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fingertips。 Without meeting Kestrel’s eyes； she went and opened the outside door。
Manzanar
42 Hours 57 Minutes After Trinity
Finn and Kestrel moved with surprising agility； adjusting to the odd； three…legged gait enforced
by the scarf。 Ana led the way to the fence； skirting gardens and chicken coops。 Vanessa walked in
the rear； close enough to control them； far enough to be beyond their reach。
Beyond the fence； darkness and silence were complete。 No voices called across the barracks
row； no windows radiated squares of light。 The wind moaned； powerful and restless； redolent of
sage and desolation。
They were alone in the night； ill at ease in the desert – except for Finn。 Like the thousand choices
between life and death； the desert belonged to him。
“Where are the patrols？” Vanessa asked him。
“I don’t know。” Finn smiled。 “The purpose of patrols is to be hard to find。”
“If they take us； you’ll be the first to die。”
Finn swung his bound leg forward in time with Kestrel’s movements。 They adjusted to their
mutual bond quickly。 Beyond the fence； progress was more difficult。 Sagebrush and cactus grew
closer together； loose sand clung to their feet； and the moon’s half…smile gave only the illusion of
light。
Suddenly Ana dropped behind a clump of salt cedar。 At the same instant； Finn sensed the
movement of a patrolling sentry。 He crouched and froze in midstride； afraid that Vanessa would
kill all of them； leaving the uranium buried in the desert where no one could find it。 The outline
of Finn and Kestrel became indistinguishable from the brush。 The soldier’passed twenty yards
away； never knowing how close he came to death。
Finn waited； sweating； holding Kestrel immobile； until the sentry’s footsteps thinned into silence
and wind。 He let out his breath and bent over Kestrel； who was working over the knots binding
him to Finn。
“How much further？” asked Finn under his breath as he pulled Kestrel upright。 The Japanese
did not answer。 The scarf felt looser； but not enough to slip free of。 Finn swore silently and
vowed to feel Vanessa’s neck beneath his hands。
Silver…white against the sky； a dead branch stuck up from the opposite edge of a shallow ravine。
Ana hesitated； then descended； sinking ankle deep into small windrows of sand。 Kestrel and
Finn slithered after her； staying upright only by the trained reflexes they shared。
Tension crept over Finn’s body； stiffening him； making him clumsy。 He forced himself to
breathe deeply； relaxing clenched muscles until he moved freely once more。 Beside him in the
backness； Kestrel’s breathing slowed and deepened； as though he were gathering himself for a
great effort。
The climb out of the ravine was accomplished in a three…legged rush。 Just over the top； Kestrel
tripped and dragged Finn down。 Instinctively； Finn tried to roll clear； but was held by the scarf。
Pain exploded in his shoulder。 Grimly； he pushed himself to his hands and knees； grabbing a
fistful of sand as he rose。
“Get up！” hissed Vanessa。
“In thirty steps she’ll kill us；” murmured Kestrel as he struggled to his feet。 His tone betrayed
nothing of his thoughts； and the choice he must make very soon。
“Up！”
Finn looked out of the corner of his eye； hoping Vanessa would be within reach。 She was not。
Sand ground into his raw shoulder。 The would bled； thick and hot。 He ignored it。 He helped
Kestrel stagger to his feet； steadying both of them with his strength。 As they hobbled forward；
Finn counted steps beneath his breath。
“Fifteen。 Make up your mind before she does it for you。”
Kestrel heard； but said nothing。 Finn smothered his fury； if they spent their energy trying to kill
each other； Vanessa would surely win； “Choose； damn you！” hissed Finn。
Kestrel’s answer was lost in the night wind。
“What’s he saying？” whispered Vanessa。
“His prayers； for all I know；” said Finn； anger in his voice。 He yanked Kestrel upright。 “He’s out
of his head with fever。” He stopped； hoping Vanessa would come too close。 Beside him； Kestrel
waited； poised。 Finn did not hear his words to know Kestrel had decided to kill Vanessa before
he tried to kill Finn。
“Hurry up！” Vanessa commanded。
“If you want speed； untie us。”
Vanessa laughed。
Ana walked on very slowly； looking for the dark shapes of branches against the pale blur of the
desert floor。 She cast about until she found the other branches Kestrel had used as markers。 The
first branch pointed to the base of a huge sagebrush clump a few feet away。 Wind gusted coldly…
Ana looked at the base of the sagebrush； but could see no pale curve of metal rim。 She knelt；
searching the ground with growing agitation； sand running cold between her frantic fingers until
she raised her hands in despair。
“It’s gone！”
Ana’s cry was too pitiful to be doubted。 Vanessa trotted forward； making a wide arc around the
men。
“It’s gone；” said Ana over and over。 “Gone gone gone – “
A vicious slap rocked her head back。
“Don’t lie to me； you little bitch！ Dig！”
Ana began digging at random； not even trying to avoid Vanessa’s continuing blows。
Finn felt Kestrel stiffen。 “Is this the right place？” he whispered； holding Kestrel back。 “The
world looks different at night。”
“That branch。 The big sage。 The number of steps。 Yes。”
“The wind；” Finn whispered。
Ana’s fingernails scraped across the metal rim of the bucket。 She dug frantically； throwing sand
and rocks into the wind。 Finally she yanked the bucket free and dumped out its contents。 The
smaller piece of uranium thumped to the ground。 The scarlet foil looked black in the wan light。
“Is that all of it？” asked Vanessa； sighting down the bulbous silencer to the base of Ana’s skull。
Pleasure rippled in Vanessa’s voice。 The delight she took in the kill was the first weakness Finn
had seen in her。 He gathered himself to leap forward the instant Vanessa’s pleasure distracted
her。
Silk tightened around his knee； reminding him that he could not move without Kestrel’s
cooperation。 The gun settled lower； almost caressing the nape of Ana’s neck。 His fist clenched
around a handful of sand； Finn inched forward。 When Vanessa pulled the trigger； he wanted to
be close enough to crush her neck with the edge of his hand。 At the very least； he had to be close
enough to hurl sand into her eyes。
“There’s another piece of uranium；” said Kestrel。 “Tell her； Ana！”
“There’s another bucket over there；” Ana told Vanessa； oblivious to death poised behind her。
The gun retreated。 “Get it。”
Ana hurried to the next clump of sagebrush。
Kestrel had listened to Vanessa； and watched。 He knew she would begin killing the instant the
second piece of uranium was uncovered。 He shifted his stance； preparing for a desperate leap at
Vanessa； knowing she was too far away to reach。
“Do you have it？” Vanessa called to Ana。
“No。”
“Dig faster！”
Finn eased forward while Vanessa’s attention was on Ana。 Kestrel seemed to anticipate the
movement； and cooperate。 Finn wondered if Kestrel’s plan was the same as his own： kill
Vanessa and then kill the enemy tied to him。
“I’ve found it！”
Finn started to launch himself at Vanessa； but she turned too quickly。
“Stand still or die right now；” Vanessa ordered。 The pistol pointed directly at Finn’s heart。 He
and Kestrel stood very quietly； closer to Vanessa than they had been； but not close enough。
“Bring it here；” Vanessa said without looking away from the men。
Ana yanked the bucket out of its shallow hole。 Sand； pebbles and the foil…wrapped uranium
spilled out as she upended the bucket at Vanessa’s feet。 She looked down； not trusting Ana。 The
instant Vanessa’s attention moved； the men crept forward a few more inches。 They were less
than eight feet from the women。
Finn felt the sudden tension in Kestrel’s body as the large piece of uranium thumped down close
to its deadly mate。 He remembered the accident at the Los Alamos lab； and sweat covered his
body despite the cold wind。 Kestrel stared； looking for a faint blush of blue light。
Vanessa glanced at the two foil…wrapped parcels； irregular and lumpy。 She smiled and brought
the muzzle to bear on the back of Ana’s neck as Ana bent over the uranium。
“Don’t be so eager；” said Finn。 “Or do you plan on handling the uranium by yourself？” His
voice was directed to Vanessa； his free hand was clamped on Kestrel’s wrist to hold him back。
“What are you talking about？” said Vanessa。 She switched her pistol to her left hand and pointed
it at the men。
Finn took a half…step forward and laughed。 “You don’t know much about uranium； do you？”
“No closer！”
Finn stood still。 The muzzle of the pistol was trained on his heart。 For a moment there was no
sound but the wind。 Vanessa watched him unblinkingly。 She knew that uranium could be deadly；
。but she had no idea of its threshold of danger。 Nor could she trust Finn to tell the truth。 All she
could do was watch his reactions as Ana handled the metal。
“Unwrap it；” she ordered； prodding Ana with her foot。
“No；” whispered Kestrel。
Vanessa did not hear。 Nor did Ana。 Finn did。 He felt Kestrel tense and knew that something was
going to happen with the uranium – what was it General Groves had said？ Light；