“Ink isn’t anywhere near as experienced or as effective as you are,” Jayewardene persisted, as she expected. “While I agree that she has much potential, she’s still learning the Committee, the personalities that are involved, and how you function within the organizations to which the Committee reports and with which it’s associated. You know those things intimately, and you’re used to dealing with all the rules and regulations and still getting what you want. That’s your strength and your value, even more than your ace ability. From these reports, it doesn’t seem that negotiation and understanding are what we’ll be needing. I’ve made my decision here, and it’s the one that has to be made,” he told her. “You know that too, I think. Talas…” His voice trailed off at the name, and he glanced at the video screens around the room. “This is like nothing we have faced before, and therefore we can’t react to it as we have in the past.”

He’s right. He’s right, one part of her mind insisted, but the other still screamed in terror and fear. I need to be with him, especially now. He needs me … and I need him. I can’t lose him.

She waited. Klaus still said nothing, carefully looking away from both of them. Barbara nodded once, tightening her lips against the press of emotions. She wanted Klaus to insist that she must go. She could see that he was already impatient to be in motion, to be streaking toward the action, wrapped in ghost steel and certainty. But he still didn’t speak, didn’t give her a clue as to what he might want her to say.

“Fine. I’ll stay,” she told them, though her gaze was now entirely on Klaus. She imagined him stopping her, shaking his head and insisting that this decision was wrong. But nothing changed in his face or his eye, and she released an unheard sigh. “I’ll get things under way with transportation, Klaus. Make the calls you need to make, and get yourself ready. I’ll take care of the rest.”

“I can see the soldiers,” Marcus said. He held Olena by the wrist, leading her through the rugged terrain outside of Talas. The landscape was barren and scrubby, sinister under the roiling light. He kept them moving toward where he thought their mountain landmark was. The main road was off to his left. He could see the vehicles clogging it, and the river of humanity flowing around them. He liked having the road near, but wanted to avoid people—and other things—as long as he could. “We’re almost there, Olena. Just a little farther. I can see them. I really can.”