Tara didnat respond. Instead, she looked at Gowsky, who was giving her an odd look.

The old woman continued. aYou have a lot of work to do. Tonight, you need to go home.a She turned and walked back through the trees.

Tara glanced quickly at the old woman and then at the four men, still aiming their guns at her, before focusing on Gowsky.

aTake her inside,a Gowsky instructed the four armed men.

Tara was escorted past the damaged shed to the house. For the first time, she noticed that her prison had been a shed with one wall attached to a large barn. She wondered what was kept in the barn, since she had never heard or smelled animals.

Her thoughts returned to the appearance of the old woman. Who was she? Tara remembered Fleedersa explanation about guardians roaming in the desert, but this woman had been flesh and blood, not the hallucination from some folk tale.

Gowsky led Tara inside his home, dismissing the guards before they entered. She found herself surrounded by warmth for the first time in days. As she entered a large room, Gowsky didnat seem to mind her self-guided tour, so she studied the roomas contents.

Tara glanced behind her at Gowsky, who stood just inside the door pushing b.u.t.tons on a wall-mounted pad. Probably setting a security system. Tara wished she had her landlink with her; she could then determine if force fields surrounded the house.

The room in which Tara stood was long and narrow. She noted a closed door at the other end of the room and a hallway to her left, which was shrouded in darkness. She guessed she stood in the living room, possibly used for conferences, judging by the number of chairs and sofas scattered about. The floors were carpeted, and the walls made of clay.

The door opened, and a woman appeared. She stared at Tara but made no move to enter the living area.

aYou can show our guest to her room, Saysil,a Gowsky said.

Tara focused on the woman as she pa.s.sed through the room, heading for the dark hallway. Tara guessed she should follow and did so.

aThese clothes should fit you.a The woman, who was about the same age as Tara, opened the door at the end of the hallway and entered a room. Tara followed her, noticing Saysil had backed to the doorway as she pointed to clothes draped over a chair. She never took her eyes off Tara.

Tara was amused by the girlas fear. aBoo!a she said suddenly, and the girl jumped and ran from the room. Tara could hear her fumbling with the doork.n.o.b on the other side, desperately trying to lock it as quickly as she could. Tara laughed out loud and casually pulled the damp dress from her body.

She felt much more comfortable in the dark khaki pants and wool sweater shead been given to wear. The small room where shead changed had a large bureau and a small bed. She guessed it was a spare bedroom.

Absentmindedly, she noted it wasnat as nice as the room shead been given in Gothman. The clay-plastered walls had no pictures hanging on them, and only one thin blanket spread over the beda"certainly not enough cover for this time of winter.

Left to her own devices, Tara decided to explore the roomas contents. She found a pouch-like bag with straps that she tied around her stomach and hid under her sweater. She also discovered long underwear in the bureau and quickly pulled off the khaki pants to put them on before donning the pants again. She realized it would be wise to dress warmly should she decide to implement the old ladyas idea and head home that night. Even though she had no idea how this plan was to be executed, she decided she would prepare for the occasion. It would only get colder the farther north she headed.

The sole window in the room looked out over the backyard. A large pane of gla.s.s was enclosed in a wooden frame that slid up and down on ropes. It easily unlocked, and she slid it up. The screen on the other side of the window would pop out easily, she determined after studying the manner in which it attached to the window frame.

She looked out the window at the side yard. Not too far away was a large barn. She could see the barn door flapping in the breeze and wondered if anyone was inside. Four guards had accompanied them to the house, but she didnat see any of them at the moment. She couldnat see the shed that had been her prison, but knew it was on the other side.

Carefully, she removed the screen and held on to it until the bottom touched the yard, then she let go and it landed silently on the ground. Gowsky obviously didnat use his house to hold prisoners. She wondered again if he had activated a security system when they first entered the house, and decided there was only one way to find out! For the second time that day, Tara planned her escape. She slid out the window, landing easily onto the ground.

She walked several feet away from the house and froze. At the corner of the building, Gowsky stood talking to another man! She hadnat noticed them from the window, since they wouldnat have been visible where they stood. The other man faced her way, but Gowsky had his back to her. If she made a move to the barn, she would be noticed.

The man talking to Gowsky pointed a finger in her direction, and Gowsky turned.

Tara saw him throw up his hands as if exasperated and quickly steer the man in the other direction. Thatas when Tara realized the other man was Fleeders!

Fleeders looked hard at her, saying something to Gowsky.

Tara seized the opportunity and bolted toward the barn. She heard Gowsky yell her name. He was running after her.

Tara got to the barn in plenty of time to shut the door and lower the wooden lock. She moved away from the door as Gowsky lunged against it.

aOpen the door, Tara.a Tara ignored him and moved farther from the door, looking around her. Pieces of farming equipment, a tractor and seeder surrounded her. Irrigation supplies lined the wall. She saw several horse stalls and started examining each in turn. They appeared empty. She pa.s.sed a pitchfork and picked it up as she continued investigating the stalls.

aTara!a Gowsky yelled loudly this time, his frustration with his unwilling captive apparent.

aWhere are all your animals?a Tara decided to feed his anger.

aDead. Now open the door!a aDead? Thatas odd. Howad they die?a aAll the animals died, Tara.a It was Fleedersa voice.

Tara reached the fourth and last stall. aPerfect.a She stared at her motorcycle parked in the s.p.a.ce. It was covered with dust and straw. She brushed off the seat as she pulled it out. Her elation fell as she realized the landlink was missing from the dash. What else had they done to it? Would it run? Not far without fresh gas and oil.

Several gunshots came from the door, and Tara heard instructions shouted from the other side. aAim at the lock.a A final shot broke the metal piece holding the wooden lock, and it slid across the hard dirt floor. Tara turned and watched the door swing open.

aWhere do you expect to go on that?a Gowsky stood at the door, focusing on Tara whoad mounted the bike. aThe force field surrounds the yard.a Tara smiled. She pushed the necessary b.u.t.tons, and the bike started easily. aI guess I will have to have faith in your Crator.a She couldnat possibly realize how hard her words. .h.i.t home with Gowsky. He looked at her with complete bafflement. He snapped his head to look at Fleeders, then turned back to Tara. aYou donat believe in Crator.a aWell, it seems your Crator believes in me.a Tara raced her engine, allowing the gas to flow through it.

aYou have no right to speak about Crator. You know nothing about Him,a Gowsky sneered. aAnd I doubt very much Crator would have anything to do with a Runner.a aIf you say so.a Tara shrugged indifferently. Her expression didnat change as she looked up and saw that he pointed his gun at her. aYou know I saw her again today, donat you, Gowsky?a Get him good and angry. He wonat think as clearly.

aYou saw her?a Gowsky slowly moved closer, maintaining his aim on her right shoulder.

aI saw an old woman.a Tara had no doubts that Gowsky would shoot her. But if he got just a bit closer, shead disarm him. aShe told me to go home.a aHow convenient,a Gowsky sneered.

Tara lunged the bike forward with no warning. Straight at Gowsky. He jumped to the side and pulled the trigger. Tara reached out and smacked Gowskyas wrist, causing the gun to shoot into the rafters. A blizzard of hay descended on them.

Tara maintained her grip as Gowsky yanked back.

Her hand moved with him as he yanked, offering no resistance.

He was prepared for her to pull back, a.s.suming shead try to take the gun from him. He used too much force to pull back the gun and lost his balance. Which is exactly what she hoped for.

As he hesitated, trying to regain balance, she stripped the gun from him, pulled the handlebar of her bike hard in the other direction and sped out of the barn.

Perfect! Iam properly clothed, armed, and I have my bike. This had worked better than shead antic.i.p.ated. She knew her skills exceeded those of the Neurians, but the accomplishments shead just achieved almost appeared to be handed to her. But, how could that be?

Gowsky was right, she knew nothing about Crator. Shead never been asked to have faith in something she knew nothing about or had never met. Shead had faith in other Runners before, during battle. She knew they would do their part and if she did her part, they would be victorious. Shead had faith in Patha all her life. He provided for her and taught her everything he could. That was what she knew, and that was the faith she would use now.

Still if Gowsky and his people could believe in something theyad never seen, what could it hurt if she tried to do the same? Certainly, it seemed that someone or something had just helped her escape.

She skidded the bike around the barn and headed to the point in the force field where the old woman had entered. Tara would not slow down or hesitate in any way. This Crator-being, or the old womanasomeoneahad faith in her. She could reciprocate. She did not blink once as she drove at high speed.

Gowsky dove at Taraas bike but missed. He tore at the ground with his shoes as he broke into a full run toward his house.

aTurn off the force field!a he screamed, running through the house, knocking over an end table, heading for the small room off his living room. He screamed again, aTurn the force field off now!a Fleeders was right behind him as the two stormed into the small room, startling the young woman sitting at a landlink.

aWhat?a She turned in her chair, looking surprised and bewildered at the unusual request.

aSheall electrocute herself.a Gowsky almost knocked over the confused woman as he reached for the console in front of her. A beeping sound began, and a red light flashed next to one of several monitors. aShe thinks she has some gift from Crator and can just drive straight through that thing.a The trio watched the monitor with the flashing red light. Tara could be seen driving at full speed through the backyard toward the trees. Another light began flashing, indicating the force field had been dismantled. Tara drove through the trees and disappeared from the screenas view. Gowsky hurried out of the small room, leaving the poor lady completely at a loss as to what to do next.

aYou let her go!a Fleeders followed him.

aYou heard her. She said she saw Crator. She was going to run right into that force field. Her bike is completely electronica"shead have been fried to a crisp.a aShe told me an old lady talked to her in the desert one night, and she just said she saw an old lady again. Maybe Crator is talking to her,a Fleeders spoke quietly, as if afraid of being overheard. He looked around the empty living room. aShe told me the woman disappeared into the darkness and then she saw a large dog. Gowsky, she knows nothing about the Guardians. She wanted to research Crator through our network but I told heraa Fleedersa voice faded quickly. He made eye contact with Gowsky and then shuffled from one foot to the other, suddenly very uncomfortable.

aYou never told me that you discussed Crator with her. What did you tell her? And when did this conversation take place?a aWell, uh, I told her it would raise suspicion if she started researching Crator.a aWhen did you talk to her?a aUh, the night thataa Fleeders hesitated, searching for words. He wanted to say the night that Gowsky burned down his lifeas work, the night their communication with the Lunians ended. aIt was the night you brought her here.a Gowsky stared at Fleeders for a moment. So Fleeders had been communicating with Tara when he was supposed to be spying on her. The man possessed outstanding landlink skills, but his religious faith bordered on the superst.i.tious. It amazed Gowsky that even the most intelligent of people could allow something as simple as faith in Crator to consume their life and affect rational decision-making.

Gowsky didnat have time for this. He gave Fleeders a look that said the conversation was not over. He straightened the small table head knocked over, opened the small drawer in it, and pulled out a gun. Shoving it into the side of his pants, he once again ran out of the house.

Tara didnat shut her eyes. She didnat blink. She didnat slow down. She felt the roots of the trees through the vibration of her bike and realized the tires probably needed air. She looked straight ahead as the trees cleared and could see the desert. And suddenly, she was in the desert.

She had done it. She had driven through the force field.

Was this the act of Crator? Who was this Crator? She looked ahead to the vast openness, glanced behind her to see the trees fading. Suddenly the frigid wind hit her skin, mocking the khaki shirt and the layers of material covering her legs, causing her to shiver uncontrollably.

Gowsky would follow her. Escape would not be this easy. She needed direction. West. She needed to go west.

Ignoring the waves of cold air streaming across her body, she veered the motorcycle. She was not accustomed to navigation without her landlink. But one of the tests shead pa.s.sed as a young warrior was finding her way back to the clan without the aid of her navigation program. Shead been one of the first Runners to make it back, and she remembered how proud Patha had been. He hadnat shown it in front of the rest of the clan, but that night, as shead cleaned her bike, head told her. Shead never forget the look in his eyesa"unconditional love.

Taraas eyes burned, and she began crying. The tears felt like fire, burning her face as they fell quickly down her cheeks. She tasted the salt in her mouth even though it was firmly shut to keep her teeth from chattering. She struggled with the tears as they persisted, fogging her vision.

Patha thought she was dead. Had he cried? Shead never seen him cry before. He was a true warrior and strong emotions would cloud judgment, she decided. Patha wouldnat cry. She decided it was more likely head been angrya"angry that head let her go to Southland. Because she knew that Patha could have stopped her if head wanted to. Somehow she needed to let him know she was alive and coming home.

Tara looked up at the sky, noticing the sun was moving to the west. She knew the desert would drop below freezing once nightfall hit. However, the farther north she drove, the colder it would get. She was not properly dressed and would freeze to death if she didnat find heavier clothing.

Looking ahead once again, she quickly veered to avoid a large animal directly in front of her. Her bike slid in the sand, and for a moment she thought she would lose her balance. Once again, she cursed the clothes she was wearing. If she injured herself, she would only freeze faster. She slowed the bike and regained control.

As she turned, Taraas mouth fell open. The same old woman sat next to a fire, stirring something in a pot that hung over the flames.

Tara steered her bike up next to the woman and got off. aWe meet again.a The woman didnat look up. aItas almost ready. Hurry and change clothes.a The old woman pointed the wooden spoon to something behind Tara.

Tara turned to see a tan tent set up next to her bike. She looked at it in amazement, afraid to move. For the second time in days, she felt fear, and her shivering became uncontrollable. The tent had not been there a second ago. She was sure of it. Was she somehow still delirious from the drug shead been given over the past six cycles? Maybe this whole thing was some drug-induced dream. For all she knew, she could still be unconscious, her inner thoughts creating this bizarre scenario.

She slowly turned to the woman who was still hunched over the fire.

aYouall freeze if you donat change. Your clothes are inside. Iall make you a plate.a Tara approached the tent, touching it gently, not completely convinced it was actually there. The roughness of the animal skin stretched over the wooden poles greeted her fingertips. Tara pulled the flap covering the entrance to one side and stepped inside. Immediately, warmth engulfed her. Her eyes adjusted quickly to the dimness, and she saw a small folding canvas chair set in the middle of the tent. Her Runner clothing was folded neatly on top.

She stared at the folded pile of black woven silk and smelled the crisp black leather before carefully touching them and picking up the top piece of clothing. It was her silk black undershirt! As she held the piece of material in front of her, she inhaled the familiar scent of her clothesa"the sweet, fresh smell, as if it had just been washed.

As she finished dressing and put on her black leather jacket, Tara was instantly aware of the small laser in her right pocket where she always kept it. Tara left the tent and walked over to the old woman.

aAh, thatas better. Here, sit.a The old woman gestured at her with a plate of steaming food in a crooked, wrinkled hand.

Tara took the plate and sat on the ground next to the old womanas feet. aHow did you get my clothes?a aCrator got them.a aWho is Crator?a Their eyes met and the old woman smiled. aYouall know when your heart is ready, I guess.a She nodded at the food. aEat up. Itas potato stew.a aPotato stew?a Tara looked down at the steaming plate of food. aThis was my favorite meal when I was a child.a She suddenly realized the old woman probably knew that.

Tara felt ashamed as she finished off the last bite of the wonderful stew. Her manners must have appeared insufferable. She hadnat stopped since taking the first bite. She stood up and took the plate over to the fire. Her insides were warm from the thick stew, and her body rejoiced at the comfort of her own clothing. She picked up her headscarf and wrapped it snugly around her head, securing it in the back. aYouave been very kind to me. I wish I could repay you, but I have nothing.a The old woman ignored her and started to clean the dishes in a bucket of water on the ground.

aLet me clean up.a Tara quickly squatted in front of the bucket and picked up her dirty dish.

aDonat worry, child.a The woman took the plate from Tara. aYou donat need to repay me. Iam simply a Guardian. You need to get that bike in order. You have a long trip ahead of you.a aWhat is a guardian?a aI serve Crator and do as He says.a aWhere is he?a The old woman chuckled, apparently amused by the question. aCrator is everywhere, my dear.a She looked up from her ch.o.r.e and again pointed the wooden spoon in her hand. aYouall find some tools behind the tent, I think.a She sounded distracted, like an old person who wasnat sure where shead left something.

aDo you live around here?a aI go wherever Iam needed. Crator sends me.a Tara sighed. She wanted to know more, but wasnat sure which questions to ask. aSo Crator takes care of you?a aChild, he takes care of you, too.a The old woman chuckled, placed the leftover stew in a bowl and put it into a travel bag. aYour faith shall grow, child, donat worry. You are young.a aMy mission here wasnat too successful.a She paused, studying the old ladyas face, looking for the right words. aIam glad Iave learned of your Crator, though. I wish we had something like him in Northland.a The old lady slowly stood and moved next to Tara. aYouave learned exactly what you were supposed to learn while you were here.a She took Tara by the arm and, at a snailas pace, escorted her to the bike. aChild, Crator is everywhere, and He will take care of all who know Him.a She let go of Taraas arm. aTake care of your bike, child.a Tara wasnat completely surprised to see exactly what she needed to tune up her motorcyclea"spark plugs, a hand pump so she could inflate the tires and a large metal can, which, after smelling its contents, Tara realized was full of fuel.

Several hours later, the bike was in prime condition, ready for the long journey north. Tara cleaned the tools and returned them to the place shead found them.

As she walked back around the tent, she noticed two things at once.

First, a large dog lay protectively next to the fire. Second, a vehicle approached the small campsite.

Tara pulled out her laser, prepared to fight for her life.

Chapter Nineteen.

The large beast curled up its lips and growled as the vehicle slowed just feet from the tent. The hairs on its back rose to full alert and its head lowered to the ground. Just as the animal prepared to jump at the intruder, an explosion rang through the air.

A horrific scream violated the campsite, curdling Taraas blood. The ground shook under her feet as the large dog fell to the ground.

aNo!a Tara screamed and leapt out from behind the tent, firing her laser.

Gowsky stood next to his jeep, but his return shot missed her completely as the laser shot penetrated his right shoulder. This time the scream renting the night air belonged to Gowsky as he hit the side of his jeep and fell to the ground.

aShoot again and you die.a Taraas voice rang out. In her full Runner garb, she walked to Gowsky and ripped the gun from his hand before throwing it across the sandy terrain.

aYour clothes,a Gowsky struggled to speak as pain racked his body, athey were sent back with your family.a Tara ignored him and instead moved to the side of the breathless animal. She stroked its b.l.o.o.d.y coat softly. aIam sorry. I didnat hear him coming. Iam so sorry.a She wept freely, and the tears mixed with the blood on the animalas coat.

Gowskyas groans didnat affect her as she cooed softly to the dead animal. aIam so sorry. Iall give you a proper burial,a she whispered into the ear of the dead canine and then turned to survey the contents of the campsite.

Gowsky crawled into his jeep, pulled out a small first aid kit and began to treat his wound. Tara ignored him as she looked for tools to dig a grave. All she could find were several large metal spoons and a large knife she used to break the dirt before scooping it away.

She was aware of Gowsky watching her as she dug a shallow hole in the sandy soil.

aWhy do you care so much for this beast?a aShe took care of me, more than once.a aShe was ready to attack me. I defended myself.a Tara turned and gave Gowsky a long hard look. She studied the handsome face and the onyx eyes. aDo you realize who youave killed?a Gowsky looked at the dead animal and then back at Tara. His look was blank, but she thought she noticed trepidation lurking in his eyes. He held a cloth over his shoulder and got back out of the jeep, then walked over to look at the dog lying still on the ground. Standing over the dead animal, he said, aObviously an animal you cared about.a aShe was a Guardian. And you are a fool. She helped me more than once since Iave been in your nation. She provided this camp, food, and the tools to tune up my bike. This entire setup was here when I arrived, with an old lady attending it. When you pulled up, she turned into a dog.a She watched him look around at the campsite in wonder. Tara turned and yanked the cloth away from the wound. aYouall live,a she snarled and slapped the cloth back over his shoulder, glad shead caused him to wince. aI came to Semore to see if youad be willing to start trading with us.a She felt frustrated she hadnat accomplished that task, but now all she wanted to do was go home. aWe need a good source of fuel, and your land is full of oil. You shunned me and then you kidnapped me. Your people shall suffer for that.a Gowskyas body stiffened as she continued. aAnd thereas nothing I can do about it. I could ask that youare given another chance to prove yourselves as allies, but I fear your crimes are too serious. Crator will decide what to do with you.a Gowsky secured the bandage to his shoulder. Then reaching down, he lifted the dead animal and placed it in the grave. He squatted next to the shallow hole and stared at Tara as she crouched on the opposite side. She scooped the dirt over the dog with the same pot shead used to dig the grave.

Gowsky watched her graceful movements and thought how incredibly beautiful she was, and how deadly. With the power she now possessed, she could eliminate the Neurian race. Yet somehow, he felt she had no desire to do so.

He was worried. When Tara reappeared after six cycles, plenty of questions would be asked. And then what would he do?

Dimly, he heard her say, aIam leaving, Gowsky. Go home to your people.a He paused next to his jeep as she continued to cover the animal with sandy soil. After a minute, he climbed into the vehicle, started it, and drove toward Semore. Suddenly, he turned the vehicle around and headed back to the gun lying on the ground. Skidding to a stop, he jumped out, grabbed the gun and squatted next to the jeep aiming the gun at Tara.

She didnat budge from her ritual.

He watched as she remained bent over the grave. After several minutes, Tara stood and moved to the tent. She began to disa.s.semble it. The Runner had to be aware of his presence, yet she completely ignored him. Not once did Tara look up at him. How could he shoot a woman who simply ignored him?