'Just before the missiles starting falling..... My father took me up
in his plane. We listened, horrified, to radio broadcasts of the
destruction of the cities, and of the spreading fallout. He told me
that he wanted to put me into a suspended state, which would keep me
alive until..... Until what, I couldn't imagine.'
'My mind just couldn't accept what was happening. I was
terrified, and told him I didn't want to leave him. But he said it
was the only way. When we landed, he said that he was sorry. He had to
drug me, I guess, because the next thing I knew I was in something like
a casket with my father leaning over me, crying, and telling me he loved
me.'
She broke down, turned against the stone wall, and wept. Kalus looked
at her, and but for the iron discipline he had learned, the alternative
to which was death, would have gone to her and comforted her as best he
could. As it was he felt more stirred than at any time since his
father's death, and quietly vowed that he would stay with her, and
protect her until the end.
Sylviana recovered somewhat, looked back at him, and seeing the confused
sympathy of his eyes, concluded.
'I woke in the Mantis' cave, with no idea where I was or how I
came here. I've been alone for nearly three months. But for the
Voice, and later, for Akar.
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