The crowd stayed silent. Luke saw tears rolling down the face of a girl in the front row. He saw a man holding his hand over his mouth, in horror.

And he heard from behind him a muffled "Sir?"

It was the driver, back in the jeep. "Sir," he hissed. "The radio — I think you should listen…"

Officer Houk frowned, obviously annoyed by the interruption. He glanced back and forth between the jeep and the crowd, between the straight^backed, silent woman and the radio the driver was holding out to him.

"Here," Officer Houk said, thrusting the gun into Luke's hand. "Keep pointing it at her," he whispered.

The metal of the gun handle seemed to burn against Luke's skin. I have a choice. ., I have a choice. . The words seemed to roar in Luke's ears, blocking out almost every sound. Dimly, Luke was aware of Officer Houk walking back toward the jeep, muttering into the radio. Was the crowd murmuring now, too? What was Officer Houk hearing over the crackle of static?

"… resistance in Ryana… facing hostilities in several towns… calling all units back for reinforcement…"

Had Luke really heard that?

Officer Houk was lowering the radio from his ear, turning to face Luke and the woman again.

"Shoot her," he said. "Shoot her and let's go."

The gun shook in Luke's hand. He remembered one other time he'd held a gun in his hand, held all the power. I have a choice. . I have a choice. .

"Shoot her now!" Officer Houk screamed.

Refused to obey a direct order. . This is treason. . punishable by death. .

Luke dropped the gun and ran.

Chapter Five

Luke crashed through overgrown shrubs, dodged behind falling-down shacks. He heard gunshots behind him, but he didn't stop to see who was shooting whom, or whether anyone was shooting at him. He ran faster than he'd ever run in any game of football or kick-ball or spud; he ran without stopping even when his leg ached and his breath came in ragged gasps.