Casually returning the colored pencils to her artist's tote bag, Helen stood up. It was not the first time she had asked to sketch outside the Tarclaver gate.

When she approached the guard house with her sketch pad, Dr. Trockelheim was playing a game that was available only on his personal system. He consented to Helen's request without apparent interest.

But, when his eyes strayed from his laptop computer, he stared directly at the forbidden road she intended to take. It led to the hills above the campus.