"Holy mackerel," Jane said, "looks like they didn't even detach the gun mounts."

"Those are urban antitheft devices. It's licensed for them too, isn't that great? Technically sublethal."

Jane's eyes were alight. "You've put it through its paces already, huh?"

"Yeah. You could say that."

"What kind of interface is it running?"

"A mega-dog-meat military interface. That's why I want you to have it for a while."

"Really?"

"Yeah, I want you to have this car as long as you like. It's yours, you run it. I'd even sign over the papers, but I don't think that's a really good idea, legally speaking."

"Oh?"

"Yeah, and I, uh, wouldn't take it to Hidalgo, Starr, or Zapata counties, or over the border into Reynosa, because it~-inight be slightly hot there."

Sylvia tugged his sleeve and whispered, "Hey. We need that car! Don't give her the car!"

"It's all right, trust me," Alex assured her, "Jane's very good with cars, I've never known her to so much as bump a fender." He smiled.

"You can't just give me a pursuit car, Alex."

"Sure I can. I just did. Who's gonna stop me? And what's more, I want to see you take it for a spin. Right now. Sylvia and I will do lunch and look after nephew, and I want to see you run this sucker out to Enchanted Rock and tear the hide off of it."

"I don't think I can do that. Baby needs looking after."

"Look, Jane, you can't have it both ways. You just made me swear up and down I would guard that child's destiny; you're just gonna have to trust me with him for a couple of hours."

"Well... I'm tempted. I'm really tempted, Alex."

He leaned toward her, smiling. "Give in."

"All right!" Suddenly she embraced him.

It was a solid embrace. It felt surprisingly good to be hugged by one's sister. It was a real gift to have a sister. Not a wife, not a lover, but a woman that you deeply cared about. A friend, a good friend, a powerful ally. An ally against what? Against Nothing, that's what. Against death, against the big empty dark.

He touched his lips to his sister's ear. "Go and run, sister," he whispered. "Go run!"