“So can you,” she said. “But it will be good for you having to deal with someone who won’t kowtow to you.” She smiled. “Just being around him makes me remember just how good he is, and why his team thinks he can move mountains.”

“Well, there are mountains to move here.”

“He’ll do it.” She suddenly straightened as the energy flowed through her. “We’ll do it. I’m charged, too.”

“I can see you are.” His gaze went to the door of the hut. “Charges are not to be wasted. Do you want to go inside and have…tea?”

She quickly shook her head. If she thought about it, she was afraid she’d give him another answer. “I don’t want to do anything but get Sasha away from Jubaldar. When I called Margaret yesterday afternoon, she said that she’d found a cliff passage from Jubaldar to that pine forest where we park the Land Rover that we might be able to use to move the horses. I need to get back there right away to help her check it out. I can feel how close we’re getting. Can’t you?”

“Yeah.” He pushed the hair away from her face, his fingers lingering in the strands at her temple. “I just tend to become distracted and confused these days about what’s important and what’s not at any given time. But I know Sasha is number one on that list.” He brushed his lips across the tip of her nose. “I’ll call Harris and tell him we’re going to want him to pick us up in the helicopter and leave for Jubaldar right after Novak takes off. Is that soon enough?”

She nodded. “Things didn’t seem to be going that bad for Sasha, but you can never tell what’s happening from one minute to the next.”

“No, you can never tell. So we’ll get you there so that you can feel closer to her.” He was striding up the street. “I’ve got to meet Novak. I’ll see you at the helicopter pad.”

She lingered, wanting to call him back. She didn’t do it. She turned and went into the house to get her backpack.

*  *  *

Jubaldar
3 P.M.
50 Hours to Race Time

Margaret was waiting when Korgan pulled into the forest and parked the Land Rover.

Alisa’s tense gaze flew to Margaret’s face. Then she relaxed as Margaret smiled at her and started toward the car. Nothing must be wrong.

She jumped out of the car. “I tried to hurry back. But then Novak showed up and he and Korgan had to—”