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she whispered。
Her father was in the kitchen； one cellphone to his ear； another in his opposite hand。 His hair was thick and black； bed straight back from his high forehead。 He was dressed sharply； ready for prime time； issuing a mand。 He measured Nathan Lee from the corner of his eye。 Nathan Lee saw Miranda's height and strong jaw in Paul Abbot； and her long； columnar neck。
〃You need to eat；〃 Miranda said to Nathan Lee。 She poured a glass of orange juice from the refrigerator； and he took his time with it； savoring the coldness and sweet taste。
Everything seemed so delicate。 And deep。 The mountains looked a million miles away。 His focus had dwindled to a few feet away within the cell。
〃Sit；〃 she manded。 She was nervous； which brought the dictator out in her。 〃Or stand。〃
〃I'm fine； Miranda。〃
Her father held up a one…minute finger。
Glancing around； Nathan Lee saw Miranda's defiance to her father。 It was in the details。 She had left dirty dishes stacked in the sink； which was not like her； and books piled on the counter。 Also； she had brought Nathan Lee's Matisse statue from the bedroom。 The little nude was conspicuous in a beam of sunlight。 The jade glowed with inner light； all curves and hips and attitude。
Then he saw a cube of clear plastic； three inches square； on the kitchen table。 Suspended in its center was what looked like a morphine ampule； the type bat soldiers stabbed into wounded rades。 He'd seen enough of them on his passage through America to know that this one didn't contain morphine； though。 The liquid was wheat…colored； like the sera Miranda had showed him in the storage freezers。 It was easy to infer this was what his midnight visitor had described； the Sera…III。
Abbot finished。 In one movement； he flipped shut the phone； stood； and thrust out one hand。 Handshakes had fallen from fashion； too； but he didn't hesitate。 〃Nathan Lee Swift；〃 he said。 In the pool of his gaze； Nathan Lee saw that everything that could be known about him； Abbot knew； including his latest blood analysis。 Arguably the most powerful man on earth； Abbot had probably had his daughter's lover all but dissected。
〃How does it feel to rejoin the living？〃 he said。 His grip was powerful。 The release was equally powerful。 He ruled by that hand。
〃The leaves were turning when I left；〃 Nathan Lee said。 He kept it simple。 〃Now they're gone。〃
〃Miranda told me about your tragic discovery in Denver。〃 Abbot waited。 He was trolling。 He wanted to hear Nathan Lee speak。 He wanted； Nathan Lee realized； to see his grief。。。or grit。
〃Dad。〃 Miranda tried to intervene。 Abbot didn't take his eyes from Nathan Lee's。
〃I don't know why I didn't know；〃 Nathan Lee said to him。 〃Now it's over。〃
Abbot offered no further condolences。 The world was full of lost souls and mournful tribes。 He was steeled against the outsiders。 His borders were confined； his hoard rich； but finite。 His domain was for the privileged few； and he was unapologetic about it。
Miranda hovered to one side。 She didn't know what to do with these two men。 They took up all the space in her kitchen； Nathan Lee could feel it。 They were wearing her out。 〃Sit；〃 she said again。
Abbot stayed on his feet。 He was amused。 〃Did Miranda tell you？〃 he asked Nathan Lee。 〃She's the new director。〃
〃No；〃 said Nathan Lee。 Cavendish was gone？ Had he died？ But what about his clone； Nathan Lee wondered。 The thought streaked by； a whimsy。 In past times the succession of power might have gone to a wife or son； and the clone was said to be identical in every way to Cavendish except for his physical perfection。 But Miranda had inherited the throne； handpicked by her father。 She was being groomed for mand。 He said； 〃Congratulations。〃
Now he understood her ferocious defense of the city。 It really was hers。 And yet the new director did not look pleased。 Bureaucracy and politics had not been positive experiences for her。
〃It will mean less time in the lab。 But it was time to close down this cloning business；〃 Abbot said。 〃In the end； it was just a big U…turn back into ourselves。 And Cavendish had to go。 Everyone said so。 The man's missing in action。 Wouldn't take a meeting。 I don't know what he's up to in South Sector。〃 Not dead； thought Nathan Lee。 Out of sight； out of mind。 〃Mischief； that's all I've seen；〃 said Abbot。 〃No leadership。 No presence。 We need unity。 Shared purpose。 Clear science。 Especially now； with people afraid。 Soon enough the sanctuary will be ready。〃
〃I heard about the setback；〃 Nathan Lee said。
Abbot's face changed。 His eyes narrowed。 〃Which would that be？〃
〃The flooding。 The collapse of floors。〃
Abbot snapped a glance at his daughter。 〃You told him？〃
But Miranda was staring at Nathan Lee。 〃No one's supposed to know that；〃 she said to him。 〃How on earth did you find out？〃
〃In decon；〃 said Nathan Lee。 〃One of the doctors。〃 He gestured at the cube with the Sera…III inside。 〃He told me about that； too。 The three…year immunity。〃
〃Which one of the doctors？〃 Abbot demanded。
〃A psychiatrist。 I never saw him； only heard his voice。〃
〃His name；〃 said Abbot。 〃I want his name。〃
〃He never gave it。 I asked the staff。 They thought I made him up。〃
〃What is going on up here？〃 Abbot muttered darkly。 〃Are you sure this isn't your doing； Miranda？〃
〃I want people to stay； not panic；〃 she snapped back at him。
Abbot rapped his knuckles on the table。 〃Look into it；〃 he told her。 〃The last thing we need is some provocateur。。。。〃
〃Cavendish；〃 said Miranda。 〃He was stripped of power。 Maybe he's leaking secrets； sowing chaos。〃
〃I don't think so；〃 Nathan Lee volunteered。 〃It didn't seem like his voice。 It was too strong。〃
〃He wouldn't try anything so direct；〃 said Abbot to Miranda。 〃But don't let your guard down。 He'll try to sabotage you； but not the sanctuary。 I know that much。 He's lost his nerve。 He wants what the rest of the city wants； a roof over their heads。 Shelter from the tempest。〃
〃Not everybody wants what you want；〃 Miranda retorted。 But the handful of scientists who considered the sanctuary to be a death trap was in the minority。 Almost everyone else could not wait to get out of harm's way； even if it meant sacrificing the sun for the next decade； or half century； however long it took。
Nathan Lee looked from father to daughter。 They were wary and at odds。
〃Dissidents；〃 said Abbot。 〃Your little confederacy of optimists。 Fools。〃
〃They're making the choice themselves；〃 Miranda said。
Abbot snorted。 〃You'll see。 When the day arrives； they'll make their real choice。 And it won't be this noble last stand of yours。〃
〃If we can make it through the winter；〃 Miranda said； 〃we won't need to bury ourselves in the bowels of the earth。 The die…off will be plete。 The plague will have passed us by。〃
〃The plague is passing no one by。〃
〃We have other options；〃 Miranda insisted。
Abbot pointed at the Sera…III sealed inside the cube； but did not touch it。 Miranda had brought it for him； Nathan Lee surmised。 Show and tell。 〃Like your suicide pill？〃 her father said。
〃It's not suicide；〃 Miranda protested。 〃There are survivors out there。 They could hold the answer。 But it will take time to find them； and we have to be up