Liz crumbled into Max's arms as Michael appeared at Max's side.

"There's a pretty big hole in the ground a few hundred yards ahead, but I don't think-anyone saw anything. Isabel is filling the hole now.”

Old habits die hard, Max thought. He's making a report.

Max simply nodded and held Liz. The others kept a respectful distance, though Max could feel Maria's tension. She was pacing a few yards away. Max was aware of move- ment in front of the van, and Isabel appeared, joining Kyle, Michael, and Maria.

As Liz's breathing returned to normal, he noticed for the thousandth time how small she felt to him. She was the smallest of the three girls, both in height and stature. As she nestled under his chin, Max gently stroked her straight, dark hair and felt a reflexive desire to protect her.

Protect her? Max thought. He had not done a very good job of that in the last three years. She had suffered too much because of him.

When her breathing slowed, he leaned back and said, "Did you have a premonition?”

Liz nodded. "I watched you die, Max," she said.

Michael stepped forward and said, "Where was it? What happened? And what do we have to do to stop it?”

Liz shook her head and said, "It's not that simple…”

"Tell us what you can from the beginning," Max said.

Starting from the beginning of the dream, Liz told about being in school and meeting Max in the band room like they had the day after he had healed her in the Crashdown. "I think you touched my cheek while I was sleeping," Liz said.

Max nodded.

"That's when the dream changed into one of my premoni- tions," Liz said, and told about seeing Michael and Isabel dead. And then seeing Max face the unseen force on his own. "You fought, Max, but…," she said as her voice broke.

Max nodded and kept his expression neutral.

"Maybe it was a dream, at least partly," Isabel said.