Chapter Forty-nine


"And that's where things stand right now," Barbara said, two days after the arrival of the Subramanian children at the Quest home. "Garrett and Stan returned to Boston the next morning. Garrett said he had an idea, although he wouldn't elaborate on what that was, and indicated he would continue to pressure the Indian government. When I left this morning, Race was talking to Bennett about expediting green cards for the children, and Paul Bussac left when I did." She shook her head. "To be honest, I was glad to see him go."

Estella grimaced as she shifted uneasily in her hospital bed. "Can't say I'm surprised to hear you say that. Race's spook friends always gave me the willies."

"It's not that. He's off on a serious guilt trip about helping Jessie and Kefira get into Bangalore, even though Race emphasized time and again that there was nothing else he could have done. Race also insisted that he stay at the Compound, which he was decidedly unhappy about."

Estella chuckled slightly. "They're all alike. Can't stand to be cooped up and away from the action."

Barbara rolled her eyes. "That's for sure. When he wasn't snapping at everyone within hearing distance, he was on the phone trying to pressure the military to intervene."

"No luck, I take it."

"No. Information is still too sketchy and the government is very reluctant to move without something more definitive than rumors. The U.N. Security Council deadline is still in place and just this morning, India announced even more severe trade sanctions. They also shut down the Bangalorian Embassy. But at this point, it's still just posturing. So, Bussac kept pushing and yelling until Race was just about at the end of his rope . . . not to mention the children. I'll tell you, I was about ready to kick him out myself - Maia and Vassey couldn't have handled that environment for much longer."

Estella gave her a worried look. "I know, but what will he do now? If he's that much of a loose cannon . . ."

"If you can believe Bussac, he's on his way to Langley. He said that if the bureaucrats need proof, he was going to get it for them. When I asked Race what that meant, he told me that he was pretty sure that the CIA was doing satellite reconnaissance of Bangalore by now and that Bussac means to pressure someone into leaking the pictures to him. Right before I left the house, I heard Race on the phone telling someone to watch Bussac to make sure he didn't do anything stupid."

"I know he could cause a lot of trouble, but at least he seems to want to do something to help."

Barbara's smile was somewhat grim. "Oh, he's going to do something, all right. He told Race that once he finished at Langley, he was going to Delhi. I think he intends to recruit some men, cross the border into Bangalore, and go after Jessie and Kefira."

"Unless the bigwigs at I-1 get wind of it and decide to stop him," Estella replied bitterly. She shifted once more, trying to find a more comfortable position and then sighed heavily. "That's not fair. They'd be right to stop him. The whole situation is a powder keg. They can't risk an international incident just to save our kids, no matter how much we might want them to."

"I know. I'm sure they'll be all right, Estella. Try not to worry . . . "

Estella snorted but instead of commenting, she asked, "How's Benton doing?"

Barbara stared at her lap as she shook her head. "Not well. Fundamental memories are gone now. Most of the time he doesn't even recognize the house. He can't work any longer. The equipment in his lab is totally unfamiliar to him . . . he doesn't remember developing or installing any of it, so he has no clue how to use it. And he can't retain anything long enough to relearn how to operate it either. He just drifts from room to room, getting more and more agitated, as though searching for something he can't quite find. It breaks my heart . . ."

Barbara's voice cracked sharply and the silence between the two women was filled with pain. Finally Estella asked gently, "Does he remember you?"

"N-no. Whenever he runs into me in the house, he asks who I am. I've finally just taken to telling him I'm his doctor. That seems to upset him less than telling him I'm an old friend . . . and it usually prevents him from asking me if I've seen Rachel."

"Oh Barbara . . ."

"Maia follows him everywhere he goes," Barbara interrupted ruthlessly, refusing to accept Estella's sympathy. She knew that if she did, the wall of professional detachment she had tried to build around herself would crumble and she would be lost. "It's all I can do to get her away from him long enough to shower and change clothes. She even sleeps curled up at the foot of his bed."

Estella watched the other woman for a moment and then barely nodded, accepting Barbara's need for control.

"It's so strange to watch them, Estella. It's almost like he's the child and she's the adult. When he gets upset and frightened at all the strangeness, she talks to him in this calm, quiet voice that seems to get through to him in a way none of the rest of us can. When he starts to tire, she'll take him by the hand, lead him to a chair or the sofa, tell him what she wants him to do, and he'll do it without argument. She's also gotten him to eat . . . something that Race and I haven't been able to do in days."

"He hasn't been eating?" Estella asked sharply, straightening a bit.

"Not regularly. It's as though he forgets to do it. If you tell him it's time to eat and he's hungry, he'll do it. But if you say something when he isn't hungry or he's when distracted, all he does is get upset and refuse totally. Maia just seems to sense when he's receptive and can coax him into it."

"How are she and Srinivasan doing?"

Barbara shrugged helplessly. "Maia seems collected enough, but she's so poker-faced that it's hard to tell what she's thinking. She could be a shattered wreck inside and you'd never know it. As for Vassey . . . it's easier to tell how traumatized he is. For one thing, he won't talk. He'll nod or shake his head, and he makes noises . . . cries, whimpers, that sort of thing . . . but you can't get a word out of him. Maia assures us that he knows how to talk, but he just won't do it, not even for her. And try to separate him from Race and he goes to pieces." Barbara bent down and pulled a couple of pieces of paper from her purse and handed them to Estella. "I thought you might like to have these."

Estella gazed at the three pictures of Race and Srinivasan for a long time. When she finally looked up again, Barbara saw the tears that filled her eyes. "I was always sorry I never gave him a son."

Barbara smiled and squeezed her arm gently. "You still may . . ."

Estella shook her head. "Not unless I have another child. Even if this one lives, it's a girl. Dr. Eftekari told me that yesterday."

"You know he won't care."

"No. But I know he's always wanted a son of his own."

Barbara sighed softly at her look. "I really am afraid that this one is it, Estella. I doubt you'll ever be able to conceive again."

"I know."

After a few moments, Barbara took a deep breath and said, "I probably should go. Race wants to come this afternoon and I've got to clear the way for him."

"Clear the way?"

"I told you, Vassey won't let him out of his sight. And hospital policy says that a child his age isn't allowed on the ward unless they are immediate family . . . which Vassey isn't. So I've got to go find someone who can pull some strings."

Estella's hand flashed out and caught Barbara's arm, stopping her before she could rise. "How is he?" she demanded. "Whenever I ask, he says he's fine, but . . ."

Barbara contemplated the question for a moment. Reluctantly, she admitted, "He's tired, Estella. Bone tired and feeling totally helpless. Everyone needs him and there just isn't enough of him to go around." Then she smiled slightly. "Surprisingly enough, Vassey seems to have helped. I know he's another responsibility, but he's one that Race can do something about. He needed some way to feel as though he was making a difference and with Vassey, he does." Patting Estella's hand gently, she stood. "I'm going to go finish taking care of things here so I can get back to the house and Race can head down. We don't leave Benton alone any longer, even with Maia looking after him."

"Tell Race he doesn't need to come . . ."

Barbara smiled with the first real humor she'd felt in a long while. "Don't be an idiot," she said fondly. "You've kept him away ever since you were admitted. He can't stand it any longer. I'll see you again tomorrow." Then, waving goodbye, she walked out of the door.


~ ~ ~ ~ ~


"Well, that's one good thing, at any rate," Race said with a sigh.

Admiral Charles Bennett gazed at the white-haired man with a grim expression. "Permanent resident visas for those two children are the least of your problems, Race, and you know it. The situation in Bangalore is about ready to explode. You're absolutely certain that Hadji and the others are in-country?"

Race leaned back, shifting Vassey into a more comfortable position. The child immediately went limp, collapsing against his chest like dead weight, a tactic the child had perfected over the past couple of days. Race sighed again and said gently, "Come on, Vassey, just sit up a little. My arm's going to sleep." The child stirred, sitting up a little, but still stayed glued to Race's chest with his head tucked under the older man's chin. Race shook his head slightly and then rubbed the top of the child's head with his cheek consolingly before replying to Bennett's question.

"I have no doubt they're all four in Bangalore by this time. Jess was convinced that Jonny and Hadji were already there, and she said it was she and Kefira's intention to leave immediately to go after them. If Jess said that's where they were going, then that's where they went."

"And you haven't heard from any of them since."

"No."

"They've still got the border sealed, but signs seem to indicate that the Janissary hold may be weakening. There are fewer people slipping through into India, but Ethan's informants say it seems to be because fewer people want out rather than the Janissary stranglehold tightening."

Race frowned. "Any reliable information coming out of the country?"

Bennett shook his head. "No, nothing solid. Just rumors, which run the gamut from 'the Singhs are dead and the sultancy has fallen', to 'the House of Singh has risen again to crush their enemies', and everything in between. Ethan and I have been pushing for permission to send a reconnaissance team in on a fact-finding venture, but the President won't okay it. Says it would step on the toes of the U.N. and risk an international incident if they were caught."

Race leaned his head back and closed his eyes wearily. "No surprise there, and I can't blame him. If I were in his place, I probably wouldn't authorize anything, either. Satellite reconnaissance photos of the area?"

Bennett shrugged. "There's something going on, that's for certain. Bangalore's in a pretty remote area and it's off the standard spy tracks so we haven't been able to get anything very detailed. Landsat picked up what we think was fighting in the northern mountains just before dawn yesterday. Ethan's people say there's evidence of high explosives being used in the fighting, but he also admits that the same damage might have been caused by a mining explosion gone bad. There's also large numbers of people massing and moving down out of the mountains toward a highland plateau about 100 miles outside of the capital city."

"An army of some kind?"

"An army?" Bennett replied with a snort. "What kind of army? They have no source of arms and no one to lead them. The boys from Defense offer the idea that the people are finally moving toward the city because the Janissaries are starving them out. But as I say, it's all conjecture. We don't have any real idea of what's going on over there. You're sure you have no way of getting hold of any of your kids?"

"No. They're totally out of touch and have been for days. The only reason there was any contact with Jess was because she called us, and then I didn't have the chance to speak with her. I was gone when she called. I have spoken with the man who owns the house they called from, but he doesn't know any more than what she told us . . . that Jonny and Hadji are in Bangalore and that she and Kefira were going in after them."

"How's Dr. Quest taking all of this?"

Race hesitated. "He doesn't know," he finally replied reluctantly.

"Doesn't know? How can he not know? It's all over the news and with the kids missing . . ."

"He doesn't know the kids are missing," Race replied firmly. "He hasn't been well recently and Barbara advised that we minimize stress wherever we can. So I'm keeping him away from the TV and newspapers. As for the kids, he thinks they're off at school, so he doesn't expect them to be here, anyway."

Bennett shook his head. "What a mess. Well, I'll certainly keep you informed of anything I hear and I'd appreciate it if you would let me know if any of them contact you."

Race nodded. "I will, Admiral, thank you. And thanks for the help with the visas for Maia and Vassey. That's a real load off of my mind."

"No problem. With Kefira officially recognized as an American citizen now and the circumstances being what they were, it wasn't difficult to get the boys at Immigration and Naturalization to see things my way. Oh, and I meant to ask, how's Estella doing?"

"Barbara finally hospitalized her. The toxemia is getting worse and the specialist is saying that he doesn't think he can hold off much longer. They're going to have to take the baby."

"Damn!" Bennett swore softly. "God, Race, I'm sorry . . ."

The younger man smiled, but his voice was slightly bitter as he replied, "When it rains, it pours. What can you say?"

"MR. BANNON, MAIA SUBRAMANIAN IS ASKING FOR YOU," IRIS broke in. "THE MATTER IS URGENT."

Race sat up abruptly. "Sorry, Admiral, but that's my cue. I gotta go."

"Go. I'll let you know if I hear anything."

Race slapped the disconnect for the vid-phone and stood swiftly. "Where are they, IRIS?"

"IN THE RECEPTION AREA OF THE LIGHTHOUSE. MAIA SUBRAMANIAN HAS REQUESTED THAT I LOCK THE DOORS AND NOT ALLOW DR. QUEST TO LEAVE. AT THE PRESENT, HE IS EXTREMELY AGITATED AND I HAVE COMPLIED WITH HER REQUEST."

"Don't let him out and let Maia know I'm on my way." As if Vassey could read his mind, he tightened his grip around Race's neck into a stranglehold, refusing to allow himself to be set on the floor. Cursing silently to himself, he shifted the boy to one hip and ran for the lighthouse.

As he erupted out of the house, the wind swirled around him and he suddenly realized that the earlier sunshine had given way to cold rain. In his arms, he could feel Vassey shiver. As Race crossed the wide expanse of lawn, he wrapped his arms tightly around the child in an attempt to shield him from as much of the rain as possible, and cursed himself for not grabbing a jacket for the boy. Hadji and Kefira won't be pleased if he has pneumonia when they get back, he berated himself. Ducking into the scanty shelter offered by the wall of the lighthouse, he called, "IRIS, unlock the door and open it!" A sharp click heralded the release of the locking mechanism and latch and Race pulled the door open hastily and ducked inside. As it swung shut again, Race heard the locking mechanism engage once more.

The reception area of the lighthouse was brightly lit and Race immediately saw Maia standing in the middle of the room. She looked totally lost, and Benton was nowhere in sight.

"Maia?" She turned at the sound of his voice and he saw that she was crying. "What happened? Where's Benton?" Crossing to her, he drew her to one of the sofas and made her sit down.

She gulped and rubbed at her eyes, trying to stem the flow of tears. "He - he has been so u-upset today."

"It's okay," he told her consolingly as he sat down beside her. "Just take it easy." With a deft movement, he slid Vassey down onto the sofa between them. At first, the boy whimpered and reached for him again, but quieted when Race slipped an arm around him. "Do you know where Benton is?"

Tears came again almost immediately, streaming down her face as she shook her head.

"That's okay, honey. Don't cry. It will be easy to find him." Releasing Vassey, he stroked her hair gently as he said, "IRIS, where's Benton?"

"DR. QUEST IS CURRENTLY IN THE SECOND FLOOR LABORATORY." The computer almost seemed to hesitate, and then added, "HE APPEARS TO BE IN A HIGHLY CONFUSED STATE. HE HAS ATTEMPTED TO ACCESS SEVERAL PIECES OF EQUIPMENT, BUT DOES NOT APPEAR TO KNOW HOW TO OPERATE THEM."

"Lock him out, IRIS. Shut down all equipment and deactivate all of his access codes. He is not to be allowed to access to any equipment or program without my express permission."

There was a long pause and then IRIS replied neutrally, "UNABLE TO COMPLY. RESTRICTION OF ACCESS TO THAT LEVEL VIOLATES SYSTEM INTEGRITY."

Race sighed and thought for a moment. "Activate security protocol theta, authorization Bannon 473 Mark 5 Alpha 8."

"VOICE RECOGNITION PATTERN CONFIRMED. AUTHORIZATION CODE ALPHA CONFIRMED. SECURITY PROTOCOL THETA INITIATED. PLEASE PLACE YOUR LEFT HAND ON THE RECOGNITION PANEL AND STATE YOUR FULL NAME AND TITLE." Releasing Vassey, he rose swiftly and crossed to a computer workstation located near the door. Placing his left hand on the screen, he replied, "Roger Thomas Bannon, Chief of Security and co-Senior Partner of Quest Enterprises, Incorporated, Rockport, Maine."

"PLEASE SPECIFY PRECISE NAME AND TITLE OF EACH OF THE PRIMARY STOCKHOLDERS OF THE ENTITY KNOWN AS THE QUEST CHARITABLE TRUST."

"Benton Christopher Quest, Director and Senior Research Scientist; Jonathan Benton Quest, Junior Research Technician and youngest son of Dr. Benton Christopher Quest, Director and Senior Research Scientist; Hadji Singh, Scientific Research Technician, and eldest son of Dr. Benton Christopher Quest, Director and Senior Research Scientist; Roger Thomas Bannon, Chief of Security and co-Senior Partner of Quest Enterprises; and Jessica Marie Velasquez Bannon, Junior Research Technician and daughter of Roger Thomas Bannon, Chief of Security and co-Senior Partner of Quest Enterprises."

"HAND PRINT VERIFIED. VOICE PRINT VERIFIED. ACCESS CODE INFORMATION VERIFIED. IDENTITY CONFIRMED. SECURITY PROTOCOL THETA ACCESSED."

"Create a new process for initial access to all Compound systems."

"PARAMETERS?"

"Initial access. Voice print verification, hand print verification, and password required. Set password to -" He paused, thinking for a moment, and then finished, "- Rajeev1."

"WORKING. REPLACE CURRENT ACCESS PROTOCOLS WITH NEW PROCESS?"

"No. This will be in addition to the existing protocols."

"ACKNOWLEDGED. SPECIFY INDIVIDUALS TO HAVE ACCESS."

"Race Bannon, Estella Velasquez-Bannon, Barbara Mason, Jonathan Quest, Jessica Bannon, Hadji Singh, Kefira Subram- . . . correction, Kefira Singh, Maia Subramanian, and Srinivasan Subramanian."

"IS BENTON QUEST TO BE ADDED TO ACCESS LIST?"

"No."

"WORKING." After a moment, she continued. "UNABLE TO COMPLY. SYSTEM OPERATION RELIES ON BENTON QUEST HAVING ACCESS TO ALL LEVELS. PROGRAM INTEGRITY IS VIOLATED IF A PROGRAM IS CREATED WHICH LIMITS BENTON QUEST'S ACCESS."

"God damn it!" Race snarled in frustration. Finally, he sighed. "Alright, IRIS, add him to the access list."

"WORKING. NEW ACCESS PROTOCOL HAS BEEN CREATED. ENCRYPTED E-MAIL NOTICES SENT TO ALL AUTHORIZED USERS. PLEASE SPECIFY IMPLEMENTATION TIME AND DATE."

"Immediately."

"ACKNOWLEDGED. WORKING." After a few moments, IRIS added, "NEW PROTOCOL HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED AND IS IN OPERATION."

When Race had risen to cross the room, Vassey had cried out and tried to follow him, however Maia had held him back, making him remain on the sofa while Race worked at the computer. By the time Race finished what he was doing, the child was struggling violently against his sister's attempts to hold him in place, and he was screaming and crying wildly. As Race turned back to the pair, he gestured to Maia to let Vassey go and the boy shot off of the sofa, running toward him. As Race gathered him up, cuddling him and crooning soothingly, a harsh voice interrupted.

"What are you doing to that child?!?"

Race whirled and spotted Benton standing about a third of the way down the spiral staircase that led to the second floor, having obviously been drawn by the sound of the child's cries. He clutched the metal railing in a grip that turned his entire fist white and his eyes were dark with fury. His face was thin and far too pale, and his eyes glittered unnaturally, as a host of emotions flickered across his face. Looking at him, Race immediately understood what had caused Maia's frantic call for help.

"I asked you what you're doing!" Benton demanded again, descending the stairs in an abrupt rush.

"Nothing, Benton," Race replied in a calming voice. "Just take it easy." He rocked Vassey soothingly, and the boy's frantic sobbing slowly stilled to little more than soft whimpers. As the child calmed down, Benton's fury seemed to drain away, leaving him totally confused and disoriented. Looking at Race, he said hesitantly, "I - I don't know this place. Where am I?"

Patiently, Race replied, "You're at home . . . in the lab. We're at the Compound in Maine, remember?"

"M-Maine? That can't be right. I - I don't live in Maine. I live in -" He stopped, looking even more confused. "I live in . . . in . . . Why can't I remember where I live?" His voice rose sharply, his inability to remember upsetting him even further. "Rachel. Where's Rachel? None of this makes sense!" Suddenly he looked at Race sharply. "And who are you? I don't know you! What the hell is going on here?!?"

Race stared at his long-time friend wordlessly. Oh God, Race thought numbly. He doesn't know me anymore . . . Taking a hard breath, he said carefully. "Benton, calm down. You're getting upset and making things worse. You know me . . . I've lived with you and the boys for over ten years now. I'm Race, remember?"

"Race?" He paused, as if searching his memory trying to place the name. Finally, he said hesitantly, "Bannon? Is that right?"

"Yes, Race Bannon," he agreed, nodding.

Benton looked at him with the expression of a bewildered child. "Where's Rachel? Why can't I find her? I - I've looked everywhere . . ."

Pain as sharp as a knife twisted his gut into knots, causing him to close his eyes briefly. Oh God, not again . . . "I'm sorry, Benton, but she's dead. She died a long time ago . . . before we moved here . . ."

Benton stared at him, his eyes filling with tears. "Rachel is dead?" he asked hoarsely. "I can't . . . that isn't . . . it can't be true." He raised a hand as if to ward off a blow and continued brokenly, "She - she just agreed to m-m-marry me. We were . . . tell her family . . . June wedding . . ." He sank to the floor as though his legs no longer had the strength to hold him, the tears streaming down his face. "What's happening to me?'

Race stared down at him for a long moment and then bent down and set Vassey on his feet. Immediately, Vassey began to clutch at him once more, but Race placed a hand on the child's shoulder and said gently but firmly, "No, Vassey. He needs my help right now. I promise you that I won't go away and leave you alone, but I have to take care of Benton right now. Can you help me do that?" After a moment, Vassey quieted and finally nodded hesitantly. "Good. I want you to stand right here, and in a minute I'm going to ask you to do some things for me. They'll be easy, I promise. Okay?" Again, the child nodded. Race smiled and ruffled his hair gently before turning back to Benton Quest. "Come on, Benton," he said, reaching down and helping the older man to his feet. "You're supposed to be resting. Let's go back to the house. IRIS, release the door, please. Maia, I want to you run on to the house and make sure his bed is turned back and ready for him. Vassey, I want you to take care of opening and closing the doors as we go along, okay? Can you do that for me?" The child nodded and hurried to pull open the door for his sister. Maia left at a run, and Vassey turned back to him expectantly. "Good boy!" Drawing Benton's arm across his shoulder, he led the man out of the lighthouse. "Lock it down, IRIS," Race commanded as Vassey pushed the door shut behind them. "The lighthouse and grounds around it are now off limits until further notice."

"ACKNOWLEDGED," the calm, uninflected voice of the computer replied. Then Race turned away and led Benton Quest back across the huge lawn toward the main house.


~ ~ ~ ~ ~


Barbara closed the front door of the Quest mansion behind her and called out cheerfully as she shrugged out of her wet raincoat, "Race . . . Benton . . . I'm back." The words seemed to get swallowed up and suddenly she became aware of the unnatural silence that filled the house around her. Hanging her coat in the front closet, she turned and walked across the vaulted entryway. Her footsteps echoed hollowly on the highly polished wood floor as she made her way to the family room, only to find it empty. "Race?" she called again, but this time her tone was soft and hesitant. "Where is everyone?" Still getting no response, she left the family room and headed for the kitchen. The dining room was silent and empty, too. Shoving the swinging door between the dining room and the kitchen open, she called, "Race?" She broke off, the overwhelming quiet finally silencing her as effectively as a hand across her mouth. She stared around the neat, gleaming kitchen. Nothing was out of place. It was almost as though someone . . . or something . . . had come and removed every sign of life from the huge mansion, leaving only the cold, inhuman trappings behind. She shivered uncontrollably at that thought.

Suddenly, a hand dropped onto her shoulder and a voice said, "Barbara -"

She jumped violently, letting out a small scream, and spun so abruptly she had to catch herself on the doorframe to keep from falling. Race caught her elbow, steadying her.

"What's wrong?" he demanded.

"Oh, you startled me! The house is so quiet . . ."

Race ran a hand through his hair wearily and nodded. "Yeah . . . finally."

"Bad morning?"

"Definitely not one of my better ones," he agreed. "Come on, I could use a cup of coffee and not waking anyone is high on my priority list right now. We should be safe enough in the kitchen."

Barbara followed him, and eased the door closed quietly while he retrieved two cups and poured coffee out of what was obviously a fresh pot. Then the two of them sat down facing each other across the bar.

"So tell me what happened."

He took a swallow of the hot liquid and then set the cup down with a sigh. "What didn't. It was just one thing after another." He told her about his telephone conversation with Bennett and the incident in the lighthouse with Benton. "I simply couldn't keep him calmed down, Barbara. Neither could Maia. He paced from room-to-room restlessly, shifting from angry to lost and bewildered at the drop of a hat. It was as though he was . . . I don't know . . . searching for something, maybe." He thought about that for a moment and then nodded decisively. "Yeah, that's it exactly. He was searching . . . hunting for something he just couldn't quite find. And the harder he searched, the more elusive it became and the more upset he got."

"Do you know what it was he was searching for?"

Race gestured helplessly. "I have no idea. And that was only the beginning. I finally managed to find a way to lock him out of the household systems . . ."

"Your new access protocol?"

Race looked at her strangely. "How did you know about that?"

Barbara grinned at him ruefully. "Almost overnight you've turned me into a computer addict. On the way back into town, I stopped in my office and checked my e-mail. I found the notice of the new protocol and the access password. Good thing, too. I wouldn't have gotten in the front gate if I hadn't. IRIS challenged me for the new password as soon as I keyed in a request for access."

"God, I hadn't even thought about that. I was just frantically trying to find a way to lock him out of the Compound systems so he wouldn't accidentally activate something that would get him hurt." He shook his head again. "When this is all over, Benton and I are going to have to have a long talk about the way he has this set up."

"Well, I doubt that he ever considered there'd be a time when he'd need to be closed out of his own systems."

"Live and learn."

"I suppose." The two were quiet for a moment and then Barbara asked, "So what else?"

"Well, we got him back into the house and for a couple of hours he prowled around here. But suddenly, it was as if he couldn't stand being cooped up any longer and he darted out the back door."

She sighed. "In the rain . . ."

"Without a coat," Race agreed. "And naturally, Maia chased him without a second thought."

"Without a coat."

"Of course. Luckily, I'd instructed IRIS to notify me immediately if Benton left the main part of the house, so I was able to go after him right away. But something had caused him to fixate on the cliff out behind the house. I'd been up on second floor on the far end of the house when he bolted out the back door and by the time I caught up with them, he was out on the bluff where Jonny went over last year."

"What put that spot into his head?" Barbara asked, her chest tightening in fear.

"I have no idea. When I got there, he was standing on the brink, staring down into the water below. Maia had him by the belt and was screaming and crying, trying to drag him back from the edge, but it was as if he didn't even know she was there. I managed to physically drag him back, but when I turned him around to face me . . ." He trailed off and shivered suddenly. "God, Barbara, his face was totally blank. It was like there wasn't a thought in his head at all . . . I - I've never seen him look like that before."

Barbara stared down into the cup she clutched blindly, and she could feel the tears rising. "It's the -" Her voice broke and she had to clear her throat before she could go on. "It's the illness," she finally managed. "His mind is being systematically wiped clean of everything he knows. Eventually, there'll be nothing left . . ."

The silence between them stretched, neither seeming to know what to say to that thought. Finally, Race stirred.

"There's nothing else we can do?"

Barbara shook her head. "No. I - I don't . . ." She took a deep breath and looked up at the man across from her bleakly. "I doubt there's even anything the kids could do now. It's gone too far. I - It's just a matter of time." They stared at each other, the realization finally sinking in. Benton Quest was dying. Finally, Barbara licked her lips. "I should check on him," she said with difficulty. "Where is he? And the children?"

"All of them are asleep. Benton finally gave out about an hour ago. I barely got him to his room before he collapsed. Maia had been run through the emotional wringer, and she did the same immediately after he did. And Vassey . . ." Race sighed deeply. "He did okay initially, but Benton's state of mind put him on edge. When I went pelting out of the house after Benton, I left him behind. By the time I got Benton back inside and settled, Vassey was hysterical. It took me another half an hour to get him calmed down, and once I did . . ."

"Out like a light, too, huh."

"Oh yeah. I just got him down. He's sleeping with Maia at the foot of Benton's bed. Figured if he woke up and I wasn't immediately visible, it would be better if his sister were there. I probably should check on him, though."

"Come on, let's go do it and then you can head for Portland."

As they rose and crossed the room, Race said quietly, "I don't know, Barbara. As much as I want and need to go, I'm not sure I should be leaving right now. If Benton wakes up in the same mood he was in this morning, I don't know if you can handle him alone."

"No, staying here isn't an option" she said forcefully. "You haven't seen Estella since the morning after she was admitted. I can manage."

"You're sure? I could call Doug Sanderson or Don Henson to come out and -"

"No!" she replied insistently, cutting him off. "We've kept this quiet so far, but people in the community are starting to become aware that something isn't right. We don't need to add fuel to the fire."

Race paused at the head of the stairs, pulling her to a stop beside him. "Wait a minute. It hadn't occurred to me until just now, but you've been here almost constantly for close to a week. What about your other patients?"

"It's covered. Don't worry about it."

"No. Barbara, if the people of this community are suffering . . ."

"No one is suffering because I'm here." At his expression, she sighed. "Race, I was born and raised here. Do you honestly believe I would forget about my other patients? When I realized what we were up against, I put in a call to a physician temp service. I have two locum tenens doctors working out of my office, and I review all of the charts every day. The people in this community understand your family's need for privacy and security, and they know that if I'm here, it's because I'm needed and no one else will do. Okay?"

He eyed her doubtfully, but followed without further protest as she moved toward Benton's door once more. Easing it open, she slid in quietly and moved to the edge of the bed.

Benton lay curled up on his left side in the huge king-sized bed, and a light blanket had been thrown over him. His breathing was deep and even, and he didn't stir as she laid two fingers against the artery just below his jaw to check his pulse. The beat was slow and steady and his skin felt pleasantly warm to the touch. Maia lay within easy reach on the other side of the bed. When Barbara glanced up, she found herself being watched by dark, unreadable eyes. She smiled at the girl and nodded slightly. Maia sighed softly, and her eyes drifted shut once more.

Vassey also lay on the opposite side of the bed from Benton. He was curled up somewhat below his sister, down near Benton's knees, and he also hadn't stirred when they entered. Seeing that Barbara was satisfied with the other man's condition, Race rounded the bed and carefully gathered the boy up into his arms. The child murmured softly but didn't wake, cuddling confidently against the large man's chest as Race carried him out of the room. Barbara stayed a moment longer, reassuring herself that the sleeping man was all right, and then followed Race out of the room and eased the door closed once more. She wandered down the hallway looking for the pair and found them in the large bedroom that Estella had been using. For the first time, Barbara really looked around and suddenly realized that this room had become very lived in. Male toiletries were scattered across the top of the nearby dresser and through the open closet door she spotted pants and shirts that obviously belonged to Race. It occurred to her that it looked like the two Bannons had moved from the downstairs to the upstairs, and she wondered idly if they would remain there permanently.

Race had placed Vassey in the middle of the bed and the child had curled up contentedly, his sleep apparently undisturbed as a result of the move. As she watched, the boy shifted slightly and a thumb crept into his mouth. Race glanced at him from his position in the open closet doorway, where he appeared to be selecting something to change into. Barbara saw him grimace slightly and then he crossed to the bed. Leaning over, he caught Vassey's hand and very gently pulled until the thumb came free with a soft pop. The child resisted for a moment and then sighed softly. He never woke. After a minute, Race straightened and went back to what he was doing in the closet. He smiled slightly at Barbara's questioning look and whispered, "Maia says he hasn't sucked his thumb since he was three years old. I'm sure that the habit is resurfacing again because of all the turmoil he's been through recently, but I figure it's better that I try to prevent it from becoming ingrained."

She nodded her understanding, smiling to herself at the innate parenting instinct he showed. "You're going to go on then?"

"Yeah," he replied. "If I'm going to go to Portland, I figure I better do it so I can get back. Sooner or later, Benton's going to wake up again and the less time you have to spend here alone with him, the better. I'll take the chopper. It'll be a lot quicker than driving."

"You're still planning to take Vassey with you?"

"Yeah, I think I better. If he wakes up and I'm totally gone, I think the lid will come off of this place. He's latched onto me and I don't think it's a good idea to separate us just yet. I got him to operate on his own for a little bit this afternoon, but I don't want to push it."

"I understand. I talked to the hospital administrator and the nursing supervisor and both know that you may be bringing him with you. They won't give you any trouble."

"Good. You're sure you don't want me to see if I can't get someone to come out here to stay with you while I'm gone?"

"No, I'll be fine. Forget about us for a while and concentrate on your wife. In fact, take some clothes with you and stay over tonight. It will give you the chance to spend some time with Estella and get you away from here for a while." Turning, she left the room, adding over her shoulder, "Maia and I can handle it."

"That's okay," she heard him reply. "We'll just go down and see her and then come back. We shouldn't be gone more than a couple of hours."

Barbara's face was grim as she walked down the hall toward the stairs. "Oh yes, you will," she said to herself in a soft, knowing voice. "You'll be gone a lot longer than that."


~ ~ ~ ~ ~


"Hey."

Estella rolled slightly, turning toward the sound of the well-loved voice. "Hey yourself," she replied smiling up at her husband. "How are you?"

"Better, now that I'm here with you," he said. Carefully setting he child he carried on the edge of the bed, he leaned down to kiss her lingeringly. "How are you feeling?"

She shrugged as she tangled her fingers with his. "Comes and goes," she responded honestly. "I'm heartily sick of this bed, though."

Race laughed. "I'll bet."

"And who do we have here?" she asked with a smile, looking down at the child sitting near her knees. She reached out a hand toward him and prompted, "What is your name?"

The child sat stiffly, staring at her out of huge, solemn eyes and didn't say a word.

"This is Estella," Race told him. "You remember what I've told you about Estella?" The boy nodded hesitantly. "Can you tell her your name?" Race prompted him gently. The child ducked his head and shook it negatively.

"That's okay," Estella said with a smile. "I bet I know." The tips of her fingers just brushed the hair above his ears. "You're Vassey . . . Kefira's little brother . . . aren't you?" A barely perceptible nod confirmed the question. "Well, I'm glad to meet you, Vassey. And I want to thank you." Confusion crossed the child's face and he glanced up at Race quickly before turning that wide-eyed gaze back on Estella. "I understand you've been taking care of Race while I've been gone . . . making sure he doesn't get lonely. I appreciate that." After a moment, Vassey seemed to relax a little and nodded slightly once more. Reaching out with her free hand, she caught Vassey's in a light grip and held on to it as she turned back to Race. "And how are you?"

"Just fine," he replied lightly, snagging a chair and pulling it up so he could sit down next to the bed.

She stared at him searchingly for a long time. "No, I don't think that's true," she finally said, and caught his head, drawing his mouth back to hers once more. The kiss lingered for a long time and when he finally broke it, he laid his forehead against her shoulder.

The attempt at lightness and good cheer shattered in the face of her loving concern, and he murmured, "God, Stel . . ." The two words sounded so tired and disheartened that she felt her throat close up and tears pricked at her eyes. She curled her arm around his shoulders and held him tightly, stroking his hair. After a minute, Vassey stirred, seemingly sensing Race's mood. He scooted up until he sat right beside the two of them and put a small arm around Race's shoulders. Glancing uneasily at Estella, he hesitantly took his other arm and tried to put it around her, too. Because he was leaning against her distended belly, the arm didn't reach very far, but Estella understood the gesture. She disengaged her fingers from the boy's hand and hugged him gently against her stomach. The three of them stayed that way for several minutes.

Suddenly, Vassey jumped and sat back sharply. The movement caused Race to lift his head and he found Estella grinning at the boy. "Did you feel that, Vassey?" she asked him. "Here . . ." She reached out and took his hand, laying against the side of her stomach. "Just wait for a minute . . ." Race did the same and a moment later was rewarded with a sharp kick. Vassey made a soft sound of surprise as Race laughed in unexpected delight.

"He's already practicing to be a soccer player."

Estella licked her lips, suddenly looking hesitant. "She." She gestured apologetically at his apparent confusion. "It's a girl. Dr. Eftekari told me yesterday."

His smile turned tender and he stroked her stomach lovingly. "Well, hello there, Emily. How's Daddy's new baby girl?" As if in response, the child kicked again and Race chuckled softly. When he looked up at Estella again, he saw her biting her lip, her eyes brimming with tears. "Hey, what's this?"

"I'm so sorry, Race. I know you wanted -"

He reached out and placed a hand over her lips gently. "I wanted you, and later, another child that we created together. It didn't matter to me if it was a boy or a girl." Then he grinned at her with a trace of devilment. "Furthermore, what have you got to apologize for? The gender of this little one was my doing . . . not yours."

She laughed a little and swiped at her damp eyes with one hand. "You have a point," she agreed.

A knock caused all three of them to look up. Standing in the doorway was a man of medium-short stature, with a lean build and dark hair. His skin was several shades lighter than Hadji's and his bone structure marked him as being of Middle Eastern descent. He wore a white lab coat and a stethoscope hung from around his neck. He crossed the room as Race rose to greet him.

"Mr. Bannon, I heard you'd arrived." His voice held no trace of an accent.

"Good afternoon, Dr. Eftekari. I'm glad you're here. I wanted to talk to you while I had the chance."

"Good, because I've been waiting for you. I need to talk with both of you." Then he smiled down at the child sitting cuddled against Estella on the bed. "And who might this be?"

"This is Vassey," Estella replied, caressing the youngster's head fondly. "He's a member of the family."

"Hello, Vassey," the doctor said, holding out his hand. But the child shied away, pressing more closely against Estella and throwing a desperate look toward Race.

"I'm afraid he's a little shy," Race interrupted smoothly, stepping between the two and picking him up neatly. Immediately, the boy hid his face against Race's shoulder again.

Dr. Eftekari smiled humorously. "Children can be that way sometimes, particularly if they've been through a lot. And from what Dr. Mason tells me, this little boy certainly has."

Race nodded and hugged the child reassuringly, then he returned his attention to the doctor. "You needed to talk with us about something?"

Dr. Eftekari's face turned grave and he nodded. Gesturing Race to the chair, the doctor leaned against the side of the bed. "Yes, I do. I got the results of your latest tests early this morning, and it's not good." He looked at Estella. "Mrs. Bannon, in spite of everything we've tried, your blood pressure has risen sharply again, and your blood work and urine samples show that your kidneys and liver are coming under increasing strain. They are rapidly reaching the point where they can't eliminate the toxins from your system or filter the excesses from your bloodstream."

"What does that mean?" Estella whispered hoarsely, one arm curling protectively around her burgeoning stomach, while Race paled slightly.

"It means that if we don't do something to correct the situation, your kidneys and liver will start to shut down, as will your heart, eventually." He sighed at their expressions. "We've reached the point where attempting to prolong the pregnancy so the child can develop further is more dangerous to both you and the baby than taking her early."

Estella moaned softly, closing her eyes and wrapping both arms around her belly as she started to cry.

"There's nothing else we can do?" Race demanded desperately. "Nothing at all?"

The doctor shook his head. "I'm afraid not."

"Have you talked to Barbara? What does she say?"

"Yes, I talked with her at length this morning," Dr. Eftekari replied, understanding and compassion for the two distressed parents shining in his eyes. "We both reviewed the lab results and she concurred with me. We simply can't wait any longer. Mr. & Mrs. Bannon, you have to know that I wouldn't suggest this if it wasn't absolutely necessary. But if we don't move soon . . . very, very soon . . . it's a foregone conclusion that Mrs. Bannon won't survive the procedure, and with each passing day, the likelihood that the child will survive grows less and less."

Race rose abruptly and turning to set Vassey in the chair, he reached out and gathered Estella into his arms, burying his face in her hair and holding her tightly. For an instant, Vassey started to fuss, but then he fell silent, watching Race and Estella with huge, fearful eyes. After a long moment, Race asked hoarsely, "Wh-what do you want to do?"

"Under normal circumstances, we'd prep Mrs. Bannon this evening and we'd go in and do the surgery first thing tomorrow morning. But I honestly don't believe we should wait any longer. When Dr. Mason and I got the results this morning, we discussed it and agreed it was vital that we move quickly. The nursing staff has already begun the pre-surgical prep and I've got an operating theater reserved for six this evening."

Race clung to Estella as if couldn't stand to let her go. "That's why she was so insistent that I come today," he muttered to himself. "She knew . . ."

"Yes," Dr. Eftekari agreed. "She knew. But I encouraged her to let me talk to you about this once you arrived here. This is my specialty and I'm in a much better position to answer any questions you might have about the procedure and possible complications we might run into. Furthermore, you had a fair distance to travel to get here, and Dr. Mason felt it would be better if you didn't need to worry about this while you made the trip." Shoving off from the edge of the bed, the doctor began moving toward the door. "I know that this comes as a blow, but all I can do is assure you that this is our very best option. I have other rounds to make, so I'm going to leave you now. The nurses will be in at about five to start the final preparations and I'll see you again shortly before six."

Race looked up sharply. "Barbara. Will she be here? She promised that she'd be here to assist . . ."

"She said that she would try, but my understanding is that other obligations are keeping her in Rockport. But I can assure you that your wife will be in good hands. My colleague, Dr. Jackson, is an good surgeon and an outstanding neonatologist and he's agreed to assist." Dr. Eftekari smiled encouragingly at both of them. "Believe me, there's none better. He's the man I trusted to care for my own wife when she had trouble with the birth of our son." With a final smile of encouragement, he turned and walked out the door.

"Wait!" Race called, and then with a quick word to Estella and a sharp "Stay there!" to Vassey, he went after the doctor. He caught him about ten feet down the hospital corridor. "Dr. Eftekari!"

The man paused and turned back. "Yes?"

"There's one other thing . . . something I didn't want to bring up in front of my wife." The doctor gave Race a quizzical look. Taking a deep breath, Race asked, "What's the chance that things are going to go wrong?"

"There's always a chance. You know that. Particularly in light of all the problems your wife has been having. But we will do the very best we can."

"I understand that. What I mean is . . ." Race paused and licked his lips before continuing slowly, "What happens if it comes down to a choice?"

The surgeon eyed the man in front of him resignedly, knowing what was coming. "What kind of choice?"

"What are the odds that you'll be faced with having to let either my wife or my child die to save the other?"

Dr. Eftekari sighed and nodded his head. "It may come to that."

The silence hung heavily between them. Slowly and with great difficulty, Race said, "If it does, how do you choose?"

"It depends on the situation at the time the decision has to be made . . . which of them has the best chance for survival. If all things are equal and the choice has to be made, then I'll ask the two of you to make it. In spite of what you sometimes hear, most doctors don't like playing God."

Race stared blindly at the floor for a long moment. When he finally looked up again, his eyes were bleak. "If the choice has to be made, you save my wife."

"Mr. Bannon, you need to discuss this with your wife -"

"No," Race interrupted. "I've told you what I want done."

"Are you certain about this, because I'll warn you that your wife has already had this conversation with me and she's said that whatever the cost, she wants your daughter to have first priority."

Race closed his eyes as if in pain and then turned away, walking back toward Estella's room. "You have my decision, doctor," he said flatly. "One way or the other, I want my wife to survive this. I won't have her pay the price for my stupidity."


~ ~ ~ ~ ~


Darkness was falling when the uneasy silence in the Quest mansion finally began to get to Barbara. After Race and Vassey left, she had wandered the house restlessly for a while. Then, in an effort to make the time pass more quickly and to dispel the gloom that was enveloping her, she decided to work. Hauling out all of the patient files that her nurse had passed on to her when she stopped in the office earlier that morning, she settled in at the dining room table and began reviewing charts. Immersing herself in the familiar routine, she read and made notes on all of the patients that her temporary doctors had seen the previous day, as well as those that were scheduled to come in the next day. Finally, a little over two hours later, she closed the last chart and sighed. Stacking them neatly in the middle of the table, she retrieved a phone, called her office, and let Nicki know that she was done and asked that she call Matt Evans to come out to the Quest Compound to pick them up and return them to the office. Matt had obviously been waiting for the call, because he turned up at the Quest house less than ten minutes later.

But once he had gone, Barbara found herself at loose ends. Uneasily, she checked her watch. According to what Race had told her, Benton had been sleeping now for close to four hours, and she knew that he had not been restless the night before, sleeping soundly through the night.

He's been asleep too long, she thought, as sudden fear drove her toward the upstairs bedroom. When she reached his room, she flung open the door. Maia sat rigidly upright on the foot of the bed, staring at the man who still lay moving on the bed. But even from her position at the door, Barbara could tell that something wasn't right. His breathing sounded labored, as though he was struggling for each breath, and when she reached his side she saw that his face was gray and his skin felt clammy.

"Benton," she called, shaking one shoulder sharply. "Benton, wake up!" But there was no response. Looking at the girl quickly, Barbara demanded, "How long has he been like this?"

Maia shook her head mutely, staring at Benton as if mesmerized.

"MAIA!" Barbara said sharply. Reaching out, she grabbed the child's arm and shook her. "Maia, look at me!" Finally, the girl's fixed stare broke and she looked at Barbara. "How long has he been like this?"

"I - I do n-n-n-not know. I j-j-just woke up and h-he sounded funny," Maia said, the edge of hysteria starting to creep into her voice. "I - I did not know what to do. I - I - I tried to wake him up . . . I called to him, but he would not answer. I was . . . I wanted . . . but then you came and . . ." In sudden desperation, Maia lunged at Barbara. "Make him wake up! Please! I - I am supposed to take care of him . . . until my sister and the Sultan return. I promised Jessie and - and Kefa. I promised them!"

Shaking off the girl's clutching hands, she leaped up and went around the bed to the phone that sat on the bedside table. Her hands shook as she struggled to dial. Once she finished, she wedged the instrument between her shoulder and ear and then search frantically for Benton's pulse. When she located it, she found it was thready and erratic. As she waited for someone to answer, she jerked at Benton's shirt, struggling to loosen it. Buttons flew everywhere. After what seemed like an eternity, a voice answered.

"911 Rescue. What is the nature of your emergency?"

"This is Dr. Barbara Mason. I need a medical team dispatched to the Quest Mansion located at 23219 North U.S. Highway 1 just sound of Rockport, code red. Tell them we'll need life stabilization and maintenance measures. I also need a medical evac helicopter dispatched to the same location. The patient will need immediate evacuation to Maine Medical Center in Portland."

"I have that, Dr. Mason. Emergency team has already been dispatched and I'll get the evac team out there as quickly as possible. What about Compound security?" Silently, Barbara thanked whatever deity was looking out for them and had seen to it that the 911 operator on duty that afternoon was someone from the area and familiar with Benton Quest. "The gate'll be open and you can tell the chopper pilot to set it down right on the front lawn."

"Got it. Can you stay on the line until the emergency team arrives?"

"No. I've got my hands full. Just get me that help!" She slammed the receiver down and then rolled Benton over so he was laying flat on his back. Tilting his head back, she made sure his airway was clear and then fastened her mouth on his and blew air into his lungs. She leaned back and watched, but he didn't exhale. With a wordless sob, she pressed down on his chest, deflating his lungs, and then repeated the process. "Come on, Benton, come on!" she chanted at him as she established a rhythm. After the fourth time, she laid her fingers against his carotid artery to check his pulse. For a moment, she couldn't find it. "NO!" she screamed at him. "DON'T YOU QUIT ON ME!" Grabbing him by the shirt, she physically dragged him off of the bed. He was dead weight and it was all she could do to prevent his head from striking the floor as he fell.

"IRIS, open the gate to let the emergency medical team in," she gasped, dragging Benton's body into the middle of the floor. "Also, allow the evac unit to land and don't attempt to prevent either team from entering the house. Notify me when they arrive."

"ACKNOWLEDGED."

Positioning him carefully, Barbara tilted Benton's head back and blew into his lungs again. This time, however, she started CPR as well. The world around her faded away as her complete focus shrank to the alternating rhythm of breathing and pumping that was the only hope of keeping him alive. She had no idea how much time had passed when IRIS warned, "THE REQUESTED MEDICAL TEAM HAS CLEARED THE FRONT GATE."

"Maia," she gasped without breaking the steady rhythm, "go downstairs and meet them at the door. Show them where we are . . ." There was no reply to her order, but out of the corner of her eye, she saw Maia bolt for the bedroom door and the soft thud of her running feet on the carpet traced her path along the hallway and down the front staircase. Dismissing the girl from her thoughts, Barbara focused once again on the task of keeping Benton Quest alive.

The next thing she was aware of were arms wrapped around her body, trying to draw her away from him. She struggled to return to her task, sobbing softly in desperation when the arms refused to allow her to do so. It took a moment longer for the voice to penetrate her intense concentration.

"Stop! Dr. Mason, it's okay. We've got him!"

The telltale beeping of the portable heart monitor was what brought her fully back to her surroundings. Shaking free of the restraining arms, she moved forward once more, staring intently at the readings that were now beginning to appear on the life support equipment that was being attached to Benton. His heart rate had stabilized, and while it was still a bit thin and stuttered on occasion, it appeared to have found its own rhythm again. His breathing hadn't, however, and the sound of the portable respirator was loud in her ears.

"What have we got?" the EMT that had pulled her away demanded. "Did he take something, or -"

"Of course not!" Barbara snapped.

"Then what? What are we fighting?"

She sighed and pushed her hair back from her face, half of her mind listening for the helicopter that should be on the way by this time. "He's suffering from . . ." She paused, suddenly wondering just exactly how much she should say. Partial truth is better than a lie, she told herself, and continued, "He's suffering from a neural disorder that was caused by something that happened to him about five years ago. It's been steadily undermining his systems, and I think . . ." She paused again and then sighed softly, "I think that he may have had some kind of seizure that disrupted his body's ability to regulate his heart and breathing."

"Oh man," the younger of the two EMT's said softly. Barbara really looked at him for the first time and suddenly recognized him as a Rockport native . . . a young man four or five years older than Jonny. He looked up at her, his distress obvious. "Will he be okay, Dr. Mason? It's something that can be treated, right?" His co-worker was a stranger to Barbara, and she saw the look of surprise on his face as he eyed his partner.

"I don't know, Kevin," she replied. "It's serious, though. We need to get him to Portland just as quickly as we can."

"Dr. Mason."

Barbara spun at the sound of the new voice and saw Maia standing in the doorway. She was pale, but composed. "The helicopter islanding out in front."

"Good girl. Go meet them and lead them here quickly." As Maia disappeared once more, Barbara turned to the two EMT's. "I need to do some quick things here, then I'll get my bag we're ready to go. I want you to help load him onto the helicopter and then you can go. And please, at least for now, say as little as possible about this to anyone."

"It's already too late for that," Kevin protested. "By this time, everyone knows we were called out here and that an emergency evac unit was sent, as well."

Barbara sighed. "Yes, I know. But if you're asked, just tell people that he's ill, he's been taken to Portland for treatment, and we hope to have him home soon. All right?"

"But why . . ." the older one began, but Kevin cut him off.

"Don't worry, Dr. Mason. He's new around here. I'll explain it to him and we'll keep quiet." She smiled at him gratefully, and then waved the three newcomers into the room.

The next ten minutes was spent in the midst of controlled chaos. Benton was transferred onto a stretcher and carried down to the helicopter where he was loaded onboard. Barbara got her medical bag and coat, as well as a coat for Maia, handed all of it to the girl and told her to go out and wait by the helicopter. She called Martha Evans at home, and let her know what was going on, and told her not to bother coming to the house for the next several days. The older woman, who had been given several weeks off when Barbara and Race began to realize that Benton had a problem, was very upset and made her promise to call as soon as she knew anything. Again, Barbara made it a point to ask her to keep as quiet as possible about the situation. Finally, she confirmed that everyone was clear of the house, instructed IRIS to allow all emergency medical personnel to leave the premises, and then told her to lock down the Compound. "Don't let anyone but those with family status in, IRIS. Is that clear?" she demanded when she completed her instructions.

"ACKNOWLEDGED."

Giving a sharp nod, she gestured to Maia to climb aboard the helicopter, followed her, and then yelled at the pilot over the sound of the engine. "That does it. Let go!"


~ ~ ~ ~ ~


Race was waiting in the lobby of the emergency room when the evac unit arrived at Portland Medical Center with Benton. During the flight, his heart had faltered again, and the technicians were forced to put him on a heart monitor. The ER trauma team surrounded the stretcher the instant they arrived and whisked Benton away before Race was even able to get close. As the stretcher disappeared through the doors, Race reached out and grabbed Barbara's arm.

"Wait! What happ -"

She yanked her arm free and snapped, "Not now! I'll be back. Maia, you stay here!" And then she was gone.

Race stood helplessly, staring after them blankly for a moment. Then he turned to Maia, ready to demand an explanation. But the girl's expression stopped him cold. The mature, composed young girl he had seen since her arrival was gone. The one who stood with him now was terrified and lost. She stood rooted to the spot where Barbara had left her. Silent tears streamed down her face, and Race could see her shaking. Without another thought, he knelt down in front of her and pulled her into a strong embrace. "It's okay, honey. It will be alright," he crooned, much as he had done with Vassey.

Her silent tears quickly turned to ragged, wrenching sobs and, with what little breath she could manage, she kept saying, "P-p-p-promised. I promised. T-t-t-take c-c-care of h-him. I PROMISED!"

"Oh, sweetheart, this wasn't your fault! He was sick long before you came to us. You did the best you could." But nothing he could say would console the girl. Beside him, Vassey was also crying and Race reached out and pulled him into the embrace with this sister. For a while, the three of them remained frozen in that position, for all the world like a statue of grief incarnate. Finally, Race stirred. Rising, he led the two children over to a bench along one wall. He sat down and drew both of them to him . . . Vassey into his lap and Maia against his left side. And there they waited, grief and fear eventually turning to numb exhaustion.

When Barbara finally rejoined them about an hour later, she was shocked by what she saw. Maia and Vassey were quiet now, but both looked as though they had been through a war. Their eyes were glazed and their faces showed nothing but devastated exhaustion. Race sat holding both of them. His head was propped against the wall, his eyes were closed. His face was carefully blank, but Barbara knew him well enough to know that he, too, had reached his limit of endurance. She must have made some small sound as she knelt in front of them, because Race raised his head and three identical pairs of dull, hopeless eyes stared back at her.

"Is he dead?" Race asked her, too tired to try to pick his words carefully.

"No," she replied. "They've got him stabilized, but he's comatose." Barbara shook her head. "He's not breathing on his own any more. The autonomic systems are starting to fail and his body needs assistance to keep them running. His heart is still functioning on it's own, but it . . ." She fumbled for the right word, suddenly realizing that she was as tired as they were. Finally, she continued, ". . . it stumbles, and when the rhythm begins to break down, his body can't get it back. They've put him on a monitor that will help regulate it so it doesn't start into that cycle. They've also begun monitoring his kidney function, because it's only a matter of time now before those begin to fail, too."

"So he might as well be dead."

"Race . . ."

He waved whatever she was going to say away. "No, I know. I just . . ." He sighed deeply and rested his head against the wall once more.

"How is Estella?"

"I don't know. They had just taken her down to surgery when the nurse came to tell me you were en route with Benton. They know where I am, but no one has come looking for me."

Barbara laid a gentle hand on his arm. "Do you want me to see what I can find out?" She watched as he raised his head and truly focused on her for the first time. Something flickered behind his eyes and she saw him struggle to find an answer to her question. His desperate need to know warred with the growing fatalism caused by too many things gone wrong and his inability to do anything to change them, leaving him indecisive for the first time since she had known him.

Before he was able to reply, movement caught Barbara's eye and she turned to see Dr. Eftekari coming toward them. Race followed her gaze and then rose awkwardly to face him.

"It's over?" he asked hoarsely.

"Yes."

"And?"

"It was a difficult delivery and your wife lost quite a bit of blood, but I believe that given time, she will recover."

Race stumbled backwards as his knees gave way and he sat down hard on the bench once more. "God . . ." he murmured in a choked voice. After a moment, he looked up again. "And my daughter?"

"Only time will tell. We have her in the newborn critical care unit and she is being watched constantly. She weighed barely two pounds at birth and was tiny even by our usual standards for premature births. But I'll say this much. If spirit is a factor, she has a good chance of making it. When we finally got her airways clear, she cried. I won't call it a scream, but it was much better than any other child born this early that I've ever seen." The doctor smiled at him with real humor. "She was not happy with us!"

The sound Race made then was somewhere between a laugh and a sob, but when he looked up again, life was returning to his face. He rose and held out his hand to the surgeon. "Dr. Eftekari, I don't know how to thank you."

"There's no need. I'm glad I could help. And I want to caution you again . . . we aren't out of the woods yet."

Race nodded his understanding. "Can I see them?"

"Mrs. Bannon is still in recovery and it will be a while yet before she's moved to a room, but your daughter is in critical care neonatal ward on the fourth floor. If you want to go up there, one of the nurses can take you to her."

"Thank you."

Barbara looked at the two children who both still clung to Race possessively. "Maia . . . Vassey . . . will you stay here with me?" Both of them shrank away from her and Vassey clutched at Race with a frightened whimper.

Race shook his head. "No, that's alright. I'll keep them with me. I think -"

The familiar strains of a special live TV news report interrupted him, and his eyes automatically shifted to the television that was mounted on the wall across the room. The familiar face of the national news anchor appeared, along with the words 'NBC exclusive'.

"Good evening. In up-to-the minute news, NBC has just received word that fighting has broken out in the capital city of Bangalore, a country on the northern border of India. The Sultan of that country, who holds dual citizenship in both the United States and Bangalore, has been missing and presumed dead for some days. With a live report from the heart of Bangalore City is NBC correspondent, Peter McCaffrey."

The image changed to that of a street in the city. In the background, Race could just make out the outline of the royal palace. Sounds of gunfire and the screams of fleeing people could be heard clearly. The scene was one of total chaos. The picture bounced around slightly, as though the person holding the camera was unfamiliar with the equipment and trying desperately to do a multitude of strange activities all at the same time. In the foreground was a man Race had never seen. His brown, curly hair was coated in dust, as were his clothes, and both his hands and face showed signs of abuse.

"Thank you, Graham. This is Peter McCaffrey reporting live from Bangalore City, where a fierce battle is raging for control of this country. The royal palace of Bangalore is currently being held by the former head of the country's Advisory Council, a man named Arun Birla, who has been attempting to overthrow the legitimate government. Behind me, forces led by Kefira Singh, wife of the current ruler, are attempting to force their way into the palace in search of the Sultan who is rumored to be held prisoner inside."

Behind the reporter, a group of men surged by, moving grimly toward the palace. They carried modern weapons and spread out facing the palace, taking cover behind whatever they could find. A steady hail of bullets from the walls greeted their advance, and as they watched, Race and the others saw several of the men fall.

"Race -" Barbara began, but he waved a hand, cutting her off sharply, his entire attention focused on the scene playing out on the television screen.

"Fighting has been heavy, both in the city and in the rural countryside, where mercenary soldiers have been ruthlessly attacking the local residents and attempting to destroy resistance to the coup. The people, who are fiercely loyal to Hadji Singh, the current hereditary ruler, have been fighting back with whatever weapons they can find, and casualties have been appalling."

Suddenly, from behind McCaffrey, another group of men appeared. Grim-face and determined, they were like a wedge, cutting through the milling throngs of confused citizenry and fighting men. Obviously, the cameraman was much more interested in these new arrivals than he was in staying focused on the man reporting the news, because McCaffrey disappeared as the image focused on the actions of this group. Race saw the man in the lead gesture and the tight knot of people stopped. Then, the man turned and said something. Almost like magic, the knot dissolved and from the center of it, two women stepped forward. Race literally stopped breathing as he stared wordlessly at the screen. Dressed in identical black leather, they stood shoulder-to-shoulder, wearing matching expressions of grim determination. As if from a very great distance, the microphone held by McCaffrey picked up the redhead's words to her companion.

"It's time."

The raven-haired woman beside her nodded and replied, "Then let us end this once and for all."

"Kefa . . ." Maia whimpered.

"Oh my God . . ." Race uttered hoarsely as he stood helplessly and watched as his daughter brought a hand-held missile launcher to her shoulder and pulled the trigger. In the next instant, the front wall of the palace erupted with the force of the strike, and then the picture went blank as the satellite uplink was lost.