@@@@@Was Kyle dying, despite my efforts? Was he
@@@@@Was Kyle dying, despite my efforts? Was he conscious
again and looking for me? What about Walter? Was he sleeping… or gone? Had the Seeker
given up her hunt, or would she be back now that it was light again?
Will Jared still be with Doc?Mel added her questions to mineill he be angry when he sees
you? Will he know me?
When we reached the sunlit southern cave, Jared and Doc didn't look like they'd moved much
They leaned, side by side, against Doc's makeshift deskIt was quiet as we approachedThey
weren't talking, just watching Walter sleep
They started up with wide eyes as Ian carried me into the light and laid me on the cot next to
Walter'sHe straightened my right leg carefullyThat sound eased some of my tension
“What now?” Doc demanded angrilyHe was bending over me as soon as the words were out,
wiping at the blood on my cheek
Jared's face was frozen in surpriseHe was being careful, not letting the expression give way to
anything else
“Kyle,” Ian answered at the same time that I said, “The floor –”
Doc looked back and forth between us, confused
Ian sighed and rolled his eyesAbsently, he laid one hand lightly on my forehead“The floor
crumbled by the first river holeKyle fell back and cracked his head on a rockWanda saved his
worthless lifeShe says she fell, too, when the floor gave Ian gave Doc a meaningful
lookSomething,” he said the word sarcastically, “bashed the back of her head pretty good“Her nose is bleeding but not broken, I don't thinkShe's got some damage to
the muscle here He touched my sore thigh“Knees sliced up pretty good, got her face again,
but I think maybe I did that, trying to pull Kyle out of the hol