"Time to go," he said. "Plane's in three hours." Their bags were packed. He never said goodbye in public, always planning a staggered exit: he would go first and they would follow after an interval he specified. If they were out, he would get them walking and then peel away from them as if it were only accidental that they had been walking together at all. Marie had learned to say her goodbyes the night or morning before, in private.

She came out of the bathroom to find them forehead to forehead, Drächen cradled in Jason's arms. The little girl touched his cheek, his mouth, her face turning serious at his gravity. Jason put Drächen in Marie's arms, nodded, and then walked out the door. He did not look back.

The week after he left was interminable. Marie wore a path between their hotels and whatever park was nearby with Drächen, though remembering to eat and shop for essentials at a different place every time was second nature by now. Late at night, while the baby slept, Marie counted and re-counted the money. Checked flight and train schedules and went through the passports, trying to decide if, then how and who. To what, or whom? In the end, she and Drächen boarded the flight to India. Where could she take Drächen that would be as safe? Who would love them more? She took the baby and she went, believing her choice was the best one available.

Because, maybe he was right. His memories, the supporting documentation that he had begun to collect from newspapers and the internet, they chilled her. He didn't talk as much about it to her any more, usually just offered the book up to her. Sometimes he would lean over her shoulder, point at an obituary picture stuck among the pages. "I killed him," he would say, "Explosives," or "Stabbing," or "Drowning." Eyes ashamed, and desperate to share. She would read and listen, troubled, cringing, then offer absolution, assurances that past was past, that he had regained his humanity. She did not often let herself consider that someone like Jason, but lacking that humanity, might be looking for them right now.

It had been one week and three days since they had seen him last when Marie glimpsed Jason in the crush of the preselected Mumbai street. She nearly disregarded everything they had practiced to run to him. The heat, the crowds of people, the unfamiliar language, the strain of being alone during the long journey, and the decision she had made; all were wearing on her. His face was blank, casual as he turned away and started walking. She managed to remember the plan and to follow him from a distance of one block, holding Drächen firmly on her hip, pointing out interesting things to her lest she spot Jason and call out, "Papa!"

The six-block walk seemed longer than it needed to be. Drächen was growing heavier, and wanted to get down and walk on her own. She fussed and squawked conspicuously, but did not notice Jason, walking a block and a half ahead of them now. At least it was easy to keep Jason in sight; he stuck out like a sore thumb in this locale, and so did she and Drächen.

Finally, Jason unlocked the door to a light blue Jeep parked in the street, and climbed in. On the passenger side? Not until Marie saw the steering wheel in his hands did she remember that in India, you drive on the left. She collapsed into the back with the baby and Jason started the engine. Drächen chortled in delight at the sight of her father. Jason looked at them both in the rearview, checked the traffic, and then looked back again, this time meeting Marie's eyes with his. If she hadn't known him, she wouldn't have seen the question there for her.

Only then did Marie realize that there were tears streaming down her face. She slid forward to lean her head on Jason's shoulder, wiping her eyes and face on his t-shirt, breathing in his familiar, reassuring smell. He stroked her head for a moment, running his hand down through her dirty hair before again gripping the wheel and pulling out into traffic. Marie sat up and rummaged in her bag for a bottle of water and a toy for Drächen. There was camping equipment packed into the back of the Jeep, along with food and water. It seemed that they had a long drive ahead of them.