Heiser-The-Facade - Sparkling Eyes

The two embraced, and Father Benedict ran his override key through the door.Access was denied. He tried once more with the same result."This is most unexpected," he remarked, anxiety creasing his face. "It workedwhen I came in.""Are we trapped in here?" Brian asked, alarmed that anything could escape thepriest's attention."No," he said calmly. "Someone just wants to be able to track us through thesystem," he deduced, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. He suspected that the reprogrammingwas aimed specifically at tracking him, since the others had no master keycards. Afeeling of dread swept over him."Malcolm ... ," he ordered, still meditating on the situation, "take my normal roomcard and leave; you know the code. No one knows you're in here since we admitted you,and it will appear, for the time being, anyway, that I've left the room if you're using mycard on the outside. It'll take them a while to figure out who was using my card oncewe're discovered.""What do you mean, discovered?" Melissa asked uneasily. "Surely you don'texpect to reach the surface undetected, Melissa.""I don't know what to expect after today. I suppose you have a plan.""Yes, and I'm quite confident we'll get off the base, and that 1'11 get back.""Get back!" Brian exclaimed."My position on the Group is too valuable to lose. I can learn so much . . . butsurrendering my card necessitates some improvisation.""Good—think it through while I talk to Brian," she ordered curtly, and took Brianby the hand into the bedroom."What is it?" he asked in a hushed voice."I don't trust him.""Well ... I do.""What he's saying just sounds . . . crazy. Do you really believe this stuff?""Yes," he confessed, "but I have to admit, I don't want to.""Then you'd better go . . . I just can't trust what may be my life to people whotraffic in lies.""I'm not going ... without you," Brian said, surprised by the moment of boldness."What do I matter? You're the one he thinks he needs to get out of here. Besides,he's asking us to just leave. My whole library is here, and my clothes and my files. Thatstuff is my career," she lamented.Brian looked about at his small quarters, pained by the thought as well. "Iunderstand. Everything I own is here, but what good is all of it if you're not around to useit?""I don't know," she said in frustration. "It's just very hard . .. to trust anyone.""I know," he whispered, touching her shoulder, "but you can trust me. I won't justlook out for myself . . . you know that."She touched his hand where it lay on her shoulder and closed her eyes, clearingher mind. "Okay," she sighed.The two of them rejoined Malcolm and Father Benedict, who was rifling throughthe pockets of the dead officer's clothing."Here it is," he said, handing Malcolm what Brian and Melissa guessed was the315