“Oh great,” Andy groaned. “Do you think these guys were pulled under?” He turned to Tania. “Remember how Frank was pulled into the earth?”

Tania looked from Andy to Abrams. “We should probably move out, sir.”

“Yeah, we should.” Abrams took one last look around. “Captain Senesh, lead on.”

“You.” Adira pointed to Andy, and then out to the desert. “Bring my bike.”

“Huh?” Andy guffawed. “Can I ride it?”

“No. If anyone could ride it, I would. All of us cannot ride, and I do not wish to leave it for the desert. So we need to push it.” She shrugged. “It’s light, and you look strong.”

The geologist went to complain, but Abrams cut him off. “Do it, Andy. All hands in now.”

Andy groaned, but went and lifted the long machine from the sand.

*

After about an hour’s steady walking, Tania sidled up to Matt, her expression set. “I don’t trust her. She’ll throw us over in a second.”

Matt smiled. “As we’ve done to her in the past. Believe me, she has no reason to trust us either. But, it seems we have shared goals, so…” He shrugged.

Matt saw that Tania’s gaze narrowed as she stared at the athletic form of the Israeli woman. Is there a flash of green appearing in those eyes? he wondered. Perhaps it was just a natural rivalry between members of different forces. Hartogg might have relaxed, but he had volunteered for rear point, where he could keep Captain Senesh in sight even while surveying their surroundings.

Matt nodded at Adira’s back. “She knows what she’s doing, and we need her.”

Tania snorted. “Yeah, well, she needs us too. Everyone does.” She turned to look into Matt’s face. “I think I’m a little more objective than you, and my advice is, just don’t get too close to her. I think you’d regret it.” She dropped back, leaving Matt to trudge on alone.

The pace was hard, Adira’s long legs never once slowing. She never seemed to fatigue. As well, the sun had reached its peak, so the heat began to hammer down on them. Adira had covered over her head again, leaving just a slit in the cloth for her eyes. Andy pushed the bike, and his shirt was completely wet – to his credit he hadn’t complained for a second. Matt felt for the geologist, and decided he’d give the man a break soon. Before he did, he jogged up to walk beside Adira. “You look well…Are you?” he asked, glancing at her.

She turned her covered face to him. “I’m alive.” Her black eyes stared for a few seconds. “And back where I belong.”

“Ah, back where you belong; here.” He waved an arm out at the desolate landscape. He looked back into her eyes. “I kinda missed you.”

“I would have killed you, Matt…if you’d got in my way. That’s what I do. You think I belong in America? I think some people might not be too happy if I turned up there.” She looked away. “Did Alex Hunter survive?”