were swimming. I sneaked out of my room to a place just off the pool area. I was just a little girl at the time, but I've never forgotten it. They frightened me. I ran back to my room and stayed there the entire time they were here, pretending to be sick.'
'What does this mark look like?'
'A five-pointed star.'
'Pentagram. I know from watching horror movies that has something to do with black magic, the occult. Why didn't you tell me about this before, Nydia?'
'1 never gave it much thought, Sam. Things were happening so quickly around here it just slipped my mind. Then all of a sudden, the other day, when she was sitting with us at the table, it came to me … like a sixth sense in my head.' She sighed, 'Maybe I'm paranoid.'
'And maybe not,' Sam said thoughtfully. 'We'll just have to play it by ear while we're getting ready to run.'
She came to him and put her arms around his waist. 'Hold me, Sam.'
She was trembling, and Sam could sense, with the recently acquired powers of perception and silent communication, that the trembling had nothing to do with fear.
'What's the matter, honey? I know something is wrong, but I can't read you.'
'Don't ask me how I know, Sam; I've read and heard that some women just sense when they're pregnant. And I'm pregnant. I know it.'
Sam thought, forgetting that she could read his thoughts, I wonder if the baby belongs to me, or to Falcon?
'That's the problem, Sam. I don't know!'
* * *
'You are to remain close to Sam Balon King,' the burning voice scorched into the brain of the receiver. 'If all fails here, and he dies, then your
'Yes, Master,' her voice was full of strength and awe.
'You are a good actress. Your show to date has been superb. I compliment you.'
'Thank you, Master. It was all for you.'
'Don't become gushy, bitch! I cannot tolerate such behavior. You are a woman, your only purpose in life is to fuck; receiving maleness in whatever hole they choose to stick it in. Don't forget what I told you.'
'I shall not, Master.'
'For your sake, I hope not. Now go to them.'
'Sam? Nydia?' the knock on the closed door as timid as the voice.
Nydia looked at Sam. 'Your sweetie, darling,' she said, her voice as warming as an arctic breeze in the dead of winter.
'Retract claws, dear,' Sam told her. 'We don't know anything for certain.'
'I know one thing for sure. No … make that two things.'
'And that is … ?'
'She's got the hots for you, and if she tries to come on, I'll snatch her bald-headed.'
Sam nodded his head as he moved toward the door, remembering Nydia's right cross in the den. He opened the door cautiously, tensely, expecting anything to come leaping at him. But Linda stood there, looking pale and frightened and really, Sam thought, real pretty.
'I read that!' Nydia projected.
Damn! 'Come in, Linda.' He closed the door behind her.
'Wow,' she said. 'What happened to your face?'
'Little accident,' Sam said, not really lying to her. 'Tell you about it later.'
'I … uh … just wanted to be with you guys for a few minutes, that's all. Maybe have dinner with you all this evening, if that's okay?'
'Of course,' Nydia answered for the both of them, thinking, Where would you like to start eating—on Sam?
'And I read that, honey.'
'You're going to read a lot more before this evening is over.'
'You guys went off somewhere this morning,' Linda said. 'I got a little panicky.'
Nydia was hammering mental thrusts at Linda, attempting to enter her mind. She could not. Her attitude softened a bit toward the young woman, as she detected truth in her statements. Still, there was something about her . . . some little vagueness Nydia could not pinpoint.
'We went for a walk in the timber,' Sam said.
And got married, Nydia thought. So hands off, babe! And, she mentally tallied up the events of the past! twenty-four hours, where were you when I was getting raped by Falcon's baseball bat.
'It's not that big,' Sam projected.
