VANGUARD(35)

“More refugees live. My coalition will be a success. I take credit for the vaccine in America. I advance. I will become unstoppable.” She felt goose bumps creeping across her flesh. All of this could be true were she a different sort of person.

Jaros leaned back in his chair and looked at the ceiling. When he spoke, it was a low, gravelly sound. “He must be returned, dead or alive. And you will take two soldiers with you, not one.”

Michael, Michael, Michael.

“You are a visionary, Commandant.” Sophie reached for the walkie, but stopped when Jaros stretched his hand out.

“I will speak with them.”

Reluctantly, she handed him the radio. Jaros clicked the override function and put the radio to his lips.

“Dr. Shah, this is Commandant Jaros.” He spoke in English for the first time since Sophie had met him; his pronunciation was surprisingly good. A long hiss of static filled the silence between them.

“Hello, Commandant.” Anjali’s voice rang out in the quiet room. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”

“I understand you have a new patient in your infirmary. A young man.”

“Yes, sir. He came in about an hour ago. We are beginning treatment now.”

“I am granting you permission to remove this patient, and this patient only, from Parnaas for the purposes of medical treatment at your camp.”

“Why, yes,” Anjali said with just the right amount of surprise in her voice. “I’ll make arrangements for the patient to be transported immediately.”

“Thank you, my dear,” he said. But he didn’t put down the walkie. Sophie felt unease creeping through her again. “Dr. Shah?”

“Yes, Commandant?”

“Please bring the patient to the administrative building. I’m sending two guards to accompany him. There is another matter that requires my attention before he is permitted to leave the perimeter.”

“Of course, sir.”

Jaros clicked off the radio and handed it to Sophie. He spoke privately to his guards, who left the building. They sat in silence as the long minutes ticked by. The Jeep roared up outside, and her heart pounded. Something else was coming.

The Commandant stood up and moved around to the front of his desk. The guards returned with Will, the Rev, and Jim. She noted Anjali’s absence, and her heart leaped against her ribs. Had she been deliberately left outside? Please let me be right about this.

“Sophie.” Jaros’ voice sounded like the swish of a snake’s scales on the rocks. “The prisoner has been given a job of great responsibility. You know what that means, don’t you?” She looked up at him. As she had expected, he held the knife.

“If you brand him, he’ll die.” She was unable to prevent her voice from trembling. “He won’t survive the trauma.”

Jaros smiled. “Then someone must stand in for him. One of your colleagues, perhaps.” Jaros gestured at Will, the Rev, and Jim standing behind them. Sophie could hear their collective intake of breath. “Perhaps one of these fine gentlemen you admire so much. I have noted your particular attachment to each of them, especially that one.” He pointed at Will.

Nothing would give him more pleasure than marking an American aid worker as a possession of the Soviet Republic.

“You will choose now.” His soft voice became menacing, and Sophie turned to look at the men behind her. She saw each of them straighten a bit, their expressions firming up. Preparing to be branded in place of a man they didn’t even know. That wouldn’t happen, not while she was still taking air.

“Jim, continue the tent-to-tent search,” she ordered. “We need to isolate these pneumonia cases as quickly as possible. Dave, you remain second-in-command of this mission. Please go about your business.” At the Commandant’s nod, the guards removed both men from the building over their protests.

That left Will. Sophie looked at him for a long time. William Temple, her mentor. Her dearest friend. The man she would follow anywhere. Her boss.

“Will, please take the patient to the camp. Dr. Shah knows what needs to be done until I return.” His eyes flew wide, and he lurched forward. Every gun in the room pointed at him.

“Sophie, no! I know what you’re planning to do and it’s insane.”

She let her eyes and voice go hard. “I am in command of this mission, William. Not you. Do as I have instructed. Take the patient to the camp now.” She turned her back on him and pushed her red hair away from her face.