren were begging her to read "The Walrus and the Carpenter."Even Jamie relaxed around her.

As for her gift, no one feared it in the Tunnels. Below you couldexpose your secrets without fear of being rejected. This was whyAlexandra came there. In a community untouched by sunlight you couldbe seen clearly.

However, not every secret could be seen. I found that out on thesixth day.

As I tossed more pebbles into the lake I heard footsteps behindme. I recognized the fluid stride.

Alexandra sat down next to me at the lake's edge. I said nothingto her. She said nothing to me for a long time.

Then she said, "I'm not sure if Layla is adjusting well to theTunnels."

"Give her time."

"She came here for me. I don't think she can handle the limits ofBelow."

"Well, there's no TV."

"You know what I mean."

I tossed another pebble into the lake.

"How long are you going to avoid me?" she asked.

"Can't a man spend some time on his own?"

"I haven't stopped loving you. I love you as much as the day Ifirst saw you."

"But you won't stop loving Layla."

"Will that always bother you?"

"Alexandra...I wish I could be 'enlightened' about this. But Icouldn't...my heart isn't big enough to hold two lovers at once."

"I've had the world walk through my mind. I think my heart is atleast as large as my mind."

"Oh, great. So if you meet a third person..."

Alexandra placed an ungloved hand on my shoulder. I turned to her.She wasn't wearing her scarves. I still hadn't quite gotten used tothe constancy of her unmasked face. It wasn't just her scarves thatwere no longer there. She no longer hid her emotions. I could see herdeepest thoughts written on her scaly face.

"You and Layla are unique. There's no one to match you in thewhole world."

I hesitated, then said, "Thanks."

"I haven't had sex with her, by the way."

I cleared my throat. "Not with me, either. We've come close,though."

"And I have come close with her. When the time is right..."

"Any idea when that's going to be?"

"I have given up on predicting the future." She paused, then said,"In fact I..."

I heard another familiar step. Alexandra and I turned to seeFather. Normally he would have carefully interrupted my privateconversation. This time he just strode into the Cavern. I heard analarm ring in my head.

Alexandra must have heard the same alarm because she asked in aguarded voice, "What is it, Vincent?"

Father looked at my lover and me. I had the feeling that he waswatching this moment very carefully. "Your father," he said toAlexandra, "has sent us a message. He wants to meet with you."

Alexandra nodded slowly. "When?"

"An hour from now."

She rose to her feet. "He just wants to talk. I'll..."

"Are you sure?"

"Of what?"

"Do you think that's all he wants to do?"

Alexandra's red eyes showed confusion. "I...well, I don't seewhat..."

Her voice trailed away. The expression on Father's face wasdiscomfiting. He seemed to be asking a question to a student whodidn't know the answer. I waited for him to provide that answer.

For a moment his shoulders slumped, and he looked weary. Then hestraightened his back and said, "We're going Above."

I asked, "Do you think we need to protect Alexandra?"

"You misunderstand me. We're all going Above."

Alexandra widened her eyes. I had this extremely improbable mentalimage. And I realized that this image was about to become real. Evenwith the truth apparent to me, I still had to ask in a gasp --

"Everyone?"

Father nodded. "Everyone."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

We call it the Rise. I suppose that sounds better than 'The BigRunning Away' or 'The Humongous Skitter.'

I wish that I could describe it in better detail, but it happenedvery quickly. I remember being told that I had to pack now. Layla wastold the same thing.

She started to ask, "What the fuck is..."

"Do it," Father told her in a voice which would accept noargument.

So we both stuffed a few things into backpacks and waited toreceive our next orders. We didn't have to wait long. Father stuckhis head into my chambers and said, "Follow me."

As I ran in the path of his quick footsteps other Dwellers dashedpast us. At first it seemed that everybody was running in differentdirections. Then I realized that each person was going to a specificplace. They all behaved like ants swarming in and out of a hole.

They were as quiet as ants too. Even though they were rushing andcarrying things, they made little sound. Some of them just carriedbackpacks. Others hauled large chests that required six hands tolift. They slipped up and down ladders. They popped out of holes,then jumped into other openings. The Builders, the Life Givers, theMemory Guardians, the Protectors were all swarming as one in theTunnels. And they did it as softly and efficiently as a computerprogram. The loudest noises were the clinking and clanking in thepipes -- rapid-fire messages you would have only recognized if youhad known what to hear. I had known these people for my entire life,and I had no idea that they were capable of such quick and orderlygroup action. I was impressed and very confused. I didn't know whatelse to do except follow Father. I was quicker than he was, buttonight I lagged behind him. It was all I could do to keep the sightof his flowing cloak.

Finally we stopped before an open manhole. "Down there," he said.I obeyed without thinking.

The hole was above an abandoned subway tunnel. This was one of thefew spots Below that I had never explored. As far as I knew, none ofthe Dwellers had ever used it.

Well, it was being used now. After I climbed down the rungs builtinto the tunnel wall, I turned and saw a sight I would neverforget.

All the children of the Tunnels were gathered here. They huddledin a group on the unused train tracks. Protectors with crossbows andminer hats surrounded them. The light from the hats dimly exposed thechildren's second-hand clothes and stiff faces. They weren't crying,but they were scared.

I saw Max. Being one of the older children he was holding aninfant, just as other children his age were doing. He kept quiet evenas he shot nervous looks down the dark tunnels. Despite their coolfaces, the Protectors were edgy as well.

There was a heavy sound above our heads. Everybody looked up andsaw my Father on the top rungs. With one hand he dragged and set themanhole cover into place. Then he climbed down the ladder. Despitehis quickness, he didn't seem hurried. I sensed his calmness andsheer presence soothing the nerves among the Protectors and thechildren.

He went to the front of the crowd. I followed him and found Jamie.Her armed crossbow emphasized her serious face.

Mouse was standing next to her. He was wearing that absurd helmetLayla and I had seen him wear. He was obviously picking up somemessage off the antennas because he was nodding and occasionallywhispering into a tiny microphone.

"We're ready," Jamie said. "Just give the..."

The pipes became silent. The sudden flurry of messages -- go, it'stime, to the exits, go -- abruptly stopped. Nothing followed them --not even the normal flow of coded talk I had heard all my life.

I knew right then that this wasn't a temporary evacuation. So didthe children. I could hear their breathing quicken and a fewsobs.

Father knelt down on the train tracks. "Shhh. You have nothing tofear. Whatever happens, you will be safe. I promise."

Nobody else could have convinced the children of that. Thechildren held back their tears and kept their eyes on Father.

He picked up the end of a rope. "Hold onto this," he said. Therope had been stretched out under the children's feet. Each one ofthem took hold of it.

Father stood up and said to me, "Guard our rear."

"But what about Alexandra? And La..."

"They will be fine. We need you here."

In that moment I trusted Father completely, and at the same time Ihad never trusted him less. I realized, though, that this wasn'tabout my trust toward him. It was about those twenty-nine children wehad to get to safety.

I joined the two Protectors at the back. I heard my father say,"Let's go."

We marched forward. The light of the miner hats scraped myfather's large shadow and the children's smaller ones across thewalls. The children, God bless 'em, kept their mouths shut. All thoselittle shoes made enough noise for me. I felt sure that the soldiersof the High Tower could hear them.

Oh, yes. The Tower. Who else would we be running from? Father musthave known that Bradbury had just wanted to get Alexandra away fromthe Tunnels, that Bradbury was finally sending his dogs Below.

I didn't ask Father how he knew, but I knew now that he had beenanticipating this. So had Grandfather. So had Jamie. So had Mouse andPascal and a whole lotta people. As I followed the children throughthe tunnel, snatches of conversation rose from my memory.

'We want to be worthy of your trust, Jacob.'

'We need a break.' 'From what?' 'Just stuff.'

'I know all about the Tower. Sometimes I think I'm the only onehere who takes it seriously.' 'Jacob, you have no idea about...'

'Things are very delicate right now. You know what's at stake.''You don't need to tell me.'

No, Grandfather hadn't needed to be told. He had been planningthis evacuation for months with Father and Jamie. A lot of the olderDwellers had known about it as well. No wonder it had run sosmoothly.

And not one of them had told me about it.

I couldn't throw a tantrum right then. I had to get these kids tosafety. But where was the safe place?

I found that out after thirty long minutes of marching throughabandoned tunnels. Vincent suddenly stopped and raised his hand. Hemoved to the side. Another set of rungs was nailed into the wallshere. He climbed these rungs to a manhole cover. He knocked fourtimes on the cover. He heard two knocks in return.

He pushed the cover aside with the help of an unseen person. Heclimbed down the rungs and said to the child in front, "Up yougo."

The child did as he was told. When he reached the top, handsgently pulled him through the hole. Vincent waved the next child tothe ladder. We soon had three children on the rungs at once. Jamieand two other Protectors helped to get the babies to the top. All thetime I kept my ears open for the Tower's goons.

Soon we had all the children out of the tunnel. Jamie signaled tothe Protectors who headed further down the tunnel and toward theirown destinations.

"Come on, Jacob," Father said. I looked back at his kind face withnarrowed eyes, but went up the rungs.

I found myself in a warehouse surrounded by Cretins. Dan hadbrought his whole gang here. A couple of them talked softly to thechildren. The little ones weren't quite sure what to make of theselarge men in black jackets, but they could sense that the Cretinswere here to protect them.

A truck stood between the children and the front wall. Irecognized the driver standing next to the cab. He was one of theHelpers. I also noticed that the long trailer had several holespunched in its side. The bikes of the Cretins surrounded the truck.Crates marked 'engine parts' surrounded us all.

Mouse and Jamie followed me through the hole. Father was the lastone out. He and Dan set the cover back into place.

Father addressed the children, "Children, this is Mister Holder."He indicated Dan. The leader of the Cretins smiled with hisgrandfatherly face at them.

"From now on, you do what he tells you to do. He and his friendswill take care of you for a while."

"Hello, children," Dan said. "What do you say we..."

"Sir?" This was Max. "Am I going to see my father again?"

Dan knelt before Max. "You will," he promised. "But right now yourfather has a lot of work to do." He patted the baby in Max's arms."So do you."

Sometimes you have to grow up fast. I could tell by the look inMax's eyes that he was about to do just that.

Dan nodded to two of the Cretins. They opened the back of thetruck. Inside were several mattresses, books, toys, water coolers andbuckets for doing you-know-what. "In you go," Dan said.

I have to give credit to those children. They quickly lined upbehind the truck as the Cretins picked them up and placed them insidethe trailer. Considering how calm they were, I decided to wait untilthey departed before I started screaming.

The last young Dweller entered the trailer. The doors were shutcarefully behind them.

"I'm trusting you," Father said to Dan, "with somethingpriceless."

Dan nodded. "Nothing gets in our way. Nobody but the brotherscomes near those kids."

Father raised his palm. Dan slapped him on it. Under othercircumstances, I would have fallen down laughing. I had never seenFather give anyone a high five before.

The driver started the truck's engine. The Cretins got on thebikes. Jamie pressed a button. A motorized wheel lifted the largemetal door built into the front wall. Through the entrance I couldsee a green sign pointing to a direction away from the city.

With a phalanx of scary-looking bikers the truck departed from thewarehouse. Jamie pressed the button again. The door descended to theground. She let out a long, long sigh.

"Well," I said, "this is a fine fucking kettle of..."

"Jacob..." Father said.

"You mind telling me..."

"Jacob," Father repeated in a stronger voice. "Let's wait for theothers."

I didn't ask 'what others.' I just sat on a crate and glared atFather. He stood and accepted my gaze. As we waited Mouse listened tothe messages received on his helmet. Jamie watched the outsidethrough a window.

A few minutes later I heard a car pull up to the warehouse. Jamieopened the entrance and allowed the car to drive inside.

I recognized the car. And its four passengers. And its driver.

Layla was the first one out of the car. The entrance door hadn'tgone all the way down before she was yelling, "You mind telling mewhat the hell is going on now?"

"I have an equally good question," I said. "What is she doinghere?" I pointed at the driver as she stepped out of the car. Dianalooked sadly at my accusing finger.

"Diana is here," Grandfather said as he limped his way out of thecar, "because she saved us all."

"She...? Do you know what she was doing? Do you know about herand..."

Alexandra left the vehicle and said, "Jacob, I think you shouldlisten."

I glanced briefly at her and said, "Oh, I'm just one big ear rightnow. I would like to hear how long you've been planning this shit andwhy you didn't..."

"Shhh." Pascal, the fifth occupant of the car, had called forquiet. Like Father, he was dressed in his 'Above' clothes. UnlikeFather, he was holding a small metal object in his hand.

"You should listen to this," he said. He turned a knob on theobject and held it toward everyone. The object had a small screen andspeakers.

It was a television -- a portable television. The Dwellers werefinally watching TV.

The news, to be precise. Despite the small screen, I could see animage of a crashed plane. Over the sight of twisted metal anewscaster explained that eight people had died in the crash,including a US Senator. What the newscaster and the vast majority ofhis audience didn't know was that the Senator had been a member of avery exclusive club.

"He won't be the only one," Pascal said. "You can bet on it."

I pieced it together, or thought that I did. "So Bradbury istaking out the opposition," I said, "and all the possible threatslike us."

"No," Alexandra said.

I turned to her and saw her puzzled face. "The Senator wasn't partof the coup," she said. "He wasn't one of the Nobles on my side."

I matched her bewildered face. That's when Mouse spoke up."They're moving in," he said. "Gareth sees a whole squadron invadingthe Tunnels."

"Tell Gareth to get out of the park," Jamie said.

Mouse nodded and said into the microphone, "End observation. Go tomeeting point."

Jamie shook her head. "We barely got out ahead of them."

"We did well," Father said, then sighed. "You know, I'll miss mygramophone. I hope somebody enjoys my records."

"Okay," I said, raising my hands. "I understand that the Tower hasjust invaded the Tunnels. I understand you've been hiding your exitplan from me. What I don't understand is how you knew the Tower wouldinvade now."

"Ask Diana," Father requested.

I turned my suspicious expression to her. Diana took a breath,then said, "When I realized what Alexandra had planned, I went to seeBradbury."

"Yeah, I know that."

"What you don't know is that I told your father and Mister Wellsbeforehand. They agreed to it."

I blinked, looked at my father and grandfather, and then yanked myeyes back to Diana.

"I wasn't just spying on Alexandra and you," she said. "I wasspying on Bradbury."

"You...you found out that he was going to do this?" Isputtered.

"I was profiling him as well as Alexandra. And I learned a greatdeal." She turned to Alexandra. "Tell me -- where did you get thisidea to reshape the Tower?"

Alexandra said, "After the Trade Center attack I wanted to dosomething that would..."

Diana placed her fingers gently on Alexandra's cheek. "You areyour father's daughter."

Those red eyes stared into Diana's sad, empathic ones. "My fathergave me the idea?" Alexandra whispered.

"Not consciously. But he had wanted to change the Tower for sometime. You picked up on it from little things he said and did. Isuspected this, but I wasn't sure until our last meeting with him.Your father is tired of hiding in the Tower -- tired of hiding fromthe world. He wants to end all the things that could threatenhim...and his daughter."

I suddenly remembered that last conversation between Alexandra andher father --

'What I think doesn't matter. What matters now is what youthink.'

'No, Father, tell me. Do you believe that I'm unworthy to lead theHigh Tower? Do you think that the Tower should stay as it is?'

'Despite your gift, you have seen no more than what I have seen.You know no more than what I know.'

That son-of-a-bitch, I thought. He didn't answer her question.

"Wait a second," Layla said. "I'm very, very confused. Are yousaying Bradbury didn't want to stop the coup?"

"He wanted to stay in power," Diana said, "but he also wanted tochange the Tower. He's doing it right now."

"So why didn't he do it on his own, then?"

"Because he doesn't have Alexandra's gift." Diana dropped her handfrom Alexandra's cheek. "She could create the perfect plan, knowexactly how the Tower could change, who Bradbury could trust."

"Then why didn't he just stand back and let her do her thing? Imean, he obviously expected you to talk her out of this."

"My father," Alexandra said as she looked down at the floor,"always wants to do things on his terms."

"And he does not want his daughter to exceed his control," Dianaadded.

"Okay, let me this clear," Layla said as she rubbed her forehead."By talking Alexandra out of her shit, you just cleared a path forher father to take over the world?"

"That's it."

"Well, why the fuck did you do that?"

Diana turned to Layla and gave her a look that closed Layla'smouth. "I spoke the truth," Diana said in a hard voice. "Alexandrahad no more right to be queen than her father has a right to beking."

"But I gave him the plan," Alexandra said in a trembling voice. "Igave him my plan. Diana, why didn't you stop me..."

Diana turned back to Alexandra. In a softer voice she said, "Ifyou hadn't, your father would have become suspicious. He would haveforced you to hand over the plan."

"No. He wouldn't have done anything to me."

"Not to you." Diana gave Layla another look. "I was protectingyou, Layla."

Layla had to sit down on the hood of the car. Her hands weretrembling.

"And Jacob," Diana added. "And the Tunnels. At least, for a shorttime."

"Besides," Grandfather interjected as he sat on a crate, "EdwardBradbury would have done this anyway, perfect plan or not.Alexandra's gift just made the effort more efficient."

"Are you sure he would have done this without my help?" Alexandraasked him.

"I've known a lot of men like your father. They use powerarrogantly while they lie to themselves about why they're controllingothers. Then, one day, they can't lie to themselves anymore." Heshook his head. "No, Alexandra, you only sped up an inevitableevent."

Alexandra rubbed her hands together, then quickly looked up atDiana. "How could you see this and I couldn't?" she askeddesperately. "Why didn't my gift warn me?"

"For the same reason that Bradbury tried to get you out of thetunnels before the raid."

A tear worked its way out of Alexandra's eye. I just stood thereand watched it. I realized that I wasn't the one who could comforther now. Neither could Layla.

"I couldn't see his intentions through my love for him," Alexandrasaid.

"And through his love for you."

"I...I don't want that kind of love anymore."

Diana tenderly embraced Alexandra. Alexandra held herself to thewoman who raised me, the one person who could truly look afterAlexandra now, the person who would now guide her, as a parent trulyshould. As I watched this, I felt...

I didn't know how I felt. So much deception around me, so much ofit created by the people I had trusted. And yet they had a reason,didn't they?

"Tell me this," I carefully said. "I understand that you wereexpecting Bradbury to make a move like this. I understand that youwere planning this evacuation for a long time. What I don'tunderstand is..."

"You were the only Dweller who had personal contact withBradbury," Jamie abruptly said.

"Oh. I see. You were worried that I might accidentally reveal yourplan."

"Too much was at stake, Jacob."

"Uh-huh. There is one problem with that, though." I pointed atAlexandra. As I spoke, my voice became louder and angrier. "You lether into the Tunnels. Weren't you worried that she would learn aboutyour evacuation, especially with her goddamn gift? And, may I remindyou, she had lot and lots of personal contact with Bradbury. If youweren't worried about her, why the hell were you worried aboutME?"

Grandfather looked down at his cane. Jamie also turned away fromme. Mouse squirmed. Pascal walked to another part of the warehouse tomonitor his television. They left it up to Father to speak.

"We were worried about Alexandra," he said carefully. "But we alsowanted to trust her."

"Why?"

"Because she loves you, Jacob."

After he was silent for a few seconds I said, "That's it?"

"Well, there's also the fact that, unlike her father, she wantedto protect the Tunnels. If she had discovered our plan, then herinfluence in the Tower could have helped us."

"But, in the end, it was our relationship that earned her apass."

"We wanted her to trust us as well. We couldn't just push heraway."

Jamie decided to speak up. "Of course, I wanted to. Remember?"

"She was the one uncertain variable in our plan," Grandfatherinterjected. "We decided to put our faith in her because you hadfaith in her."

"Yet, oddly enough, you didn't have faith in me."

Nobody had an answer to that. I shook my head and crossed to aspot far away from everyone. I stood there with my back turned to myfamily.

"All right," Grandfather said. "We made a mistake. But putyourself in our position. For a long time no one knew if you wereeven going to stay in the Tunnels. Yes, you decided to stay with us,but many Dwellers still questioned your judgment."

"Were you one of those Dwellers, Grandfather?" I asked with myback still turned.

"I was," Jamie said. "I had big doubts about your judgment. Forchrissake, Jacob, you invited Layla to the Tunnels without gettingpermission! Do I need to remind you how that complicated things?"

"Oh, thank you," Layla muttered.

"No offense, Layla, but the last thing we needed was you, Jacoband Alexandra screwing things up with your own version of SundayBloody Sunday. Not that I give a damn about your very modernarrangement..."

"All right. I get your point."

"My point is," Grandfather said, "we still wanted Jacob andAlexandra to be together. And we accepted you as well, Layla. Maybewe should have told you everything, but the Tunnels weren't takingany chances. What matters now is where we are." Grandfather tappedthe cement floor with a cane. "The question is -- do you want to staywith us now?"

"Where are you going?" I asked.

"No where."

I finally turned to the others. Layla's back straightened.Alexandra gently pulled away from Diana and looked atGrandfather.

"But," Alexandra said, "my father will be hunting for you."

"Let him come." The old man had a defiant gleam in his eyes. "Wewill certainly be hunting him."

I looked at Grandfather. At Mouse. At Jamie. At Pascal. At Diana.And at the tall, powerful lion man who nodded to Grandfather'swords.

"Holy fuck," Layla said. "Are you people..."

"Bradbury wants to wage war on us," Jamie said as she smiled andshouldered her crossbow. "It would be rude not to give him a goodfight."

"But...Bradbury is now the most powerful man in the world. Or he'sgoing to be. He's got all this shit at disposal, and youpeople..."

"We have the city," Pascal said, walking toward Layla and turningoff the mini-television. "This is our territory."

"The Tunnels were your territory. You don't have themanymore."

"Oh, we have much more than that, Miss Mubarak," Grandfather said."We have many allies and resources Above."

"Who? All I've seen are..."

"Weirdos and misfits and outcasts?" Mouse said. He grinned atLayla -- a sight made even stranger by the wired helmet on his head."You'll be surprised what one misfit can do, much less an army ofthem."

"It'll be a hard war, no doubt," Grandfather said. "But for bothsides."

"And how," Layla said, crossing her arms over her chest, "do youplan to take on something like the Tower?"

I gave out a short, sardonic laugh. "Are you kidding?" I said."They already have a plan."

Layla looked at Grandfather. "Something like one," he slowlyadmitted. "But you don't have to be a part of it."

"I already am," she said.

"Not necessarily. We can move you to a safe spot like thechildren."

"I don't think the children are safe. I don't think any of us aresafe until the Tower is out of the picture."

"Is that a yes?"

Layla raised her eyebrows. Grandfather nodded, then looked atAlexandra. "What about you?"

"Are you asking me to fight against my own father?" she asked.

"I understand if..."

"The answer is yes." There was no bitterness and anger in hervoice. It was a simple statement of fact. "I should warn you," sheadded, "that you cannot depend on my gift."

Grandfather furrowed his brow. "You've lost it?"

"I'm...I'm not sure. I haven't been able to...sense things likebefore. Not since I came to the Tunnels."

"Oh, great," I muttered and turned to Father. "Her gift and ourBond. Damn things go on the fritz when they choose to."

"I think," Father said, "Alexandra's gift came when she needed toknow what was beyond the walls surrounding her. And now..."

"Now I have a much broader world," Alexandra said.

Father nodded. Alexandra did something I had rarely seen her do --she smiled. Her face lit up with gratitude. I think that smile mighthave made my next decision for me.

"Well," Grandfather said, "even without your gift, you will be avalued ally." He paused, then added, "So would you, Jacob."

Without looking at my grandfather I said, "So I'm to be treatedlike I'm a member of this community?"

"You always were. But only stay if you feel that it's worthdefending, and if you think our cause is right."

I looked at the people around me. Layla was in this war to fightthe people who had killed Joe. Alexandra wanted to protect her newfamily. And Diana...

I gave her the longest look. Her eyes were sad, but they asked meto do the right thing.

I took a breath, then said --

"'I was ever a fighter, so--one fight more,

The best and the last!

I would hate that death bandaged my eyes, and forbode

And bade me creep past.'"

A strong hand squeezed my shoulder. I turned to the hand's ownerand said, "That means yes, by the way."

"A good choice of words," Father said. "But I think someone otherthan Browning provided a more succinct and apt poetry for thissituation."

"What's that?"

I saw my father make an expression that I had never seen him makebefore. He bared his fangs in a nasty grin, and his eyes shined withthoughts of the awful things he would soon do to the enemy as he said--

"It's ON."

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

And, yes, there's more. The story of the war between the Tunnelsand the Tower will be told in "The Fearful Bond." This will completethe trilogy.

As for this one, I once again thank Becky Bain for the edit job.And like "The High Tower" it comes with a soundtrack.

Saint Eve, "No Human Words"

Palestrina, 'Gloria' from 'Missa Dum complerentur' performed byWestminister Cathedral Choir under Martin Baker

Motorhead, "I'm So Bad (Baby I Don't Care)"

T-Model Ford, "Nobody Gets Me Down"

Dizzy Gillespie, "Manteca"

Jefferson Airplane, "Comin' Back to Me"

Bach, "Gedenk an uns mit deiner Liebe" from Cantata BMW 29,performed by Deborah York

Saint Eve, "One Day"

Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys, "Right or Wrong"