Hale stopped halfway to the Node 3 pantry and stared at Susan."What's wrong, Sue? You look terrible."

Susan fought her rising fear. Ten feet away, Hale's monitorglowed brightly. "I'm… I'm okay," shemanaged, her heart pounding.

Hale eyed her with a puzzled look on his face. "You wantsome water?"

Susan could not answer. She cursed herself. How could Iforget to dim his damn monitor? Susan knew the moment Halesuspected her of searching his terminal, he'd suspect she knewhis real identity, North Dakota. She feared Hale would do anythingto keep that information inside Node 3.

Susan wondered if she should make a dash for the door. But shenever got the chance. Suddenly there was a pounding at the glasswall. Both Hale and Susan jumped. It was Chartrukian. He wasbanging his sweaty fists against the glass again. He looked likehe'd seen Armageddon.

Hale scowled at the crazed Sys-Sec outside the window, thenturned back to Susan. "I'll be right back. Get yourself adrink. You look pale." Hale turned and went outside.

Susan steadied herself and moved quickly to Hale'sterminal. She reached down and adjusted the brightness controls.The monitor went black.

Her head was pounding. She turned and eyed the conversation nowtaking place on the Crypto floor. Apparently, Chartrukian had notgone home, after all. The young Sys-Sec was now in a panic,spilling his guts to Greg Hale. Susan knew it didn'tmatter—Hale knew everything there was to know.

I've got to get to Strathmore, she thought. Andfast.