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〃Think you can just fly in here with your little jet and pick up where you left off； huh？〃 Lunk held the ax like a hatchet and shook it in Scott's face。 〃Lemme tell you； you're way off the mark； Lieutenant。 Marlene's had a rough time of it； but I've been helping her。 She's kinda e to rely on me； and I think your showing up is just gonna gum up the works； understand me？〃
〃Look； Lunk； I just want to talk to her。〃
〃I'm tellin' ya how it is； Lieutenant。〃
Scott left a brief empty space in the exchange； waiting for Lunk to cool down。 〃Back at mand everyone's still scratching their heads about what happened at Reflex Point；〃 he menced on a casual note。 〃There's a possibility the SDF…3 got itself caught up in the Regis's exit。〃 He looked at Lunk。 〃I think Marlene can help out。〃
Lunk glared at him； then threw the ax down into the stump and left it there。 〃e on；〃 he said； storming off across the field in the direction of Roca Negra。
Scott fell in behind him for a silent walk that delivered them fifteen minutes later to two spacious freestanding tents erected side by side on a small parcel of land dotted with olive trees。 Lunk's battered APC was parked off to one side。
〃Marlene；〃 Lunk bellowed； rustling the mosquito…netting front flap of the larger tent。
〃Lunk？〃 Marlene responded from somewhere inside。 〃You're back early。〃
Scott's heart broke at the sound of her voice； save for a hint of Southlands Forager accent； it might as well have been that of Marlene Rush。
As the Invid simulagent stepped into the sunlight； luxurious red hair shorn to her shoulders and skin as pale as a Tiresian's； Scott thought： She is Marlene！
The Regis's daughter took a moment to absorb the scene before she collapsed into Scott's slapdash embrace； sighing。 〃I knew you'd return for me； Scott； I knew you'd return。〃
Lunk quickly turned his back to the two of them； afraid they would see his tears。
Scott immediately realized that Marlene had undergone a profound change since they had last embraced。 Marlene then had been alive and vital to his confused thoughts and anxious hands； a woman of human lusts and needs； nothing like the insubstantial being he cradled in his arms now。 It was something he could not articulate； but it was obvious to all who dared to look deep enough into her eyes。
Scott led her into the shade； to a canvas…backed chair at the head of a split…log longtable。 Lunk positioned himself behind the chair； his large callused hands resting on Marlene's frail shoulders。 〃I told ya she was having a rough time of it； Lieutenant。 Ya never shoulda e back。〃
Marlene patted Lunk's hand and gazed up at him fondly。 〃I'm all right； Lunk。 Really。〃
Scott felt her eyes return to him and swallowed hard as he perched himself on the edge of the table： 〃Marlene；〃 he began； 〃how much do you remember about those last few days at Reflex Point？〃
〃Only some of it； Scott。 I remember when we were all inside the central chamber together。 With Sera and Corg and the Queen…Mother。〃
〃What made the horde…er； the Queen…Mother leave； Marlene？ I mean； I'm sure she realized the fleet had plans to irradiate the area； but it seemed like she'd decided to leave before the neutron missiles were launched。〃
Marlene nodded and reached across the table for a water bottle。 〃It's true； Scott。 And something vital left me when she departed。〃 She took a long pull from the bottle。 〃I know you sensed it when you held me。 I feel as though I'm only half…here； as though if I breathe too deeply I'll fade from sight。 But I have a knowledge of things； Scott； a knowledge： that seems undreamed of by any race。〃
〃Don't worry；〃 Lunk said； 〃I'm not about to let you fade。 Marlene squeezed his hand。 〃You see； Scott； the Queen Mother finally understood； the reasons for all that had happened on Optera； Tirol； and Earth； and that knowledge liberated her。〃
〃But what was it she understood？〃 Scott asked。
Marlene quivered。 〃I can't tell you； Scott。〃
〃Please； Marlene；〃 Scott snapped。
Lunk stepped out from behind the chair。 〃I'm warning you； Lieutenant。〃
Marlene put a hand on his balled…up fist。 〃No； Lunk； Scott doesn't understand。 It's not that I'm keeping something from you； Scott。 I only mean that you're asking the wrong person。〃
〃Sera；〃 Scott said after a moment's reflection。
〃Yes。 She was more closely bound to the Regis than I was。 But I fear that bond has affected her more than it has me。〃
〃Do you know where she is？〃
Marlene closed her eyes and took a shuddering breath。 〃I can sense where she is。 Sometimes I can almost see through her eyes and feel her suffering。〃
Scott edged closer to her。 〃Where； Marlene？〃
〃The city of tall towers in the Northlands。 The one Sera and Corg were to rule。〃
Scott and Lunk exchanged looks and simultaneously said： 〃Mannatan。〃
〃Yes。 She is with Lancer。〃
Scott was already on his feet。 〃Will you e with me； Marlene？ You； too； Lunk；〃 he was quick to add。 〃Just until we locate her。〃
〃Forget it； Lieutenant；〃 Lunk said。 〃Marlene's not going anywhere。 〃
Marlene stood up and gently swung Lunk around to face her。 〃But I am； Lunk。 Don't you see that I have to go？〃 Lunk's face fell。 〃No； Marlene； no。 You can just stay here and let me take care of you。 You said yourself you were all right。 I could just…〃
〃No； Lunk； it's no good this way；〃 she cut him off。 〃Remember who and what I am。〃
Lunk stiffened。 〃You're Marlene； that's it。〃
Marlene shook her head。 〃I am Invid； Lunk。〃 She reached up to stroke his face。 〃But that doesn't mean I haven't loved you。〃
Lunk steeled himself； holding back his anger and grief。 〃You'll e back to me？〃 he asked softly。
〃Nothing can take away these past few months； Lunk。〃
It was Scott's turn to avert his gaze。
He swore to himself he would never love again。
With Marlene in the copilot's seat； Scott returned the jet to the REF's provisional planetside base on the Venezuelan coast and apprised Vince Grant of his plans to continue on to the Northlands。 The general informed him of the successful position jump undertaken by the Ark Angel and the rapidly approaching launch window for the fold to Haydon IV。 To speed Scott and Marlene on their way； Grant order