Ben looked across the lake. “Revenge.” “You can't go back!” Jesse said. “It's too dangerous.” Diego, who had been listening to the exchange, said, “The heli- copter pilots who were shot down were our friends. Their death can- not go unanswered.”

“Those people killed my cousin,” Ben said. “They beat and tor- tured my friends and family. They've raped our beautiful forest.”

Jesse couldn't see his son's face in the shadows, but there was no mistaking the determination in Ben's voice. “Very well,” he said sadly.

“I will see the others to safety.”

Marcus Ryan emerged from the woods, trailed by Chuck Mercer and Therri Weld. “What's going on?” he said, sensing the somber at- mosphere.

“Ben and this man are going back,” Jesse said. “I tried to stop them. They want to get themselves killed.”

Ben put his hand on his father's shoulder. “That's the last thing I want to do, Pop. I can't speak for Diego, but at the very least, I want to wipe that big fake igloo off the face of the earth.”

“That's a tall order for two men,” Ryan said. “You'll need help.” “Thanks, Mark, I know you mean well, but the others need you more than we do.”

“You're not the only one who has a score to settle,” Ryan said. His voice gained a steely edge. “Barker killed Joshua, and he sank my ship. Now he's trying to kill the oceans. I owe him big-time. That thing on the other side of the lake is no grass hut. You're not going to blow it down with a huff and a puff.”

“We know that. We'll figure it out.”

“You don't have time for trial and error. I know how we can send that dome into the stratosphere.” Ryan turned to Mercer. “You re- member what we talked about?”

“Yeah, I remember. We said we could give Barker a big hotfoot if we got the chance.”

“Well, Ben, how about it?” Ryan said. “Are we in?”

“It's not my decision alone.” He turned to Diego.

The Basque said, "There are many of them and only a few of us.

Pablo is out of action. We would have to be very lucky merely to stay alive."

Ben hesitated. “Okay, Mark. You're in.”

Ryan's mouth widened in a triumphant grin. “We'll need some ex- plosives. Our C-4 was taken away when we were captured.”

“My brother and I have some hand grenades,” Diego said, reach- ing over to tap his backpack. “Three apiece. Enough?”

In answer, Ryan glanced at Mercer, who said, “It could work if they're positioned in the right place.”

“What can I do?” said Therri, who had been listening to the dis- cussion.

“Ben's people are in pretty tough shape,” Ryan said. “They'll need your help, especially the kids.”

“I'll do my best,” Therri said. She kissed him and gave Mercer and Ben a peck on the cheek as well. “Take care of yourselves.”