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Once again Tori heard Bernard Godwin's voice； saying。 Well； if life has taught me anything it's this： truth is a plex animal。 Every time you think you've caught it by the tail； it turns around and bites you on the ass。
〃But my leaving wasn't inexplicable；〃 Tori said。
〃Oh； I know that； my dear。 But your father couldn't…or wouldn't…understand。 You were his universe； and you left him flat。 That's all he could see。〃
〃And he's been punishing me ever since？〃
〃No； no。〃 Laura's eyes widened。 〃Oh； how could you ever think such a thing？ Who do you think roused Maria out of bed this morning to make sure everything you liked to eat was ready for you when you awoke？ He'd never admit it； of course。
〃No； Ellis has been punishing himself。 He's convinced he failed you in some way。 Otherwise； he reasons； why would you have left so suddenly； so utterly。〃
She rose up； kissed Tori warmly on the lips。 〃We're so proud of what you do。〃 She smiled a little。 〃Do you see now why he became involved with Bernard？ It was only partially for Greg's sake； and for the sake of his own Soviet heritage。
〃Bernard gave us no guarantees that what we would do would help Greg in any way。 But your father saw a way to bee； if only peripherally； a part of your life again。 He never admitted that to me； but I can assure you； darling； that this was his main reason for accepting Bernard's offer。〃
Laura Nunn stroked Tori's hair； wiped away her daughter's tears； and smiled。 〃You know； in the beginning Bernard said he could give us no assurances that Greg would be protected。 He said he had no agents whom he could trust enough； and do you know what your father said？ 'Bernard； you're wrong。 You have the Zen Policeman。' 〃
Tori found her father taking his laps in the pool。 He had e home early from work； but had not sought her out。 It was late in the afternoon of the following day。 The light slanted in through the palms and the cropped Norfolk pines； illuminating the surface of the water； Ellis Nunn's powerful shoulder muscles as he worked up and down the length of the pool。
Tori； in a one…piece bathing suit； slipped silently into the water。 She was immediately reminded of Greg； and felt a pang of mingled joy and sadness。
For a while she did nothing but parallel her father； and he； intent on his exercise； did not let up his pace； though surely he was aware of her presence。
When； finally； he broke off； he said； 〃It's nice having you in the pool with me again。〃
They hung in the water with the California sun burnishing their faces。 The leaves rustled briefly as the ghost of a breeze came up。
〃Dad；〃 Tori began； 〃I'm sorry I left you。〃
Ellis Nunn turned away； but Tori swam in front of him。 〃You know； sooner or later； I had to leave。〃 She searched his face。 〃Dad？〃 She took a deep breath。 〃It wasn't anything you did。〃
〃Your mother's been talking to you；〃 he said tightly。
''Don't be angry with her。 It was time for me to know。 I think she understood that。〃
〃You shouldn't know these things。〃
She moved closer to him。 〃Why not？〃
〃You'll think I'm weak。〃 He lifted his head up。 The sunlight struck him。 〃I'm not weak； you know。〃
〃I know。 Dad。〃 She watched him。 〃Don't you think it's important I understand who you are？〃
He looked at her finally。 〃Why did you do it？ Why did you run away？''
Tori was still for some time。 〃I left because I was stifling here。 Everything was so unreal； the parties； the money； the people。 It got so I was lost in it all…lost in the glitter of the forest。 Don't you see； Dad； I had to go far enough away to find a space for myself that wasn't cluttered by all of this。''
〃You hated it here； didn't you？〃
〃No。〃 Tori shook her head。 〃Don't think that。 I was so lost； I couldn't possibly have known what it was I felt。 Try to understand； Dad。 Only time could allow me to do that。〃
Ellis Nunn looked into his daughter's angel eyes。 〃I'll never forget。 You were such a beautiful baby。 You used to love to crawl across me and； laughing； pound your tiny fists against my chest。〃 So it was true； there were other things beside his childhood in Russia that he remembered with fondness。 He sniffed； rubbed his nose。 〃We never let each other inside； did we？ Why was that； do you think？〃
〃Maybe we were always too much alike。 We each had expectations； and they were unfulfilled because they were unrealistic。〃
Ellis Nunn thought about that for some time； then he nodded。 〃You were always a smart girl；〃 he said。
〃That was your doing。 Dad；〃 Tori said。
Ellis Nunn reached out for his daughter； crushed her against him。
〃Dobro pcjalovatz； Papa；〃 Tori said。 Wele home。
Gregory Nunn was sleeping on Arbat's back。 Irina floated beside him。 The worst was over。 Valeri and his White Star Moscow contingent had managed to keep a semblance of order as they rounded up the conspirators。
One of Valeri's men had been killed by a KGB colonel in Lefortovo before control had been effected by the firing of a MAND。 That had gotten everyone's attention。 Another had been wounded in the course of subduing a Red Army general。 Valeri was now locked away with the premier； trying to hammer out the preliminary guidelines to a promise。
Irina watched the play of light as it softly touched the Hero's face。 She wanted very much to be with him； but he had been so exhausted； and he seemed so close to a state of grace that she did not want to wake him。 But perhaps her thoughts betrayed her； because at that moment his eyes opened。
Irina felt the opalescent light from his gaze caress her like gentle sunlight。
〃Did you sleep as well？〃 he asked。
〃A little。 Mostly； I was watching you sleep。〃 She was so aware of him； it almost hurt。 〃Do you miss your sister？〃
〃Yes；〃 he said。 〃But I miss other things more。〃
Irina nodded。 〃I understand。〃
〃I know you do。〃
〃I wonder；〃 she said； 〃whether they will let me go with you。〃
〃If I ask it； how can they refuse？〃
〃But I have no training。〃
〃I will train you myself。〃 He laughed。 〃I hope you aren't claustrophobic。''
Irina said seriously； 〃How can you be so sure they will expend the time and money to send us back there？〃
Gregory Nunn shrugged。 〃Human nature。 It isn't a matter of speculation； you know。 They can't help themselves。 Once they assimilate what it was I encountered up there in space between the stars； they will have no other choice。 Man's innate curiosity is well…documented。''
In the pool； beside them； Arbat stirred。 She rolled； gazing up at them with an eye like black ice。 She gave a little call； which Greg echoed。 She rolled back over。
Irina said； 〃What will we find up there？〃
''Do you really want to know before we get there？''
〃Yes。〃
There was silence for a time； and Irina； able now to differentiate the natures of silence； felt this one accumulating like golden weights upon a scale。 She could discern in Greg's face a light like the sun rising in the desert： clear and radiant； an illumination from which nothing could be hidden。 She felt her love for him and for the enigma he had discovered enfolding them both like the eternal cloak of the cosmos。 A joy filled her； his joy as well as hers； and she knew what he would say before he said it。
〃We will find time