able to get back to sleep, Cortin got
up and put on a robe. Foolish as it was, it looked like the only way
to settle her mind was to make sure everyone was all right.

It didn't worry her too much that Odeon wasn't in his room, though,
when she checked there first; he was probably with Sis or Betty. But
Sis was in with Tiny, Betty with Chuck, and Tony was sprawled out
alone, with a contented expression on his face. It wasn't until she
checked the common-room without finding either Mike or Dave that her
worry got serious. Dave hadn't said anything about having a subject he
needed to work on overnight, and Mike didn't have any plans she knew
about. Their not being in their rooms or the common-room didn't prove
anything, necessarily--but she couldn't help being concerned. She went
back to her room for her dungeon keys and gunbelt, then went below
ground.

Her worry got worse when she saw the "In Use" light at Bain's suite.
She went into the observation room, which didn't help--padded shackles
in the third-stage room?--but still nothing of the missing two.

She left the observation room and stood before the suite's main door
for several seconds, debating with herself. If Dave was conducting an
interrogation with Mike's help, she'd feel foolish intruding--but if
one or both of them was hurt, she'd never forgive herself if she
didn't. Deciding, she opened the door. "Mike? Dave?"

"Oh, God," a muffled voice said. More strongly, she heard, "In the
bathroom, Joanie. Sis with you?"

"No." Cortin covered the distance to the bathroom in record time,
appalled at what she saw when she opened the door. "What happened? Is
he alive?"

"Yeah--but he needs help. Take a look."

Cortin did, and crossed herself. There were no apparent injuries, but
Mike looked horrible--so pale the scar across his face looked
bloody-fresh, his muscles spasming in tiny tremors. It was obvious
he'd been severely tortured, though she couldn't imagine how, with no
wounds. She still wanted to know what had happened, but that desire
was nothing next to her need to remedy whatever had been done to her
second-in-command and heir. "Go get Sis--she and Tiny are in his room.
Have him bring down as many blankets as he can carry. Then call Ivan,
he may have information I need."

"Right." Bain hurried out.

Praying as hard as she could, Cortin knelt beside the tub, touching
Odeon's forehead. He wasn't chilled, so Dave was treating him for