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left fist, which Thomas also deflected. But blocking the successive blows had left him exposed, and Kara had seen enough street fights in Manila to know that this was precisely what his attacker intended.
    Carlos drove on, straight into Thomas, using his head as a battering ram. It connected solidly with Thomas’s chin. Her brother dropped like a rock.
    Kara dove for the bed and hit the carpet with a grunt. She rolled under the bed, saw the gun, and clawed for it.

5
    A HORRENDOUS din filled the air.
    The din of battle. Of death.
    Thomas’s eyes snapped open. He sat up and winced at the pounding pain in his head.
    â€œDid you get it?” Mikil asked, dropping to one knee beside him.
    â€œGet what?”
    â€œI knew it!” She stood and walked away.
    Of course, he’d gone for the explosives! His mind scrambled. “How long have I been unconscious?”
    She shrugged. “Five minutes.”
    â€œFive minutes! I told you ten!”
    â€œI didn’t wake you. You woke on your own. Maybe it was Elyon waking you to go and lead your men.”
    â€œNo, I have to go back!”
    She looked at him. “Go back where?”
    â€œI didn’t have enough time. I have to get back to learn how to make explosives.”
    â€œThis is nonsense. What would you have me do? Hit you on the head with another rock?”
    â€œYes!” He clamored to his feet. “It works. I’m dreaming again. I was there, Mikil!”
    â€œAnd what did you do there?”
    â€œI fought a man who was trying to shoot me with a gun. It’s another kind of explosive device. He fights—he’s very good. I think he knocked me out.”
    Thomas turned from her, remembering. “And Kara—” An ache in his shoulder stopped him.
    There was a gash about three inches long just above his right bicep. He ran a finger along it, trying to recall if it had come from the battle below or from his dreams.
    â€œDid I have this cut?” he asked her.
    â€œYou must have. I don’t remember when—”
    â€œNo! It wasn’t here when I came up. No one cut me while I was sleeping?”
    â€œOf course not.”
    â€œThen it’s from my dreams!” He grabbed Mikil’s arm. “Knock me out! Now! Hurry! I have to get back to save my sister!”
    â€œYou don’t have a sister.”
    â€œHit me!” he cried. “Just hit me.”
    â€œIt’s not within me to strike my commander twice in the space of ten minutes, even if—”
    â€œI order it.” A tremor ran through his hands. “Pretend I’m not your commander. I’m a Scab and smell of rotten meat and I will knock your head off your shoulders if you don’t defend—”
    She was airborne and he made no attempt to deflect her blow. The leather sole of her boot struck him above his right ear, and he collapsed.

6
    KARA’S HAND found the cold steel. She’d never felt such an intense sense of relief. She wrapped her fingers around the gun.
    But her relief was premature. She was on her stomach, face planted in the carpet, useless. She twisted and rolled to her back. The gun clanged against the metal bedframe. A thunderous roar ripped through the cramped space.
    She’d discharged the gun! Had she hit anyone? Put a hole in the wall or window? Maybe she’d hit Carlos. Or Thomas.
    She twisted and saw that Thomas still lay on his back by the far wall. No bullet holes that she could see.
    Something bounced on the bed. Carlos.
    She fired into the mattress, wincing with the explosion. Again. Boom, boom.
    She watched Carlos’s feet land on the floor. Two long strides and he was into the hall.
    Kara jerked the trigger and sent another shot in his general direction.
    Carlos vanished toward the adjoining suite at the end of the hall. The door banged.
    What if he hadn’t really left? What if he was hiding around the wall, waiting for her to stand up and put the gun down