Wherever she was taking us, it wasnt going to be the Hilton.

The car slowed and stopped in the middle of nowhere. I could see a faint smudge on the horizon off the black-top to the right, but I couldnt tell what it was.

Uh, Whitney? Hello?

Nothing. No answer from her, or from David. I tried poking the Djinn, but it just sat there, inert and hot to the touch. It was like poking a bag of especially firm rubber.

Cherise yawned and sat up, rubbing her eyes. Tommy woke up with a grouchy grumble, turned his face toward her neck as she lifted him up, and promptly fell asleep again draped all over her. She patted his back, smiled a little, and then looked at me. Whats going on?

Nothing.

Well, obviously nothing, because were just sitting here. Why are we just sitting here?

Because David and Whitney are arguing about it, I said. I just knew that was the case, and I knew that it indicated a potentially major problem. Whitney says Venna is headed this way. Maybe its a coincidence, but maybe shes on our trail, too. Either way, its not good news.

Cherise shuddered. Ouch. Okay, got itcrisis imminent. Againwere sitting. Why are we sitting?

Because running off without a plan is an even worse idea, Davids voice said, coming from the radio.

Whitneys voice, at the same time, came from the Djinn. Youre not thinking straight about this, boss man. You try to run them, shell catch up. You try to hide them in the middle of all those people, shell just mow down everybody in her way. This is your only real shot at keeping them alive, and you know it.

This is the opposite of keeping them alive! David snapped back.

I hate it when Mommy and Daddy fight, Cher said, with just enough sarcasm to cut through. Were not just pieces getting pushed around on a board, you know. Tell us whats going on.

David got there first. She wants to take you to a nuclear weapons assembly plant.

I think Cherise and I both said it at the same time. What? I think we were both pretty restrained about it, really.

Thats it up ahead, David said. Its not a good idea. Its so easy for Venna to destroy not just that place but everybody in this part of the state, given all that raw material to work with.

I know that, Whitney snapped. But its also one of the only places we can lock off against her, not just with wards and shields, but with lead-lined concrete and bunkers designed to withstand nuclear attacks. Best possible place to hide them, especially if we can erase their traces on the aetheric.

Wow, Whit must have been upset, because shed lost most of her Gone with the Wind accent. And she used bigger words.

Its too dangerous, David said flatly. No. We go on. Im sorry, Jo, but if we keep moving we can stay ahead of Venna.

Venna can materialize any place she wants, and you know it, I said. How exactly do we stay ahead of her?

Were shielding you. She cant know exactly where you are.

But she can narrow the area. And like Whitney said, anybody standing around us is collateral damage.

He fell silent, which indicated that my logic was, sadly, unassailable. I deeply wanted that little oasis of a working roadside inn, a meal with cooked food and actual silverware, but I understood the risks, and they were far too highnot for the three of us, but for everybody who had nothing to do with it.

Is she really looking for us?

We think so, Whitney said. David said nothing, which I took for unwilling assent. Shes not the only one. There are at least four Djinn quartering the country. She just happens to be the one in this area. Theyre looking for signs, and ignoring the other Wardens.

Mother Earth must have really been pissed about me kicking Rahels ass. Not good news.

How about the other Wardens? I asked. Anybody close?

The three teamed up to cover this area are together in Albuquerque. Not close, but we could try making for their location. Strength in numbers.

Not against Venna, Whitney said, which was probably true. Not unless youre throwing an oiled-up Lewis into this cluster.

Oiled-up . . . David sounded utterly mystified, which was probably a good thing, because the image that flashed through my brain was exactly what Whitney intended. Thanks, Whit, you button-pushing bitch. David elected to go with a more literal interpretation. Hes still in Nevada. Too far.

So it sounds like we dont have a lot of options, Cherise said. Is this nuclear place safe for kids?

No, I said, and it isnt safe for us, either. But I think Whitney may be right. There isnt any safe place just now. Maybe its the closest we can get. Davidcan you get us in?

Securitys tight, but I think so. The plants closed now and under lockdown. Once youre inside the security perimeter you wont be seen.

Surveillance, I reminded him. Heat sensors. Motion detectors. Doesnt have to be an actual person to bust us for breaking and entering.

Nothing electronic is going to pick you up, Whitney said. I guarantee that.

Well, that was about the best I could ask for, in terms of reassurances. Go back, or go into the bunker?

Cherise, oddly enough, asked the logical question I hadnt bothered to think about. How long are we staying there?

Until we can get Warden tactical support, I said. Until we know whether we should go on to Sedona. If Imara really doesnt want us there, then were making a mistake. We need to understand where were needed, at this point. My whole goal, I realized, had been retrieving Davids powers, and my own. Mission accomplished. Now what? We still had a major, and very difficult, war going on that we were unlikely to win. Restoring David had saved his life but placed him squarely on the sidelines, trapped except for what he could channel through our strange Djinn chauffeur.

Restoring me shifted the balance a little, but only a little. I had to choose where, and how, to apply the strength I could bring. Instinct cried out for me to keep running to Sedona, to see my daughter, to defend her with every breath I had and every power at my command. But Imara wasnt a helpless child; she was an Oracle, more powerful than her father and me combined, most likely. Instinct could be leading me the wrong way.

I needed to think. And I needed a safe place to do that.

The plant is our best bet, I said finally. If we have to make a stand, its got our best chance of survival.

Im not dying in some nuclear warehouse, Cher said. Look, enough already. I love you, Jo, but I cant take little Tommy in there. Its wrong. Its full of radiation and crap.

She was right; it wasnt any place to take a small boy. No matter how carefully this place conducted its business, it was an inherently dangerous environment for adults, never mind kids.

And I realized that at this moment, our roads were taking different turns. That made me sad, but it also relieved me, just a little. Cherise was warm, and funny, and a true and constant friend, and I loved her.

I didnt want to leave her in a cold, unmarked grave somewhere, like Kevin. I couldnt.

Youre right, I said softly, and reached over the seat to take her hand. Cher, its not safe for you or for him. I know you feel responsible for him. I cant ask you to just drop him off somewhere, and I cant let you, or him, come in there with me. I can control any radiation exposure I get. Youre too vulnerable, and I cantI cant let you get hurt. Not again. Not for me.

She looked confused for a second, then sad and a little angrynot at me, at herself, because I was sure what she was feeling inside was more relief than frustration. So thats it? Youre just going to turf me, after all weve been through?

No, I said. Im going to give you a mission to keep yourself and Tommy safe, and to get a message through to Lewis letting him know where I am, and that Im back up to full power. Can you do that?