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One had two X’s.

Oh, sweet G.o.d . . . what had he done? He’d destroyed them. Three of them.

Are you awake?

His head snapped up. A voice. A little girl’s voice. But he wasn’t hearing it—it was in his head. He put his hands on his face and lay back down on the bed. He was a sinner. He had destroyed perfection, and now he would have to pay.

Wake up, sleepyhead.

“I’m awake,” he said. “Your man tried to kill me, and now I understand why. I’m ready to pay the price.”

You don’t have to pay a price, silly. You didn’t know. And he wasn’t trying to kill you. He sacrificed himself so that you were a hero—you killed the man who killed the other soldiers. He only shot you so no one would question why you were tired and wanted to sleep. He died so that you could see my pretty dollies. Do you see now? Do you understand?

“Yes,” Dustin whispered. “Yes, I see them. I . . . I killed them.”

That’s okay. You didn’t know, so it wasn’t your fault.

“No, I didn’t know. I didn’t know how beautiful they were.”

You can make up for it.

“How?” He sat up again. “How can I? I’ll do anything!”

You need to make others see, the voice said. You are the protector. You need to make them all see, especially your leader.

“Colonel Ogden?”

Yes. You need to give him smoochies and let him see the pretty dollies.

More images flashed in Climer’s brain. Images of Chelsea watching her mother sleep. Images of Chelsea’s tongue.

You know what you need to do?

Dustin nodded. “Yes.”

Then hurry, but be careful. Don’t get caught. You are a protector now. You and the others must join us, because we want to open the gates to heaven.

The tent curtain opened, and two men came in. Doc Harper and Nurse Brad.

“Well, look who’s up,” Doc Harper said. “You jabbering to yourself in here?”

The men walked over to the cot.

Dustin shrugged. “I guess so, Doc.”

“Well I’m not surprised,” Doc Harper said. He slid a stool next to Dustin’s bed and sat. “You’re probably a better conversationalist than Brad here.”

“Ha-ha-ha,” Brad said. “Keep it up and I’ll stop letting you win at chess.”