Victoria entered the gridport through a service door and into a terminal. Families and commuters waited for shuttles. Flight announcements sounded over speakers. Restaurants and convenience stores lined the walls, though most were closed. This gridport had been built before the Collapse. There was more traffic then.

Victoria walked through like any other traveler, though numerous cuts marred her arms and legs. She arrived at a security checkpoint and was already on the secure side. Kneeling, Victoria took from her pocket a few dice of her own, which she rolled on the floor. Winnie didn't know the game, but timing must have been part of it, since Victoria took a seat in a nearby bench and waited. Minutes later, she marched abruptly toward the checkpoint, dropping her dice in a waste bin as she passed. After exiting the secure terminal, she turned and got into line to get right back in. A short wait later, it was her turn at the checkpoint.

A guard with a security wand said something to her in Portuguese.

Victoria replied calmly.

"He wants her passport and ticket," Christof said for Winnie's benefit. "She's refusing."

The guard repeated himself, and so did Victoria. She held out her empty palms. His eyes widened upon seeing her bloody arms. He called others over. They surrounded her. With hands resting on holstered weapons, they barked orders.

"They're telling her to lie down," Christof clarified.

Victoria complied. The men searched her and took her to a holding room. They spoke among each other in the other room.

"Are you listening, Christof?" Victoria asked.

Christof still had eye contact with Winnie. "I am," Christof said. "So far everything is going to plan."

"Translate everything said for Winnie. Keep her up to date."

"I will do so."

A soldier came in and sat across from Victoria. He stared her down a while, looking over the tattoos covering her wrists and neck. Victoria kept her eyes on the table.

"He's got a glyph card in his wallet, and a shield stone around his neck," said Winnie. "Do you see it?"

Victoria didn't answer.

"Hello," the guard said in Portuguese. Christof translated his words. "I am Captain Russo. I'm going to ask you some questions. First, what is your name?"

"Why have you detained me?" asked Victoria.

"You are trying to cross the border without papers or ID. Where are you trying to go?"

"Colombia."

"Where in Colombia?"

"That's none of your business."

"It is my business. This is our gridport. You will answer my questions or you will be arrested."

"On what charges?"

"Illegally crossing the border."

"That's nonsense," Victoria said. "You can't charge me for that."

"You will find that we can. This is a serious matter. Now I'll ask again. What is your name?"

She looked him in the eyes. "I'm not telling."

He stared back and frowned. "Do you have a shield on you?"

"A what?"

"A shield stone. It is illegal for anyone accept military and security personnel to have a shield."

"Are you trying read my mind? I never gave you permission."

"We don't need it. Do you have one?"

"You cretins already searched me. Did you find one?"

"This is a very serious matter," he replied, irritated.

"You already said so."

"I will ask you one more time. Do you have a shield?"

"Go to hell."

The man stood and turned toward the door. He took one step when Victoria lunged and tackled him. He yelled and struggled, striking Victoria in the face. Blood streamed from her nose, but she kept clawing ferociously.

Suddenly she faltered. Russo shoved her off, took his baton, and clubbed her across the temple.

Other soldiers rushed in and apprehended her, but by then there was nothing to do. She was limp. Blood trickled down her face.

Winnie held her breath and watched. It had been hard to tell what had happened.

"What was that?" asked one of the guards. Christof still translated the conversation for Winnie.

Russo shook his head and shrugged. "I don't know." Bending, he picked up his shield stone, which had come loose in the fight. The other men yanked the girl to her feet. She couldn't keep her legs beneath her.

"Get her out of here," Russo said.

The guards either ignored or didn't notice Russo's sudden change in accent. The girl was taken to a holding cell, and someone called for an ambulance. The blow on her head had left her unresponsive. The excitement settled down after twenty minutes. Everyone returned to their posts. Russo pulled one of the other men aside.

"Yes, sir?"

Russo reached for his neck and yanked away the man's shield. Surprised, the man reached to catch Russo's wrist.

"Stop," Russo said. The word was like a force of its own.

The guard's hand snapped back by his side.

"Good. Listen carefully. I saw something alarming when I read that girl's mind. I need to go to the HIMS Manakin and report this to the Exemplar Committee, and I will leave immediately. Is this clear?"

"Yes, sir."

"Good." Russo handed him back his shield. By the time he'd put it back on, he didn't remember it falling off at all. He could hardly remember the conversation he'd just had, but he got the gist of it.

Captain Russo was headed to the citadel.