we ca n't risk your precious life , my little bird . '' your research is spotty , at best . he turned to go back to his table , feeling strangely victorious . her hand fell away from his uniform . it had to have been a nightmare . behind his lids gene studied the joyful face , the greedy hands , the small body made smaller by the scale of the trees . her eyes snapped open and she quickly brought her hand back up . 