“An extraordinary human being,” he answered quietly. “Clever, resourceful, full of endurance and extreme inner strength, able to think on her feet, kind to animals, able to adjust to new situations. She was also able to command your trust and affection, which is a talent in itself. You’d rarely give either willingly.” He paused. “I noticed considerably more, but that’s all I needed. She could do anything we asked her to do.”

“Of course she could. That doesn’t mean we have to ask her. I didn’t commit to anything.”

“Not yet,” he said. “But I’m not letting you walk away until you do.” His eyes were narrowed on her face. “You agree that the most efficient and safe way to get those girls out of the camp will be to let Sasha handle it with whatever help we can give her. Is that true?”

She was silent before she said reluctantly, “Yes, that’s true.”

“And that’s how it should be handled? How you would have handled it yourself if I hadn’t become involved?”

She couldn’t deny that, either. “I would have probably had to handle it that way. But it would have been difficult to ask that of her.”

“But you will ask her,” he said. “Because she wouldn’t forgive you if you’d kept her from helping if something happened to one of those students.” He stood up and moved around the fire to pull her to her feet. “We both knew that, but I had to make sure I wasn’t going to send her on any suicide mission.” He grimaced. “And you had to admit to yourself that you’d probably have to do the one thing that you’ll hate above all. We couldn’t move forward without coming to terms with both.”

“Move forward.” She leaned toward him, her gaze searching his face. “You already have an idea of something definite you want Sasha to do, don’t you?”

“She’s one of the essential keys,” he said simply. “Right place. Right time.”

“I’m beginning to hate those words.” She added, “And I’m not feeling too friendly toward you at the moment. You’re a very dangerous man. I can see how you manage to manipulate all those directors in your boardrooms.”

“My least favorite thing in the world, but I have to do it to free myself to get back to my labs. But I wasn’t manipulating you, Alisa. I just had to—”

“Move me forward?” she repeated. “Well, you’ve done that, Korgan. But only if you can show me that we can keep her safe. I want to know what you’re planning for Sasha.”