Chapter 2
She was being carried toward a waiting vehicle when consciousness returned. "Amon," she cried out, her arms struggling against the ones that clasped her close. As her vision began to clear, she heard a familiar, low voice speak. "Hush, Robin. He is alive and so are you. God has indeed laid His hand on you tonight." Her gaze angled toward the speaker, her heart quickening with a mixture of hope and anxiety. "Juliano," she whispered.
"Put her in the car, quickly." Juliano spoke to the man holding her.
"And the other?" another voice spoke.
"Send him ahead in the helicopter. He needs medical attention immediately. However, we need to evacuate both subjects from the country as soon as possible. It is not safe for them here at the moment."
"Their destination, Monsignor?"
"Italy. Where better to hide them than under the very eyes of those who seek them?"
Robin's thoughts went to Nagira. "Where better for you to hide than in the city, under the very nose of Solomon's STN-J?" he had said to her when she had fled to him the night of the attack. Nagira…she hoped he and the others had made it out on time. As her mind tilted toward unconsciousness, Robin wondered if she would ever see any of her friends again.
Juliano gazed at the pale, dirty face of his unconscious granddaughter. She looked so very like her mother. "Oh, Maria, my child," he whispered. It had been his deep love for his daughter and the child she had borne that had allowed him to dredge up his ebbing power tonight. Watching from the hill overlooking the Factory, he had seen the structure collapse in upon itself and he had focused on Robin. He had sensed her spirit and known she lived and this had allowed him to find her and Amon buried deep in the ruins. The young men who accompanied him had obeyed his commands, never questioning why he chose to evacuate the two injured parties without informing the Solomon assault team. Those young men were good and loyal. Juliano sent up yet another prayer thanking God for their presence and for Robin's safety. God must be getting tired of hearing his pleas, Juliano thought with bitter amusement. But God had answered them, and here was Robin lying safe, next to him in his car. Tenderly, he wiped the grime from her face with his handkerchief, his gloved hands stroking her cheek, pushing the stray tendrils of hair from her face. Sighing wearily, Juliano leaned his head back against the seat and closed his eyes.