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Page 430

| world because a part of me was white," Bianca said, reaching to touch Tobias gently on the cheek. "I am now at peace with myself and who I am. I will now return to my true people. Their future is my future. I will no longer do what disgraces them." |

| "But, Tobias . . . ?" Sasha dared to say. |

| "Your future is Tobias's future," Bianca said, smiling softly at Sasha. "That is only the way it should be for my son who is now yours." |

| Bianca turned to walk toward the door. "I must return to my people," she said over her shoulder. "We must move deep into the outback so that the authorities can never find me and enslave me for having killed two white men. They would never understand why it had to be done." |

| She turned and gazed in longing at Ashton, then at Sasha. "And do not fear that you will be accused for the crime," she said. "I have sent a written confession to the authorities, stating my part in it. I did this to protect you. You can live in peace now with your children. Perhaps sometime in the future our paths will cross again. Until then, be happy." |

| Ashton and Sasha were wordless as Bianca left the room. They stared down at Tobias, then gazed in wonder at one another. |

| "Nothing good is ever gained easily, it seems," Ashton said, gently touching Sasha's cheek. |

| "Oh, Ashton, dear Ashton, that does seem so," Sasha said, choking back a sob. "But we do have our son backand this time forever." |

| They went to the window together, and Ashton drew back the sheer curtain. They leaned closer when they saw an elderly Aborigine woman with gray hair step from the shadows to walk beside |

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