“Well, wherever it came from, I suppose I’m going to need it. When you get accused of a crime, don’t you have to hire a lawyer?” She shook her head, still not believing that she could be imprisoned for speaking the truth.

“You’ve decided for certain that you’re going to stay?”

“Yes.”

“Did God speak to you again?”

Abby didn’t think Sabin would understand, but as her host, he was owed as much an explanation as possible. “Sort of. I watched the Inland Tribes message you accessed for me.”

“And?”

“It convinced me for certain.”

“What was the message?”

“I’m…” She hesitated. “I’m not sure I should say.”

Abby breathed a sigh of relief. Kate looked normal. It had been a week since their last contact, and in the back of her mind, Abby had worried about her. “Kate! It’s so good—”

Kate started to speak. “Hi, you’ve reached Dr. Kate Sampson at the Meridian Hospital in Lae. I’m not available at the moment. Please leave a message.”

Abby’s shoulders slumped. She paused a moment, then spoke. “Hi, Kate. This is Abby. A lot has happened since we last talked, and I’ve changed my plans. I’m staying here in the States for a while. I don’t know how long.” She shifted nervously on the couch. Speaking to a visiscreen seemed so unnatural. “I was looking forward to seeing you, and I so appreciate your inviting me to stay with you for a while. I hope to take you up on it at some point. In the meantime I’ll keep you apprised on what’s happening to me here. I hope you’re doing okay.”

Abby ended the transmission as Sabin had instructed her. She walked up the stairs. Leaving a visual message left her cold. It reinforced what she felt now that she had decided to stay in the States: alone.

She knelt beside her bed. Abby had committed herself to God’s plan for her, whatever that might be. At the moment she didn’t have a clue. Unfortunately, praying didn’t seem to reveal one.

“Did you say hi to Chloe? I think she’s still up.”

Lauren unzipped her suitcase and removed her makeup bag. “She’s in VR. I didn’t want to disturb her.” She walked past Sabin to the bathroom. “So how’s my intrepid cousin been the last few days?”

“She’s…fine. I took her hiking in Colorado. How did San Antonio go?”

Lauren took out her makeup remover, dabbed some on a cloth, and wiped her face. “Usual routine. Gave my spiel. They gave their money.”

Sabin walked over to the bed, turned down the covers, and slipped inside. “There’s no way to skip these fund-raisers, is there?”