She was warmer than she'd been only minutes ago.
Her eyes fluttered open.
"What's happening?" she asked.
"You are transitioning, sweetheart. We are taking you to the clinic. Doctor Julian will look after you there together with the nurse."
"Transitioning?"
"Yes."
"That's good."
"Yes. It's very good, my love."
She smiled, the same small soft smile she had been smiling since she had floated away on the wings of the euphoric venom, the smile of a loved woman.
"Good," she murmured again.
Her eyes closed.
Ruvon was not sure she'd understood what he'd told her. He suspected she'd understood the parts that mattered to her, that he was with her, and that she was going to a place where she would be taken care of. She was safe.
He held her close and carried his bride out of their home.
As he climbed with her into the cart, he realized that he hadn't called Soraya yet.
He would call her from the clinic after Arezoo was hooked up to the monitors.
25
DAVE
Number One waved at Dimitri through the glass front of the lab, and as he buzzed them in, the Eight filed in. The door's automatic lock engaged behind the last of them with the familiar mechanical thud.
"Good afternoon," Dimitri said.
"Good afternoon," Number One responded for the collective.
"Would you like to join us for tea?" Mattie asked.
Usually, Number One declined the invitation, but today tea sounded like a good idea.
"Thank you. We would love some. Do you have enough cups for all of us?"
Mattie grinned, happy to get an affirmative answer for once. "Don't worry about it. I'll improvise with beakers."
The Eight took their regular seats along the wall.
"Can I have my notebook?" Petrov asked.
Number Three produced it from inside his shirt, where he carried it. He'd been the one charged with keeping it safe.
"Thank you." Petrov picked up the notebook with both hands and walked back to his desk.
Dimitri shook his head. "We should destroy that thing. You don't need it because your memory is impeccable, and writing down everything we discuss here, even in code, is a liability."
"Writing helps me organize my thoughts."
