“I did fine,” I said angrily. “I do take responsibility for what I’ve done. Had I a bit more time, I probably would have done what you asked me to do. But not for you. For him. Out of mercy. Because I had already destroyed him.”

I had their full attention.

“I don’t know who or what you are, Martin, and I don’t know what the police might do to you if they find you. But I do know what they’ll do to me and I won’t allow it. I’m also not eager to go back to running on my own, cold and wet and hungry and dirty and tired all the time. My best chance is with you.”

Kat, what are you doing? It isn’t safe here.

The choices are all bad, Val, but this is the best. Help me, please.

I pushed on.

“I can hide us.”

“You… can hide… us,” Kseniya said with incredulity. She looked at Martin.

The train began to slow down.

I continued, “Yes, and Polkovnik too. I want to be treated better. No tests. Trust me on this and I’ll trust you.”

Martin seemed to be weighing the alternatives. After a moment, he nodded.