Noel's throat had closed, so that only a trickle of air was getting to her lungs. There was no way she could have spoken.

"Come on, lass. We don't have much time. How long have you been working with him? Did he tell you about the locket? That Henry never should have hidden it with you? That I wanted it back-and your friend got killed?"

Before Noel could absorb that revelation, Sir Douglas was speaking again and dragging her across the room. "Come along. If Jason knows I have you in the control room, I may be able to stop him."

She tried to dig her heels into the carpet, but he was far stronger than she.

She couldn't stop him from pulling her back toward the center of the chamber. Then a man was rushing toward them, throwing his solid body against Sir Douglas like a linebacker bringing down the ball carrier.

Taken completely by surprise, the Sovereign lay sprawled on the carpet.

Jed Spencer took Noel by the shoulders.

"What-?" The word was a strangled gasp as she tried to get away from this

new enemy."Jason's friend-U.S. gov-""DATA RELIABILITY FORTY PERCENT AND DqqpSING""Jason did it! We've finally got the bastard!" Jed growled, looking down at the Sovereign's prone body.

"He's finished without his information banks. The wolves will tear him to pieces." All at once it was suffocatingly hot in the chamber. Steam began to rise from the rug."Quick! Didn't Jason tell you how to get out of here?"Noel gestured toward the screen. "A secret door.""Where?"She pointed to one of the screens. "Underneath." Then she turned back to look at the Sovereign. He was gone.

Jed followed her gaze, swearing under his breath as he urged her forward. "" We have to get out of here. Fast ! "They were almost there when a section of wall came away. Noel stopped in her tracks. Then Jason stepped through the opening. Noel stared at him,thinking her mind was playing tricks again."Noel. Thank God: His gaze swung to Jed. " I owe you one, buddy. ""Got to split. Frye's disappeared."

"Damn!" Jason grabbed Noel's hand. "That could be real bad news.""Over there! A door." The shout came from Buell , who had seen the newcomerenter the room. Then everyone in the chamber was rushing toward them.

"No. None of you will escape." The Sovereign's voice-distorted and angry-boomed out of nowhere. "what's he gonna do?" Jed asked.

"I took out his control room. He must have a secret backup,"

Jason was tugging Noel toward the door when it happened A loud concussion shook 'the room to its foundations just as a section of the wall blew away.

Jason flung himself at Noel, knocking her to the carpetIn that instant a door opened in her brain like the door that had opened inthe wall allowing Jason to step through. All the false memories. Thehoneymoon in the Caribbean. Jason Zacharias. Her husband. No, not likethat. It had never been like that. As the room exploded around them, the truth exploded, too, like small time bombs in the cells of her brain. Inthat terrible instant, she knew. " " Jason ! Jason! "He didn't answer, he only dragged her through the opening and into a blessedly cool passageway.

She looked back. Jed was sprawled on the floor, his shirt shredded and his back bleeding. A line of flames was racing toward him.

Heart in her mouth, she watched Jason dash back into the chamber, grab the unconscious man and hoist him over his shoulder.

He staggered out into the passage again and slammed the door behind him. " " The others? " " "Down." He hustled her ahead of him along the passage " " Hurry. "

Deep in the walls around them, she heard more explosions Chunks of rock were falling to the floor. One narrowly missed her shoulder.

And then the voice of the Sovereign screamed his wrath as another concussion shook the castle to its very foundations' You think you've defeated me, laddie. ButI'm the one who will win. This castle is designed to self Hopscotch destruct on my command. Didn't you know that, Jason ? Jason, my trusted lieutenant. I've been watching you, laddie, waiting for you to make a mistake. Because I've always had the notion you were too good to be true.

So I didn't tell you everything. You never knew about my duplicate control room, did you? "

The words echoed around them.

"He's gone crazy," Noel gasped out.

Jason didn't break his stride as he forced her to keep moving.

Jed groaned and lifted his head from Jason's shoulder'I can walk," he muttered. " "Forget it."

"Didn't I give you enough power, laddie?" the crazed , voice echoed around them. "Was that what you wanted?

Or was it the damn girl? Was that why you turned on ; me? " The Sovereign's voice had taken on a plaintive quality. " Why didn't you tell me you wanted the lass? I would have let you keep her. "

They came to another door. This one stood open, and they emerged into one of the main reception areas. The ; wall hangings and draperies were on fire. As they watched, a section of ceiling gave way, mingling plaster with the smoke. Noel caught a glimpse of servants dashing down a corridor.

About to run toward the nearest window, she stopped short as she saw the glass was covered with a thick metal panel. The others were the same. " " Locked in. "

"We've still got a chance." Jason pointed toward a set of steps leading down.

The foundations of the building shook as they took the steps two at a time.

Jason was beginning to stagger under Jed's weight.

He stood the man on his feet as they reached the underground river Sir

Douglas had showed Noel so proudly.

Jed swayed and grasped Jason's shoulder. Then he shook his head as he peered at the fast-moving water.

"It has to have an outlet," Jason said, stripping off his shirt and slacks.

After a brief hesitation, Jeq began to do the same and ended up sitting down heavily on the worn stones. As he leaned over, Noel could see that the back of his shirt was soaked with blood.

"We can't.. . Jed can't.. . we don't know how far.. ." Noel heard the sick uncertainty in her own voice.

"Don't you understand? The Sovereign is bringing this place down with him." Noel was staring numbly at the water when Jason stepped up behind her, grabbed the skirt of the dress and ripped it away, leaving her legs free.

"In! Take a deep breath. Then go with the current. It'll shoot you right out of here."

She gazed up at him."Jason, please. I know. I remember." Her fingers clutched his forearms."The truth, Jason. I remember the trccth."

The look of anguish on his face squeezed her heart. "" You can't: '"But I do. Why didn't you tell me?"He shook his head. "I couldn't."Her grip on his arms tightened, but he shook his head once more. "I've got to help Jed.""The hell you do!" the other man objected, trying to push himself up.The building shook again. This time walLs cracked and rocks began to fall around them.

"Noel, for God's sake! We'll be right behind you: ' "

" Promise me! "

" I promise. "

Before it was too late, she gulped in a deep draft of air.

Then she plunged into the icy water.

The strong current grabbed her like a hurricane taking hold of a flower. She opened her eyes, but all she could see was blackness.

There was another explosion. She sensed it as a massive shock wave in the water while the river shot her along through an endless passage. She felt her lungs bursting, felt her grip on consciousness slipping, and she knew she couldn't hold out much longer. Then, when it seemed as if she would never emerge from the confines of the tunnel , light finally appeared above her head. Her legs were numb, but she forced them to work, kicking upward. Seconds later, she broke the surface and gulped in blessed air.

Somehow she maneuvered to the bank and managed to catch at stands of reeds to slow her progress. Finally she was out of the main current. Panting, she pulled herself onto dry ground. She lay there cold and shivering, looking back the way she'd come, straining her eyes for a glimpse of Jason. But he wasn't there.

She was alone on the bank.

Feet came thumping toward her. She looked up eagerly Not Jason.

Just a man wearing a dark blue uniform. "

" Miss Emery? "

"Mrs. Zacharias," she corrected, between chattering teeth. Somehow she had to hang on to that.

Chapter Sixteen.

Her face was buried in a pillow damp from tears. Tears that flowed whenever she thought about losing Jason again. She'd begged the nurses to find out what had happened to him. But the staff knew nothing about a Jason Zacharias, or else they were trying to protect her from the bad news until she was strong enough to take it.

A terrible void had opened in her chest where her heart had been. Why had God given her back her true memories only to snatch away any chance at happiness?

The man she loved was gone. This time, forever. She fought the urge to withdraw. To send the awful, gnawing emptiness to some part of her mind where it couldn't hurt her.

Her hands clenched around the pillow. No, she wouldn't do that again, wouldn't take the coward's way out a second time. If she had nothing else left, at least this time she'd hold on to the memories of the precious week Sir Douglas Frye had given her with Jason.

The door opened and she tensed, waiting for the bad news. Then footsteps crossed the tile floor. " " Go away. "

A hand gently touched her shoulder. She knew his touch.

"Jason!"

She rolled toward him, holding out her arms and feeling the tears begin to flow again. " " I thought you were dead. Thank God, you're here! " It took a moment before she could continue. " "Are you all right? "

"Yes."

When he still didn't move closer, she let her arms drop to her sides.

"I had to know you were safe." His voice was husky with emotion. He stood by the bed looking at her, and she could see the indecision in his eyes and new tension lines etched into his forehead.

Her eyes swept over him, taking in more details, assuring herself that he was really all right. Then she came back to the dark hair he hadn't bothered to comb. The guarded look in his ebony eyes. The hands clenched tightly at his sides. And she knew everything between thezn was far from settled.

"Oh, Jason. You're safe. What about Jed?"

"He made it, too."

"You saved him."

"He bought me the time I needed-with that suggestion the Sovereign auction you off first."

Noel closed her eyes. "I was so scared."

"I know. I saw the whole damn thing on a monitor while I was in Frye's control room taking care of his precious data. I'll never forget the look of horror on your face. But it had to be real, or Sir Douglas wouldn't have bought it: '

"Maybe you think I don't understand, but I do." The few inches separating them were intolerable. "Come qre," Noel whispered gently as if she were dealing with a wild creat,ire that might flee.

He shook his head. "I lied to you. The whole time we've been together," hesaid in a voice that was barely under control. "Do you know how much I hatedthat?"

"You didn't lie. You just didn't tell me the whole truth-because you thought Frye would kill me if he found out ."

The room was very quiet. Stretching out her hand, she laid it over one of his.

She heard a deep breath sigh out of him, felt his body shudder.

When he turned his hand over and knit his fingers with hers, she wanted toweep. "You remember when we went over the chronology of the manufacturedmemories?" she murmured.

He didn't move a muscle.