Nichols knew that the demand for brain transplants would be high but also that their cost would be prohibitive for all but the wealthy. The only way to achieve high market penetration was to have the government finance the procedure. Politically, that was tricky. Congress could pass a law mandating the coverage, but garnering sufficient support for such legislation would take at least a year—probably two. Health Services could circumvent that by extending such coverage themselves.

Perpetual budget shortfalls, however, kept Health Services in a mode of cutting coverage, not expanding it. A groundswell of public opinion could force the administration’s hand. Nichols’s own unveiling of the transplant procedure had started that process. The second step was to hold widely publicized Congressional hearings.

Lauren shrugged. “In this business…Let’s just say the hearings will move the ball further down the field. Whether we score this year or not…”

“If we don’t, you can carry the ball in the upper chamber.”

She smiled. “That’s what I’m here for, isn’t it?”

They both sipped their drinks.

“So,” Nichols continued, “your cousin.”

“My cousin.”

He put his glass down. “We haven’t spoken again of the message you received from Ray.”

“Perhaps we should.”

“It would benefit neither of us if she became aware of that message.”

“No, of course not.”

“Nor for her to stay in the country too long.”

“Agreed.”

Nichols lifted his glass. “To our continued partnership, Lauren.”

Abby stared at the open suitcase, her meager belongings not quite filling one side. She picked up the toiletries bag, unzipped it, fumbled for the new toothbrush, then walked over to the sink to brush her teeth for the second time in the past ten minutes.

Within the hour she’d be heading to the airport, climbing aboard a plane, and heading off on an adventure that somehow seemed riskier than any she had yet known. But what choice did she have? The certainty of her grandparents’ message had unnerved her—not because she didn’t want to do God’s will, but because she couldn’t imagine she could be the one woman to make a difference. How could someone who had never traveled beyond a handful of Inisi villages hope to start a spiritual revolution in America?

Despite the odds, Abby felt compelled to move forward. Her parents had brought the message of Christ to the Inisi. Now God was asking her to bring the same message to her parents’ homeland. It was simply another mission field. A huge one.

“Abby, are you ready? We probably should be heading to the airport.”

“Just a moment,” she called. She faced her reflection, inhaled deeply, and voiced the question that had been foremost on her mind. “God, you know what you’re doing, right?”

She looked down at the toothbrush, stuffed it in the toiletries bag, and closed the suitcase. She walked into Kate’s living room. “I’m ready.”