My eyes began to focus and I started to cough uncontrollably while Erica stood over me splashing me with cold water.I wheezed a few more times, catchi...g my breath, gasping in sweet cool air."Yes!" Erica said. "It works. Did you hear it just before you passed out?" I didn't hear anything." You didn't? It was loud enough to wake the dead!" Well, I guess that's good. By the way, do I need my hands shackled. I'd like to be able to--well--you know." Hmmm," she said. "You've never been a slave. ” He held up the water skin. “Can you show me where you got this?”She frowned, then nodded.“Good. Thank you.” Logan sighed and looked around the small alcove he had claimed for shelter almost a week ago. “Shelter” was a generous description. It was a deep cut into a cliff that provided a break from the dust and wind, room enough for a small fire, and sleeping space for one. Two people was one too many. No matter how they positioned themselves, he and Beauty were always touching in the tight. “How much farther – where are they?”“Not far, couple hundred yards, maybe. Damn it!” His exasperation with the weak signal was apparent.I told him, “Keep it, try to get a better signal – run to the trailhead if you need to, it’s higher and closer to the highway. If you get through, stay there and meet them, bring them back here. The charcoal Ford pickup is mine, just leave the phone in the back.”He took off down the trail, one eye on the signal strength as he ran, while Julia and I hurried up. It had been so comfortable, I wouldn’t have minded if we had stayed like this all night. But my laziness was quickly replaced by fresh excitement. Clare looked regally down at me and smiled. “Help me take off my blouse,” she whispered when I was right in front of her, “but be careful. And don’t get distracted.” It took me a moment to respond to her inquisitive gaze. “Yes, Ma’am.” I was still wondering about her last comment. Its meaning became clear when my trembling fingers started to undo her.