Page 78 of The Presidents Shadow

IT TAKES MADDY only a second to recover from the shock of finding Belinda inside the trunk. With extreme effort, Maddy is able to lift the lid high enough for Belinda to squirm, stretch, and struggle in order to climb out.

The two bound young women twist and flop around on the floor of the van like two freshly caught fish tossed onto dry land, then come to their knees. Maddy brings her bound hands up to her face, raising a finger to her lips and signaling to Belinda that she needs to be quiet.

Maddy realizes she may have a small surge of mental energy inside her that can help them.

She imagines Dache’s stern stare as she tugs at her restraints. No luck.

She takes two slow, deep breaths, searching for peacefulness and concentration, just as Dache has taught her. Maddy tries forcing her ankles apart. Not enough force. Not enough strength.

Has Dache deserted her? Has he been a bad teacher? Impossible. Has Maddy been a lousy pupil? Hmm. A possibility.

As she struggles with her useless efforts to harness her powers, she and Belinda look at each other.

Maddy sees the fear and anxiety in her friend’s eyes, and, more than ever, she longs to be able to help.

But her own fears have made it impossible to engage in the deep concentration necessary for her to access her powers.

Maddy’s frustration brings her close to tears. Get a hold of yourself! she thinks. Then she finds the determination to stay focused and strong. At least her innate grit has not evaporated.

She tries something new. She manages to free the index finger on her left hand with a painful yank. But suddenly the trailer swerves to a halt. Brought up short, the girls are tossed against the wall.

The roar of traffic stops. The abrupt silence is eerie. The two young women are almost on top of each other.

A loud scratching noise. Within seconds, Maddy and Belinda realize that the locked door to their traveling prison is being opened.