Dreamer looked over at Kitten for a moment, the expression on his face inscrutable.  Then he slipped the station wagon out of gear and turned the key.  Fortunately the engire purred to life without protest.<br/><br/>He put it back into gear and stepped on the gas, and the car skidded back into line with the median to accelerate down the road.<br/><br/>"Maybe it isn't a good idea," he admitted, his words measured as he tried to control his emotions... and therefore the arm.  He didn't bother to keep his voice down.  Feldana may be young, but she would have to understand and accept what was happening eventually.  "But I have to KNOW.  I have to be sure Maeve's all right... or... or not."  His arm twitched again, but he kept it under control this time.<br/><br/>He drove in silence for a few seconds.<br/><br/>"Sombquist... looks to have been as bad as Kree.  But Maeve's farm is south of the city... and her bullfriend, Lakran, was commissioner of police last I knew.  If anyone in Sombquist is still safe, it would be her."  Again he fell silent.  "If you prefer to keep going east, to Kassemar, without going near Sombquist, I'll stop this car and get out, and let you go.  But I can't give up on Maeve, not even to save my life.  I owe her too much.  I doubt you would understand."<br/><br/>He drove on toward Sombquist, the plumes of smoke getting larger, closer, and seemingly denser, and he waited for Kitten, or Sherra, to decide what the others would do.  He, however, was heading for Maeve.  Period.