Deadlock

'Yes, that was as much an escape as if I gave you a sedative. It's time we gradually eased you back into the real world.'

The real world. Yes, these last days have been like being in a dream, Emily thought. Hard work, staring down at the tiles she was scrubbing. Then later, the billowing white curtains, sea breeze, bright sun followed by darkness.

'But not yet.' Irana's gaze was reading her expression. 'I said grad¬ually, Emily. Garrett wants me to keep you resting as long as I can.'

'And do you always do as he orders?'

'Heavens no, but sometimes we actually agree.' She waved as she closed the door behind her.

The real world. Staunton and ugly memories and nightmares that might not ever stop. She had to face it all soon.

But not now, not this minute. She lay back on the pillow and gazed out at the moonlight filtering through the window. She felt an odd sense of peace and serenity. She could feel the breeze as it rushed past the sheer curtains to brush her cheeks. Nothing harsh, nothing threatening. Irana would come if she pressed the button on the night¬stand. Garrett was in his villa on the hill. Neither of them could be called friends, but she felt safe with them.

And she was not alone.

SIX

'COME ON.' IRANA STRODE across the tiny patio, reached out, and pulled Emily out of the deck chair and onto her feet. 'You look en¬tirely too lazy. We're going for a walk on the beach. I need exercise, and I want company.'

'You say that every day.' Emily smiled as she fell into step with Irana as they walked out onto the sand. 'Poor Irana. All these people on the island who love you, and you have to depend on me for company? I don't think so.'

'I don't see why not.' Irana grinned. 'I'd have to make conversation with anyone else. You don't talk that much.' She made a face. 'But I may have to find someone else soon. You're almost back to normal. Of course, I don't know what normal is for you. All I know is the Emily you are now.'

'I'm not sure I know who I am right now either.' She gazed out at the sun-baked beach. It was amazing how she had become accustomed to life on this island in the last ten days. She had lived only in the mo¬ment, and Irana had been the center of those moments. Walks on the beach, mornings when she'd helped out at Irana's infirmary, evenings when Irana had occasionally dropped in and had her dinner with Emily. 'But I know I'm grateful to you, Irana.'

'Why? I've done nothing.'

'That's it. You've done nothing. You don't ask me questions; you let me take, without giving.' She paused. 'And you haven't preached at me.'

'I don't have the right. I don't know what you went through in those mountains. I can only do the best I can to live my life according to the Golden Rule and try not to hurt anyone else. I let God handle everything.' She picked up a seashell. 'Isn't this pretty?'

'Beautiful.'

'And if God can make something this beautiful, I imagine he can heal what Satan broke. He doesn't need me.' She smiled at Emily. 'He's already started. Every time you look out at that surf, don't you feel just a little better? Every time the tide goes out, doesn't it take a tiny bit of the pain with it?'

'Perhaps.' She gazed down at the seashell in Irana's hand. 'God or nature?'

'God is nature.'

'Well, God or nature or Irana. I'm grateful to all of you,' Emily said. 'I'll be sorry to leave this island.'

'For the first few days. Then you'll be caught up in the real world. That's where you belong.'

'I'm not so sure. It can be very cruel in the real world.'

'Yes, but your instincts are to go to battle against that cruelty; you're one of the soldiers.'

Emily's brow wrinkled in puzzlement. 'Soldiers?'

'We all have our roles in life. Haven't you battled your entire ca¬reer to keep beauty and history alive?'

She nodded slowly. 'But I never thought of myself as a soldier. Is Garrett a soldier?'

'Oh, yes. Without doubt. The quintessential soldier. And he knows it. He's not like you. He doesn't have one sole focus. He's been fight¬ing all his life in one way or the other. That's why he decided to go after you. He couldn't resist. You were just one more battle he had to win.'

'All his life?'

'Most of it anyway. From what I could gather from Dardon and bits Garrett has dropped. His father was a drunkard and a criminal who moved from country to country from the time Garrett was born. He evidently paid no attention to Garrett, who had to scramble just to eat. He was a street kid, and it's amazing that he managed to survive. But he did survive and managed to acquire an amazing if unconven¬tional education along the way. He knows a little bit about practically everything. Do you know he speaks nine languages? The longest time he was allowed to settle anywhere were the years he spent in Afghani¬stan. His father ran guns there and sold weapons to the rebels. He was killed two years after he arrived in the mountains, but Garrett stayed on with friends he'd made there.'

Emily remembered the man who had appeared out of the dark¬ness as they had left Shafir Ali's camp. 'I think I must have met one of them. He helped Garrett get me out.'

'Karif? Garrett told me about him. They're good friends. Proba¬bly as close as Garrett has ever been to anyone. He stayed in Afghani¬stan when Garrett took off to make his fortune. But Garrett goes back to visit him every now and then.' She shrugged. 'Evidently he and Garrett are a lot alike.'

'Another soldier?'

She nodded. 'Everyone is a soldier in Afghanistan. It goes with the territory. If not by nature, by necessity.'

'And what is your nature? Are you a soldier, too, Irana?'

Irana shook her head. 'I'm a caretaker. I heal the wounds. I hold and treasure what you soldiers win.' She chuckled. 'Which means I can stay here on my island and let you all come back to me. Much pleasanter.'

'But not necessarily easier. I've never seen anyone work as hard as you.

'Work is good for the soul. And it keeps me out of trouble.' 'Trouble? You?'

'I'm essentially lazy by nature. I just have to overcome.' Irana pointed to the lighthouse a mile down the beach. 'I'll race you. Who¬ever gets there first has to cook lunch.'

'You always win.'

'Of course, why else would I want to do it? You don't even have the excuse of that wound in your leg any longer. It's almost healed.' She took off. 'Did I tell you I ran track in college?'

Emily was on her heels. 'I played soccer. But you're not as young as I am. I'll find a way to-'

'You see?' Irana was laughing. 'Instinct. You're going into battle mode. It was only a matter of time.' She streaked ahead. 'Only a mat¬ter of time…'

'I HOPE YOU'RE READY,' Irana told Garrett when he picked up the phone that night. 'Because Emily is very close.'

'I was expecting to hear from you a lot sooner.' Garrett said. 'You held her off amazingly well. I'm grateful.'

'Don't be grateful. I like her. I'll miss her.' She paused. 'Take care of her. I know you won't be able to stop Emily from doing anything she wants to do, but you can protect her. Do it.'

'Yes, ma'am.'

'T '~ '

I mean it.

'I know you do. But I may not have as much control of the situa¬tion as you might think. You've seen her weak and malleable. That's not the Emily I brought out of the mountains. She was tough, very tough. Once she's back on