Rachel did not wait long after Zakthar woke.
She went downstairs and found Christopher and Cindy before either of them left for the Boardwalk. Kunta was upstairs with Rebecca and Daisy. Rachel intended to tell her that Zakthar was conscious, but first she needed to know whether it was safe to bring her into his room.
For now, she kept the news between the three of them.
By the time they returned, Zakthar was sitting against the pillows. His right wrist remained cuffed to the bed. Ivy stood near the window with her hands in the pockets of her lab coat, looking as though nothing had happened while Rachel was gone.
Zakthar glanced at Ivy, then at the people entering the room.
Christopher stopped beside the bed and crossed his arms.
"So," he said, "you're finally awake after that long sleep."
Zakthar's gaze moved over him, then Cindy and Rachel.
