Megans eyes dropped towards Gabrielles stomach. What makes you think its a girl?

The medbox told me.

Megan shook her head and grimaced. When I think of the things Tarrant did to the both of us . . .

Just promise youll be back, said Gabrielle. Thats all I want to know from you. You have to, Megan, because I dont want to lose you just when I found you.

Megan felt something welling up deep inside her. She had worked so hard, for so very long, to hold her emotions in check; and now this girl this child threatened to overcome that carefully maintained balance.

Of course Ill be back, she said, meaning it with every ounce of her being.

THIRTY

A week later, once the worst squalls had died down, leaving relatively clear skies, Megan broke into the bases garage with the intention of stealing a truck.

She had already scouted out the three vehicles parked there. She had heard stories from one of Stiless staff about people sometimes getting stuck out in trucks for weeks or even months on end before they could be rescued, and for that reason all three vehicles were kept stocked with up to half a years flash-frozen rations. Drinking water could be obtained by scraping snow and ice from the ground and running it through the filtration system. As far as power and heating went, the trucks ran on miniature fusion packs thatd last near as damn forever. Even if she got lost or stranded, shed be able to survive.

Megan had meanwhile discovered, through casual chat, that Stiles had come to Redstone following the death of her teenaged daughter from a prolonged illness. She now had a sense of why Stiles was so willing to help them, and Gabrielle in particular.

She waited until night had fallen before quietly making her way along one of the sealed passageways connecting the base to the garage. All she needed to do was cycle the air out, board one of the trucks and ease it outside. By the time she was gone, it would be too late for Stiles or anyone else to stop her.

So she was more than a little chagrined to find Stiles already there, waiting for her.

Martha, said Megan, dropping her rucksack by her feet. Stiles stood right beside the immense treads of the nearest truck but was, so far as Megan could tell, unarmed.

I figured youd pick about now to make a run for it, said Stiles, coming forward. Weathers getting better . . . but you know thats temporary, right? Another couple of days and itll come down even harder than before.

It doesnt matter, said Megan stubbornly.

Stiles sighed and gave Megan a pitying look. You should know that even if youre not willing to tell me anything about yourself, Gabrielles a different matter. The two of us got talking, though Im still not sure whether I quite believe everything she said.