The moon had risen and the broad glades were silver green and the trees
were casting shadows. Voices were barking back and forth within the
woods.
"Over that way!" called one.
"Cut 'em off! Cut 'em off!" yelled another.
A man and woman, both entirely naked, both speckled with wounds and
bruises, all standard in questioning, stumbled into the clearing. Their
eyes were wild, big for their faces. They were thin. They gasped for
breath. They looked around them, rats in mazes, and then saw me.
They drew back.
"This way!" called a voice from the wood.
Another shot rang out.
I stared at the man and woman, still too surprised to know what to do
or say.
They were the two prisoners I had seen in the jetcopter on my way to
Center One.