My eyes felt as if they were on fire. I opened them briefly before quickly shutting them. They hurt because there was dirt in them, but the irritation was nothing compared with the relief of being able to breathe again. When I opened my eyes for a second time, I was staring at Kate. My day just kept getting better and better. “Michael,” Kate said. “Are you all right?” I breathed in deeply, sucking up the sweet dry air. “Been better,” I said. I looked down at my waist. The stock of the AK-47 still sat in my lap. I hadn’t let go of the machine gun. “Why did you pull me out?” I said. I looked around. As far as I could tell, Kate was alone. “Because like I told you, we’re on the same team.” “Prove it,” I said. She removed the gun from my lap and wiped the dirt from my face with her sleeve. “I think I just did,” she replied. I LOOKED AROUND. The barn’s two sidewalls were still standing, but the pile of dirt in front of the doorway to the tunnel had been moved to the side.
