Chapter 14

             R G R Q V M O Z Q N A Z G E P E L G A S O V E U M P V C U K 


Alex knocked on the door of the bedroom, waited a few seconds, and pushed it open
a few inches.  There was no immediate objection from the occupant, so he opened 
it further.  The only light came from a lamp in one corner, but there was enough
for him to see that the girl was sleeping.  He debated briefly whether to wake her,
then decided not to.  He wasn't especially busy just now, and he had to work 
slowly with her.

As the Typhoon arrived at its final destination, he had to get out of the
vehicle with the sleeping girl and get her to the safe house where he was
staying.  And that was the easy part.  She barely awakened as he carried her out
and into the building where the armored fighting vehicle would be hidden,
hopefully successfully, until it could be returned to its owners.  There would
be searches over vast areas of the country as the government tried to find the
perpetrators of the deadly raid at their black site, killing a large number of
personnel and worse, freeing more than forty prisoners who could do a lot of
talking now that they were free.  

Alex laid her in the back seat of a small, nondescript sedan and began the drive
through miles of back roads, arriving at the safe house well after midnight.
There were a couple of people there, on loan from the freehold, and as soon as
they identified him he was able to park the car inside a building and carry the
girl into the house.  The old farmhouse, acquired by a real estate management
company owned by League members, was large enough for several people to live
comfortably, even for a long period of time.  Alex had the use of several rooms
on the upper floor, and he had carried the girl to one that was furnished as a
bedroom, laid her gently on the bed, and covered her with the blanket he had
wrapped around her.

He sat down beside the bed and watched as she slept, occasionally dozing
himself.  It was a full twelve hours before she finally awakened.  In the dim
light he saw her begin to stir, and her eyes opened.  Briefly at first, and she
lay quietly for a while, then opened them again.  She looked up at him - whether
she recognized him he could not tell, she had been awake only briefly after he
removed her from the prison, and quickly went to sleep in the dark interior of
the armored car.  

He had no idea what to say, so he started with "How do you feel?"

She looked at him without speaking.  Her eyes indicated she was fully aware of
him, but she did not reply.  

"Do you remember anything about what happened yesterday?" he asked.

She may have nodded slightly, but he was not sure.

"My name is Alex" he said.  "What's yours?"

Still no reply, just the quiet stare.  This isn't going well, he thought.  He
wished there as another woman present, but that was not possible at the moment.

"You're kind of grimy from that cell" he said.  "There is a bathroom just over
there, everything you need.  Give me just a minute, and I'll get you some
clothes.  They you can take a shower, brush your teeth, all that.  OK?"

Her expression was not blank, as if she were unable to understand.  He was
certain she could hear him, but wondered if she could speak.  He stood.  "I'll
be right back."

In his own room he found a couple of robes which he never used, but not much
else.  Although he was of average size, with a slim build, one of his shirts
would be like an overcoat on her.  He took one of the robes and a shirt, went
back.  She hadn't moved.  He held up the garments, then laid them on a table.  

"I'll leave you alone now" he said.  "When you're finished, if you go out the
door, I'm in the room straight across the hall.  I'll leave the door open." 

He went out, closing the door most of the way, and went into his own room.  

The plumbing in the house was old, and it was usually apparent when water was
running in another part of the house.  Alex sat watching television with the
sound off.  Most of the useful information was displayed in text on various
parts of the screen, and there was usually no need to listen to the robotic
performance of the announcers.  Perhaps ten minutes or so after returning to his
room he heard a slight rattle in the walls, indicating water was flowing through
the upstairs plumbing.  He walked back to the door of the other bedroom and
listened.  He could hear the shower running, and it went on for a while.  

He returned to his room, moving his chair so he could see the door easily.  He
needed to contact a woman who could help him.  He thought of his contacts in the
area - there were several who were involved in resistance operations, and while
he couldn't risk the location of the safe house with someone who wasn't cleared,
he needed some help.  Someone with a secure phone.  He took out his own phone,
thought for a few moments, and then called a number.  

"Guinevere" he said when she answered.

"Yes, my lord" she replied.

"I need some help" he said.

"Your wish is my command" she replied.

Guinevere was Jessica Thompson, an operative with a small organization in a
nearby town.  The small rural community was a perfect cover, as long as no
trails led to it.  Just over a thousand people lived there, and most of them
were retired.  The few children went to school in a larger city nearby.  A few
small businesses were located around the intersection of the two highways that
ran through it.  Jessica's business was a small restaurant located near a small
store with gas pumps and a few other conveniences for travellers.  Jessica and
her staff were all part of the operation, which consisted largely of
transmitting messages and sometimes people.  Alex had become acquainted with
Jessica and she and her people had helped with several operations, and their
personal relationship had gone somewhat beyond business.  They saw each other
infrequently, but enjoyed any time they were able to spend together.

"This is a good one" he said.  "I have a girl, maybe thirteen, fourteen, I can't
be sure.  And she can't tell me.  I'll have to fill you in later, but right now
I need some clothes.  Under, outer, the works.  Enough for several days."

Jessica was silent for a moment.  

"OK" she said.  "Where do you want to meet?"

Alex was about twenty minutes from her, but he didn't dare leave the girl alone
for that long.  

"We'll have to do a quick meet, pass the package, and go.  I hate doing this,
but it's a really dicey situation.  Can you meet me at the 412 and 49 junction?"

"Not a problem" said Jessica.  "It'll take me an hour if we're lucky, so I can
probably be there in under two hours."

"Don't take any risks to save time" said Alex.  "I believe the situation is
somewhat stable, so don't worry if it takes a little longer."

"Gotcha" replied Jessica.  "I'm about ten minutes from the drop."

"Excellent" said Alex.  "I'm a few minutes further out, so if you call me when
you leave whoever gets there first can drive down the road a little and turn
around, until we meet.  Brown four-door, two lights, one left."

"Left right. See you shortly" said Jessica.

Alex looked up to see the girl standing in the doorway, wearing the shirt he had
left for her.  Definitely better than the robe, he thought - it came down almost
to her knees, while she probably couldn't have walked while wearing the robe.
She had rolled up the sleeves, and he was shocked at how thin her arms and legs
were.  She looked much better, however, her long dark hair now clean and free of
the dirty tangles.  He stood up and walked slowly toward her.  She remained
calm, looking up at him with big dark eyes.  

"Are you hungry?" he asked.  She must be, he thought.  It was now more than
twenty-four hours since he had carried her out of the prison, and she looked as
if she hadn't had much to eat lately.

Again there was a barely perceptible nod.  

"Let's go down to the kitchen and see what we have" he said.  "Follow me."

She obeyed, descending the stairs behind him - it seemed the occasional squeak
of boards under his own tread were silent under hers.  In the kitchen he looked
around in the refrigerator and cabinets.  Soup was generally a good choice, he
thought.  He took down a couple of cans and held them up.

"This OK?" he asked.  

She nodded, this time a real up and down movement of her head.  Still
expressionless, though.

"Would you like some tea?" he asked.  Again she nodded and he filled two glasses
with ice and poured tea from a jug in the refrigerator.  He set them on the
small table and turned to prepare the soup.  While it was heating he found some
rolls and crackers, and put them on the table.  As the soup came to a boil he
stirred it, then turned off the stove and looked for bowls and a ladle.  He
turned to see the girl eating a roll, slowly, as doing it for the first time.
Finishing it, she drank some tea as he set the bowls of soup on the table.

He hadn't tried again to find out her name, or even if she could speak.  Might
as well try again, he thought.  She seems calm and not afraid of me.

"I have someone coming to bring you some clothes" he said.  She sat quietly,
looking at him with no perceptible emotion.  "It'll be an hour or two - I'll
have to go out for a few minutes to pick them up.  Will you be all right for
that long?"

She nodded again.

"What's your name" he asked.  "My name is Alex, I think I told you what when you
woke up, but you might not have been awake enough.  Can you tell me your name?"

Still there was no response.

"Can you talk?" he asked.

Something was going on in her head, he thought, but whether she was trying to
speak and unable to do so, or something else, he had no idea.  He saw a slight
glistening of tears in her eyes.  Too fast, he thought.  OK, it can wait.

"More soup?" he asked.  

Another nod.  He refilled her bowl and glass, checked his watch.  She seemed to
have had enough to eat, he thought, as she sat silently toying with her spoon.  

He got up, and she did the same, following him as he went back to his room.  She
sat on the couch across from his chair and they watched the television, the
sound still off.  He wondered if there was some kind of entertainment she might
respond to, a movie perhaps.  But after a few minutes she lay down, a cushion
under her head, and went to sleep.  

Alex put a blanket over her, and went over to her room.  He needed to change the
bedcovers - he didn't want to put the clean girl back in the grimy environment
she had left.  That accomplished, he went back to his room.  She was still
sleeping, and he would have to leave to meet Jessica soon.  He found pen and
paper on his desk, and wrote a note.

'I had to go outside for a few minutes.  Be back soon.  Alex.'

He placed it on the couch next to her.  Just in time, he thought, as the phone
chime announced a message.

"On my way, J."

He quickly made his way to the garage and headed to the rendezvous.  Myles saw
Jessica's car approaching as he arrived at the intersection, flashed his
headlights twice and then activated his left turn signal.  He saw the left turn
signal, then the right, on the other car.  They stopped on a paved area where
the two roads met, their cars facing in opposite directions with the drivers'
doors almost touching.  Jessica handed him two packages and he laid them in the
seat, then put her hand out.  He took it, held it as long as he dared.  They
didn't need to linger here unnecessarily.

"You're torturing me" she said, smiling.  "I want to get out and kiss you, so
bad.  You owe me big one, next time.  And an explanation."

"You'll get it all" he promised.  "But right now it's still kind of touchy.  And
I owe you more than you can imagine."

As quickly has they had arrived, they were gone back to their own worlds.

He was relieved to find the girl still sleeping as he had left her.  He took the
packages over to her room, and then went back to his own.  She was probably
going to sleep for a while, he thought, so he turned the lights down and lay
down on his bed.  He hadn't realized how tired he was, and had only minutes to
think about it before he too was asleep.

He awoke to see her sitting on the couch, looking at him.  He wondered how long
she had been like that.  He sat up, then stood up and looked for his boots, then
decided he didn't need them.  He had unbuttoned his shirt before he went to
sleep, and now fastened several of the lower buttons.  The sun was well up, and
it was time to see about something to eat.

"You want some breakfast?" he asked.  She nodded, this time a completely
coherent response, except she still didn't say anything.

"I brought you some clothes that should fit" he said.  "They're over in your
room.  If you want to change before breakfast, I'll be downstairs."

She stood up and followed him out.  He pointed out the packages, and then went
downstairs.  He prepared some eggs and  sausage, made some toast, and found some
orange juice and tea in the refrigerator.   As he was making coffee, she came
in.  Without being told she sat down and began eating.  

She was wearing jeans and a sweatshirt, with a pair of white canvas shoes.  She
was also quite beautiful, he realized, and looked much healthier than she had
the night before.  Alex joined her, and before long he found himself wondering
what he was going to do now.  

"You never did tell me your name" he said.  She remained silent.  "There are a
lot of names, too many for me to try to guess.  Can you write it for me?"  A
nod.

He went up to a room he used as an office, found a pad of paper and a pen, and
took them downstairs.  He sat down and handed them to her, and she took the pen
in hand, but did nothing else.  Alex waited.  Finally, she began, slowly and
hesitantly, to write.  He saw that she was having trouble holding the pen, and
then notices that her index finger was somewhat crooked.  As if it had been
broken and not set.  But finally she finished, and he looked at the name.  Even
though somewhat messily written and upside down, he could read it from across
the table.

Cassandra.

Now there's a tragic name, he thought.  A wave of sadness, followed by burning
anger, swept over him.  He hadn't have much in the way of emotions these days -
he couldn't afford them.  But what had been done to this girl was beyond any
human depravity he had witnessed.  Not that there weren't worse ones - he just
hadn't yet had to see them up close.  They had already killed her, he thought.  
She just hadn't fallen over and stopped breathing yet, and that was a torment 
in itself.

"How old are you?" he asked.

She wrote on the pad, stopping after writing the number 'one'.  She seemed to be
trying to remember, then wrote a 'four'.  Alex guessed she had lost track of
time in the prison.

"So your name is Cassandra, and you're fourteen." he said.  "We're making
progress.  Can you speak?"

She looked down at the table, bowing her head slightly.  He could see the
dampness of tears on her cheeks.

"It's all right" he said.  "We can make do as things are.  Do you have any
family, somewhere I can take you, where you'll be safe with friends?"

She shook her head.  

"Would you like to go outside for a while?" he asked.  He had not spent much
time around children of any age, and didn't know how entertain one.  At least
this one was old enough dress herself and eat without making a mess.  

The farmhouse, along with a couple of old barns and a large equipment shed, sat
in the corner of an eighty acre field.  A quarter mile wide and half a mile
long, it had not been in cultivation for a number of years, and now had a large
number of trees growing on it.  There were some clear paths, and they walked for
a while.  Cassandra walked quietly beside him, but occasionally stopped to
examine a plant or some other interesting attraction.  She seemed to be as happy
as someone in their state could be, and Alex was hopeful of her eventual
recovery, if such a thing was possible.  She might still have some kind of life
after all.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ * ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Cassandra had been with him a week, and Alex decided it was time to make some
more moves toward finding her a home.  He knew Jessica could help, and that it
was time for them to meet.  He was certain Cassandra would like her - Jessica
was not the most motherly type, having never been a mother, but she had a way
with people of all ages, and was the most likely candidate.  He contacted her
and asked if she had some time, then got Cassandra into the car and drove out to
her restaurant.

Cassandra indicated she was willing to go, and when they arrived she went inside
with him and sat down at a small table in a corner.  Alex had informed her of
the situation, and Alex ordered their food.  As usual, Cassandra was agreeable
to whatever he suggested, and they ate quietly.  Cassandra was looking better
every day, not nearly so thin as she had been, and looked quite healthy -
physically.  

When they finished, they went outside, where Jessica was met them.  They walked
over to a small building with offices in the front and storage for restaurant
supplies in the back.  Once inside, Alex introduced Jessica to Cassandra and
they sat down, Jessica behind her desk and Alex and Cassandra in two of the
visitor chairs.

"Cassandra" said Alex.  "We need to find a place for you to stay permanently.
I'm not very good at this, I can't take care of myself most of the time.
Jessica knows nice people here..."

That was as far as he got.  Cassandra was out of her chair, kneeling on the
floor, her arms around his legs - it seemed he could feel her tears soaking his
pants almost immediately, even if it wasn't possible.  Jessica came around the
desk, knelt beside her, but as soon as she touched her Cassandra jerked away,
hiding behind Alex's chair.  Jessica quickly withdrew, and Alex eventually
managed to get out of his chair, kneeling beside Cassandra and holding her, her
head against his chest, her convulsive sobs gradually ebbing, her small body
limp against him.  Eventually he dared to speak.

"Cassandra, it's OK.  I won't mention it again.  I'll take care of you."

He didn't know how he was going to do it, but perhaps time would provide some
healing.  Eventually she allowed him to stand, pulling her up with him.  She
leaned against him, clutching him tightly.  He looked down into her dark eyes,
her silky black hair wet with tears. 

"I won't ever let you go" he said.  "Let's go home."

Jessica looked almost as distraught as Cassandra.  Alex gave her a quick kiss
before turning to go.

"I keep getting deeper in debt, it seems" he said.  

Jessica smiled, but there was not much happiness in it.

"You do get yourself into some jams.  But any way I can help, let me know."  

She looked at Cassandra, her own eyes shining with barely restrained tears.
Alex handed her a sheaf of bills.

"We'll need some more clothes" he said.  "There's a laundry at the place we're
staying, between us we should manage."

"I don't envy you at all" said Jessica, "but you never know how these things
will work out."

That was true, Alex thought, but was of little comfort - it could as easily be
bad as good.  Still, Cassandra was infinitely better off than she would have
been if he hadn't rescued her.