He untied the mooring ropes and let the boat glide with the current, using a paddle to keep it close to the shore. Downriver, nearly opposite the old house, he snagged a rock and drew the boat into shore and tied it securely. One more thing, he thought, very tired now. One more thing.

He ran to the old house and slid down the chute, then hurried upstairs. He didn't use a light, but went straight to the paintings and started to pick up the first one. Behind him a match flared, and he froze.

"Why did you come back?" Barry asked roughly. "Why didn't you stay out there in the woods where you belong?"

"I came back for my things," Mark said, and turned. Barry was alone. He was lighting the oil lamp. Mark made a motion toward the window, and Barry shook his head.

"It won't do any good. They wired the stairs. If anyone comes up here, it rings an alarm in Andrew's room. They'll be on their way in a minute or two."

Mark scooped up the painting, then another and another. "Why are you here?"

"To warn you."

"Why? Why did you suspect I'd come back?"

"I don't know why. I don't want to know why. I've been sleeping downstairs, in the library. You won't have time to get them all," he said urgently as Mark picked up more paintings. "They'll be here fast. They think you tried to burn down the mill, dam the stream, poison the clones in the tanks. They won't stop to ask any questions this time."

"I didn't try to kill the clones," Mark said, not looking at Barry. "I knew the computer would sound an alarm before the contaminated water was used. How did they find out?"

"They sent some of the boys down into the water, and a couple of them actually managed to swim out the other side, and after that, it wasn't hard. Four were killed in the attempt," he said without inflection.

"I'm sorry," Mark said. "I didn't want that."

Barry shrugged. "You have to go."

"I'm ready."

"You'll die out there," Barry said, in the same dead voice. "You and those children you took with you. They won't be able to breed, you know. Maybe one girl, maybe two, but then what?"

"I've taken some of the women from the breeders' compound," Mark said.

Now Barry registered shock and disbelief. "How?"

"It doesn't matter how. I have them. And we'll make it. I planned it very carefully. We'll make it."

"That's what it was all for?" Barry said. "The fire, the dam, the contaminated water, the seed grains you took? That's what it was all for?" he said again, this time not looking at Mark, but searching the remaining paintings as if they held the answer. "You even have livestock," he said.

Mark nodded. "They're safe. I'll get them in a week or two."