¡¡¡¡Nina¡¡needed¡¡him¡£¡¡Not¡¡some¡¡girl¡¡born¡¡in¡¡a¡¡lab£»¡¡with¡¡the¡¡power¡¡to¡¡transmit¡¡her¡¡curious¡¡fantasies¡¡to¡¡others¡¡and¡¡cloud¡¡the¡¡minds¡¡of¡¡the¡¡gullible¡£¡¡Nina¡¡needed¡¡him¡£¡¡Nina¡£
¡¡¡¡If¡¡he¡¡could¡¡not¡¡trust¡¡Rose¡¡Tucker£»¡¡was¡¡there¡¡anyone¡¡he¡¡could¡¡trust£¿
¡¡¡¡He¡¡managed¡¡to¡¡shake¡¡two¡¡words¡¡from¡¡himself£º¡¡'Go¡¡on¡£'
¡¡¡¡Rose¡¡again¡£¡¡In¡¡21¡21's¡¡room¡£¡¡Feverishly¡¡considering¡¡the¡¡problem¡¡of¡¡how¡¡to¡¡spirit¡¡the¡¡girl¡¡through¡¡a¡¡security¡¡system¡¡equal¡¡to¡¡that¡¡of¡¡any¡¡prison¡£
¡¡¡¡The¡¡answer£»¡¡when¡¡it¡¡es£»¡¡is¡¡obvious¡¡and¡¡elegant¡£
¡¡¡¡There¡¡are¡¡three¡¡exits¡¡from¡¡the¡¡ground¡¡floor¡¡of¡¡the¡¡orphanage¡£¡¡Rose¡¡and¡¡the¡¡girl¡¡walk¡¡hand¡in¡hand¡¡to¡¡the¡¡door¡¡that¡¡connects¡¡the¡¡main¡¡building¡¡to¡¡the¡¡adjoining¡¡two¡story¡¡parking¡¡structure¡£
¡¡¡¡An¡¡armed¡¡guard¡¡views¡¡their¡¡approach¡¡with¡¡more¡¡puzzlement¡¡than¡¡suspicion¡£¡¡The¡¡orphans¡¡are¡¡not¡¡permitted¡¡into¡¡the¡¡garage¡¡even¡¡under¡¡supervision¡£
¡¡¡¡When¡¡21¡21¡¡holds¡¡out¡¡her¡¡tiny¡¡hand¡¡and¡¡says¡¡Shake£»¡¡the¡¡guard¡¡smiles¡¡and¡¡obliges¡and¡¡receives¡¡the¡¡gift¡£¡¡Filled¡¡with¡¡cyclonic¡¡wonder£»¡¡he¡¡sits¡¡shaking¡¡uncontrollably£»¡¡weeping¡¡with¡¡joy¡¡but¡¡also¡¡with¡¡hard¡¡remorse£»¡¡just¡¡as¡¡Rose¡¡had¡¡trembled¡¡and¡¡wept¡¡in¡¡the¡¡girl's¡¡room¡£
¡¡¡¡It¡¡is¡¡a¡¡simple¡¡matter¡¡to¡¡push¡¡the¡¡button¡¡on¡¡the¡¡guard's¡¡console¡¡to¡¡throw¡¡the¡¡electronic¡¡lock¡¡on¡¡the¡¡door¡¡and¡¡pass¡¡through¡£
¡¡¡¡Another¡¡guard¡¡waits¡¡on¡¡the¡¡garage¡¡side¡¡of¡¡the¡¡connecting¡¡door¡£¡¡He¡¡is¡¡startled¡¡by¡¡the¡¡sight¡¡of¡¡this¡¡child¡£¡¡She¡¡reaches¡¡for¡¡him£»¡¡and¡¡his¡¡surprise¡¡at¡¡seeing¡¡her¡¡is¡¡nothing¡¡pared¡¡to¡¡the¡¡surprise¡¡that¡¡follows¡£
¡¡¡¡A¡¡third¡¡guard¡¡is¡¡stationed¡¡at¡¡the¡¡gated¡¡exit¡¡from¡¡the¡¡garage¡£¡¡Alarmed¡¡by¡¡the¡¡sight¡¡of¡¡21¡21¡¡in¡¡Rose's¡¡car£»¡¡he¡¡leans¡¡in¡¡the¡¡open¡¡window¡¡to¡¡demand¡¡an¡¡explanation¡and¡¡the¡¡girl¡¡touches¡¡his¡¡face¡£
¡¡¡¡Two¡¡more¡¡armed¡¡men¡¡staff¡¡the¡¡gate¡¡at¡¡the¡¡highway¡£¡¡All¡¡barriers¡¡fall£»¡¡and¡¡Virginia¡¡lies¡¡ahead¡£
¡¡¡¡Escape¡¡will¡¡never¡¡be¡¡as¡¡easy¡¡again¡£¡¡If¡¡they¡¡are¡¡apprehended£»¡¡the¡¡girl's¡¡offer¡¡of¡¡a¡¡handshake¡¡will¡¡be¡¡greeted¡¡by¡¡gunfire¡£
¡¡¡¡The¡¡trick¡¡now¡¡is¡¡to¡¡get¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡area¡¡quickly£»¡¡before¡¡project¡¡security¡¡realizes¡¡what¡¡has¡¡happened¡¡to¡¡five¡¡of¡¡its¡¡men¡£¡¡They¡¡will¡¡mount¡¡a¡¡pursuit£»¡¡perhaps¡¡with¡¡the¡¡assistance¡¡of¡¡local£»¡¡state£»¡¡and¡¡federal¡¡authorities¡£¡¡Rose¡¡drives¡¡madly£»¡¡recklessly£»¡¡with¡¡a¡¡skill¡¡¡born¡¡of¡¡desperation¡that¡¡she¡¡has¡¡never¡¡known¡¡before¡£
¡¡¡¡Barely¡¡big¡¡enough¡¡to¡¡see¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡side¡¡window£»¡¡21¡21¡¡studies¡¡the¡¡passing¡¡countryside¡¡with¡¡fascination¡¡and£»¡¡at¡¡last£»¡¡says£»¡¡Wow£»¡¡it¡¡sure¡¡is¡¡big¡¡out¡¡here¡£
¡¡¡¡Rose¡¡laughs¡¡and¡¡says£»¡¡Honey£»¡¡you¡¡ain't¡¡seen¡¡nothing¡¡yet¡£
¡¡¡¡She¡¡realizes¡¡that¡¡she¡¡must¡¡get¡¡the¡¡word¡¡out¡¡as¡¡quickly¡¡as¡¡possible£º¡¡use¡¡the¡¡media¡¡to¡¡display¡¡21¡21's¡¡healing¡¡powers¡¡and¡¡then¡¡to¡¡demonstrate¡¡the¡¡greater¡¡gift¡¡that¡¡the¡¡girl¡¡can¡¡bestow¡£¡¡Only¡¡the¡¡forces¡¡of¡¡ignorance¡¡and¡¡darkness¡¡benefit¡¡from¡¡secrecy¡£¡¡Rose¡¡believes¡¡that¡¡21¡21¡¡will¡¡never¡¡be¡¡safe¡¡until¡¡the¡¡world¡¡knows¡¡of¡¡her£»¡¡embraces¡¡her£»¡¡and¡¡refuses¡¡to¡¡allow¡¡her¡¡to¡¡be¡¡taken¡¡into¡¡custody¡£
¡¡¡¡Her¡¡ex¡bosses¡¡will¡¡expect¡¡her¡¡to¡¡go¡¡public¡¡quickly¡¡and¡¡in¡¡a¡¡big¡¡way¡£¡¡Their¡¡influence¡¡within¡¡the¡¡media¡¡is¡¡widespread¡yet¡¡as¡¡subtle¡¡as¡¡a¡¡web¡¡of¡¡cloud¡¡shadows¡¡on¡¡the¡¡skin¡¡of¡¡a¡¡pond£»¡¡which¡¡makes¡¡it¡¡all¡¡the¡¡more¡¡effective¡£¡¡They¡¡will¡¡try¡¡to¡¡find¡¡her¡¡as¡¡soon¡¡as¡¡possible¡¡after¡¡she¡¡surfaces¡¡and¡¡before¡¡she¡¡can¡¡bring¡¡21¡21¡¡to¡¡the¡¡world¡£
¡¡¡¡She¡¡knows¡¡a¡¡reporter¡¡whom¡¡she¡¡would¡¡trust¡¡not¡¡to¡¡betray¡¡her£º
¡¡¡¡Lisa¡¡Peccatone£»¡¡an¡¡old¡¡college¡¡friend¡¡who¡¡works¡¡at¡¡the¡¡Post¡¡in¡¡Los¡¡Angeles¡£
¡¡¡¡Rose¡¡and¡¡the¡¡girl¡¡will¡¡have¡¡to¡¡fly¡¡to¡¡Southern¡¡California¡and¡¡the¡¡sooner¡¡the¡¡better¡£¡¡Project¡¡99¡¡is¡¡a¡¡joint¡¡venture¡¡of¡¡private¡¡industry£»¡¡elements¡¡of¡¡the¡¡defence¡¡establishment£»¡¡and¡¡other¡¡powerful¡¡forces¡¡in¡¡the¡¡government¡£¡¡Easier¡¡to¡¡halt¡¡an¡¡avalanche¡¡with¡¡a¡¡feather¡¡than¡¡to¡¡resist¡¡their¡¡bined¡¡might£»¡¡and¡¡they¡¡will¡¡shortly¡¡begin¡¡to¡¡use¡¡every¡¡asset¡¡in¡¡their¡¡arsenal¡¡to¡¡locate¡¡Rose¡¡and¡¡the¡¡girl¡£
¡¡¡¡Trying¡¡to¡¡fly¡¡out¡¡of¡¡Dulles¡¡or¡¡National¡¡Airport¡¡in¡¡Washington¡¡is¡¡too¡¡dangerous¡£¡¡She¡¡considers¡¡Baltimore£»¡¡Philadelphia£»¡¡New¡¡York£»¡¡and¡¡Boston¡£¡¡She¡¡chooses¡¡New¡¡York¡£
¡¡¡¡She¡¡reasons¡¡that¡¡the¡¡more¡¡county¡¡and¡¡state¡¡lines¡¡she¡¡crosses£»¡¡the¡¡safer¡¡she¡¡bees£»¡¡so¡¡she¡¡drives¡¡to¡¡Hagerstown£»¡¡Maryland£»¡¡and¡¡from¡¡there¡¡to¡¡Harrisburg£»¡¡Pennsylvania£»¡¡without¡¡incident¡£¡¡Yet¡¡mile¡¡by¡¡mile£»¡¡she¡¡is¡¡increasingly¡¡concerned¡¡that¡¡her¡¡pursuers¡¡will¡¡have¡¡put¡¡out¡¡an¡¡APB¡¡on¡¡her¡¡car¡¡and¡¡that¡¡she¡¡will¡¡be¡¡captured¡¡regardless¡¡of¡¡the¡¡distance¡¡she¡¡puts¡¡between¡¡herself¡¡and¡¡Manassas¡£
¡¡¡¡In¡¡Harrisburg£»¡¡she¡¡abandons¡¡the¡¡car£»¡¡and¡¡she¡¡and¡¡the¡¡girl¡¡continue¡¡to¡¡New¡¡York¡¡City¡¡by¡¡bus¡£
¡¡¡¡By¡¡the¡¡time¡¡they¡¡are¡¡in¡¡the¡¡air¡¡aboard¡¡Nationwide¡¡Flight¡¡353£»¡¡Rose¡¡feels¡¡safe¡£¡¡Immediately¡¡on¡¡landing¡¡at¡¡LAX£»¡¡she¡¡will¡¡be¡¡met¡¡by¡¡Lisa¡¡and¡¡the¡¡crew¡¡that¡¡Lisa¡¡has¡¡assembled¡and¡¡the¡¡series¡¡of¡¡media¡¡eruptions¡¡will¡¡begin¡£
¡¡¡¡For¡¡the¡¡airline¡¡passenger¡¡manifest£»¡¡Rose¡¡implied¡¡that¡¡she¡¡was¡¡married¡¡to¡¡a¡¡white¡¡man£»¡¡and¡¡she¡¡identified¡¡21¡21¡¡as¡¡her¡¡stepdaughter£»¡¡choosing¡¡the¡¡name¡¡'Mary¡¡Tucker£»'¡¡on¡¡the¡¡spur¡¡of¡¡the¡¡moment¡£¡¡With¡¡the¡¡media£»¡¡she¡¡intends¡¡initially¡¡to¡¡use¡¡CCY¡21¡21's¡¡project¡¡name¡¡because¡¡its¡¡similarity¡¡to¡¡concentration¡camp¡¡inmates'¡¡names¡¡will¡¡do¡¡more¡¡than¡¡anything¡¡else¡¡to¡¡characterize¡¡Project¡¡99¡¡in¡¡the¡¡public¡¡mind¡¡and¡¡generate¡¡instant¡¡sympathy¡¡for¡¡the¡¡child¡£¡¡She¡¡realizes¡¡that¡¡eventually¡¡she¡¡will¡¡have¡¡to¡¡consult¡¡with¡¡21¡21¡¡to¡¡pick¡¡a¡¡permanent¡¡name¡which£»¡¡considering¡¡the¡¡singular¡¡historical¡¡importance¡¡of¡¡this¡¡child's¡¡life£»¡¡should¡¡be¡¡a¡¡name¡¡that¡¡resonates¡£
¡¡¡¡They¡¡are¡¡seated¡¡across¡¡the¡¡aisle¡¡from¡¡a¡¡mother¡¡and¡¡her¡¡two¡¡daughters£»¡¡who¡¡are¡¡returning¡¡home¡¡to¡¡Los¡¡Angeles¡Michelle£»¡¡Chrissie£»¡¡and¡¡Nina¡¡Carpenter¡£
¡¡¡¡Nina£»¡¡who¡¡is¡¡approximately¡¡21¡21's¡¡age¡¡and¡¡size£»¡¡is¡¡playing¡¡with¡¡a¡¡hand¡held¡¡electronic¡¡game¡¡called¡¡Pigs¡¡and¡¡Princes£»¡¡designed¡¡for¡¡preschoolers¡£¡¡From¡¡across¡¡the¡¡aisle£»¡¡21¡21¡¡bees¡¡fascinated¡¡by¡¡the¡¡sounds¡¡and¡¡the¡¡images¡¡on¡¡the¡¡small¡¡screen¡£¡¡Seeing¡¡this£»¡¡Nina¡¡asks¡¡'Mary'¡¡to¡¡move¡¡with¡¡her¡¡to¡¡a¡¡nearby¡¡pair¡¡of¡¡empty¡¡seats¡¡where¡¡they¡¡can¡¡play¡¡the¡¡game¡¡together¡£¡¡Rose¡¡is¡¡hesitant¡¡to¡¡allow¡¡this¡but¡¡she¡¡knows¡¡that¡¡21¡21¡¡is¡¡intelligent¡¡far¡¡beyond¡¡her¡¡years¡¡and¡¡is¡¡aware¡¡of¡¡the¡¡need¡¡for¡¡discretion£»¡¡so¡¡she¡¡relents¡£¡¡This¡¡is¡¡the¡¡first¡¡unstructured¡¡play¡¡time¡¡in¡¡21¡21's¡¡life£»¡¡the¡¡first¡¡genuine¡¡play¡¡she¡¡has¡¡ever¡¡known¡£¡¡Nina¡¡is¡¡a¡¡child¡¡of¡¡enormous¡¡charm£»¡¡sweet¡¡and¡¡gregarious¡£¡¡Although¡¡21¡21¡¡is¡¡a¡¡genius¡¡with¡¡the¡¡reading¡¡skills¡¡of¡¡a¡¡college¡¡freshman£»¡¡a¡¡healer¡¡with¡¡miraculous¡¡powers£»¡¡and¡¡literally¡¡the¡¡hope¡¡of¡¡the¡¡world£»¡¡she¡¡is¡¡soon¡¡enraptured¡¡by¡¡Nina£»¡¡wants¡¡to¡¡be¡¡Nina£»¡¡as¡¡totally¡¡cool¡¡as¡¡Nina£»¡¡and¡¡unconsciously¡¡she¡¡begins¡¡imitating¡¡Nina's¡¡gestures¡¡and¡¡manner¡¡of¡¡speaking¡£
¡¡¡¡Theirs¡¡is¡¡a¡¡late¡¡flight¡¡out¡¡of¡¡New¡¡York£»¡¡and¡¡after¡¡a¡¡couple¡¡of¡¡hours£»¡¡Nina¡¡is¡¡fading¡£¡¡She¡¡hugs¡¡21¡21£»¡¡and¡¡with¡¡the¡¡permission¡¡of¡¡Michelle£»¡¡she¡¡gives¡¡Pigs¡¡and¡¡Princes¡¡to¡¡her¡¡new¡¡friend¡¡before¡¡returning¡¡to¡¡sit¡¡with¡¡her¡¡mother¡¡and¡¡sister£»¡¡where¡¡she¡¡falls¡¡asleep¡£
¡¡¡¡Transported¡¡by¡¡delight£»¡¡21¡21¡¡returns¡¡to¡¡her¡¡seat¡¡beside¡¡Rose£»¡¡hugging¡¡the¡¡small¡¡electronic¡¡game¡¡to¡¡her¡¡breast¡¡as¡¡though¡¡it¡¡is¡¡a¡¡treasure¡¡beyond¡¡value¡£¡¡Now¡¡she¡¡won't¡¡even¡¡play¡¡with¡¡it¡¡because¡¡she¡¡is¡¡afraid¡¡that¡¡she¡¡might¡¡break¡¡it£»¡¡and¡¡she¡¡wants¡¡it¡¡to¡¡remain¡¡always¡¡exactly¡¡as¡¡Nina¡¡gave¡¡it¡¡to¡¡her¡£
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡West¡¡of¡¡the¡¡town¡¡of¡¡Running¡¡Lake£»¡¡still¡¡many¡¡miles¡¡from¡¡Big¡¡Bear¡¡Lake£»¡¡following¡¡ridgelines¡¡past¡¡the¡¡canyons¡¡where¡¡the¡¡wind¡¡was¡¡born£»¡¡bombarded¡¡by¡¡thrashing¡¡conifers¡¡hurling¡¡cones¡¡at¡¡the¡¡pavement£»¡¡Joe¡¡refused¡¡to¡¡consider¡¡the¡¡implications¡¡of¡¡Pigs¡¡and¡¡Princes¡£¡¡Listening¡¡to¡¡Rose¡¡tell¡¡the¡¡story£»¡¡he¡¡had¡¡barely¡¡found¡¡sufficient¡¡self¡control¡¡to¡¡repress¡¡his¡¡rage¡£¡¡He¡¡knew¡¡that¡¡he¡¡had¡¡no¡¡reason¡¡to¡¡be¡¡furious¡¡with¡¡this¡¡woman¡¡or¡¡with¡¡the¡¡child¡¡who¡¡had¡¡a¡¡concentration¡camp¡¡name£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡was¡¡livid¡¡nonetheless¡¡¡perhaps¡¡because¡¡he¡¡knew¡¡how¡¡to¡¡function¡¡well¡¡in¡¡anger£»¡¡as¡¡he¡¡had¡¡done¡¡throughout¡¡his¡¡youth£»¡¡and¡¡not¡¡well¡¡at¡¡all¡¡in¡¡grief¡£
¡¡¡¡Turning¡¡the¡¡subject¡¡away¡¡from¡¡little¡¡girls¡¡at¡¡play£»¡¡he¡¡said£»¡¡'How¡¡does¡¡Horton¡¡Nellor¡¡fit¡¡into¡¡this¡aside¡¡from¡¡owning¡¡a¡¡big¡¡chunk¡¡of¡¡Teknologik£»¡¡which¡¡is¡¡deep¡¡in¡¡Project¡¡Ninety¡nine£¿'
¡¡¡¡'Just¡¡that¡¡well¡connected¡¡bastards¡¡like¡¡him¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡are¡¡the¡¡wave¡¡of¡¡the¡¡future¡£'¡¡She¡¡was¡¡holding¡¡the¡¡can¡¡of¡¡Pepsi¡¡between¡¡her¡¡knees£»¡¡clawing¡¡at¡¡the¡¡pull¡¡tab¡¡with¡¡her¡¡right¡¡hand¡£¡¡She¡¡had¡¡barely¡¡enough¡¡strength¡¡and¡¡coordination¡¡to¡¡get¡¡it¡¡open¡£¡¡'The¡¡wave¡¡of¡¡the¡¡future¡¡unless¡¡Nina¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡unless¡¡she¡¡changes¡¡everything¡£'
¡¡¡¡'Big¡¡business£»¡¡big¡¡government£»¡¡and¡¡big¡¡media¡all¡¡one¡¡beast¡¡now£»¡¡united¡¡to¡¡exploit¡¡the¡¡rest¡¡of¡¡us¡£¡¡Is¡¡that¡¡it£¿¡¡Radical¡¡talk¡£'
¡¡¡¡The¡¡aluminum¡¡can¡¡rattled¡¡against¡¡her¡¡teeth£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡trickle¡¡of¡¡Pepsi¡¡dribbled¡¡down¡¡her¡¡chin¡£¡¡'Nothing¡¡but¡¡power¡¡matters¡¡to¡¡them¡£¡¡T