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“Good. He should be here in another thirty minutes or so.” They had arrived back at the camp, and he walked with her to her bedroll.

She started to lie down, but he stopped her and then dropped down and pulled her down beside him.

“It’s been a bad night and a lousy few days before that, because I had to keep myself from trying to help you get through this damn jungle.

I just need another ten minutes to hold you.

” He took her in his arms and lay there cuddling her.

“Don’t worry, it won’t be more than that since we’re practically surrounded by the entire team. ”

She moved closer to him. “And yet sometimes you break the code.”

“But never when it would hurt you…” Then he just lay quietly, holding her close for the next few minutes and stroking her hair.

Peace, safety, utter contentment…

He sighed, then lifted himself and bent over and kissed her.

“Time to go.” He kissed her again. “Go back to sleep. I’ll be glad to think that one of us is getting a little snooze time.

” Then he was rolling away from her and getting up.

“And in case you start worrying, I’ll have an entire team down at the bridge to watch my back. ”

“But I’d do it better,” she whispered. “I have more at stake.”

He chuckled. The next minute, he’d turned and left the camp.

Celine wasn’t about to try to go back to sleep.

She wanted desperately to follow Dominic, but he was right about her not being any real help to the men rebuilding that bridge and trail.

So, try to think… There had to be something of value she could offer besides just trying to comfort and watch over Quinn.

Particularly since the Quinn with whom she had become familiar on this hellish trek was hard as nails and just as much on edge as Dominic had described.

“I saw Dominic leaving when I was coming up the trail.”

She looked up to see it was Quinn himself coming across the campground toward her, his voice and general appearance just as lethal and on edge as Celine had expected.

He appeared positively haggard. “I suppose he told you about Caldwell’s latest disaster?

” His lips tightened. “I can’t let this one happen. I need you to help stop it.”

“That’s easy to say,” she said ruefully. “You know that I’ll do anything I can. But Dominic has just pointed out how useless I’d be helping with the construction.”

“I got a similar response,” Joe said. “And I can see his reasoning. But that just means that we have to go and do what we can in our own way. I can’t let those sons of bitches kill Eve and Michael while I’m waiting around for that bridge to be repaired.”

She shuddered. “I can see that. But is it too much to ask what you believe is our way?”

He held out his hand and pulled her to her feet. “Walk with me and I’ll tell you, where there’s not all of these eager ears ready to listen. Dominic would probably break my neck if he knew I was going to ask you to leave the team for even the short time I’m planning.”

She stiffened. “Is that what you’re doing? Why?”

“Because a good friend of yours took the trouble to come to see me before we left the falls. Kontara didn’t like the idea of you going off to that village with our forces.

She thought you might get yourself killed.

Particularly if we ran into any of Zakira’s troops in the jungle.

But she also didn’t like the idea of Eve and Michael being in danger.

So she said she was going to keep on searching for a way to the village herself and let us know if she found one.

She wasn’t sure she’d be successful, but she said she’d try.

” His lips twisted. “And now I’m desperate and don’t have a choice.

She told me to keep you from doing anything stupid and to call her if we needed her. ”

“That sounds like her.” Celine was shaking her head. “Even though she was terrified of going back to that village, she was still trying to protect me.”

“Very laudable,” Joe said quietly. “But Dominic would gather an army to protect you. It’s not you who is in danger right now.

I even tried to discourage Kontara from being reckless, but everything has changed now since we need to know if she’s discovered any other way to get to Shafira.

Preferably one that we could use to move an army—or if not, one that I could use to slip into the village and at least get Michael out. I need you to contact her for me.”

Celine frowned as she suddenly realized something. “Eve?”

“I’ll probably have to go back for her,” he said haltingly. “We’ve agreed our son is in more danger right now.”

And it was obviously killing him to have made that decision, Celine thought.

She could see the pain he was trying to hide, and she wanted desperately to help him.

She smiled gently and started to reach for her phone.

“Then let’s see if Kontara got lucky and found what you need.

” She quickly looked through her phone’s directory for Kontara’s satellite phone.

“And hope that she didn’t change her mind about trying to do it after she talked to you the night we left. ”

The phone rang several times but Kontara finally answered. “Celine?” Her voice was tense. “What’s wrong? Are you having problems?”

“You might say that. We’re having trouble following that trail leading to Shafira and wondered if you’d managed to find an alternative.”

Kontara was cursing softly. “I was afraid of that. I thought it might be either a trap or an ambush. It was too easy, and Zakira never makes anything easy. Take it from someone who knows. Which one was it?”

“Neither. Caldwell just saw fit to dynamite a bridge and practically the entire forest around it. It’s probably going to take us too long to repair it; we need to move fast right now. You didn’t answer me. Alternative?”

“I found a couple,” Kontara said. “And I guarantee neither one is easy. It’s the kind of escape exit I used when I was a prisoner there. Which makes it a nightmare. A waterfall and some of thickest maze shrubbery I’ve ever seen. You’d have a hard time getting through it.”

“I don’t doubt it, but it’s Quinn who asked me to call you and ask you these questions.”

“Quinn?” A pause. Then she said, “Of course, Eve and her son. Quinn could probably manage to use the maze exit. He was a SEAL. But I’m not sure about the others.”

“I’m positive he’d make sure his son made it.” Celine hesitated. “At present Eve Duncan’s removal may have to be put on hold.”

“Shit.”

“I agree,” Joe said hoarsely. “Where are you, Kontara? And would you be willing to help me get to Shafira to save my son? Celine told me that you were terrified of dealing with those people again. I promise I won’t ask you to help with the actual rescue.

You’ll only have to tell me where it is or take me there.

After I find a way to get him out, maybe you could meet me somewhere and help us find our way back here. ”

Silence.

“You don’t know what you’re asking,” Kontara finally said shakily. “I’ll have to slip into a few of those huts and get information on where they’re being held. That’s not going to be easy. And it’s sometimes almost impossible to avoid the guards when you’re moving around the village.”

Celine could hear the thread of panic in Kontara’s voice, and she realized she was reliving that time when every moment could lead to attack and pain. She instinctively interrupted: “Quinn will take care of you. We’ll both take care of you, Kontara. You won’t be alone.”

“No!” Kontara said sharply. “You don’t go near the place.

I’ll take Quinn, but not you.” She drew a deep breath.

“I can do it. I just had a bad moment or two. I’m better now.

It’s not as if I didn’t know all those huts in the village like the back of my hand at one time.

I wouldn’t have been able to get out as often as I did if I hadn’t made sure of that.

I could probably even figure how to get away from the village by using that waterfall I told you about, Celine.

I can leave Quinn to wait in the maze on the other side of the waterfall until I locate where they’re keeping his son. ”

“The one where you nearly froze to death getting to that maze…”

“That’s right. But it’s summer and not as cold now.”

“You believe you can do it?” Quinn asked impatiently. “Yes or no? We’re wasting time.”

“I can do it,” Kontara said “But I have to have enough time to check out the village and make sure that I can still find all the foxholes that I managed to dig when I was prisoner there. It will take at least another three hours for me to get you to Shafira. It won’t be dawn yet, and I’ll still have time to explore the village before it gets light and everyone starts stirring.

But I’ll have to be back in the maze before that happens. ”

“And my son?” Joe asked.

“I’ll have to wait and go get him tomorrow night as soon as it gets dark again. Hopefully we’ll be able to slip him out before anyone knows he’s gone and be on our way back to your camp.”

“Hopefully,” Joe repeated bitterly. “I’m a little low on hope for the moment.”

“It’s all I can offer,” Kontara said simply. “Otherwise you’ll have to sit around and wait until that bridge is rebuilt. I thought you didn’t want to do that.”

“I don’t.” His lips twisted. “And I’m an ungrateful son of a bitch for even letting you take this risk. All I can do is promise I’ll be grateful for the rest of my life, and I’ll guard you as I do my own family. If time is that important, tell me where I can meet you so that we can be on our way.”

“I’m about three miles due west from your base camp near the rock spires closest to a deep creek. I’ll send you a pinned map with my location. We can strike out directly for Shafira from here.”

“I’m on my way,” Joe said curtly. “I’ll see you soon.”

“I need to talk to you, Kontara,” Celine said quickly. “I want you to—”

But evidently she’d not been quick enough. Kontara had hung up.

“Evidently she doesn’t want to talk to you,” Joe said. “She apparently has the same views as Dominic about your going to Shafira.”

She nodded jerkily. “And she has reason, but I can’t let her go alone. I could tell how frightened she is.”

“She’s not going alone. I’ll be with her,” Joe said. “I’ll take care of both her and Michael.”

“I realize you’ll try,” Celine said. “But what if it comes down to Kontara or your son? Who would you choose?”

“My god, Celine.”

“The answer is that you shouldn’t have to choose. If I was along with you, I could watch over Kontara.”

“She won’t let you come with us.”

“I won’t ask her. Just like I’m not asking you.” She turned back to the camp. “Give me a couple minutes. I’ve got to go get my rifle…”

“You don’t have any sense at all, do you?”

That was the first thing Kontara said when she saw that Celine was with Joe when they reached the rock spires. “It’s no wonder Dominic watches you like a hawk. What do you think he’s going to say to this?”

Celine shrugged. “I can’t worry about that.

He’s busy doing what he thinks is right.

Which is exactly what I’m doing. Besides, he won’t say anything until morning, when someone tells him that Joe and I aren’t at the camp.

But by that time, I’ll have called him and told him myself.

Because it wouldn’t be right to keep anything like this from Dominic.

I know how I felt about it. I was just trying to spare him worry as long as possible.

From what you said, we may have a very long day until we can get back to camp. ”

“I’m not taking you into that village,” Kontara said flatly. “You might as well go back to your camp.”

Celine shook her head. “I never said I was going to tail behind you when you go into the main village. That would clearly be dumb. From what you said, I’d probably be recognized from that photo in the museum if anyone caught sight of me.

” She patted the rifle she was carrying.

“But there’s no reason I can’t stay with Joe in the maze and watch your back in case you need a little extra firepower and Joe is busy with Michael. Right?”

“No.” Kontara was gazing at her in frustration. “But you’re obviously going to do it anyway.” Then she added fiercely, “You don’t show your face outside that maze. Understand?”

Celine nodded. “That’s my intention.” She turned toward the north. “Now can we go and help Joe get his son away from those bastards?”