River lay limply in the guard's arms, moaning softly as she mumbled in Portuguese, “I think it is almost showtime, girls.”
“Oh, River, we’re almost to the center of the garden. We’ll be at your House soon,” Star cried out softly. She moved her hand around the waist of the soldier holding her and slid his laser pistol over to Jo, who put it in a hidden pocket of her skirt.
Jo had already lifted the other soldier’s weapon and inserted a toy pistol that belonged to one of the children from Manota’s house. She had been leaning on him most of the way, sobbing her eyes out.
Both Jo and Star gave a startled cry when the soldiers suddenly stopped near the center fountain. A dark figure appeared from beside it. As he pulled back the hood of his cloak, Tai Tek’s hard face appeared.
He looked at
