“That was Kate? Not something you made her do?”“That is the current state of Kate’s mind. Of course, you haven’t been around to see it, but ...ate is doing much better than when Jake rescued her.”“It’s been worse?” Troy asked.“I’ll say,” Jake said. “She hasn’t tried to kill me in over a month.”“I don’t believe that.”“It’s true. Ask her yourself. Of course, she’s never been without her conditioning for more than a minute. I wouldn’t want to have to answer for her behavior if she had to go for long. I kept glancing at the clock as flight time came closer and closer without any of the boarding announcements being made and as an experienced traveler I knew that it wasn't a good sign. Finally they announced that the flight was being delayed for thirty minutes because of a maintenance problem. Thirty minutes later came another announcement that there would be a further delay because the aircraft would need to go to the maintenance hanger. I got up and went to the bank of phones behind the gate. You’re smart and were a good employee until recent months. It’s not my job as your boss to get involved in your personal life unless it impacts your job, but you know it has. As a friend, you have to know that I fear for you and where you seem to be headed and we want to help. Our offer to cover detox and counseling still stands. Take us up on it and you’ll only be on leave. I don’t want to have to let you go—let us help you!”He could see Tammy boiling and ready to explode. Then she did.“I. Aiden didn't understand the faith of these savages, who worshipped in dank caves and bogs. A large statue of a grotesque, monstrous god dominated this chamber. Jor flashed his light around the vast space they found himself in. The light fell, too late, on the bomb.Aiden never saw the flames, or at least he could not remember it. There was a force knocking him off his feet and pulling him to the ground with a vicious snap. It was distantly related to the feeling of helplessness when his brothers.