Chapter 57

I straightened my shoulders. I was a Mann, and I would not bring shame to my forebears. I turned away from the cell. I had to explore the rest of this level.

As it turned out, it didn’t take long. All it contained was a room that looked like a vivisectionist’s dream come true—I thanked God I’d never known it was there—and the vast space where Gaston took me periodically to beat me in an attempt to break me, although he claimed his intention was to bend me to Richard’s will.

The next level held more cells, where the other agents who’d been kidnapped had been confined, as well as Max’s quarters and the matchbox in which he hid Browne, the sole WBIS agent to survive the ordeal.

There was nothing—no one—on any of the other floors, so I made my back to the first floor.

I exited the stairwell and hoped Mother hadn’t run into any difficulties.