Hawkins walked back to his table and hissed. “Give me your brother’s number again.” Kayla repeated the number, Hawkins punched it in the phone, then handed the phone to Kayla. She spoke quietly and intently for a full five minutes. It was obvious to the others that she did most of the talking. The yuppies watched but didn’t interfere.

Kayla clicked off the phone and handed it back to Hawkins, who in turn took it back to the yuppies. The one who owned the phone jammed it in his pocket. They left the bar, waving airily, a hundred dollars richer.

“Joey will be here tomorrow. He said he has news. I thought it best not to go into anything on a strange phone. At least he knows where we are. I gave him Sam’s address, too. He’ll catch up with us. I wonder what his news is. God, I hope it’s good. I could really use some good news,” Kayla said.

Slick ordered a new round of drinks just as the piano player started to play. They pretty much had the lounge to themselves, so they called out favorite songs for the pianist.

At ten o’clock, they left the lounge on wobbly legs, all of them hopeful that the coming day would be better.

Team Three wasn’t the only one walking around on wobbly legs. On Big Pine Mountain, Kollar Havapopulas walked in circles until he was dizzy. Angry with himself, he walked out to the compound and sat down on the bench to light up a cigarette. The rain had let up, but it was still damp and clammy.

Pappy smelled his father’s pipe before he saw him. Father and son at odds with each other. It wasn’t right, and it was all his fault. Now he had to make it right.

Kyros walked over to the bench. He puffed furiously on his pipe. He’d never seen his son look so miserable. He sat down and continued to puff.

“I’m sorry, Pop. I did what I thought was best. It was right, yet it was wrong. What else can I say? I wrote out my resignation. I’ll give it to them when they arrive the day after tomorrow. We’ll have to give them a refund. It will be sizable, Pop. Are you okay with that?”

“Of course. If you’re serious, that is. We can always use this mountain for a campground for kids. A free camp for city kids and handicapped kids. I could see that happening up here. Fresh air, good food, all kinds of activities for youngsters. What will happen to the others?”

“I don’t know, Pop. Look, they don’t own me. We aren’t the only training camp, you know that. We’re just the best, and they know it. I made some calls earlier.”