"well, that's something. That wasn't so hard, was it?"

"Don't tell me I have to like this, Steve."

"will you pray for me?"

"Of course, but I'd pray you come to your senses."

"I'm going through with this, Buck. And I won't pretend I'm not scared. The GC considers this an oversight, a timing thing, something to do with my limitations. But when they make it official, make me make my decision and take my stand, I don't want to fail G.o.d."

"You won't. He promises grace beyond measure and a peace that pa.s.ses understanding."

"I gotta tell ya, Buck, I'm not feeling any of that yet."

"G.o.d," Buck began, but Steve could tell he had to compose himself before he could continue, "please be with your child. Give him your grace, your peace. I confess I don't want him to do this. I hate it. I'm tired of losing people I love. But if this is what you're calling him to do, give him courage, give him words, give him power over the enemy. I pray that people who see this will be so moved that they will make the same choice." Buck was so shaken that his comrades seemed to gather round him spontaneously. When they learned what was going on, they knelt and prayed for Steve. Buck called Chang.

"He'll be going to the center at Resurrection south of the Springs," Buck said. "Any chance they monitor that visually? "

"They do."

"Could that be transmitted here?"

"I can do it."

"I don't know why I want to see it, but I'll feel like I'm there with him."

Steve was aware of Vasily's double take when Steve rolled up in the parking lot in casual clothes. In fact, less than casual. He wore slip on shoes, khaki pants, and a white undershirt.

"You're wondering about protocol," Steve said as Vasily lifted him into the car.

Vasily nodded. "I've learned not to question you, Chief."

"Are you armed, my friend?"

"Of course."

"I'm not."

"I can see that."

Steve reached out a hand to Vasily, who looked at it. "Shake," he said. "Sorry the hand isn't what it used to be." Vasily touched it gingerly. "The name's Steve Plank."

"Excuse me?" "You heard me."

"Steve Plank? "

"So, you were listening, as usual. You know Global Weekly?"

Vasily appeared to have trouble concentrating. "What? The magazine? Sure. We get it from New Babylon."

"You remember when it was independent, before the disappearances ? ".

"Of course."

"I was on the masthead."

"The ? "

"Masthead. That list of the staff. I was the boss the editorial boss, anyway." And Steve told Vasily his story. They were fifteen minutes from their destination when he finished.

Medvedev shook his head. "What am I supposed to do with that?"

"Well, you don't need to arrest me. You already have me in custody, and you're following orders. You're taking me to the center."

"And you will take the mark, continue to live as a secret enemy of the Global Community, and I am to look the other way because we have become friends?"

"Have we, Vasily?"

"I thought we had, but of course you have not trusted me with the truth until now."

"If we are friends, you could do me a favor."

"Let you go? Let you make a run for it? Where would you go?"

"No. I was thinking you might rather shoot me." "You're joking."

"I'm not. It would look good on your record. Say what you want.

You found me out, worried I would escape, whatever."

"I could not."

"Well, I couldn't either. Do myself in, I mean. Not that I didn't give it some thought."

"What are you asking me to do, short of shooting you? I am supposed to watch you die?"

"You are to 'see to it,' aren't you? Isn't that your a.s.signment?"

Vasily sighed shakily and nodded. "You are not really going to go through with this, are you?"

Steve nodded. "I am. Running would only put off the inevitable.

And you have to admit, I'm fairly recognizable."

"That is not humorous to me."

"Nor to me. Vasily, I regret only that when you came to me it was already too late for you. You had taken the mark, and proudly."

"I'm not so proud of it anymore."

"That is the tragedy of where we find ourselves."

"I know."