They loaded the crate into her hatchback. Predawn light bled into silver across the wet asphalt. Hallett squeezed her shoulder. “Finish the journey, Miss Langley.” She drove beneath paling stars, tires whispering on the empty highway.
One hand steadied the carrier, feeling faint puffs of breath. The other gripped the wheel. Each mile marker felt like a pulse line on the cub’s monitor. Fog gathered above sea cliffs. Her headlights carved tunnels through the gray.