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〃More；〃 she whispered。
He took the saddle off； and the blanket。 He lifted Tara onto the broad； warm back and walked the Appaloosa for miles。 At the end of the day； he led her to the Special Forces camp。 〃Can Tara e ride your horse again？〃 he asked the soldiers。
Tara was breathless； waiting up there。
One of them came over and stroked the appaloosa。 〃I think that would be a good idea。〃 The soldier pretended to talk to the horse。 〃What do you think？〃
Tara's eyes widened。 The animal could speak？
Just then a fly landed on the horse's nose。 The Appaloosa tossed her head up and down。 The answer was plain as day。 The little girl looked thunderstruck。 Nathan Lee let her sit up there for a while longer。 That night he dreamed of that happy day。
26
Wolves and Lambs
ONEWEEKLATER
Few of the crucified men talked about the manner of their dying or what came after。 Not unnaturally； the threatened citizens of Los Alamos were burning to know about it。 They pestered Nathan Lee on the streets； by e…mail or phone； asking him to ask more about that 〃death thing。〃 They wanted some glimpse of what it was like； 〃the king of terrors〃 as the Bible put it； 〃a little sleep； a little slumber； a little folding of the hands for sleep。〃 Nathan Lee dreaded to ask； though。 He had passed among the bones。 He had heard them whistle。
Over the summer Los Alamos had largely lost touch with America。 Information technology had not decayed limb by neat regional limb； as some had predicted。 The crash had been catastrophic。 One day they had transmissions from St。 George and Lincoln and Laramie； frightened talking heads； meandering video tours。 The next； their eyes were blind。 The transmissions just ceased。 There were sporadic bursts from shortwave guerrillas； and the satellites were jam…packed with backdated images and data they had yet to excavate。 But it was suddenly like nightfall out there； as if America had plunged into the darkness of Asia and Africa and Europe。 Even so； Nathan Lee clung to his hope。 He refused to believe silence meant emptiness。 People…towns； enclaves； tribes…were in hiding； that was all。 There was life out there。 And his daughter。 Life； that was the question he wanted answers for； not death。
The few times he did ask about the clones' deaths and what lay beyond； the men would evade answering。 〃You know as well as me；〃 they would say。 It wasn't that they'd forgotten。 Their faces grew dark。 Their eyes smoldered。 They remembered； but did not want to。 With time； Nathan Lee prehended that hanging from the cross had been a gruesome humiliation。 No matter how much agony they had endured on the cross； it was their memory of the shame that still hurt them most。 Naked and reviled； they had been stripped of their reputations； their names； and their lands。 Their families had been damned by their deaths； and they knew it。 And so they glossed over the dying part。
Nathan Lee was struck by their dignity。 As their scribe； he listened to them dictate letters home about their new life； and they generally treated their rebirth as a grand achievement； or a fresh start； a new land； an opportunity。 They viewed themselves as pioneers； or at least fellow travelers。 Their imprisonment by strange demons was simply part of the journey。 It wouldn't last forever。 They acted as if their herds and orchards and businesses were still intact back in the old life。 Some went into great detail about how they wanted their wives or brothers or sons to attend to daily affairs in their absence。 〃Pay no more than three shekels；〃 one instructed his wife； 〃and be sure not to speak with Elias。 I never trusted his eyes。 And whatever you do； don't invite him here。〃
All day long； Nathan Lee sat with his back against the tree； listening to their stories； taking notes。 By the fifth week； he could understand so much of their language that Izzy was freed for hours at a stretch。 This suited Izzy； who enjoyed slumming among the clones。 The courtyard would suddenly ring with laughter； and usually Izzy was at the center of it。 Later he would try to explain the jokes to Nathan Lee。 Often they had something to do with talking fish or traveling salesmen and farmer's daughters； all of which had existed in one form or another two thousand years ago。
Periodically Nathan Lee got up to walk around and stretch his muscles。 This morning Joshua； a slight man with long fingers and toes； was describing his part in a great battle。 Mordechai； an ugly man with huge ears； was delivering his daily boast about seducing a Roman centurion's wife。 For anyone who would listen； he detailed her round hips and her moans of ecstasy。 Micah was declaring his wealth once again； a herd of sheep that； he'd decided； must surely have increased from fifty to five hundred by now。
〃Weren't any of them plain murderers or thieves？〃 Nathan Lee wondered to Izzy。
〃You noticed that； too？〃 said Izzy。 〃I've never met so many patriots； lords； political prisoners； and martyrs of the faith。〃 It was Kathmandu all over again； a cauldron of fictions and realities； disgrace and glory。
Nathan Lee's favorites remained the loners who kept to themselves。 They acted as if they had no use for the bragging； nor for sending letters。 They stood by the fire； ate the food； circled the yard； but rarely talked。 Among these was the fugitive。 In Nathan Lee's opinion； he had the most to talk about； for he had glimpsed the world outside their prison。 But so far he had volunteered only his name； Ben。 Though he never spoke about his escape； the other prisoners had figured out that much about him。 It was written all over his flesh。
Escape was being a popular topic。 Eyes were constantly hunting along the tops of the walls。 Unaware that Nathan Lee and Izzy were； in effect； their jailers； and that the yard was wired with microphones； they openly discussed ways of getting out。 Nathan Lee discovered that John's picture of a ship disguised deep grooves that could be used for footholds。
One afternoon a small delegation approached Ben like supplicants； and Nathan Lee roamed closer； curious。 They addressed the man with respect； asmaal…paa…naa； or teacher。 〃What is it like beyond the walls？〃 they asked him。
〃There is a city。 A metal city。 Then there is the wilderness；〃 Ben gruffly answered。
〃Is there water？ Are their wolves？〃
〃It is a dead land；〃 he answered。 〃Even the trees are dead。〃
〃Are there villages？〃
〃All dead。〃
〃We're making preparations；〃 they invited him。
〃What would you do out there？〃
〃Find our homes； what else？〃
He snorted at them。
〃Help us；maal…paa…naa。〃
He turned his back to them and walked away。
Nathan Lee explained to the Captain about the escape talk； just in case。 He didn't want the guards overreacting。 〃It's only talk；〃 he said； 〃and they trust me。 If anything develops； I'll hear about it。 We can head it off then。〃
The Captain was not alarmed。 〃Nice to see a bit of starch in them；〃 he said。
MIRANDA HEARD ABOUTthe escape plotting。 She brought it up one evening near the edge of the roof of Alpha Lab。 This had bee their getaway； a place to share a quick picnic； then return to work。 From up here； sitting on an old； cheap Indian blanket spread on the gravel； they