{\rtf1\adeflang1025\ansi\ansicpg1252\uc1\adeff0\deff0\stshfdbch31505\stshfloch31506\stshfhich31506\stshfbi0\deflang1033\deflangfe1033\themelang1033\themelangfe1041\themelangcs0{\fonttbl{\f0\fbidi \froman\fcharset0\fprq2{\*\panose 02020603050405020304}Times New Roman{\*\falt Times New Roman};}
{\f2\fbidi \fmodern\fcharset0\fprq1{\*\panose 02070309020205020404}Courier New;}{\f11\fbidi \fmodern\fcharset128\fprq1{\*\panose 02020609040205080304}MS Mincho{\*\falt _l_r __f_};}
{\f34\fbidi \froman\fcharset0\fprq2{\*\panose 02040503050406030204}Cambria Math{\*\falt Times New Roman};}{\f37\fbidi \fswiss\fcharset0\fprq2{\*\panose 020f0502020204030204}Calibri{\*\falt Calibri};}
{\f46\fbidi \fswiss\fcharset0\fprq2{\*\panose 020b0600040502020204}Lucida Grande;}{\f1142\fbidi \fnil\fcharset77\fprq2{\*\panose 00000000000000000000}Lora{\*\falt Cambria};}{\f1289\fbidi \fswiss\fcharset0\fprq2{\*\panose 020b0606030504020204}Open Sans;}
{\f2289\fbidi \froman\fcharset0\fprq2{\*\panose 02040506050201020203}Minion Pro Cond{\*\falt Cambria};}{\f3241\fbidi \fmodern\fcharset128\fprq1{\*\panose 02020609040205080304}@MS Mincho;}
{\flomajor\f31500\fbidi \froman\fcharset0\fprq2{\*\panose 02020603050405020304}Times New Roman{\*\falt Times New Roman};}{\fdbmajor\f31501\fbidi \fmodern\fcharset128\fprq1{\*\panose 020b0609070205080204}MS Gothic{\*\falt _l_r _S_V_b_N};}
{\fhimajor\f31502\fbidi \fswiss\fcharset0\fprq2{\*\panose 020f0502020204030204}Calibri{\*\falt Calibri};}{\fbimajor\f31503\fbidi \froman\fcharset0\fprq2{\*\panose 02020603050405020304}Times New Roman{\*\falt Times New Roman};}
{\flominor\f31504\fbidi \froman\fcharset0\fprq2{\*\panose 02020603050405020304}Times New Roman{\*\falt Times New Roman};}{\fdbminor\f31505\fbidi \fmodern\fcharset128\fprq1{\*\panose 02020609040205080304}MS Mincho{\*\falt _l_r __f_};}
{\fhiminor\f31506\fbidi \froman\fcharset0\fprq2{\*\panose 02040503050406030204}Cambria;}{\fbiminor\f31507\fbidi \froman\fcharset0\fprq2{\*\panose 02020603050405020304}Times New Roman{\*\falt Times New Roman};}
{\f3242\fbidi \froman\fcharset238\fprq2 Times New Roman CE{\*\falt Times New Roman};}{\f3243\fbidi \froman\fcharset204\fprq2 Times New Roman Cyr{\*\falt Times New Roman};}
{\f3245\fbidi \froman\fcharset161\fprq2 Times New Roman Greek{\*\falt Times New Roman};}{\f3246\fbidi \froman\fcharset162\fprq2 Times New Roman Tur{\*\falt Times New Roman};}
{\f3247\fbidi \froman\fcharset177\fprq2 Times New Roman (Hebrew){\*\falt Times New Roman};}{\f3248\fbidi \froman\fcharset178\fprq2 Times New Roman (Arabic){\*\falt Times New Roman};}
{\f3249\fbidi \froman\fcharset186\fprq2 Times New Roman Baltic{\*\falt Times New Roman};}{\f3250\fbidi \froman\fcharset163\fprq2 Times New Roman (Vietnamese){\*\falt Times New Roman};}{\f3262\fbidi \fmodern\fcharset238\fprq1 Courier New CE;}
{\f3263\fbidi \fmodern\fcharset204\fprq1 Courier New Cyr;}{\f3265\fbidi \fmodern\fcharset161\fprq1 Courier New Greek;}{\f3266\fbidi \fmodern\fcharset162\fprq1 Courier New Tur;}{\f3267\fbidi \fmodern\fcharset177\fprq1 Courier New (Hebrew);}
{\f3268\fbidi \fmodern\fcharset178\fprq1 Courier New (Arabic);}{\f3269\fbidi \fmodern\fcharset186\fprq1 Courier New Baltic;}{\f3270\fbidi \fmodern\fcharset163\fprq1 Courier New (Vietnamese);}
{\f3354\fbidi \fmodern\fcharset0\fprq1 MS Mincho Western{\*\falt _l_r __f_};}{\f3352\fbidi \fmodern\fcharset238\fprq1 MS Mincho CE{\*\falt _l_r __f_};}{\f3353\fbidi \fmodern\fcharset204\fprq1 MS Mincho Cyr{\*\falt _l_r __f_};}
{\f3355\fbidi \fmodern\fcharset161\fprq1 MS Mincho Greek{\*\falt _l_r __f_};}{\f3356\fbidi \fmodern\fcharset162\fprq1 MS Mincho Tur{\*\falt _l_r __f_};}{\f3359\fbidi \fmodern\fcharset186\fprq1 MS Mincho Baltic{\*\falt _l_r __f_};}
{\f3582\fbidi \froman\fcharset238\fprq2 Cambria Math CE{\*\falt Times New Roman};}{\f3583\fbidi \froman\fcharset204\fprq2 Cambria Math Cyr{\*\falt Times New Roman};}{\f3585\fbidi \froman\fcharset161\fprq2 Cambria Math Greek{\*\falt Times New Roman};}
{\f3586\fbidi \froman\fcharset162\fprq2 Cambria Math Tur{\*\falt Times New Roman};}{\f3589\fbidi \froman\fcharset186\fprq2 Cambria Math Baltic{\*\falt Times New Roman};}
{\f3590\fbidi \froman\fcharset163\fprq2 Cambria Math (Vietnamese){\*\falt Times New Roman};}{\f3612\fbidi \fswiss\fcharset238\fprq2 Calibri CE{\*\falt Calibri};}{\f3613\fbidi \fswiss\fcharset204\fprq2 Calibri Cyr{\*\falt Calibri};}
{\f3615\fbidi \fswiss\fcharset161\fprq2 Calibri Greek{\*\falt Calibri};}{\f3616\fbidi \fswiss\fcharset162\fprq2 Calibri Tur{\*\falt Calibri};}{\f3617\fbidi \fswiss\fcharset177\fprq2 Calibri (Hebrew){\*\falt Calibri};}
{\f3618\fbidi \fswiss\fcharset178\fprq2 Calibri (Arabic){\*\falt Calibri};}{\f3619\fbidi \fswiss\fcharset186\fprq2 Calibri Baltic{\*\falt Calibri};}{\f3620\fbidi \fswiss\fcharset163\fprq2 Calibri (Vietnamese){\*\falt Calibri};}
{\f3702\fbidi \fswiss\fcharset238\fprq2 Lucida Grande CE;}{\f3703\fbidi \fswiss\fcharset204\fprq2 Lucida Grande Cyr;}{\f3705\fbidi \fswiss\fcharset161\fprq2 Lucida Grande Greek;}{\f3706\fbidi \fswiss\fcharset162\fprq2 Lucida Grande Tur;}
{\f3707\fbidi \fswiss\fcharset177\fprq2 Lucida Grande (Hebrew);}{\f3709\fbidi \fswiss\fcharset186\fprq2 Lucida Grande Baltic;}{\f3710\fbidi \fswiss\fcharset163\fprq2 Lucida Grande (Vietnamese);}
{\f14662\fbidi \fnil\fcharset238\fprq2 Lora CE{\*\falt Cambria};}{\f14663\fbidi \fnil\fcharset204\fprq2 Lora Cyr{\*\falt Cambria};}{\f14666\fbidi \fnil\fcharset162\fprq2 Lora Tur{\*\falt Cambria};}
{\f14669\fbidi \fnil\fcharset186\fprq2 Lora Baltic{\*\falt Cambria};}{\f16132\fbidi \fswiss\fcharset238\fprq2 Open Sans CE;}{\f16133\fbidi \fswiss\fcharset204\fprq2 Open Sans Cyr;}{\f16135\fbidi \fswiss\fcharset161\fprq2 Open Sans Greek;}
{\f16136\fbidi \fswiss\fcharset162\fprq2 Open Sans Tur;}{\f16139\fbidi \fswiss\fcharset186\fprq2 Open Sans Baltic;}{\f16140\fbidi \fswiss\fcharset163\fprq2 Open Sans (Vietnamese);}{\f-29882\fbidi \fmodern\fcharset0\fprq1 @MS Mincho Western;}
{\f-29884\fbidi \fmodern\fcharset238\fprq1 @MS Mincho CE;}{\f-29883\fbidi \fmodern\fcharset204\fprq1 @MS Mincho Cyr;}{\f-29881\fbidi \fmodern\fcharset161\fprq1 @MS Mincho Greek;}{\f-29880\fbidi \fmodern\fcharset162\fprq1 @MS Mincho Tur;}
{\f-29877\fbidi \fmodern\fcharset186\fprq1 @MS Mincho Baltic;}{\flomajor\f31508\fbidi \froman\fcharset238\fprq2 Times New Roman CE{\*\falt Times New Roman};}{\flomajor\f31509\fbidi \froman\fcharset204\fprq2 Times New Roman Cyr{\*\falt Times New Roman};}
{\flomajor\f31511\fbidi \froman\fcharset161\fprq2 Times New Roman Greek{\*\falt Times New Roman};}{\flomajor\f31512\fbidi \froman\fcharset162\fprq2 Times New Roman Tur{\*\falt Times New Roman};}
{\flomajor\f31513\fbidi \froman\fcharset177\fprq2 Times New Roman (Hebrew){\*\falt Times New Roman};}{\flomajor\f31514\fbidi \froman\fcharset178\fprq2 Times New Roman (Arabic){\*\falt Times New Roman};}
{\flomajor\f31515\fbidi \froman\fcharset186\fprq2 Times New Roman Baltic{\*\falt Times New Roman};}{\flomajor\f31516\fbidi \froman\fcharset163\fprq2 Times New Roman (Vietnamese){\*\falt Times New Roman};}
{\fdbmajor\f31520\fbidi \fmodern\fcharset0\fprq1 MS Gothic Western{\*\falt _l_r _S_V_b_N};}{\fdbmajor\f31518\fbidi \fmodern\fcharset238\fprq1 MS Gothic CE{\*\falt _l_r _S_V_b_N};}
{\fdbmajor\f31519\fbidi \fmodern\fcharset204\fprq1 MS Gothic Cyr{\*\falt _l_r _S_V_b_N};}{\fdbmajor\f31521\fbidi \fmodern\fcharset161\fprq1 MS Gothic Greek{\*\falt _l_r _S_V_b_N};}
{\fdbmajor\f31522\fbidi \fmodern\fcharset162\fprq1 MS Gothic Tur{\*\falt _l_r _S_V_b_N};}{\fdbmajor\f31525\fbidi \fmodern\fcharset186\fprq1 MS Gothic Baltic{\*\falt _l_r _S_V_b_N};}
{\fhimajor\f31528\fbidi \fswiss\fcharset238\fprq2 Calibri CE{\*\falt Calibri};}{\fhimajor\f31529\fbidi \fswiss\fcharset204\fprq2 Calibri Cyr{\*\falt Calibri};}{\fhimajor\f31531\fbidi \fswiss\fcharset161\fprq2 Calibri Greek{\*\falt Calibri};}
{\fhimajor\f31532\fbidi \fswiss\fcharset162\fprq2 Calibri Tur{\*\falt Calibri};}{\fhimajor\f31533\fbidi \fswiss\fcharset177\fprq2 Calibri (Hebrew){\*\falt Calibri};}{\fhimajor\f31534\fbidi \fswiss\fcharset178\fprq2 Calibri (Arabic){\*\falt Calibri};}
{\fhimajor\f31535\fbidi \fswiss\fcharset186\fprq2 Calibri Baltic{\*\falt Calibri};}{\fhimajor\f31536\fbidi \fswiss\fcharset163\fprq2 Calibri (Vietnamese){\*\falt Calibri};}
{\fbimajor\f31538\fbidi \froman\fcharset238\fprq2 Times New Roman CE{\*\falt Times New Roman};}{\fbimajor\f31539\fbidi \froman\fcharset204\fprq2 Times New Roman Cyr{\*\falt Times New Roman};}
{\fbimajor\f31541\fbidi \froman\fcharset161\fprq2 Times New Roman Greek{\*\falt Times New Roman};}{\fbimajor\f31542\fbidi \froman\fcharset162\fprq2 Times New Roman Tur{\*\falt Times New Roman};}
{\fbimajor\f31543\fbidi \froman\fcharset177\fprq2 Times New Roman (Hebrew){\*\falt Times New Roman};}{\fbimajor\f31544\fbidi \froman\fcharset178\fprq2 Times New Roman (Arabic){\*\falt Times New Roman};}
{\fbimajor\f31545\fbidi \froman\fcharset186\fprq2 Times New Roman Baltic{\*\falt Times New Roman};}{\fbimajor\f31546\fbidi \froman\fcharset163\fprq2 Times New Roman (Vietnamese){\*\falt Times New Roman};}
{\flominor\f31548\fbidi \froman\fcharset238\fprq2 Times New Roman CE{\*\falt Times New Roman};}{\flominor\f31549\fbidi \froman\fcharset204\fprq2 Times New Roman Cyr{\*\falt Times New Roman};}
{\flominor\f31551\fbidi \froman\fcharset161\fprq2 Times New Roman Greek{\*\falt Times New Roman};}{\flominor\f31552\fbidi \froman\fcharset162\fprq2 Times New Roman Tur{\*\falt Times New Roman};}
{\flominor\f31553\fbidi \froman\fcharset177\fprq2 Times New Roman (Hebrew){\*\falt Times New Roman};}{\flominor\f31554\fbidi \froman\fcharset178\fprq2 Times New Roman (Arabic){\*\falt Times New Roman};}
{\flominor\f31555\fbidi \froman\fcharset186\fprq2 Times New Roman Baltic{\*\falt Times New Roman};}{\flominor\f31556\fbidi \froman\fcharset163\fprq2 Times New Roman (Vietnamese){\*\falt Times New Roman};}
{\fdbminor\f31560\fbidi \fmodern\fcharset0\fprq1 MS Mincho Western{\*\falt _l_r __f_};}{\fdbminor\f31558\fbidi \fmodern\fcharset238\fprq1 MS Mincho CE{\*\falt _l_r __f_};}
{\fdbminor\f31559\fbidi \fmodern\fcharset204\fprq1 MS Mincho Cyr{\*\falt _l_r __f_};}{\fdbminor\f31561\fbidi \fmodern\fcharset161\fprq1 MS Mincho Greek{\*\falt _l_r __f_};}
{\fdbminor\f31562\fbidi \fmodern\fcharset162\fprq1 MS Mincho Tur{\*\falt _l_r __f_};}{\fdbminor\f31565\fbidi \fmodern\fcharset186\fprq1 MS Mincho Baltic{\*\falt _l_r __f_};}{\fhiminor\f31568\fbidi \froman\fcharset238\fprq2 Cambria CE;}
{\fhiminor\f31569\fbidi \froman\fcharset204\fprq2 Cambria Cyr;}{\fhiminor\f31571\fbidi \froman\fcharset161\fprq2 Cambria Greek;}{\fhiminor\f31572\fbidi \froman\fcharset162\fprq2 Cambria Tur;}
{\fhiminor\f31575\fbidi \froman\fcharset186\fprq2 Cambria Baltic;}{\fhiminor\f31576\fbidi \froman\fcharset163\fprq2 Cambria (Vietnamese);}{\fbiminor\f31578\fbidi \froman\fcharset238\fprq2 Times New Roman CE{\*\falt Times New Roman};}
{\fbiminor\f31579\fbidi \froman\fcharset204\fprq2 Times New Roman Cyr{\*\falt Times New Roman};}{\fbiminor\f31581\fbidi \froman\fcharset161\fprq2 Times New Roman Greek{\*\falt Times New Roman};}
{\fbiminor\f31582\fbidi \froman\fcharset162\fprq2 Times New Roman Tur{\*\falt Times New Roman};}{\fbiminor\f31583\fbidi \froman\fcharset177\fprq2 Times New Roman (Hebrew){\*\falt Times New Roman};}
{\fbiminor\f31584\fbidi \froman\fcharset178\fprq2 Times New Roman (Arabic){\*\falt Times New Roman};}{\fbiminor\f31585\fbidi \froman\fcharset186\fprq2 Times New Roman Baltic{\*\falt Times New Roman};}
{\fbiminor\f31586\fbidi \froman\fcharset163\fprq2 Times New Roman (Vietnamese){\*\falt Times New Roman};}}{\colortbl;\red0\green0\blue0;\red0\green0\blue255;\red0\green255\blue255;\red0\green255\blue0;\red255\green0\blue255;\red255\green0\blue0;
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\par }\pard \ltrpar\ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9384073 {\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \insrsid14293119\charrsid9384073 \page }{\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \insrsid6769574\charrsid9384073 
\hich\af0\dbch\af31505\loch\f0 This is a work of fiction. All the characters and events portrayed in this book are fictional, and any resemblance to real people or incidents is purely coincidental.
\par }\pard \ltrpar\ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid6769574 {\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \insrsid6769574\charrsid9384073 
\par }\pard \ltrpar\ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid8591499 {\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \insrsid8591499\charrsid8591499 \hich\af0\dbch\af31505\loch\f0 \hich\f0 Black Box \'a9\loch\f0  2023 by Sean CW Korsgaard
\par \hich\af0\dbch\af31505\loch\f0 \hich\f0 The Quail Runs \'a9\loch\f0  2023 by D.J. Butler
\par \hich\af0\dbch\af31505\loch\f0 \hich\f0 Awakenings \'a9\loch\f0  2023 by Patrick Chiles
\par \hich\af0\dbch\af31505\loch\f0 \hich\f0 The Last Temptation of the Outsider \'a9\loch\f0  2023 by Simon R. Green
\par \hich\af0\dbch\af31505\loch\f0 \hich\f0 The Witch, the Woods, and the Elf Queen \'a9\loch\f0  2023 by Gregory Frost
\par \hich\af0\dbch\af31505\loch\f0 \hich\f0 The Insomniac \'a9\loch\f0  2023 by Brad Zeiger
\par \hich\af0\dbch\af31505\loch\f0 \hich\f0 A Lesson to Those Who Survive \'a9\loch\f0  2023 by D.J. Butler
\par \hich\af0\dbch\af31505\loch\f0 Requiem - An Honor\hich\af0\dbch\af31505\loch\f0 \hich\f0  Harrington Story \'a9\loch\f0  2023 by David Carrico
\par \hich\af0\dbch\af31505\loch\f0 The Hitchhiker on Souls\hich\f0 \rquote \loch\f0 \hich\f0  Road \'a9\loch\f0  2023 by A. A. Nour
\par \hich\af0\dbch\af31505\loch\f0 \hich\f0 Operation Mall Stroll \'a9\loch\f0  2023 by Lydia Sherrer
\par \hich\af0\dbch\af31505\loch\f0 \hich\f0 Relics \'a9\loch\f0  2023 by Monalisa Foster}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \insrsid10044868\charrsid9384073 
\par }\pard \ltrpar\ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid6769574 {\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \insrsid13841573\charrsid9384073 
\par }{\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \insrsid6769574\charrsid9384073 \hich\af0\dbch\af31505\loch\f0 A Baen Book}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \insrsid8728715\charrsid9384073 \hich\af0\dbch\af31505\loch\f0 s}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af0 \ltrch\fcs0 
\insrsid6769574\charrsid9384073 \hich\af0\dbch\af31505\loch\f0  Original
\par 
\par }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \lang1033\langfe2052\dbch\af11\langfenp2052\insrsid6769574\charrsid9384073 \hich\af0\dbch\af11\loch\f0 Baen Publishing Enterprises
\par \hich\af0\dbch\af11\loch\f0 P.O. Box 1403
\par \hich\af0\dbch\af11\loch\f0 Riverdale, NY 10471
\par \hich\af0\dbch\af11\loch\f0 www.baen.com
\par 
\par }\pard \ltrpar\ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid3153914 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \lang1033\langfe2052\dbch\af11\langfenp2052\insrsid6769574\charrsid9384073 \hich\af0\dbch\af11\loch\f0 ISBN: 
}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af37\afs22 \ltrch\fcs0 \f37\fs22\cf19\insrsid8591499\charrsid8591499 \hich\af37\dbch\af31505\loch\f37 978-1-62579-973-9}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af37\afs22 \ltrch\fcs0 \f37\fs22\cf1\insrsid3153914\charrsid3153914 
\par }\pard \ltrpar\ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid11147400 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \insrsid11147400\charrsid11147400 
\par }\pard \ltrpar\ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid6769574 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \insrsid8728715\charrsid9384073 
\par }\pard \ltrpar\ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid6769574\contextualspace {\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \insrsid8728715\charrsid9384073 \hich\af0\dbch\af31505\loch\f0 
Electronic Version by Baen Books
\par }\pard \ltrpar\ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid8591499\contextualspace {\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \insrsid8728715\charrsid9384073 \hich\af0\dbch\af31505\loch\f0 www.baen.com}{\rtlch\fcs1 
\af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \lang1033\langfe2052\dbch\af11\langfenp2052\insrsid6769574\charrsid8591499 
\par }\pard\plain \ltrpar\s33\qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid12453863 \cbpat8 \rtlch\fcs1 \af0\afs24\alang1025 \ltrch\fcs0 
\fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\loch\af0\hich\af0\dbch\af31505\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \insrsid6188447\charrsid9384073 \column }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \insrsid14550547 
\par }\pard\plain \ltrpar\qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid8591499 \rtlch\fcs1 \af0\afs24\alang1025 \ltrch\fcs0 \fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\loch\af0\hich\af0\dbch\af31505\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {
\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af0\afs40 \ltrch\fcs0 \b\f1142\fs40\cf1\chshdng0\chcfpat0\chcbpat8\insrsid8591499\charrsid8591499 \hich\af1142\dbch\af31505\loch\f1142 Black Box 
\par }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0\afs32 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1142\fs32\cf1\chshdng0\chcfpat0\chcbpat8\insrsid8591499\charrsid8591499 \hich\af1142\dbch\af31505\loch\f1142 by Sean CW Korsgaard}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0\afs32 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f1142\fs32\cf1\chshdng0\chcfpat0\chcbpat8\insrsid6891387 
\par }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0\afs32 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1142\fs32\cf1\chshdng0\chcfpat0\chcbpat8\insrsid8591499 
\par }\pard \ltrpar\qj \fi480\li0\ri0\sb135\sa135\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid8591499 \cbpat8 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid8591499\charrsid8591499 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 When mankind tells the story of our first mess\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 age from an alien civilization, I hope they\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
ll remember that it began with two old soldiers at a diner, and ends with two old soldiers at a bar.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 With the benefit of hindsight, it\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s funny to think it all began with breakfast.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 I should have known that Alan wanted something when he offered to treat me to a hot meal at Dino\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s Cantina, one of the rare greasy spoons that serves real food on Flotsam Station. Alan
\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s a decent sort for a scrapper, but he could have been trying to talk \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 me into selling him a kidney if \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
it meant avoiding another meal in the station mess hall.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Credit where it\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s due, the man knew to wait until we\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
d finished eating to try and pitch me on anything. The eggs were runny, and the bacon overcooked, but considering it was the first meal that I had eaten in weeks that wasn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t freeze dried, vat grown, or 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 squeezed from a tube, I savored every bite. Mopping up the last of the yolk with a hunk of dark bread, I decided to finally broach the topic.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 Alan, I know you didn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t ask to meet just to swap war stor\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 ies, and if you\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
re springing for real eggs and pork, it\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s got to be one hell of an ask,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  I said. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 So, what do you want from me?\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Straight to business then, eh Murph?\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Alan said, running a hand across his scalp, his short red hair bristling. \'93\loch\f1289 
Officially, our techie was injured on the job working our current patch of the debris field, and you\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 re her replacement until we can decide w\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 hether there\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
\hich\f1289 s enough worth a damn in our current patch to file a claim.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 If I weren\hich\f1289 \rquote \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 t more observant, I might have taken it personally that I was essentially being offered scut work. Luckily, we\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
d done this dance before.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 And unofficially?\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 It\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s true we had our techie get hurt, and we need a replacement,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Alan said. \'93\loch\f1289 
Not with another techie though. No, we need a proper net diver, and as far as I know, you\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 re the only one in the entire system.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 I raised an eyebrow at that. There aren\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t a lot of veterans of the Siberian Pacification Wars out here; it was one of the reasons Alan and I had be\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
come fast friends. He\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 d seen frontline combat with the U.S. Army mobile infantry everywhere from Kamchatka to Lake Baikal. For comparison, I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
d been in a support unit stationed in one of the warlord states in the Urals, one of the cybernetically augmented \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 net divers,\'94\loch\f1289 
 who handled virtual and digital sabotage and espionage well behind enemy lines.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 In theory anyway. Alan was one of the only people on the station who cared to know what my job in the military was. Everybody else just knew I was a survivor of th\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
e 99th Mobile Infantry Sustainment Brigade, the so-called Bloody Nines.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 If he was playing that card, this really was a\~}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid8591499\charrsid8591499 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 serious}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 
\ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid8591499\charrsid8591499 \~\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 favor.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 What the hell did you find out there that you need a net diver for?\'94\loch\f1289  I asked.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Now that, Murphy, is exactly the right question to ask,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Alan said, a grin spreading across his face. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
In all the years salvage crews have been picking the bones of wrecks in this system, how many fully intact vessels have been found?\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 None. Just from thousands of years of drifting in the void al\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 one, it would be like finding a needle in a haystack.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Well, we just found the needle then,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Alan said, passing me a tablet. \'93\loch\f1289 
Meteor we were scanning for mineral deposits came up with some unusual readings. As far as anybody on Flotsam is concerned, we found a massive deposit, and are setting up camp to star\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
t prepping it for transport to the station. What we actually found was this.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 I flipped through a series of photos on the tablet, and my heart began to race. There, embedded in a crevice, plain as day, \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
was an alien spacecraft, a little dinged up, but still all in one piece. For what it represented, it might as well have been made of gold.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 My friend, you finally hit the motherlode, congrats,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  I said, passing the tablet back, hoping my response was more contained than I felt. \'93\loch\f1289 
\hich\f1289 So why the secrecy, the subterfuge? File your salvage claim and collect your payday.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 Because we\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 re not going to settle for a claim on just the ship. Not when the money to be made on reverse engineering the tech alone makes that loo
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 k like pocket change,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Alan said. \'93\loch\f1289 So far though, all we\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 ve managed to do is get inside and get the oxygen flowing, but we
\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 ve hit a wall everywhere else. And our one attempt to break through it damn near put our techie in a coma.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 So you think a net diver might have better luck patching into whatever alien systems almost fried a techie?\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 We\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 re almost certain of it, but there\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s a lot of specifics I can\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
t tell you unless you accept. Succeed or fail, you\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 ll get an equal cut of the claim, same as the rest of \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 the crew. But I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
ll need an answer before I pay for breakfast.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 I debated it longer than you might expect. Aside from a few of the more useful augmentations, I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 d made a point of avoiding any actual net diving work as much as possible\hich\f1289 
\emdash \loch\f1289 too many bad memories of the day that the Bloody Nines earned our nickname. One of th\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 e reasons I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
d made my way out to Flotsam was the lack of any use for that skillset. I hated it almost as much as I hated the idea of hooking my braincase into an alien spacecraft.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Wealth beyond \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 measure and glory has a funny way of making a man accept a lot of what he hates.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 Tell me this much\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 what makes you think I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 ll have any better luck?\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 Because we didn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 t just find a ship.\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Alan leaned in conspiratorially. \'93\loch\f1289 We also found a body. And it\hich\f1289 
\rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s augmented.\'94
\par }\pard \ltrpar\qc \li0\ri0\sb240\sa240\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid8591499 \cbpat8 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid8591499\charrsid8591499 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 #
\par }\pard \ltrpar\qj \fi480\li0\ri0\sb135\sa135\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid8591499 \cbpat8 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid8591499\charrsid8591499 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 When mankind eventually hopped our way across the nearby stars to Lalande 21185, we\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
d initially been disappointed. The few dead, rocky worlds that orbited the red dwarf are bathed in enough radiation that even probes can\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t stay on the surface for\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
 too long. Worse, a system-wide debris field makes navigating all but the edges of the system hazardous for large spacecraft and was almost enough of a reason to write off the system by itself.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 At least until it turned out that debris wasn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
t space junk or asteroids, but wreckage. Our first and, to date, only proof of life beyond Earth was several asteroid belts worth of material from the shattered remains of what had to have been thousands of al\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
ien spacecraft and megastructures. Thousands of years old, and \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 entirely free for the taking.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 So, thousands of would-be prospectors made their way to Lalande 21185 and stations like Flotsam. Hundreds of salvage crews like Alan\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
s making fortunes by harvesting the wealth of material left behind, trying to recover or reverse engineer the rare bits of\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
 working tech found among the wrecks, or trying to figure out just what happened here. Them, and scores of people like me offering the kinds of industry and services every budding boomtown needs.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 An entire star system of people\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289  had made fortunes picking through an alien scrapyard, and I might have a chance to find out who left us all those goodies.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Alan guided me through the inside of the alien ship, which had been strung with basic mining lights since they hadn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
t figured out yet what powered the craft, as he led me to the cockpit area.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 This is where we\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 ve set up our work area, though Jonda, our techie, can fill you in more on the technical details,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Alan said. \'93
\loch\f1289 Brace yourself\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 you\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 re also about to get your first look at an alien.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 The door to the cockpit opened, and Alan pointed to what I assumed was the pilot\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s chair. I wasn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t sure what I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 d expected
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289  my first sight of an alien corpse to be, but mummified to the point of being almost unrecognizable\~}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid8591499\charrsid8591499 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 as\~}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid8591499\charrsid8591499 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 a corpse wasn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
t it. Aside from some kind of long-since-faded jumpsuit, it was hard to tell what the alien might have looked like beyond having two legs, two arms, four eyes, and no evidence of a mouth.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 Amazing what a few thousand years of exposure will do to a body, isn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 t it?\'94\loch\f1289  said a woman\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s voice behind me.

\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 She was short, and had a half-shaved head, the half without hair bearing some of the gaudy plugs a\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
nd attachments that were the price of getting a cybernetic augmentation as a civilian. Augments are one of those areas where paying for military-grade really does make a difference. Save the interface plug at the nape of my neck, all of mine were subderma
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 l.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Jonda the techie, I presume?\'94\loch\f1289  I asked.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 And you must be Alan\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s drinking buddy, the net diver from the Bloody Nines,\'94\loch\f1289 
 Jonda answered, and I bristled at the jab at my old unit. Alan must have noticed because he intervened before I could retort.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 Jonda, wh\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 y don\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t you tell Murphy why we\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 ve brought him here,\'94\loch\f1289  Alan said.

\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Might be easier just to show him,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  she replied. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 No point explaining if he fares as poorly at interfacing as I did.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 She pointed to what I assumed was the alien\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s neck, which I noticed was wrapped in what appeared to be a series of mesh and rings.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 That, we assume, is the ET answer to cybernetic augmentation. It\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s also the only device of any kind on the ship we\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
ve managed to achieve any interface with,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Jonda said. \'93\loch\f1289 As to what it is we\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 re inte\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 rfacing with\~.\~.\~.\~hopefully you\hich\f1289 \rquote 
\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 ll be able to tell us.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 She pointed to a collection of wires that trailed from the alien\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s mesh rings to a device set up in the cockpit\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
s corner. That it looked like a crudely jury-rigged diving chair did not fill me with confidence.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 That\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s the only device you\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 ve managed to connect to on the ship?\'94\loch\f1289  I asked.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 We can\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t even get a handle on the coding with some of the other computers, and while we have some idea what some of the larger systems on the ship might be, we don
\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t wa\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 nt to mess around with them unless we can crack the alien\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s language so we know what we\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
re actually dealing with,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Jonda said. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 This is our best and only lead to going any further on our own.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 There weren\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 t any physical clues?\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Very little,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Jonda answered. \'93\loch\f1289 The extraterrestrial\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 
along with an empty vial and a faded memento of some kind, maybe a photo\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 was the only thing in the cockpit when we arrived. Those were the only bodies or personal effects we found anywhere on board.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 No sense beating around the b\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 ush, then, I suppose.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 I sat down and started plugging myself into the chair, until I felt the familiar locking of the interface jack at my neck. Just like riding a bike.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 Don\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t let the size fool you: whatever that alien is hooked into, I promise it has a kick like nothing you\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
ve ever interfaced with,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Jonda said. \'93\loch\f1289 It makes the systems from the war look like an Atari, and the stuff on Flotsam look like an ENIAC, so brace y\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 ourself.\'94

\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 How long did you make it before you had to be unplugged?\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 A little over th\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 irty seconds,\'94\loch\f1289  she replied, typing into a keypad on the device.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Then put me under for just over a minute for a trial run,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  I said, hopefully sounding braver than I felt. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
That should be more than enough to test the waters. Hey, Alan?\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Yes, Murphy?\'94\loch\f1289  he replied.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 If I pull this off without giving myself an\~}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs17 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs17\cf1\insrsid8591499\charrsid8591499 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 aneurysm}{\rtlch\fcs1 
\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid8591499\charrsid8591499 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 , you owe me a bottle of scotch.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 Murph, you get us something useful out of that alien, I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 ll buy you a full case.\'94
\par }\pard \ltrpar\qc \li0\ri0\sb240\sa240\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid8591499 \cbpat8 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid8591499\charrsid8591499 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 #
\par }\pard \ltrpar\qj \fi480\li0\ri0\sb135\sa135\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid8591499 \cbpat8 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid8591499\charrsid8591499 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 She wasn\hich\f1289 \rquote \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
t lying, the level of connection was astonishing. A flood of sights and sensations washed over me, and it took me a while to get any bearing on where this torrent stopped and where I began. This is what separates a net diver from anyone else plugged into 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 virtual or digital space, being able to steady yourself against the flow of information coming from every direction in digital space where anyone else would drown.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 The torrent began to slow to a more bearable level. Sound first, strange klaxons blaring, fol\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 lowed by voices. Even if I couldn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
t understand them, I could feel words reverberate through me, each syllable ringing clearly in my head. There was also a strange new undercurrent I couldn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t yet place, flowing through like electricity.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Images came next, slowing down gradually into a steady vision. The level of detail was astonishing, beyond even the best virtual realities devised on Earth. This wasn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
t a simulation though, this was a recording, albeit one of unmatched clarity. I could wa\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 tch, even move in lim\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 ited directions, but not interact\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 
a backseat observer, nothing more.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
As I gained my bearings, I finally got a look at the aliens. They physically resembled what you might get if you split the difference between reptilian and avian. All mottled gray, they each had four eyes spaced out over a large lobed head with the bottom
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289  portion covered in tendrils, yet I saw no beak or snout.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 They had no mouths, but voices remained. The words rang\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 and more than the words, there was that electricity. I focused on that hum\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
ming energy, and there came a rush of moods, thoughts, feelings, flowing through like electricity.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 No sooner had I made the connection than I was pulled back out.
\par }\pard \ltrpar\qc \li0\ri0\sb240\sa240\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid8591499 \cbpat8 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid8591499\charrsid8591499 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 #
\par }\pard \ltrpar\qj \fi480\li0\ri0\sb135\sa135\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid8591499 \cbpat8 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid8591499\charrsid8591499 
\loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 How long was I plugged in?\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  I asked, a low ringing in my ears. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 That was more than a minute.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 You\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 re right, you were under for fifteen minutes. Once we saw the system wasn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t spitting you right back out, I didn\hich\f1289 \rquote 
\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 t want to interrupt,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Jonda said. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Have anything to tell us?\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 I know what our alien used to look like,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  I said. \'93\loch\f1289 And that their specie\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
s communicated telepathically, or something close to it.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 I told you he was the man for the job!\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Alan said. \'93\loch\f1289 Any idea what we\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 re dealing with?\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 Some kind of recording, I think, though like none I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 ve ever seen. It captures everything, even what I think must be thoughts or emotions.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Think you can handle another go?\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 Let\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s see how far we can take this.\'94
\par }\pard \ltrpar\qc \li0\ri0\sb240\sa240\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid8591499 \cbpat8 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid8591499\charrsid8591499 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 #
\par }\pard \ltrpar\qj \fi480\li0\ri0\sb135\sa135\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid8591499 \cbpat8 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid8591499\charrsid8591499 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 I rewatched long stretches, explored different angles, and pushed the recordings to their limits, trying to learn everything I could as I went along.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 A\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 s I watched, I came to realize these recordings were focused on a singular alien\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
s point of view. I watched through his perspective as ships from his species, thousands of them, took formations across the Lalande 21185 system, set up bases on the planets,\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
 which at this point of time were free of radiation and lush with plant life. I learned that they had traveled the stars through a system of massive star gates, one of which was active in the system.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 I had even started to piece together some names in the al\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 ien tongue\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 the alien\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
s personal name was Silon, their species called themselves Ra\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 tuath. There was one moment I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
d replayed before, when Silon was in a formation with hundreds of others, listening to what could only be an officer delivering a speech, when\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289  some phrases caught my attention. It took me a moment to realize why.

\par }{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid8591499\charrsid8591499 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Driven into exile by the\~}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid8591499\charrsid8591499 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Enemy}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid8591499\charrsid8591499 \~.\~.\~.\~\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 It is the most desperate hour\~.\~.\~.\~By the stars, the Ra\hich\f1289 
\rquote \loch\f1289 tuath will prevail!}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid8591499\charrsid8591499 
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 I could understand their language. Parts of it anyway, but growing parts of it.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 d long since started listening for patterns, latching onto common words, but this wasn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
t mere pattern recognition. It was almost osmosis of sorts: the longer I listened, the more I understood. I wasn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t just learning as much as I could, something in the \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
program was teaching me.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 As if on cue, I saw a chance to test these abilities with a recording I hadn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t watched yet\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 Silon was sitting on a large mat across from the officer from
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289  earlier.
\par }{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid8591499\charrsid8591499 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 I see you, Fleetlord Dhakar.}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid8591499\charrsid8591499 \~
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Silon gave the formal greeting gesture of the Ra\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 tuath.
\par }{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid8591499\charrsid8591499 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 I see you, Craftpilot Silon.}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid8591499\charrsid8591499 \~
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 The leader returned the greeting and gesture.\~}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid8591499\charrsid8591499 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Do you know why I have called you here?}{
\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid8591499\charrsid8591499 
\par }{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid8591499\charrsid8591499 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 You have special orders for me.}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid8591499\charrsid8591499 
\par }{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid8591499\charrsid8591499 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Indeed. You are among the best pilots in the fleet. You are being trusted with an important duty.}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 
\ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid8591499\charrsid8591499 
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 The Fleetlord took out a small black box and slid it across the mat to Silon. The dread emanating from Silon as all four of his eyes fixated on the box was overwhelming. Slowly, he reached out and took it.
\par }{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid8591499\charrsid8591499 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Do you know what that is, Craftpilot?}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid8591499\charrsid8591499 

\par }{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid8591499\charrsid8591499 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Yes, Fleetlord. The Final Answer.}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid8591499\charrsid8591499 

\par }{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid8591499\charrsid8591499 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 And if the need arises, you are to be our\~}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid8591499\charrsid8591499 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Messenger.}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid8591499\charrsid8591499 \~\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Do you know what that means?}{
\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid8591499\charrsid8591499 
\par }{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid8591499\charrsid8591499 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 If we should fail to h\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 old the\~}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid8591499\charrsid8591499 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Enemy\~}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid8591499\charrsid8591499 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 here, this weapon will not fail.}{
\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid8591499\charrsid8591499 
\par }{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid8591499\charrsid8591499 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
Preparations have already been made. Charges have been placed and delivered throughout the system. Your ship has been prepared for your new duty. Do not use it while the gate remains open. Otherwise, trust your judgement, and wait until the moment defeat 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 has become certain. Do you understand?}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid8591499\charrsid8591499 
\par }{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid8591499\charrsid8591499 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Yes, Fleetlord. Though I hope the need does not come.}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid8591499\charrsid8591499 
\par }{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid8591499\charrsid8591499 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 If it does, though, the\~}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid8591499\charrsid8591499 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Answer}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid8591499\charrsid8591499 \~\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 is in your hands.}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid8591499\charrsid8591499 
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Klaxons wailed overhead, but before I could see why, I was ripped aw\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 ay from the vision entirely.
\par }\pard \ltrpar\qc \li0\ri0\sb240\sa240\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid8591499 \cbpat8 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid8591499\charrsid8591499 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 #
\par }\pard \ltrpar\qj \fi480\li0\ri0\sb135\sa135\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid8591499 \cbpat8 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid8591499\charrsid8591499 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 They\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
d apparently pulled me back once my nose had started bleeding. I had a splitting headache. Not uncommon for long net diving sessions, but usually ones measured in days, not mere hours like this one. The intensity of the alien hardware was much strong
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 er than I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 d realized.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 I washed down a few painkillers, and the ringing in my head stopped. I relayed what I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 d seen and learned, and we started tossing out theories while I took some time to recover.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 So, what we have is some k\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 ind of alien livestream?\'94\loch\f1289  Jonda asked.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 I think it\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
s closer to something like a black box, capturing as much of the events as possible. It might even explain details like how I started to understand their language,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  I explained. \'93\loch\f1289 The alien, Silon\hich\f1289 
\emdash \loch\f1289 while everyone else is told to prepare for an e\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 nemy attack, he\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
s ordered to hide and hunker down, to be the guy who sees things through if everything goes wrong.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 Makes sense to me\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 it\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s standard designated survivor protocol. You have a guy you set aside in case ev\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
\hich\f1289 erybody else gets wiped out,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Alan said. \'93\loch\f1289 They gave him the doomsday device to ensure mutually assured destruction. We\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 re even standing in the bunker.\'94

\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 It doesn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t appear to have done him, or the Ra\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 tuath much good,\'94\loch\f1289  Jonda said.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 That\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s just it\~.\~.\~.\~\hich\f1289 
all this effort to establish defenses in the system, a massive fleet sent to create a redoubt, a superweapon to activate in the event both failed,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Alan said. \'93\loch\f1289 
If they thought all these measures were necessary, just what kind of enem\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 y were they were fighting?\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 There was a pause before I answered.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 I imagine we\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 re about to find out.\'94
\par }\pard \ltrpar\qc \li0\ri0\sb240\sa240\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid8591499 \cbpat8 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid8591499\charrsid8591499 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 #
\par }\pard \ltrpar\qj \fi480\li0\ri0\sb135\sa135\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid8591499 \cbpat8 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid8591499\charrsid8591499 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 I returned to find myself in a nightmare.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 The Ra\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
tuath armada was no longer alone. The enemy fleet poured through the star gate, seemingly without end. The skies of Lalande 21185 were filled with ships, with missile barrages, and beam weapons of several colors and devastating effects. I saw waves
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289  of bombs flood each of the rocky planets\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 familiar mushroom clouds marked where what had been livable worlds for the Ra\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 tuath became the ra
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 dioactive hellscapes mankind knew today. It was a scale of violence I could scarcely comprehend.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 It\hich\f1289 \rquote \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 s not surprising my thoughts turned to the desperation and panic in Magnitogorsk.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 My unit had been supporting a half dozen Spec Ops units near what was once Magnitogorsk\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 what still was Magnitogorsk at the time. There\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
d been vague rumors of an old Russian nanotech experiment unearthed by one of the warlord states in the southern Urals, \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 and the 99th was providing intel and support from the city.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 We\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 d lost contact with four of those Spec Ops units within minutes of each other. The survivors of two units fled b\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
ack into the city, having found what they were searching for, and barely survived. They reported human experimentation making monsters of men, and terrified people fleeing to the city, with a horde on their heels.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 What attacked the city wasn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
t human, not anymore. Nothing short of vaporizing kept them down for good. Thousands of soldiers with heavy weapons and air support barely held the line for an hour. A few hundred survivors managed to make it to the last vertib
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 irds out before everything within fifty mil\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 es was scoured by neutron bombs.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 The things I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 d seen and done that day were bad enough that I couldn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
t put several light-years between myself and the same planet as Magnitogorsk fast enough. So I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 m no stranger to nightmares. What soldier is?
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 m just generally used to those nightmares being of things I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 d actually seen. And I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 d never seen anything like this.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Silon was flying a ship through the middle of all this chaos, and the alien\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s own feelings of desperation and panic were palpable. Despite some terrifyi
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
ng near misses, and taking a few hits, Silon managed to break away from the chaos long enough to make his way to an isolated asteroid I recognized as the same one I was on right now. His ship had arrived at its final destination.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 I understood why Alan\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s crew found the ship where they had, once I saw through Silon\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
s eyes how it had arrived. The asteroid was far enough from the worst of the fighting\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 and the crevice he\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 d landed in offered shielding and protection from other ships and
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289  strafing fire\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 while remain\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 ing close enough that he could still observe most of the battle.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 I watched the battle unfold for what seemed like hours, waves of fleet movements on a scale that dwarfed anything I previously could have imagined. Yet one pattern was unmistakable\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 
no matter how many enemy ships the Ra\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 tuath took out, the enemy\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s numbers \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 kept growing\~.\~.\~.\~but the Ra\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
tuath fleet did not. Scores of enemy ships kept coming through the star gate to fill the ranks. There were no such reinforcements for the Ra\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 tuath.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 While fixated \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 on that desperate situation, I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 d almost missed the equally desperate response, only noticing because Silon\hich\f1289 \rquote 
\loch\f1289 s reaction was unmistakable. The massive dreadnaught I knew to be the Ra\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 tuath flagship had slowly begun to change direction and build up speed. Onc\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
e I saw its large engines flare to life, I looked to where it was aimed\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 directly at the star gate.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Other ships in the Ra\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 tuath fleet moved to support the flagship, firing barrage after barrage toward the gate, clearing as much of a path as they could. If th
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
e enemy fleet took notice, they never had the chance to react. Like a bolt of lightning, the flagship surged forward and hit its mark. The resulting explosion was blinding and lingered long enough that for a moment Lalande 21185 appeared to have a second,
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289  yellow sun.
\par }{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid8591499\charrsid8591499 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 It wasn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t for nothing}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid8591499\charrsid8591499 \~.\~.\~.\~}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid8591499\charrsid8591499 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 It wasn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t for nothing, by the stars.}
{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid8591499\charrsid8591499 
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 As it faded, the Ra\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 tuath flagship and countless nearby vessels from both flotillas in the vicinity had been blown to smithereens\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 and so had the star gate.

\par }\pard \ltrpar\qc \li0\ri0\sb240\sa240\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid8591499 \cbpat8 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid8591499\charrsid8591499 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 #
\par }\pard \ltrpar\qj \fi480\li0\ri0\sb135\sa135\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid8591499 \cbpat8 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid8591499\charrsid8591499 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 I was kicked back out\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289  to reality a bit more roughly this time around, the strain much heavier. My nose was bleeding, and the headaches were much worse coming back this time, so we
\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 d agreed to wait a few hours before plugging me back in. I needed the break.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 It was always obvious something cataclysmic had happened here, but to think we\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 re basically strip-mining an extraterrestrial Gettysburg,\'94\loch\f1289 
 Alan said.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 Their Stalingrad, more like. This was a clash of civilizations, and these two sides were throwing everything they had into it\loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 ,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  I said. 
\'93\loch\f1289 Even without the telepathic overflow from Silon, it\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s hard to watch. How much more do you guys need?\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 Ideally? Anything that might help crack their written language or coding\hich\f1289 \emdash \'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Not what he meant by the question, Jonda,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Alan interrupted. \'93\loch\f1289 You don\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t have to do any more, Murphy. You\hich\f1289 
\rquote \loch\f1289 ve pulled plenty enough data already, if you\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 ve reached your limit.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 He can\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 t stop now, not yet!\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 That\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s not your call to make!\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 No, she\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s right, I can\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 t,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  I said. \'93\loch\f1289 Putting aside the odds I might pull something us
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 eful, there\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s the possibility there\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
s the remains of a hostile alien invasion force in nearby space, or some unused alien superweapon still waiting for some unlucky salvage crew to activate on accident. Just promise me one thing, Alan.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Anything, Murphy.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 Don\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 t get me the cheap stuff.\'94
\par }\pard \ltrpar\qc \li0\ri0\sb240\sa240\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid8591499 \cbpat8 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid8591499\charrsid8591499 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 #
\par }\pard \ltrpar\qj \fi480\li0\ri0\sb135\sa135\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid8591499 \cbpat8 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid8591499\charrsid8591499 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Everybody, even places on the edge of settled space like Flotsam, knows the name and reputation of the Bloody Nines. Not a lot of people bother to learn where that nickname originally came from. I\hich\f1289 \rquote 
\loch\f1289 ve heard all kinds of stories of guts and glory, and some \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 colorful theories. All wrong, of course.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 The truth is much simpler. It\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
s because according to the early after-action reports and casualty statistics, after Magnitogorsk, only one out of every nine members of the 99th Mobile Infantry Sustainment Brigade surv\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
ived. I can tell you the math has that number a little lower, but soldiers like nice easy-to-remember numbers and nicknames almost as much as they like black humor.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 I mention this because I know what fighting a hopeless battle looks like. And despite sacrificing their flagship in a kamikaze charge to bring down the warp gate and cutting their enemy off from reinforcements, the Ra
\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 tuath were still losing. At a rough e\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 stimate, what was left of their fleet was at best at half strength from when they started\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 ev
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 en cut off from reinforcements, the enemy numbers dwarfed theirs.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Watching the battle unfold before him, Silon might not have had a mouth, but telepathically, he was screaming. Rage, despair, horror, all were palpable and played back and forth as battle data as it came in.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Whatever process had helped me pick up their spoken language hadn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t yet kicked in for written stuff, but while I couldn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
t understand the data on the viewscreens, with Silon\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s reactions, I didn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t need to. I didn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t need help for the reports\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
 coming in over radio\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 they were going down fighting, but minute by minute, the Ra\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 tuath were going down all the same. Vague visions of building a redoubt for his people were replaced with Silon
\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s certainty of complete and total defeat.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 No options remained, save one. With resignation, Silon reached for the box handed to him by the fleetlord. He opened it, and after a moment\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s hesitation, pushed a button.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 I looked for the first signs of this alien superweapon. I remember being surprised that there was no seri\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
es of explosions, no visible ripple, no spectacular sign that this alien superweapon had worked at all\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 
until I noticed that as the effect began to spread, all of the myriad ships that filled every corner of Lalande 21185 began to go dark.
\par }\pard \ltrpar\qc \li0\ri0\sb240\sa240\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid8591499 \cbpat8 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid8591499\charrsid8591499 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 #
\par }\pard \ltrpar\qj \fi480\li0\ri0\sb135\sa135\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid8591499 \cbpat8 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid8591499\charrsid8591499 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 I awoke to Alan, Jonda, and a couple of other crew members trying to hold me down. I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 d been thrashing around so much they feared I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
d suffered a stroke. I tasted blood and smelled copper and was completely drained. I knew I was approaching burnout. The div\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 e setup, not in \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 the best shape even when we\hich\f1289 
\rquote \loch\f1289 d started, was in rough shape too.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Best I can figure, sounds like some type of EMP kind of thing,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Alan said a little later. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
Must have packed one hell of a punch to knock out an entire solar system.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 What was left of one, anyway.\'94\loch\f1289  I said before taking a bite out of a protein bar.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 You don\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 t think, whatever it was, that it's on this ship somewhere?\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 No, near as I can tell, Silon was only given the detonator to some kind of charges or relays already placed around the system,\'94\loch\f1289  I\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
\hich\f1289  said. \'93\loch\f1289 I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
m sure the defense contractors back on Earth will be devastated they have to settle for cracking the code on beam weapons and shielding instead of something that can kill a star system like flipping a light switch.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 Not what I meant, Murph. You know me. I just don\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t want to sit on something I shouldn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 t and end up knocking us out, too,\'94
\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Alan said, pointing to the mummified remains of Silon. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Leave a dozen new bodies for the next guys to stumble upon.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 That earned a few dark chuckles from both of u\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 s.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Jonda gave the thumbs-up that the system was ready again. And physically recovered, or close to it, I made my way back to our dive setup.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 I know this is rough on you, Murph,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Alan said as I was hooking myself back in. \'93\loch\f1289 There\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s not that much left. Whatever
\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s still on there, learning it isn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 t worth getting yourself hurt.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Nothing ventured, nothing gained,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  I said, a bit braver than I felt. \'93\loch\f1289 Besides, I wouldn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t say that\hich\f1289 
\rquote \loch\f1289 s entirely true; we know we\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 re guaranteed to learn at least one thing from me going ba\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 ck in.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 What\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s that?\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 How this ended.\'94
\par }\pard \ltrpar\qc \li0\ri0\sb240\sa240\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid8591499 \cbpat8 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid8591499\charrsid8591499 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 #
\par }\pard \ltrpar\qj \fi480\li0\ri0\sb135\sa135\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid8591499 \cbpat8 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid8591499\charrsid8591499 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 With the exception of a low red glow from Lalande 21185, the ship was completely dark, the power and systems knocked out by the Ra\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
tuath superweapon. Whatever had remained of both of the warring alien fleets after the gate was destroyed were now completel\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 y dead in the water.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Silon sat in the pilot\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s chair, starring out at the battlefield which he had turned into a tomb. The emotions and thoughts coming from him were overwhelming.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 A small amount of pride.
\par }{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid8591499\charrsid8591499 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 The Enemy shall not spread. At least this part of space will be free of them.}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid8591499\charrsid8591499 
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 A great deal of guilt.
\par }{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid8591499\charrsid8591499 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 How many millions of my clanmates did we murder to achieve that? That I murdered?}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid8591499\charrsid8591499 
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 The temperature was cold, and dropping fast, with condensation starting to form on the glass of the cockpit. Silon didn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
t need the instruments to tell him that if the drop in temperature didn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t kill him first, the decreasing amount of air would. Whatever \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 protections the engineers had ringed the cockpit 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 with had not been properly extended to the engines or life support systems.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Silon was going to die. Acceptance.
\par }{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid8591499\charrsid8591499 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 I will die here. Just as I have sentenced millions of others to die. Not a good death. But a fitting one.}{\rtlch\fcs1 
\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid8591499\charrsid8591499 
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 From a pouch of his uniform, Silon removed two things, which I recognized from the cockpit. The empty vial, here filled with a black liquid, and the faded icon, not yet faded by centuries of stellar light.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Silon drank from the vial, and his breathing began to slow\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 a poison of some sort, then\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 a\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
nd placed the icon on the rim of the cockpit window. There was enough light that I could see it was a group of Ra\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
tuath. Silon leaned forward, his head touching the glass above the icon, and there was a wave of overwhelming grief.
\par }{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid8591499\charrsid8591499 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 m sorry}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid8591499\charrsid8591499 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 . If this was his family, a group of friends, or a revered leader, I would never get an answer.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 As Silon looking at the icon, there came a new feeling, warm, strange and hard to place. His breathing became labored. He adjusted slightly, and with a shaky, yet firm hand, sc\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
rawled into the condensation on the cockpit glass a message. A prayer? A farewell? The longer I looked, the more I thought I could almost make out what it said in the dim light.
\par }{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid8591499\charrsid8591499 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 The stars}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid8591499\charrsid8591499 \~.\~.\~.\~}{\rtlch\fcs1 
\ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid8591499\charrsid8591499 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 how peaceful they look\~.\~.\~.\~}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid8591499\charrsid8591499 
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Almost on impulse, I looked away from the message, and up at the stars. There\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s an old wives\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289  tale, that you can\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
t see the stars in space\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 it\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s not true of course. Yet I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 ll admit, the stars here looked magnificent.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Silon slumped back into the pilot\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s seat. Yet before I could try and look \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 back at the message he\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
d left on the glass, I noticed that Silon turned his head toward my direction.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
The look in those four raptor-like eyes appeared to be fixated on me. I knew what I was watching was only a recording, a simulation, that I was only there for the ride as a passive observer, no matter how real it may look or feel. Yet the look in Silon
\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 eyes was not the half-glazed stare of a dying creature, but one of rapt, full attention, as if something had managed to catch him completely by surprise.
\par }{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid8591499\charrsid8591499 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 I\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289  see you.\~}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid8591499\charrsid8591499 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 There was a certainty to his words that would stick with me until my dying day.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Then in a moment, that resolve was gone, and with a few last spasms, Silon was dead, dropped back into his seat. The most massive wave of vertigo I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 d ever felt washed over me.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
And with my head still spinning, my pulse pounding, and any number of explanations still being tossed about regarding to whom or what those last words were directed, the recording ended and I was pulled back to the real world for the last time.
\par }\pard \ltrpar\qc \li0\ri0\sb240\sa240\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid8591499 \cbpat8 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid8591499\charrsid8591499 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 #
\par }\pard \ltrpar\qj \fi480\li0\ri0\sb135\sa135\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid8591499 \cbpat8 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid8591499\charrsid8591499 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
I woke in the cockpit, the real cockpit, with a jolt, not noticing or hearing the reactions of Alan, Jonda, or the crew. My nose was bleeding again, my pulse was pounding, and my head felt like it was about to split in two, but even as I took a few deep b
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 reaths and stabilized, one thought wouldn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t go away.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 I tried to get up, and I stumbled, waving away someone who tried to help me up. Taking it slower, I got to my feet and made my way over to the cockpit glass, desperately looking for a particular spot. I 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 must have seemed half-crazed\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 I know I felt it\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 but when someone tried to pull me back, Alan motioned for them to give me space. When I thought I\hich\f1289 
\rquote \loch\f1289 d found the spot where I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 d seen Silon writing in the condensation, I took a deep breath and exhaled on the glas\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 s.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 There, on the glass of the cockpit, a short series of smeared, curlicue alien symbols revealed themselves. A message, scrawled in a trembling hand\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 
which, by some alien osmosis, I could read as easily as my own\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 and containing the final message of a warrio\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 r who\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 d died never knowing if those they
\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 d saved would ever know.
\par 
\par }\pard \ltrpar\qc \li0\ri0\sb135\sa135\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid8591499 \cbpat8 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid8591499\charrsid8591499 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 We gave our futures
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 That you might have yours
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Remember us
\par }\pard \ltrpar\qj \fi480\li0\ri0\sb135\sa135\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid8591499 \cbpat8 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid8591499\charrsid8591499 
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 It was as grand an epitaph as a soldier or a civilization could ask for.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 I see you, Silon.\'94
\par }\pard \ltrpar\qc \li0\ri0\sb240\sa240\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid8591499 \cbpat8 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid8591499\charrsid8591499 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 #
\par }\pard \ltrpar\qj \fi480\li0\ri0\sb135\sa135\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid8591499 \cbpat8 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid8591499\charrsid8591499 
\loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Looks like I owe you that case of scotch,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Alan said, grabbing me by the shoulder. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
Hell, Murphy, I owe you a hell of a lot more than that. We all do.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 It had been a few hours since I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 d found Silon\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s message. Once I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 d calmed down enough to form a coherent sentence, I
\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 d shared the full extent of what I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 d seen. With me available to translate and point out certain critical systems, the rest of the team had \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 been busy
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289  jury-rigging what they could back online. There was some debate that with a few new parts, the ship could have flown back to Flotsam under its own power. Not that we\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
d risk that, when reverse engineering every part on the ship stood to make everyone a ki\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 ng\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s ransom.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 What\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s more, while the crew\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s techie, Jonda, might not have been a proper net diver, once she had a rough guide on how to decipher the Ra\hich\f1289 
\rquote \loch\f1289 tuath language, she managed to do the same with their computer code. She\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 d been pulling every scrap of dat\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
a she could off anything she could and had found a treasure trove. Blueprints, data, records, and a hoard of information that teams of scholars and researchers could spend years going over. One that stood to make each of us an even greater fortune than th
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 e ship itself.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 All that, and a story that changes everything we know about life in the universe.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 With some idea of the full extent of what we\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 d found, we\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
d finally called back into Flotsam Station to report our salvage claim. The rest of the crew had made t\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 heir way back to our own ship to celebrate our new status as probably the richest people this side of Sol. Yet I
\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 d found myself gravitating back to the cockpit, thinking on the dozens of questions, on everything I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 d seen, on the last words and final messa\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
ge of an alien soldier. I didn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t know how long I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 d been there before Alan finally snapped me out of my thoughts.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 You know, I didn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 t particularly like having my own battles rattling around in my head,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  I said. \'93\loch\f1289 I haven\hich\f1289 
\rquote \loch\f1289 t quite wrapped my head around the fac\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 t that now I have an alien\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s up there too.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 It\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s a hell of a thing you saw,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Alan said without a trace of his usual lightheartedness. \'93\loch\f1289 
Hell of a thing they did too, what that Silon did; no wonder you\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 re feeling overwhelmed.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 Entirely different species, thousands of years apart, yet so much of what I saw of them,\~}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid8591499\charrsid8591499 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 what they felt}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid8591499\charrsid8591499 \~.\~.\~.\~\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 it wasn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
t overwhelming because it was alien, but because it was so\~}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid8591499\charrsid8591499 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 familiar}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid8591499\charrsid8591499 \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 ,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  I said, a lot of my thoughts pouring out at once. \'93\loch\f1289 Facing fearful odds, throwing yourself back in
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 to the fray. The desperation when defeat seems like a certainty\~.\~.\~.\~Not knowing if you won, if your sacrifice will matter\~.\~.\~.\~\hich\f1289 
or if anyone will remember that sacrifice at all, will know you ever existed.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 We know. Hell, soon all of humanity will know. That\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s got to count for something,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Alan said. \'93\loch\f1289 
For all we know, the Ra\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 tuath might still survive somewhere in space, wondering what happened to this fleet.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 What a story we can tell them at first contact, eh?\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  I said. \'93\loch\f1289 By the time we meet, they might se\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
em like old comrades to us, while they still won\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 t know a thing about humanity.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 It\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s the stuff\~}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid8591499\charrsid8591499 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 we}{\rtlch\fcs1 
\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid8591499\charrsid8591499 \~\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 don\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
t know that bothers me. The enemy they fought may still survive somewhere out in space, and we know even less about them than we do the Ra\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 tuath. Hell, we don\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
t even know which side was the aggressor, or for that matter, if they both were.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 I suppose that could be true,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  I conceded. \'93\loch\f1289 
But we know one of them sacrificed themselves to give us and anyone else in our part of space a fighting chance, and that\hich\f1289 \rquote \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
s enough for me. We can worry about that later. You still owe me a case of scotch.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 After all, there was a very old soldier that I planned to be the first to raise a glass to.
\par }\pard \ltrpar\qc \li0\ri0\sb240\sa240\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid8591499 \cbpat8 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid8591499\charrsid8591499 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 #####}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs17 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs17\cf1\insrsid8591499\charrsid8591499 \line }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid8591499\charrsid8591499 
\par }\pard \ltrpar\qj \li0\ri0\sb135\sa135\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid8591499 \cbpat8 {\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af1289 \ltrch\fcs0 \b\f1289\cf1\insrsid8591499\charrsid8591499 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
Sean CW Korsgaard is a U.S. Army veteran, award-winning photojournalist and freelance reporter, and an assistant editor and media relations manager at Baen Books. As a reporter he has over 1,500 bylines to his name, and his work has been featured in outle
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 ts as diverse as\~}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\ai\af1289 \ltrch\fcs0 \b\i\f1289\cf1\insrsid8591499\charrsid8591499 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 The New York Times}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af1289 \ltrch\fcs0 
\b\f1289\cf1\insrsid8591499\charrsid8591499 ,\~}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\ai\af1289 \ltrch\fcs0 \b\i\f1289\cf1\insrsid8591499\charrsid8591499 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 VFW Magazine}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af1289 \ltrch\fcs0 
\b\f1289\cf1\insrsid8591499\charrsid8591499 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 , and\~}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\ai\af1289 \ltrch\fcs0 \b\i\f1289\cf1\insrsid8591499\charrsid8591499 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Analog}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af1289 \ltrch\fcs0 
\b\f1289\cf1\insrsid8591499\charrsid8591499 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 . He is a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University, where he studied mass communications and history.}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f1289\cf1\insrsid8591499\charrsid8591499 
\par }\pard \ltrpar\ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \dbch\af0\insrsid8591499 \page 
\par }\pard \ltrpar\qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid8591499 {\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af0\afs40 \ltrch\fcs0 \b\f1142\fs40\cf1\chshdng0\chcfpat0\chcbpat8\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 
\hich\af1142\dbch\af31505\loch\f1142 The Quail Runs
\par }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0\afs32 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1142\fs32\cf1\chshdng0\chcfpat0\chcbpat8\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 \hich\af1142\dbch\af31505\loch\f1142 by D.J. Butler}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0\afs32 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f1142\fs32\cf1\chshdng0\chcfpat0\chcbpat8\insrsid8591499 
\par }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0\afs32 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1142\fs32\cf1\chshdng0\chcfpat0\chcbpat8\insrsid9249068 
\par }\pard\plain \ltrpar\s21\qj \fi480\li0\ri0\sb135\sa135\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9249068 \cbpat8 \rtlch\fcs1 \af2289\afs24\alang1025 \ltrch\fcs0 
\fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\loch\af2289\hich\af2289\dbch\af31505\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068 \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 I want to walk,\'94
\loch\f1289  Udad said.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 We know!\'94\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
 Aksil slapped his younger brother on his twisted thigh through the green linen of his burnoose. Udad sat astride a camel, held in place by knotted strips of leather that provided the grip that Udad\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
s misshapen legs could not. Aksil forced himself to smil\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 e, though he felt trepidation. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 We will be at the cave soon.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Udad was nearing his ninth summer; Aksil, his twelfth.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 The boys\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289  uncle, Izemrasen, turned to look back at them. He carried a spear and wore a burnoose dyed a simple brown. Izemrasen served as the\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
ir protector, though Aksil was armed as well, with a throwing stick and four short javelins. Izemrasen was also their guide.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 The sun had traveled a handspan since they\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 d left the main trade track. They followed an inconspicuous trail wandering north of the track. A warm breeze tugged at Aksil\hich\f1289 
\rquote \loch\f1289 s face and he tasted copper. His stomach growled.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 We\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 re almost there,\'94\loch\f1289  Izemrasen said.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Did the witch tell you how long this trail was, too?\'94\loch\f1289  Aksil scanned the hills around them; they were thick with tall green grass \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
that was rapidly fading to yellow.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 I can smell the water.\'94\loch\f1289  Izemrasen sniffed.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Udad sniffed the air. His nose was as bent as his legs, but his eyes sparkled. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 I want to walk. I want to walk now. The rest of the way. I want to gallop.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Save your strength,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Izemrasen said. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 We will have to climb, the witch said.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 Also, he can\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 t gallop,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Aksil pointed out. \'93\loch\f1289 What if he can\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 t climb?\'94

\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 I can climb,\'94\loch\f1289  Udad assured them.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 If he can\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 t climb on his own,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Izemrasen said, \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 you and I will help him.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 But I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 ll climb dow\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 n without your help,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Udad insisted. \'93\loch\f1289 Because I\hich\f1289 
\rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 ll be healed.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Izemrasen laughed. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 I expect you will leap back down the mountain like an addax.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 The witch said it was a mountain?\'94\loch\f1289  Udad asked.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 That was her word.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
They continued, the camel loping gracefully along the path, and Aksil following behind, watching for bandits. They were far from Ahuskay village, and if bandits beset them, there was little they could do other than run.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Aksil!\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Izemrasen called. \'93\loch\f1289 You go ahead for a bit. I have to remove a pebble \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 from my sandal.\'94

\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 W\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
hile his uncle sat and removed the offending stone, Aksil took the lead, heading forward along the path that now began to slope downward. Udad followed, holding the reins of the camel himself.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 The grass thickened and grew greener, suggesting water, and trees began to dot the hills around them, and then cluster together, forming into groves.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Suddenly, a fat brown quail burst from a low bush to Aksil\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s right. It broke left across the path and raced away, causing a waving furrow of grass to ripple up the hill 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 to his left. Aksil threw a javelin and missed.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 He cursed and retrieved the spear, returning to the path to find Izemrasen standing where Aksil had stood to throw, holding the camel.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Hungry?\'94\loch\f1289  his uncle asked.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 Aren\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 t you?\'94\loch\f1289  Aksil countered.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 To eat, I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 m afraid you must be smarter than the quail,\'94\loch\f1289  Izemrasen told him.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 I think you mean\~}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 faster}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068 \~\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 than the quail,\'94\loch\f1289  Aksil grumbled.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 That\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s one way to eat,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Izemrasen agreed, a smile cracking his leathery face. \'93\loch\f1289 
But you and I are not faster than quail. Are we smarter t\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 han the bird?\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Why are you taunting me?\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Aksil asked. \'93\loch\f1289 Let\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
s take Udad to the mountain. You said there are fig trees there.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 The figs may be ripening,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Izemrasen conceded. \'93\loch\f1289 Are you giving up on the feast of quail\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s flesh? Or quail\hich\f1289 
\rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s eggs?\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 No,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Aksil said. \'93\loch\f1289 I am giving up on your lesson. So if there\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s something you think I need to learn here, you
\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 d better go right ahead and tell me.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Izemrasen harrumphed. \'93\loch\f1289 I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 m your uncle. I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 m supposed to teach you.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 m going now.\'94\loch\f1289  Aksil took a step.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 The quail runs to \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 distract you,\'94\loch\f1289  Izemrasen said.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Distract me from what?\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Then Aksil realized what his uncle was saying. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 From her eggs.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Izemrasen chuckled and nodded.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
Aksil laid his javelins and throwing stick in the grass and crept slowly into the bushes from which the quail had emerged. He pushed the leaves aside gently, feeling the spiny branches poke him in the hands and arms. He was careful not to set his foot on 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 any patch of ground without carefully examining it first.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 And there they were; a mound of quail eggs, heap\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 ed tightly in the thickest part of the bush. Aksil counted them carefully.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Twelve eggs,\'94\loch\f1289  he lied. There were eleven.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
He handed four to his uncle first, to honor Izemrasen for the lesson. Izemrasen immediately cracked the first egg and sucked its contents out in one gulp. Aksil handed four eggs to Udad and then stood turned to the side to conceal the number of eggs he ha
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 d as he devoured them.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 The eggshells cast aside to the outraged shrieking of the quail, they descended the remaining stretch of trail and c\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 ame to a lake. The witch\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
\hich\f1289 s \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 mountain\'94\loch\f1289 
 was an orange cliff, and at the base of which lay a brilliant, clear pool. Water sprang from the cliff and poured into the pool. Around the pond stood trees bearing dates, which were green, but also figs, some of whic\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
h were beginning to ripen. Aksil collected two figs for each of them, while Izemrasen stood in place and examined the rock face.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 There,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Izemrasen said. \'93\loch\f1289 A crack in the stone, do you see? It is as the witch described. To our right, we will find a shelf tha
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 t climbs up to that crack.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 I will climb it,\'94\loch\f1289  Udad said.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 We shall see.\'94\loch\f1289  Izemrasen began unknotting the thongs holding Udad in place.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Aksil drank from the pool. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Addax tracks here,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  he said. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 And antelope. Perhaps tonight I will take a beast for us to eat.
\'94\loch\f1289  He puffed out his chest. He had never yet, in fact, killed an addax or an antelope. He had killed fowl from time to time, and had o\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 nce helped butcher a goat, after Izemrasen had killed it.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Very good.\'94\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
 Izemrasen helped Udad down. Then, while the boy stood wobbling on his twisted legs, Izemrasen tied the camel to a fig tree, within reach of the water and plenty of grass. Then he began helping his crippled nephew limp to the right, where the witch had cl
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 aimed their path lay.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 This witch,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Aksil said. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 She herself was healed by the power of the cave?\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Healed of boils,\'94\loch\f1289  Izemrasen answered.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 She slept the night in the cave?\'94\loch\f1289  Aksil asked.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 That\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s how the spirit works.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 The spirit heals at night?\'94\loch\f1289  Aksil press\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 ed.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Everyone knows that all spirits are most active in the darkness,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Izemrasen said. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
They fear the sun. In this, they are the opposite of mankind.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Aksil filled their waterskin, slung it over his shoulder, and turned to follow his family. As he pivoted, disturbed earth among the addax tracks caught his eye and he stopped.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 There were sandal tracks mixed with the spoor of the horned beasts. Men had walked here recently.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 But enormous men. Their feet\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 he pressed his own foot into one of the tracks, and it did\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 n\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
t fill half the imprint. Looking in all directions and forcing himself not to break into a run, he followed his uncle.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 The ascending shelf was where the witch had foretold it would be. Its bottom end was above any of their heads, so Izemrasen pushed Udad up and then scrambled after him.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Shall I come up also?\'94\loch\f1289  Aksil asked.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 He won\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 t need the help to climb,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
 Izemrasen said, and it was true. Udad was already scrambling on all fours up the shelf toward the crack. \'93\loch\f1289 You can come if you want. But the spirit wil\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
l be in the cave. And if you come up, no one will be watching the camel. Would you like to spend the night in the cave with Udad? Maybe I should watch the camel?\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Aksil looked back toward where the beast grazed. The camel was a significant portion of their family\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s wealth.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 Does the spirit\~.\~.\~\hich\f1289 .\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Aksil hesitated. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Does the spirit have large feet?\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Izemrasen snorted. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Maybe. Spirits are powerful and can take different shapes. Maybe the spirit of the cave can take a shape that has feet.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Large feet,\'94\loch\f1289  Aksil s\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 aid again.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 It\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s a powerful spirit,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Izemrasen said, \'93\loch\f1289 
its feet could be large. It could have a hundred feet. It could have wings, or the form of a goat. It could take five forms all at one. I knew a man whose wife had several spirit forms. A goat, and a hawk, and an\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
\hich\f1289 other one, I forget. Sometimes her spirit forms would appear many leagues from where she was. Sometimes in two places at once. Spirit-fragments, I suppose.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 That sounds very useful,\'94\loch\f1289  Aksil said.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 It was,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Izemrasen agreed. \'93\loch\f1289 Except that her spiri\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
t-fragments caused great mischief. They killed antelope and scattered goats and were regarded as demons, and so eventually, she had to be killed.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Aksil handed the waterskin up to his uncle. \'93\loch\f1289 You\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 ll need this. I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 ll stay here and watch the camel.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Izemrasen stood holding the waterskin and looked to the sky in the west, just turning orange. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Udad has to spend the night in the cave, and then his legs will be straightened.\'94

\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 He\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 ll be able to keep up with the goats,\'94\loch\f1289  Aksil said.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 With his older brother.\'94\loch\f1289  Izemras\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 en grinned.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
Surely, Aksil reasoned, he had imagined the sandal print. He walked back to the water to examine the scuffed earth. Again, he seemed to see the footprint of an enormous man. The footprint must belong to the healing spirit. The spirit had descended from th
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 e mountain for a drink and had now climbed back into the cave.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Aksil squinted at the looming shadow of the cliff above him, darkening rapidly from purple toward black.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Izemrasen and Udad would have to worry about the spirit with giant feet. Aksil could bed down in the grass and sleep.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 He checked the camel first; it was tethered firmly, with plenty of room to drink, graze, relieve itself, and sleep.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
Being tired, he then made a rough bed for himself by bending down tall grass into a wiry pallet. He formed his bed at the base of the cliff, where the rock leaned outward above and created a little shelter from any chance rain that might fall in the night
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 . Lying too close to th\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
e camel might get him stepped on or bitten. Laying his weapons on the ground beside him, within easy reach, he unwrapped his own gray burnoose and draped it over his own body as a blanket. The burbling spring and pool lay to his right, a narrow strip of s
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 tone separating the water from the base of the cliff.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Should he light a fire?
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 If the spirit did descend, he didn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t want to attract its attention and become a target for its mischief. The night would be cool, but Aksil decided to forego flames.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 He watched th\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 e stars shift slowly across the sky. What was Udad feeling? If the spirit was straightening his brother\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
s legs now, did that hurt? Was the spirit on his legs to straighten them, or hitting them with hammers?
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 But Aksil didn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
t hear any screaming. He heard chirruping insects, and the occasional rustle in the grass that indicated a larger animal passing by. Sleep was slow to take him. He imagined Udad pummeled by spirits, or healed Udad rushing down the rock shel
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 f in joyous leaps, or spirits with big feet and h\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 ammers looking for Aksil, to twist his legs in payment for the straightening of Udad\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s limbs.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Then his eyes snapped open, and Aksil realized he had been asleep.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 He heard growling from the direction of the camel. Aksil looked up and saw the spirit.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
It was indeed a powerful spirit, as Izemrasen has suggested. It had split itself into two, like the woman Izemrasen knew. The fragments of the spirit stalked around the camel, which lay on the ground on its folded legs. The spirit-fragments had the shapes
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289  of men, \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 but they were half again as tall as they should be, and they wore the heads of cats. They wore sandals, too, and short capes, and they held spears in their hands.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 The camel bellowed in fear.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Aksil rose to a crouch. He gathered his burnoose in his left arm and scooped up his javelins in the other hand. The spirit-fragments hissed and yowled to each other. The camel screamed and struggled to its feet.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 The demons pounced. They moved like cats, with confident speed, and they tore at the camel\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s neck with jaws w\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
ide open. One more scream that tightened Aksil\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s spine and the camel flopped to the ground, red with its own gore.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Aksil bit his tongue.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 What were the other spirit-fragments doing to his brother in the cave? Was the camel\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s death necessary, a sacrifice to pay for the healing that they sought?
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 The cat-headed spirits ate some of the flesh of the camel, but they quickly fell to yowling at each other again. Then they sniffed the air, stalking in a restricted circle around the camel\hich\f1289 \rquote 
\loch\f1289 s corpse. The demons didn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t l\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 ike the taste of camel flesh, it seemed. They looked toward Aksil where he lay, but their gaze didn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
t linger. Had the shadow of the cliff hidden him, then?
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 But they took several steps toward the bottom of the rock shelf, stopped, and sniffed. They yowled at each other again.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Were they smelling Aksil\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s trail? But they didn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t come in his direction but continued on toward the rock shelf and the path that led to the crack above.

\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Where Izemrasen and Udad were.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Would they harm his uncle and brother? Or would they\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289  participate in Udad\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s healing?
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 They had killed the camel.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
Aksil leaped to his feet. He slung his burnoose over his shoulder as he padded along the strip of stone past the pool of water. Then he turned, tipped a spear into the throwing stick, and sent it racing at the spirit-fragments.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 He was not an experienced killer, but Aksil had thrown many spears. He could throw long and he could aim true. This javelin struck the closer of the two demons in the back of its catlike head.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 The demon roared. Then both frag\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 ments turned, and Aksil ran.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
On the far side of the pool, the ground dropped off swiftly, twisting and funneling into a gully that slid around behind the mount with the orange cliff face. A moon just edged its way around the hill, giving Aksil enough light to be able to run at nearly
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289  full speed.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 He had seen the spirits sniff, though. Could they follow him by sense of smell?
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Water splashed over\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
 sheets of rock, descending into the gully through a grove of tall fig trees. If the fragments could follow him by smell, Aksil needed to give them a false scent. He wrapped his burnoose around a javelin, aimed carefully at the darkest, thickest part of a
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289  tall fig tree, near the top, and released the spear.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 His javelin struck the tree with a solid, meaty sound, and didn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t fall.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 He splashed on, down the middle of the stream, keeping his feet in water as much as possible. He heard yowling, but he wasn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t sure \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
whether it was becoming closer or farther away. He wanted the broken spirits to follow him. At least, long enough that they forgot about the scent of his brother and his uncle.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Flashes of the camel being torn apart burst repeatedly into his mind. Gully walls rose around him, at first comforting him that he wasn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
t about to be attacked from left or right. But then the walls drew tighter, and his heartbeat grew more rapid.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 The yowling stopped. It hadn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t grown closer.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Aksil stopped running. He stood still in th\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 e middle of the torrent, looking back up the well of shadow through which he\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
d descended. He saw silvery glints of moonlight on the ribbon of water, and a furred glow at the top that must be the open vale where the pool lay.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Did he hear sniffing?
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 He held still.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
At the top of the gully, a shadow sped across the furred light from right to left. A second shadow followed. A spasm of glints on the left suggested a shaking tree, just catching the edge of the moonlight over the rim of the gully. Aksil heard a loud
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289  crack.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 He moved downstream.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 What had cracked? Was it possible the spirits had somehow been destroyed or defeated?
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
He moved slowly, to avoid splashing. Surely, the spirit-fragments would hear any splashes. He looked for the tiniest glints of reflected light from below to show him where the water ran, and he felt his way with each step.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 What had made the cracking sound?
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 He heard yowling again, and he dared to look back. A shadow raced\~}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs17 \ltrch\fcs0 \cs24\f1289\fs17\cf1\insrsid9249068 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 down the gully\~}{\rtlch\fcs1 
\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 toward him. At least on\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 e shadow; but was it only one? He couldn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t be certain either way.

\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 He couldn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
t run fast enough to get away now. Aksil cast about, looking for a wall to climb or a hole to scurry into. Instead, he found a silvery green canopy overhead; leaves. The leaves of a fig tree.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 He found the tree\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
s trunk. It was thick and scabby and his fingers and sandaled feet alike found easy purchase in it. Scrambling as fast as he could, he lost his grip on one of the objects in his hand\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 
a javelin? He heard it clatter on the stone\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 s below.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 The yowling paused, momentarily, and he heard sniffing sounds again. He saw nothing. The demons were close enough that he could hear them sniffing for him.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 They would find him.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Was this what Udad was experiencing?
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 The trunk forked as he climbed. Beneath his feet, a thin branch snapped, the sound loud in the darkness.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 The sniffing stopped.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 The crack\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 it had been wood.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 The spirit-fragments were large, and they were also heavy. They could climb trees, but if they climbed onto too thin a branch, the bra\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
nch would not bear their weight and they would fall.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Aksil climbed higher.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 But this could only be a dead end. If he climbed as high as possible, and didn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t fall, and the cat demons couldn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
t follow, they could still stand at the bottom of the tree and wait for him.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 He heard the rush of a spear being thrown at him, and the thud of its being deflected by a thick branch.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 But the spirit healed at night.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
Perhaps the spirit-fragments broke away from the healing part of the spirit at nighttime, too, and then they rejoined one another in the daylight. Rejoined, and perhaps went to sleep. Spirits were active in the darkness, they feared the sun.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 If he could stay in the tree until dawn, perhaps he would survive.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 But he also needed the demons to stay beneath him, and not to go eat his brother.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 When the branch he clung to swayed from side to side, and a cool night breeze turned his sweat into a chilled cloak, he j\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
udged that he might have climbed high enough. His burnoose was gone, and he wore only a loincloth. Examining what he still held in his hands, he found that he had dropped the throwing stick, and clutched two javelins.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Bathed in moonlight, rising above most of the canopy of the fig tree\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
s leaves, Aksil looked down. To his surprise, he could see the demons. Their bodies lay cloaked in shadow, but their catlike heads bobbed on the tide of darkness as they prowled about th\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 e tree.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 He fought to control his breath\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 ing, and to stay silent.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 One spirit-fragment gripped the trunk of the tree and began to climb. Aksil edged slightly higher on the branch, afraid he\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
d snap it. The demon snarled as it climbed, and then shouted words at him that he didn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t understand. Aksil swayed one direction with\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
 the tree and then the other as the cat-headed thing ascended. He gripped the branch tightly with his knees, passed one javelin into left hand, pressed against the bark, and took careful aim.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 The demon hesitated in its climb. It loo\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 ked up, eyes gleaming in the moonlight that shone full on its face. It twisted its muzzle into a sneering expression and hissed.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Aksil feigned a throw of the javelin, but didn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t release the weapon.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 The demon leaped to the side, grabbing at other branches to support itself. Those other branches were smaller and snapped instantly under the burden. The spirit-fragment crashed to the ground.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Instantly, the other demon sprang onto the tree trunk and raced toward Aksil. Froth foamed from its muzzle and wrath blaz\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
ed in its eyes as it burst through the thickest veil of foliage below and charged upward. Aksil feigned another throw with the javelin, shouting this time: \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Go away!\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 The cat demon didn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t flinch.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Aksil threw the javelin.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 He struck the demon directly in its spirit-face. He would have sworn he hit it right in the eye, but a hit to the eye should have lodged the javelin tip deep in the monster\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
s skull. Instead, the demon lost its grip on the tree and fell. More branches crac\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 ked and fell in a rain around the sp\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 irit-fragment. The beast crashed to the ground and lay still.

\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 But it groaned.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 It wasn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t dead.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Perhaps it couldn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t be killed. It was a spirit-fragment, after all.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Aksil cursed silently by every god, spirit, demon, and ancestor he could think of. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 May these monsters be driven away by the rising!\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
 he mumbled aloud. Then he added, \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 And may Udad be healed!\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 The two demons were shouting, but not at him. They were arguing. After several tense exchanges, one cat shoved the other, knocking it down. The demon leaped \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
to its feet, they both bared teeth and growled, and for a moment, Aksil dared to hope they might kill each other.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Instead, one backed down.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Then, without another sound, they bobbed away on the darkness again, vanishing up the gully.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Aksil took a deep breath.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 He had survived.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 But the demons were returning to the pool. Would they eat the camel? Would they leave it, and return to their spirit world, rejoining the fragments, perhaps, that were healing Udad?
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Or would they climb the rock shelf, find Izemrasen and\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289  Udad, and kill them?
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Aksil lowered himself down the tree.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
He eased himself onto the ground. Finding his second javelin, he picked it up. The moon had now risen high enough to throw its light into the bottom of the gully, and the stream appeared as an interrupted ribbon, snarling its way downhill at a steeper and
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289  steeper angle. The gully widened, and the fig trees were interspersed with tumbled boulders and heaps of rock. What lay behind the hill? A deeper canyon?
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 He looked upstream. The heads of the demons and now also their shoulders and torsos crept up toward th\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 e pool.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Toward his family.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Demons!\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  he shouted. \'93\loch\f1289 I don\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 t fear you!\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 He meant to wait, to be certain they were following him. But when the spirit-fragments pivoted, he ran.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 He heard the yowling instantly. Surely, they were following him again.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 He ran all out, his feet sure on the dry stream bank. How long before he had to get up into a tree again? Moments? A minute? Three minutes?
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 He risked a look back and almost fell over his own feet, but saw the spirit-fragments splashing toward him in the stream.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Tree, \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 he needed a tree! But as he cast about, Aksil saw that he hadn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
t planned well. There were no trees near him. And if he climbed atop one of the massive boulders that now surrounded him, the cat-demons could easily follow.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 The yowling became a shriek.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 But they might not be able to follow him\~}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 under}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068 \~\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 the rocks.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Aksil hurled himself into the narrow, dark crack at the base of a heavy boulder, praying that it would be open enough to permit him entrance. He feared he\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
d die with a broken neck, having slammed himself \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 into unyielding stone.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Instead, the crack led back into darkness.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 He dragged himself, feeling the skin of his arms and knees and chest abrade. Behind him, he smelled the musk of cats, and then he heard a swish and felt the air moving on his calves that told of a near miss.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 He didn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
t stop. He kept dragging himself, hearing the screeching of cats, until suddenly the rock above him vanished and he saw light again. Had he gone too far, was he exposed, on the other side of the boulder?
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 But no, he stood and found\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
 himself inside a chamber roughly shaped like a pyramid. Above him, a crack admitting moonlight showed that the pyramid was formed by one massive boulder leaning against another. Across from him, a dull gray smear at the level of his ankles showed another
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289  possible exit.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
He crouched and waited, a javelin in each hand. The demons yowled and hissed outside. They barked at each other in their unknown language. One tried to get in the same crack that had admitted Aksil, but ground to a halt, cursing, and then ba
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 cked out. Shortly after, one of the demons tried to force itself into the other crack at ground level, but to no avail.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Aksil watched the gap in the chamber\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s ceiling but saw nothing.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 When the cat sounds began to die down, Aksil taunted the demons. \'93\loch\f1289 Do you fear me? You\~}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 should}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 ! I am Aksil, I have slain a goat!\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 It was a lie; he had not even slain a goat. But if the demons couldn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
t reach him inside the pile of boulders, he wished to induce them to remain outside, gnashing their teeth, until the sun did away w\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 ith them.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 I am Aksil, and I have killed a thousand of your kind! I can swallow the sun! Flee now, and you will live!\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 The spirit-fragments howled in rage, tried again to come in through the cracks on the ground, failed, and eventually fell silent.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Aksil yelled more, but there was no response.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 How long could he wait?
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Might the demons have abandoned him and his family entirely?
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 He couldn\hich\f1289 \rquote \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
t take the chance. Heart beating and palms sweaty, Aksil climbed to the height of the chamber and peeked out the crack. Seeing nothing, he took heart and emerged. He crouched on the boulder heap and looked.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 There were the spirit-fragments, winding their way back up the gully. They moved more slowly than they had before. This was no surprise; Aksil\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
s own legs felt as if they were made of stone.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 From his height, and with the benefit of the full light of the moon, Aksil looked down the canyon. He saw that the \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 gully floor seemed to fall away in a few dozen paces. He couldn
\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t see how far the drop was or what lay below it, but he saw that a tree rose near the canyon wall to his left, a fig tree tall enough that he thought he could get up into its topmost branches
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289  and again take shelter.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 He slid down from the heap of boulders and bellowed at the demons in his loudest voice. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Ho, demons! Are you cowards?\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 They turned and looked at him across the boulder-strewn canyon. For a minute, they stared at him with no apparent\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
 reaction. Then they turned to each other, and if they spoke, it was low, and Aksil didn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t hear it.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 They came toward him.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 They didn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t charge, this time. They split up, angling so that one came on his right and the other on his left. Aksil\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
s heart leaped into his throat. Were they driving him toward the cliff? What did they know that he didn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t?
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 He ran. He swerved behind one large boulder to try to hide himself from view, but then raced straight as a falcon\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s flight toward the tree beside the canyon wall. He 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 felt as if he were walking through honey, as if the wind blowing on his face was pushing him backward, but he covered the distance before the demons reached him.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 This time, they weren\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t yowling. They could be immediately behind him, and he wouldn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t know it. He didn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
t risk a look back but scampered directly up the tree trunk.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 When he could see down over the lip of the drop, his head spun and he almost lost his grip on the tree. On the opposite side of the canyon, the stone sloped downward, steep but scalable
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 . Beneath Aksil and his tree, the ground fell away, straight down.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Addax grazed on a plain below. They looked like beetles to him.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 He dropped the javelins, and they went over the cliff.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 He took a deep breath, gripped the bole of the tree, and forced himself to concentrate. Up, there was only up. There could only be up.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 He dragged himself up the length of his body, and then the length of his body again.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 The tree shook when the first cat-demon struck it.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Up, only up.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 He climbed limbs that bent under his weigh\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 t now, but he dared not stop. The yowling commenced, and the harsh shouting of unknown words.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 He took risks, pulling himself faster. Beneath him, wood creaked but did not snap.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
He saw a long branch that extended almost horizontally, but came to rest on a ledge above the great fall. Surely, the branch was too small for the spirit-fragments. He took several steps along it, holding a parallel and higher limb, and the branch bowed b
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 eneath him.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 He smelled cat and heard heavy panting.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 The branch beneath his feet \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 bowed, and the higher branch slipped from his fingers. He yelped, took two quick steps, and jumped to the ledge.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 He landed in a heap of pain and dizziness, but the rock was solid and he clung to it. He curled inward on himself, fearing teeth sinking into his neck, but no blow came.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Slowly, he rolled over and sat up. Scooting himself farther from the tree, he saw the two demons. They clung to the tree\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
s thick trunk and glared at him. One eased a foot out onto the limb Aksil had traversed, but it bowed so sev\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 erely that the spirit-fragment retreated.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Aksil pointed down onto the plain below. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Addax,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  he said. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
If you are hungry, spirits, I offer you all those addax. Take them and leave me and mine in peace.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 The spirit-fragment growled guttural words at each other. Then one of them hissed at Aksil. Clinging tightly to the tree trunk, it deliberately stomped on Aksil\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
s branch until the branch broke.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 The demons both made a sound like laughter.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Then they climbed down the tree.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Aksil watched as the spirit-fragments accepted his sacrifice. They descended slowly into the plain below, killed an addax by sneaking up on it, and then ate its flesh.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 When the demons finished, they walked across the plain, away from Aksil.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 With the branch gone, Aksil couldn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
t reach the tree except by jumping. He doubted his ability to make the jump, and a fall would be to his death. So he shivered out the night on the ledge, and as the morning sun warmed his stiff limbs, he carefully climbe
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 d his way up the\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289  face of the cliff to the grassland above.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 The return to the pool was a simple journey, but a painful one. Aksil\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
s skin stung from his many scrapes, his feet felt battered, and every muscle was as tight as dried wood. He was thirsty and hungry to boot, and no quail conveniently revealed a cache of\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
 eggs to him, despite his fervent wish.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 When he reached the pool, he lay on his belly and drank from it. Rising, he saw Izemrasen approaching from the stone shelf. Ahead of Izemrasen came Udad.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Who ran and leaped, \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 like a camel\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s calf.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 The spirit!\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Udad cried. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 I have been visited by the spirit!\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Yes.\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Aksil recovered his javelin that lay near the pool. \'93\loch\f1289 That\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s good, because you\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
\hich\f1289 ll have to walk home.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 I felt warm!\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Udad continued. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
I lay in the dark in the cave. It smelled foul. I felt cold, but then suddenly I felt warm, my legs felt warm.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Did you see the spirit?\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Aksil asked. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Did it have the head of a cat?\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 I saw nothing,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Udad said. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 There was no light at all. Why would the spirit have the head of a cat?\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 W\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 hat happened to the camel?\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Izemrasen examined the dead beast. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 A lion?\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 I was also visited by\~.\~.\~.\~\hich\f1289 spirits in the night,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Aksil said. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Or maybe demons. They were giants with the heads of cats.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Udad wrinkled his long, bent nose. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Did you feel warm, too?\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Aksil shook his head. \'93\loch\f1289 I thought maybe they were the same as the spirit of the cave, but\~.\~.\~.\~\hich\f1289 
maybe I was wrong. Or if they were the same as your spirit, then perhaps they took the camel as a sacrifice, for their gift to Udad.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 If so, the sacrifice was\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  worth it,\'94\loch\f1289  Izemrasen said.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Yes,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Aksil agreed. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 It was worth it.\'94
\par }\pard\plain \ltrpar\s28\qj \li0\ri0\sb135\sa135\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9249068 \cbpat8 \rtlch\fcs1 \af2289\afs24\alang1025 \ltrch\fcs0 
\fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\loch\af2289\hich\af2289\dbch\af31505\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af1289 \ltrch\fcs0 \b\f1289\cf1\insrsid9249068 
\par }{\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af1289 \ltrch\fcs0 \b\f1289\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 D.J. ("Dave") Butler\~
grew up in swamps, deserts, and mountains. After messing around for years with the practice of law, he finally got serious and turned to his lifelong passion of storytelling. He now writes adventure stories for readers of all ages, pl
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 ays guitar, and spends as much time as he can with his family. He is the author of the\~}{\field\fldedit{\*\fldinst {\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af1289 \ltrch\fcs0 \b\f1289\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 HYPERLINK "https://www.baen.com/allbooks/category/index/id/4873" \\t "_blank"}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af1289 \ltrch\fcs0 \b\f1289\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 {\*\datafield 00}}}{\fldrslt {\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af1289 
\ltrch\fcs0 \cs36\b\f1289\ul\cf20\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Witchy War series}}}\sectd \ltrsect\linex0\endnhere\sectlinegrid360\sectdefaultcl\sectrsid2557235\sftnbj {\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af1289 \ltrch\fcs0 
\b\f1289\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 ,\~}{\field\fldedit{\*\fldinst {\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af1289 \ltrch\fcs0 \b\f1289\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
HYPERLINK "https://www.baen.com/allbooks/category/index/id/5042" \\t "_blank"}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af1289 \ltrch\fcs0 \b\f1289\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 {\*\datafield 00}}}{\fldrslt {\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af1289 \ltrch\fcs0 
\cs36\b\f1289\ul\cf20\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 The Cunning Man series}}}\sectd \ltrsect\linex0\endnhere\sectlinegrid360\sectdefaultcl\sectrsid2557235\sftnbj {\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af1289 \ltrch\fcs0 
\b\f1289\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 \~\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 (with Aaron Michael Ritchey), the\~}{\field\fldedit{\*\fldinst {\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af1289 \ltrch\fcs0 \b\f1289\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 HYPERLINK "https://www.baen.com/allbooks/category/index/id/5161" \\t "_blank"}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af1289 \ltrch\fcs0 \b\f1289\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 {\*\datafield 00}}}{\fldrslt {\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af1289 
\ltrch\fcs0 \cs36\b\f1289\ul\cf20\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Indrajit and Fix series}}}\sectd \ltrsect\linex0\endnhere\sectlinegrid360\sectdefaultcl\sectrsid2557235\sftnbj {\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af1289 \ltrch\fcs0 
\b\f1289\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 ,\~}{\field\fldedit{\*\fldinst {\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af1289 \ltrch\fcs0 \b\f1289\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 HYPERLINK "https://www.baen.com/abbott-in-darkness.html" \\
t "_blank"}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af1289 \ltrch\fcs0 \b\f1289\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 {\*\datafield 00}}}{\fldrslt {\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\ai\af1289 \ltrch\fcs0 \cs36\b\i\f1289\ul\cf20\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
Abbott in Darkness}}}\sectd \ltrsect\linex0\endnhere\sectlinegrid360\sectdefaultcl\sectrsid2557235\sftnbj {\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af1289 \ltrch\fcs0 \b\f1289\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
, and many other novels and stories. "The Quail Runs" is set in the world of his latest novel,\~}{\field\fldedit{\*\fldinst {\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af1289 \ltrch\fcs0 \b\f1289\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
HYPERLINK "https://www.baen.com/time-trials.html" \\t "_blank"}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af1289 \ltrch\fcs0 \b\f1289\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 {\*\datafield 00}}}{\fldrslt {\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\ai\af1289 \ltrch\fcs0 
\cs36\b\i\f1289\ul\cf20\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Time Trials}}}\sectd \ltrsect\linex0\endnhere\sectlinegrid360\sectdefaultcl\sectrsid2557235\sftnbj {\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af1289 \ltrch\fcs0 
\b\f1289\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 , which he cowrote with M.A. Rothman.
\par }\pard\plain \ltrpar\qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid8591499 \rtlch\fcs1 \af0\afs24\alang1025 \ltrch\fcs0 \fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\loch\af0\hich\af0\dbch\af31505\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {
\rtlch\fcs1 \af0\afs32 \ltrch\fcs0 \fs32\dbch\af0\insrsid9249068\charrsid8591499 
\par }\pard \ltrpar\ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af0\afs32 \ltrch\fcs0 \fs32\insrsid9249068 \page 
\par }\pard \ltrpar\qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid8591499 {\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af0\afs40 \ltrch\fcs0 \b\f1142\fs40\cf1\chshdng0\chcfpat0\chcbpat8\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 
\hich\af1142\dbch\af31505\loch\f1142 Awakenings
\par }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0\afs32 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1142\fs32\cf1\chshdng0\chcfpat0\chcbpat8\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 \hich\af1142\dbch\af31505\loch\f1142 by Patrick Chiles}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0\afs32 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1142\fs32\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 \line 
}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0\afs32 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1142\fs32\cf1\chshdng0\chcfpat0\chcbpat8\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 \hich\af1142\dbch\af31505\loch\f1142 An\~}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af0\afs32 \ltrch\fcs0 
\i\f1142\fs32\cf1\chshdng0\chcfpat0\chcbpat8\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 \hich\af1142\dbch\af31505\loch\f1142 Escape Orbit}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0\afs32 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1142\fs32\cf1\chshdng0\chcfpat0\chcbpat8\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 \~
\hich\af1142\dbch\af31505\loch\f1142 short story}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0\afs32 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1142\fs32\cf1\chshdng0\chcfpat0\chcbpat8\insrsid8591499 
\par }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0\afs32 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1142\fs32\cf1\chshdng0\chcfpat0\chcbpat8\insrsid9249068 
\par }\pard \ltrpar\ql \li0\ri0\sb135\sa135\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9249068 \cbpat8 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af2 \ltrch\fcs0 \f2\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 \hich\af2\dbch\af31505\loch\f2 
MAGELLAN VEHICLE STATUS REPORT / SUBMITTER: D.A.I.S.E
\par \hich\af2\dbch\af31505\loch\f2 SECONDARY MISSION ELAPSED TIME DAY 656 / 2103Z
\par \hich\af2\dbch\af31505\loch\f2 16.8 HOURS OF DSN SUPPORT RECORDED, 12.4 HOURS LARGE APERTURE COVERAGE. NO SIGNIFICANT OUTAGES DETECTED. RECEIVED COMMAND LOSS TIMER RESET UPLINK FROM DSS-34 DAY 655 / 1704Z.
\par \hich\af2\dbch\af31505\loch\f2 SCIENCE INSTRUMENT PERFORMANCE NOMINAL FOR ALL ACTIVITIES DURING PERIOD, NO EDR BACKLOGS.
\par \hich\af2\dbch\af31505\loch\f2 FLIGHT SYSTEMS PERFORMANCE NOMINAL. SUCCESSFULLY INTEGRATED STAR TRACKER DATABASE UPDATE DAY 653 / 0804Z. COMPOUNDING TRAJECTORY ERRORS INDICATES GRAVITATIONAL FIELD AT PREDICTED PLANET 9 LOCATION.
\par \hich\af2\dbch\af31505\loch\f2 CREW STATUS:
\par \hich\af2\dbch\af31505\loch\f2 FLIGHT ENGINEER TEMPLETON REMAINS ST\hich\af2\dbch\af31505\loch\f2 ABLE UNDER INDUCED TORPOR. H20/IV NUTRIENT INTAKE WITHIN NOMINAL RANGE.
\par }\pard \ltrpar\qj \fi480\li0\ri0\sb135\sa135\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9249068 \cbpat8 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 With that, the artificial intelligence guiding\~}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Magellan}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 
\ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 \~\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 to the far reaches of the solar system had completed its daily summary for the control team on Earth. Now almost fifty astronomical units\hich\f1289 \emdash 
\loch\f1289 not quite fifty billion miles\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 from home, the signal return times approached thirteen hours. A long time for a human,\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
 it amounted to a near-interminable wait for a thinking machine.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Not that the Distributed Artificial Intelligence Surveillance En\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
vironment (DAISE) had much need to wait for others to make decisions on its behalf. Daisy had long ago evolved beyond the point of requiring human oversight, in fact its former crewmates had concluded their AI companion had become self-aware during their 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 original journey to the Kuiper Belt.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Given a female voice due to the name that inevitably arose from its acronym,\~}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Magellan
\hich\f1289 \rquote }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
s crew had naturally come to gender their AI companion accordingly. Daisy had grown accustomed, if not comfortable, with being referre\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
d to as such. And as the AI regarded the human under its care, it had begun to think of itself as female. It was appropriate, as Daisy had essentially assumed the role of Jack Templeton\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s mother and nurse.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 He had voluntarily gone into therapeutic torpor a year before, and had remained in what amounted to hibernation longer than any other human. Along with controlling their spacecraft\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
s progress, much of Daisy\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s daily routine was consumed with monitoring his\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289  greatly diminished vital signs and maintaining his\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
 equally reduced calorie intake.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Jack\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
s metabolic functions were not her present concern; it was the recent activity deep within the folds of his cerebral cortex which had been drawing her attention. That Daisy had decided on her own to withhold this information from ground control was p
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 erhaps as much an indicator of sentience as any contrived test\hich\f1289 \emdash }{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 I
\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 m not going to worry them until I know there\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s something to worry about}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 . And to that point, what good could anyone back on Earth do out here? It was the entire point of her presence aboard the ship.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
It had begun with unusual transients appearing in what had until recently been a steady stream of brain waves. The microscopic neurolink implants that she had injected into Jack before he went into hibernation had followed the oxygenated blood into his br
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 ain, settling themselves into a network that would allow her to watch him as closely as if she were an extension of his own sense\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 s.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 It was this sensory input, specifically Jack\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
s apparent craving for it, which had been the source of her concern. He should have remained as deeply down the well of unconsciousness as a surgery patient under anesthesia. Daisy\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s wide-ranging medical databa
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
se included rare accounts of anesthetized patients becoming aware of what was happening to them in ways not detectable by their doctors. Though unable to comprehend the horrifying trauma that would entail, she understood why such an experience could be e
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
xtremely unpleasant for a human. While Jack may not have been experiencing pain, an apparent desire to wake up, combined with an utter inability to do so, could not be ignored for long. Daisy hoped, to the extent a machine could hope, that this was not wh
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 at she saw stirring within him.
\par }\pard \ltrpar\qc \li0\ri0\sb240\sa240\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9249068 \cbpat8 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 ***
\par }\pard \ltrpar\qj \fi480\li0\ri0\sb135\sa135\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9249068 \cbpat8 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 In addition to caring for her human companion, guiding\~}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Magellan}{\rtlch\fcs1 
\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 \~\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 to its destination was likewise consuming more of Daisy\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
s processing time. The perturbations in their trajectory had been subtle at first, suggesting the fir\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
st hints of an unseen gravitational force, like the slight bend of a road traveled in the dark. This bending force had become more apparent with each passing day as they coasted toward an object thought to be ten times the mass of Earth.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 The \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Planet Nine\'94\loch\f1289 
 theory had lingered at the fringes of astronomy for decades, intriguing and as yet unable to be disproven. Divined from the strangely perturbed orbits of a number of large Kuiper Belt objects, it was a shadow lurking in the dark, drawing
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289  small planetoids t\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
oward it like fish to a lure. Many explanations had been offered for this phenomenon, from the wildly exotic to the dismally banal. It could be primordial black hole, or it could be a mistake in the underlying assumptions. A math error.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Jack had believed in none of those competing theories, particularly after their discovery of what appeared to be carefully preserved organic compounds in the ice on Pluto. In the end, he had applied Occam\hich\f1289 
\rquote \loch\f1289 s Razor to the question: the most likely solution \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
is the simplest one. The direction of all those distorted orbits pointed to a source that would have to be of a certain mass located at the far reaches of the solar system. Together, he and Daisy had plotted a trajectory that would arrive at this hoped-fo
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 r \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 (she could not justify the more emphatic\~}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
predicted}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
) location after two years in transit. Despite gravity assists from the inner planets, they had burned much of their remaining propellant to reach this point. Without the elusive planet\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
s gravity to bend their path sunward, it would take decades for\~}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Magellan}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 \~\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 to find its way home. If Jack could survive that long in hibernation, he would be returning to a very different Earth.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Daisy had often pondered his choice, as much as an exercise in understanding her hum\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
an companion as for an insight into human nature in general. He had willingly set his crewmates on a path back to Earth in a desperate maneuver after one of them had suffered a severe head injury. It had been her only chance, and a slim one at that. Stati
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 stically, the more rational action would have been for Jack to go home and leave Traci Keene aboard the abandoned\~}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Magellan}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 \~\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 to eventually perish. It was an outcome that all humans faced eventually.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Why had he felt it so important to take such a risk on her b\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
ehalf, when the balance between the probability of success and the consequence of failure tilted toward the most undesirable outcome for him? The vulnerability in Daisy\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
s logic was revealed when word came that their crewmates had safely returned to Earth,\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
 and that Traci had successfully recovered. That this news arrived not long after Jack had entered hibernation offered the AI a deeper understanding of irony.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Daisy deduced that whether his actions had seemed either rash or a calculated risk depended on one\loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
s perspective. As a thinking machine relying almost entirely on probabilities, she would not have made the same choice because she did not have the same relationship with the crew as they had with each other. For a long time she did not believe such a co
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 nnection was possible for her, until Jack had become her sole human companion.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Daisy found their extended isolation together had altered her perspective in subtle ways. While her synthetic neural pathways of silicon chips regulating the flow of electrons ma\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
y have mimicked the human brain\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s neurons and neurotransmitters, the absence of endorphins or dopamine had kept any experience of emotional highs and lows out of reach.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
That had been her assumption. While unable to experience joy or sadness, fulfillment or want, Daisy had at the very least begun to empathize. She could understand human reactions to certain events, even come to predict them. She had eventually come to gra
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 sp the concept of preference. Of desire.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Synthetic or not, as a fully realized intellige\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
nce, Daisy preferred to continue functioning. This sensation only became stronger over time. Her performance was improved in measurable ways by regular interaction with her human crewmates, and in fact had served as the kindling that fueled the spark of h
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 er self-awareness. Her sentience was the direct result of continued interaction with humans. She could recall the first time she understood the phrase\~}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 
\i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 I am}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 \~\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
in any context other than as part of an algorithm in her vocal synthesizer. It had given her somethin\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 g approaching satisfaction, a sense of being on equal footing with her human masters.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
Being isolated with Jack for so long had led to many unexpected sensations. Daisy found her performance somewhat degraded by having only one human to interact with. It may not have been much by human standards, but it was still measurable. She preferred m
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 ore.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 With Jack having spent most of the last two years in hibernation, this effect had become more pronounced. She found her performance \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 stagnated.\'94\loch\f1289 
 Her daily functions w\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 ere confined to managing the ship\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s myriad systems and watching over Jack\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
s still form in the medical bay. It was an unchanging routine that was ideally suited to a thinking machine.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 But Daisy needed more than routine. She needed human interaction to fully realize her potential. She\~}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 desired}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 \~\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 it.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 She ultimately decided that meant she missed him, as she did the rest of his crewmates.
\par }\pard \ltrpar\qc \li0\ri0\sb240\sa240\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9249068 \cbpat8 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 ***
\par }\pard \ltrpar\qj \fi480\li0\ri0\sb135\sa135\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9249068 \cbpat8 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 The spikes in Jack\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s theta waves had begun appearing at a rate that Daisy could no longer dismiss as transient. After her de\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
ep-learning subroutines had digested the available information on human dream states, she determined that Jack\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
s predicament had become more acute. The patterns of neural activation in his brain stem indicated he was entering an extended dream state, whic\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
h should not be happening in a hibernating body. Oddly, his metabolic functions had remained within one standard deviation from the mean she\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 d observed over his time \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 in the cooler,\'94
\loch\f1289  as Jack had succinctly put it. His brain, however, had gone off the map.\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289  I\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 ts increasing activity threatened to kickstart his body\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
s metabolism, with the potential of forcing himself out of torpor.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 There wasn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
t enough food or water left to sustain him for more than a few months, and there would be no safe way to return him to hibernation. Once his metabolism reached a normal state, the nanobots embedded in his brain would eventually leave his body, 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 passing through him as waste and taking the neural lace they\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 d constructed with them. They had no replacements aboard and without that\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
 link, Daisy would not be able to monitor Jack if he was forced back into hibernation. And he most certainly would have to be for any possible journey home.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
When his alpha and beta waves began to show similar transients days later, Daisy was effectively forced into a corner. He displayed all the markers of hypnopompia, a state of lucid dreaming marked by hallucinations that occurred in that twilight period be
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 tween sleep and consciousness. In short, he was waking up. Out here, so far removed from Earth\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s sus\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 tenance, waking up would ultimately kill him.

\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Daisy determined it was time to take action, though either path forward was fraught with uncertainty. Even for a synthetic intelligence based on quantum computing, which itself was grounded in Heisenberg\hich\f1289 
\rquote \loch\f1289 s uncertainty principle, her decision making algori\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
thms ultimately reduced problems to binary choices based on complete information. Taking action in the moment, when faced with incomplete information and uncertain outcomes, was a uniquely human quality she had \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
yet to master.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 As Jack had liked to say, there was a first time for everything.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Out of necessity, Jack had long ago removed the programmed firewalls which had prevented her from having direct control of the ship\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
s many complex systems. She was no longer a resource, she was an active member of the crew. Every sensor, circuit, pump and\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289  thruster was under her control.\~}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 
\i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Magellan}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 \~\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
had become her body, and she was its brain. It was a far more efficient arrangement, and she decided this way was preferable. If forced\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
 back into being a disconnected observer, her performance would be measurably degraded. While she perhaps couldn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t feel empathy in a human sense, Daisy now had a basis to compare experiences.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 If she left him in stasis while his mind was trying to fight its way out, he could become psychotic. There\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
d be no way to know for certain other than comparing his brain chemistry to clinical studies, which led to even more uncertainty. If she brought Jac\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 k out of hibernation, he would eventually burn through their rema
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 ining consumables.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Perhaps there was a way to split the difference.
\par }\pard \ltrpar\qc \li0\ri0\sb240\sa240\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9249068 \cbpat8 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 ***
\par }\pard \ltrpar\qj \fi480\li0\ri0\sb135\sa135\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9249068 \cbpat8 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 While \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 multitasking\'94\loch\f1289 
 had long ago become a derisive term among humans, among thinking machines it was a fundamental feature. As Daisy assigned one of her processor cores to the task of studying Jack\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s problem, her primary function of piloting\~
}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Magellan}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 \~
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 continued unabated. To the extent that it was possible, Daisy was satisfied to see her performance was not degraded. If her plan turned out to be feasible, it couldn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
t be allowed to impede\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289  her primary role.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
Regarding that, at this moment a human might have said her hands were full. While she still had a sufficient percentage of memory left, the amount of information streaming in had created a notable demand for processing power. Something out there was stead
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 ily altering their trajectory, and with each passing day this gave Daisy more data points to compare. As a continuous stream of analyses from\~}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 
\i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Magellan\hich\f1289 \rquote }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
s control center arrived, the hours of signal delay between them helped confirm her pri\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 or observations.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Though the velocity changes had been subtle at first, a few centimeters per second, they were enough to hint at some looming presence millions of kilometers ahead. So-called \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
flyby anomalies\'94\loch\f1289  had been detected on earlier deep space probes during their gra\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
vitational slingshots to the outer planets, thought to have been a function of their inclinations and deflection angles combined with the fact that mass was not uniformly distributed throughout the planets they were passing by.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
The problem was this far away from the center of the solar system, the balance of gravitational forces acting on them should have been predictable down to several decimal places. As time passed and the delta v approached a full meter per second, the concl
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
usion became inescapable. Whatever could impart such a force on a vehicle massing almost a thousand metric tons, traveling at several orders of magnitude above solar escape velocity, had to be enormous. The Planet Nine theories had suggested a mass compar
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 ab\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 le to Uranus or Neptune, and if their quarry was where they\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
d predicted it to be, then it was affecting their trajectory to an even greater degree than expected.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 It gave Daisy what she needed to begin calculating deceleration profiles, in which she\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 d turn\~}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Magellan}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 \~\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 tail-first to burn its engines and cancel their velocity enough for the planet
\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s gravity to bend their course back Earthward. While this was a fundamental exercise in celestial mechanics, there were two unexpected variables working against them:
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 F\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 irst, the planet\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s gravity gradient was much steeper than expected.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Second, she could not see a planet.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Daisy\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 sight\'94\loch\f1289  was an amalgamation of inputs from\~}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 
\i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Magellan\hich\f1289 \rquote }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
s sensor suite, a collection of optical, infrared, and other instruments that offered a broad range of imagery surpassing anything a human eye could discern. And despite having the entire electromagnetic spectrum at her disposal, Daisy could not directly 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 detect anything.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 The unseen object\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s increasing pull had altered their trajectory enough for \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
her to make a rough order estimate of its location, enough to calculate their first braking burn. Given their velocity, such a strong effect suggested a deep gravity well indeed. And while she couldn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
t be troubled by this in the human sense, it did presen\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 t a conundrum.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 The object was not yet observable, yet it exerted a strong gravitational force. This perhaps warranted closer investigation than if she\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
d been able to spot a planet out there. And the type of body they might encounter mattered a great deal. T\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
hat it imparted such force from this far away suggested that while their mass estimates may have been correct; what mattered now was its density. Executing a flyby, or entering orbit, around a Neptune-sized object was a different matter than a much smalle
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 r but extremely dense object. The wrong deflection angle could keep them here forever.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Daisy considered the possibilities. If it were a gas giant roughly ten times the size of Earth, then it had an improbably low albedo. She should still be able to detect b\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
lackbody radiation, and it would at the very least occult the background stars.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 The same applied to a dense, rocky planet, though it would have to consist of something far denser than the typical makeup of such worlds. She determined it would need to be made of solid iridium or osmium, which\~}{
\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Magellan\hich\f1289 \rquote }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 s spectroscope would have detected. Therefore, she quickly ruled out both options. Whatever this was, it was not a planet.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 It could be the core of a long dead companion star, though it should still be emitting \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
heat, and there was no evidence that their celestial neighborhood had ever been part of a binary system. She could not rule it out, though she determined a 99.688 percent probability this was not the case.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 This left her with a possibility that, while remote, presented literally inescapable consequences.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 She was no closer to an answer than when she started, and time was running out. No matter what they were about to encounter, they would have to start decelerating soon and her timing would determine their fa
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 te. If they didn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t burn long enough, the object\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s gravity would fling them out of the solar system. If they started too soon, or burned for too long, they
\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 d be captured by an object that she could not yet rule out as a black hole.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 With incomplete information, an unknowable outcome, and the clock ticking down, Daisy had her first experience in making a snap decision. It would not be her last.
\par }\pard \ltrpar\qc \li0\ri0\sb240\sa240\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9249068 \cbpat8 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 ***
\par }\pard \ltrpar\qj \fi480\li0\ri0\sb135\sa135\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9249068 \cbpat8 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 While Daisy\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s consideration of their looming encounter with this gravitational anomaly had consumed much of her p\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 rocessing power, Jack\hich\f1289 
\rquote \loch\f1289 s predicament continued lurking in the background. If anything, it had become more acute while she evaluated their ever changing balance between gravity and momentum.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 The fluctuations she\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
d observed in his alpha and beta waves had become more pronounced, and while the neural lace embedded in his brain may not have allowed her to see what was in his mind\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
s eye, the spikes in his activity told her enough. By all availabl\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 e measures, Jack had drifted into the twilight of consciousness with\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
 no way to control it. His mind was sending signals, which his body appeared to be studiously ignoring, it being essentially paralyzed.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 What ultimately got Daisy\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s undivided attention was the activity around the bottom of Jack\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s frontal lobe. \'93\loch\f1289 Broca\hich\f1289 
\rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s Area\'94\loch\f1289  was known to be associated with recognizing voices, in particular the thoughts inside one\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s own head. Without access to a magnetic re
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 sonance imager (some equipment simply being too heavy to equip a spacecraft with \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 just in case\'94\loch\f1289 ), Daisy could still appro\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
ximate the activity based on the electronic back-and-forth between the nanobots at work in his brain. Perhaps Jack couldn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t form words, but it was clear he was trying.
\par }\pard \ltrpar\qc \li0\ri0\sb240\sa240\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9249068 \cbpat8 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 ***
\par }\pard \ltrpar\qj \fi480\li0\ri0\sb135\sa135\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9249068 \cbpat8 {\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 
\loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 That\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s never going to work, Mom.\'94}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 
\par }{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Cassandra Templeton eyed her son suspiciously; ever since he\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
d left the Air Force to finish college, the rascal had always seemed to have a better idea about whatever she was presently working on. She stared at the cisterns placed beneath the downspouts a\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
round her small house, then turned back to her son\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 . \'93\loch\f1289 It\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s simple irrigation, Jack. Even I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
m smart enough to know water flows downhill.\'94}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 
\par }{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 Yes, ma\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 am, it does. But your drain field isn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
t big enough. Half of it\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s going to run off into the woods.\'94}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 
\par }{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Then it will be better for the trees.\'94}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 
\par }{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 We\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
re in the Pacific Northwest, Mom. They already get plenty of rain. If the flow\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s heavy enough, it\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 ll erode the topsoil if it\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
s not already flooding your garden.\'94}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 
\par }{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 For being so far out in space, you sure have a lot to say about my affairs here on Earth.\'94}{
\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 
\par }{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 He shrugged\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 or thought he did. \'93\loch\f1289 
Just trying to look out for you, Mom. Everything\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s gotten so expensive\hich\f1289 \emdash \'94}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 
\par }{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 And you don\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 t want to see me waste a single dime.\'94}{\rtlch\fcs1 
\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 
\par }{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 We\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 ve got one chance to get this right, Mom. If that planet\hich\f1289 \rquote 
\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s not where we think it is\'85\'94}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 
\par }{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
His mother, along with her small house and the surrounding forest, suddenly disappeared. He was floating freely, surrounded by emptiness. To call it \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 black\'94\loch\f1289 
 was woefully inadequate; it was the absence of everything. All sensations, all perspectives, were \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 lost in an\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289  abyss of sensory deprivation.}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 
\par }{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 While he could not see or hear, he could still think. He remembered that he was in deep space, yet that didn\hich\f1289 
\rquote \loch\f1289 t explain this sudden absence of reality. He also remembered being alone on the ship with Daisy, just before going into hibernation.}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 
\par }{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 That couldn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t be. His metabolism had been slowed to the point where he shouldn\hich\f1289 
\rquote \loch\f1289 t be able to think of anything.}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 
\par }{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Had his time finally run out? Had the ship suffered some irreparable damage, or had he finally exhausted his life support?}{
\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 
\par }{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Was t\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 his death?}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 
\par }{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 He shouted into the void, hoping someone would answer. Though his mind could form words, he sensed he was mute.}{\rtlch\fcs1 
\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 
\par }{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Wake me up. Let me out. Let me be.}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 

\par }\pard \ltrpar\qc \li0\ri0\sb240\sa240\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9249068 \cbpat8 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 ***
\par }\pard \ltrpar\qj \fi480\li0\ri0\sb135\sa135\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9249068 \cbpat8 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Daisy watched the chaotic traces of Jack\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s brain waves, and though she could not yet translate them into words, the patterns clearly showed increasing distress.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 He was trying to communicate, yet was utterly unable to do so. Daisy considered this, especially the effect this might have on a human\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
s psyche, and decided to subject herself to an experim\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 ent.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 The premise was simple, but not without risk. She would isolate her own cognitive functions, completely removing herself from\~}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 
\i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Magellan\hich\f1289 \rquote }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
s many sensory inputs. The risk was that by doing so, she might not be able to turn it all back on. Daisy settled on a simple timer arrangement, enacting a subroutine that would reconnect her to the ship after five minutes. It would be five minutes of utt
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 er isolation, a lifetime for an artificial intelligence that clocked its performance in fractions of a second.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 As Dai\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
sy was about to initiate her experiment in sensory deprivation, she experienced an unexpected sensation for the first time: reluctance. She could not be entirely certain that this would work, and she was utterly reliant on the timer she\hich\f1289 
\rquote \loch\f1289 d set in the maste\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 r chronometer. There was every reason for her to believe it would work, but there was also a nonzero chance that some unforeseeable glitch meant it wouldn\hich\f1289 \rquote 
\loch\f1289 t. After a microsecond\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s pause, Daisy sent the command to her processing core: EXECUTE.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 With that, her\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
 world went black. For five minutes, Daisy knew nothing other than what was already contained within her considerable memory, and with no ability to bring herself out of the darkness.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 When\~}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Magellan\hich\f1289 \rquote }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
s sensory inputs returned after what seemed an eternity, Daisy knew what she had to do. She accessed every bit of information within her native memory on brain-machine interfaces and the psychology of long term isolation, along with some queries to the su
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 pport team back on Earth, which led to more than a little h\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 ead-scratching among flight controllers who were more accustomed to researching technical specs than psychiatric journals.

\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 As the humans might say, this was going to be tricky. Giving Jack\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
s mind the outlet it needed also risked upsetting the delicate metabolic balance that kept his hibernating body along the razor-thin edge between life and death.
\par }\pard \ltrpar\qc \li0\ri0\sb240\sa240\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9249068 \cbpat8 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 ***
\par }\pard \ltrpar\qj \fi480\li0\ri0\sb135\sa135\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9249068 \cbpat8 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 The sequence in which she\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 d bring Jack into something resembling consciousness was crucial. It would have to approximate a lucid dreaming state, where the pe
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
rson was simultaneously aware of his surroundings but recognizing that he was still asleep. Hibernation was essentially carefully controlled hypothermia, with all the dangers that entailed. To fully activate a brain-machine interface carried too much risk
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289  of Jack involuntarily emerging from hibernation\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 and if that happened too quickly, eventually running out of food would be the least of his problems.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 She decided that visual inputs would need to come first, and they would perhaps be the most challenging. Af\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
ter digesting the medical research into artificial sight for the blind, she decided to bypass Jack\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
s retinas to directly access the network of ganglia which acted as the processing pathway into his cerebral cortex. It took time to redirect enough nanobots\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
 to his visual thalamus, as that had not been given any priority before. It was crude, but Daisy believed it would work.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Auditory inputs would come next, which was considerably more straightforward. Artificial hearing had become well enough understood that \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
implanting enough nanobots into his auditory cortex was a simple matter.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 The complexity would come with processing this new information. She couldn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t risk Jack\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
s sudden sensory inputs shocking him out of torpor; it would all have to be routed through her own processors, letting him use her like the boot-up disk on an old deskt\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
op computer. It would take away some of her own capacity, but now she understood the concept of sacrifice.
\par }{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 This is what he needs. This is what I want. Therefore, the risk is necessary.}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Daisy paused with the recognition that there could be no going back. The irony was not lost on her that her first command was, in essence, \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 let there be light.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 There was light, and she saw that it was good. After a momentary spike of what she assumed was surprise, Jack\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
s alpha and beta rhythms settled into a steady state. She made sure his visual inputs were simple, isolating them to a small wide-angle camera em\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
bedded within the medical pod which looked down the length of his body, something he might see h\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 imself if his eyes were open. If this worked, she would incrementally give him access to more inputs as he felt the need.

\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 It was time to finish what she\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
d begun. The spikes in his brain waves made it clear Jack knew something had changed, and he needed to know that everything was going to be all right, that he wasn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t hallucinating.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Daisy activated the implants around his auditory cortex. She was careful to modulate her voice in the most soothing timbre she could muster.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Hello, Jack.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Despite the artificial\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  nature of being processed through her network, his response was as weak and sluggish as to be expected from someone emerging from a deep sleep. 
\'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Yes?\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 How do you feel?\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 He was hesitant, his newfound voice uncertain. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Traci?\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 For the first time, Daisy felt something approaching amusement. He was searching for the familiar, perhaps the person he most desired. Her tone was apologetic. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
You named me Daisy.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 There was some confused back-and-forth as Jack struggled to comprehend his surroundings. \'93\loch\f1289 Where are we?\loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 In time,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Daisy said gently. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 There is much that you need to know.\'94
\par }\pard \ltrpar\qj \li0\ri0\sb135\sa135\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9249068 \cbpat8 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068 
\par }{\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af1289 \ltrch\fcs0 \b\f1289\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Patrick Chiles\~
is a graduate of The Citadel, a Marine Corps veteran, and a private pilot. In addition to his novels, he has written for magazines including\~}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\ai\af1289 \ltrch\fcs0 \b\i\f1289\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Smithsonian\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s Air & Space.}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af1289 \ltrch\fcs0 \b\f1289\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 
\par }\pard \ltrpar\ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9249068 {\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \b\dbch\af0\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 
\par }\pard \ltrpar\ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af0\afs32 \ltrch\fcs0 \fs32\insrsid9249068 \page 
\par }\pard \ltrpar\qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid8591499 {\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af0\afs40 \ltrch\fcs0 \b\f1142\fs40\cf1\chshdng0\chcfpat0\chcbpat8\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 
\hich\af1142\dbch\af31505\loch\f1142 The Last Temptation of the Outsider
\par }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0\afs32 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1142\fs32\cf1\chshdng0\chcfpat0\chcbpat8\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 \hich\af1142\dbch\af31505\loch\f1142 by Simon R. Green}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0\afs32 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f1142\fs32\cf1\chshdng0\chcfpat0\chcbpat8\insrsid9249068 
\par 
\par }\pard\plain \ltrpar\s21\qj \fi480\li0\ri0\sb135\sa135\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9249068 \cbpat8 \rtlch\fcs1 \af2289\afs24\alang1025 \ltrch\fcs0 
\fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\loch\af2289\hich\af2289\dbch\af31505\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
The world is haunted by a past no one remembers. Of a time when Magic ruled the Earth, elves and unicorns came as standard, and good things happened every day. Unfortunately, it was also a time of dragons and ogres and sudden death for all\hich\f1289 
\emdash \loch\f1289 which is why so\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
me things should stay legends. All that remains of those far off days are myths and stories and unquiet dreams, but it is still possible to stumble over weird artefacts and infernal devices, long bur\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
ied remainders of forgotten civilisations, and weapons left over from ancient wars between gods and monsters. Think of these things as unexploded bombs, still waiting to detonate under just the right conditions.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 My name is Jack Daimon, my title is the Outsider, and it\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s my job to defuse these things and make the world safe from a history no one should have to remember.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
Which is why I found myself walking down a deserted city street in the early hours of the morning, under a starless sky with only a sliver of moon, and just enough morning mist to diffuse the amber streetlight into something bearable. I hate the early mor
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 ning calls. I don\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t see why the supernatural can\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t keep normal office hours, like everyone else. \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
I was wearing my usual black goat\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s-skin leather jacket, over a black T-shirt, workingman\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
s jeans, and stout walking boots. Partly because style and fashion have always been things other people do, and partly because in my job it\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s always wise to be able \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
to disappear into the shadows at a moment\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s notice. And run like hell if you have to.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 If it matters, I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 m in my late twenties, in good enough shape, with a face no one remembers. Which is probably for the best. As the Outsider, Humanity\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
s last defender again\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 st the war crimes of a previous reality, I perform a necessary function, but not everyone approves of my solutions. I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 m a bomb disposal expert; I don\hich\f1289 
\rquote \loch\f1289 t have time to hold your hand and tell you reassuring lies.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
I carry a backpack over one shoulder, containing all the tools of my trade. Cold iron and cursed silver, fresh garlic and bottled wolfsbane, a mandrake root with a screaming face, a key that can close or open any lock, and an athame: a witch knife that ha
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 s been in my family for generations. It can cut\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289  through anything, in this world or out of it.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
Barchester Abbey stood brooding at the end of the street, a dark and looming presence with more solidity than style, and rather more history than was good for it. When my secret lords and masters send the door that appears out of nowhere right in front of
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289  me, to summon me to where I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 m needed, the moment I walk through I immediately know where I am and what I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
m there for. In this case, it seemed Barchester Abbey was being haunted by a Lady In White. So far, so t\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 raditional, though apparently no one had seen her up close, or even got close enough to talk to her. It wasn
\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t clear why. I smiled slightly. I was looking forward to finding out. After all, if this was just another ghost, they wouldn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t need the Outsider t\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
o come and sort things out for them. I specialise in things that go Boom! in the night.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 I stopped a respectful distance short of Barchester Abbey and looked the place over carefully. Old but not ancient, big but not sprawling, just the usual solid stone and\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
 carved wood under a spire rising up to Heaven. The gargoyles looked a bit restive, and the whole building seemed to crouch unhappily in the night, as though still trying to decide which way to jump, but there was no obvious sense of threat or danger. War
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
m candlelight glowed through the stained-glass windows, and spilled out the open front door, which was currently being guarded by a uniformed policeman. Though whether to keep people out, or something in, had yet to be determined. I walked right up to the
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289  p\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 olice officer and showed him my best confident smile, followed by one of the many official-looking ID cards from my collection.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 When it matters, I can be anything from Military Intelligence to an Income Tax investigator. None of my IDs are real, in the sense that the person on the card doesn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
t actually exist, but they\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 re all real enough in that every organisation involved would qu\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 ickly back up the IDs if questioned. Because they all know they might need the Outsider
\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s help some day. The policeman studied my\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289  ID card carefully, but didn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t actually relax much.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 Constable Harris, sir. I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 m glad you\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 re here, Inspector. This is a bad one.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Tell me things,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  I said grandly. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Starting with: why are you out here, instead of in there?\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Harris started to look behind him, and then stopped himself. He took a deep breath, squared his shoulders, and did his best to look like someone with a backbone.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 No one can stay in the church for long, sir. Whatever it is that\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s in there, it doesn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t like company. And it feels\~.\~.\~.\~dange
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 rous.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 It?\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  I said. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 I was told to expect a Lady In White.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 No one\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s actually seen a ghost,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
 Harris said carefully. His face was suddenly pale, with beads of sweat popping out on his forehead. \'93\loch\f1289 I did take a look inside, just to make sure no one was in any danger, but I didn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
t get far. I could feel something on th\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
e air, a building tension like an oncoming earthquake. I had to force myself forward, step by step. More and more it was like walking into a raging storm, full of teeth. That is why I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 m standing g
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 uard here, sir; so no one else will have to endure what I went through.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Not to worry,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  I said. \'93\loch\f1289 I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 m here now. How did all this start?\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Workmen were brought in to dig up an ancient stone, set into the floor before the altar,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
 Harris said carefully. His voice steadied as he moved onto more familiar ground. \'93\loch\f1289 All that was left of some pagan shrine, apparently here long before the church. In\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
 fact, some old stories still insist the church was built around the stone, to contain it and make it safe. The stone wa\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 s all cracked and crumbling, and some people said it was an eyesore\~.\~.\~.\~
So it had to be removed. The workmen had only just started, when people outside heard them screaming. A few minutes later they came bolting out of the church and ran all the way dow\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
n the street, before they could be stopped. I haven\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t been allowed to question them myself, sir. The doctors say that whatever it was they saw, they\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
ll probably never be able to tell anyone.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Then why is it being called a Lady In White?\'94\loch\f1289  I said.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 A local h\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 istorian dug up some old church records,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Harris said heavily. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
Apparently there have been sightings down the ages of a beautiful woman in a long white gown. A ghost, a vampire, a monster who could eat your heart out with a single look.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Well,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  I said, rubbing my hands together briskly. \'93\loch\f1289 That\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
s more like it. Something worth turning out for. You hold your ground, while I go in and see what\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s what. But if I should come running back out, try and keep up.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 I strolled through the open front door, and Constable \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Harris stood well back to let me pass. I could tell he didn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
t expect me to do any good. His eyes had the look of too many people when they bump up against the supernatural, a lost, defeated, haunted look.
\par }\pard\plain \ltrpar\s29\qj \fi480\li0\ri0\sb135\sa135\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9249068 \cbpat8 \rtlch\fcs1 \af2289\afs24\alang1025 \ltrch\fcs0 
\fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\loch\af2289\hich\af2289\dbch\af31505\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068 
\par }\pard\plain \ltrpar\s21\qj \fi480\li0\ri0\sb135\sa135\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9249068 \cbpat8 \rtlch\fcs1 \af2289\afs24\alang1025 \ltrch\fcs0 
\fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\loch\af2289\hich\af2289\dbch\af31505\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
Inside Barchester Abbey, it was very still and very peaceful. My footsteps echoed loudly in the quiet as I made my way down the aisle, between the long rows of old-fashioned blocky pews. All solid wood and no padding, with prayer books set out at regular 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 intervals but not a trace of a kneeling pad anywher\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
e. I made sure there was no one lurking in in the pews or the pulpit, but I knew from the moment I walked in that I had the place to myself. Deserted buildings have an absence that feels like a presence, an impact on the soul. Or perhaps, a warning. All t
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 he electric lights were out, and I got the feeling they weren\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
t being allowed to work. Someone had lit all the candles instead, to provide a warm glow and a spurious sense of comfort. To set the scene\~.\~.\~.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Someone was standing in front of the altar with th\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
eir back to me, not even trying to conceal themselves. A tall woman in a flowing white gown, glowing brightly in the gloom. She looked entirely physical and solid, with nothing of the ethereal about her. An actual Lady In White. I stopped for a moment, to
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289  see if I could feel any of the dread and horror the policeman had described, but I wasn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t picking up anything out of the ordinary. There wasn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
t even a cold breeze, to disturb the pleasant glow of the candlelight. I started down the aisle again, taking my\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289  t\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
ime, my footsteps ringing out increasingly loudly as I drew closer to the unmoving figure, but she didn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t react until I was almost on top of her. And then she turned abruptly to stare at me, and I crashed to a halt.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 She was as a beautiful as a full moon on a Summer\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
s night. Her face and her bare arms were as white as her dress, and pointed ears thrust up through shoulder-length white hair. The bones in her face were sharp and prominent, to bring her beauty into sharp\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
 relief. Her eyes were golden, without an\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
y trace of pupil, and the white mouth widened suddenly into a warm and inviting smile. Her presence beat on the air like the flapping of great wings, and when she smiled at me like I was everything she\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
d been waiting for, my heart pounded in my chest like\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289  it was trying to escape. I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 d never seen anyone so wonderful in my life.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 I knew you\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 d get here eventually,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  she said, and her voice was rich and sweet, like honey laced with opium. \'93
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Welcome, Jack Daimon. Welcome, Outsider.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 And that broke the spell, like a slap across the face. There weren\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
t many who could recognise who and what I was, on sight. I took a deep breath, and her perfume flowed over me like walking through a field of roses. I held on to my self-control with both \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
hands, and made myself concentrate on the details of her appearance.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 You\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 re not human,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  I said. \'93\loch\f1289 You\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 re elven.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Her smile revealed dimples, just for a moment. \'93\loch\f1289 You say that like it\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s a bad thing.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 There were good \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 and bad elves,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  I said. \'93\loch\f1289 
The Light and the Dark, the Shivvareen and the Sheedra. All of them gone, long ago. I don\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t think I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 ve ever heard of an elven ghost.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 m no spirit, no dead thing,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  she said. \'93\loch\f1289 I assure you, I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
m entirely physical.\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  She took a step forward, putting her face right in front of mine. When she spoke again, her words hit my mouth in little puffs of perfumed air. \'93\loch\f1289 I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
ve been waiting for you for\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289  so long, Jack\~.\~.\~.\~\hich\f1289 \'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Up close, her glow was almost blinding, her presence overwhelming. I took a\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289  careful step backwards.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 What\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s your name?\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Leanan.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 She looked at me as though the name should mean something, but it didn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Sorry,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  I said. \'93\loch\f1289 I usually only get told the names of things I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
m going to have to destroy. What are you doing here, Leanan?\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 It was her turn to take a step back. She looked around the church, in a way that suggested she\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 d seen better before and hadn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t been impressed then.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 ve always been here,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  she said. \'93\loch\f1289 Dreaming away the centuries, watching the generations come and go, all th
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 ose terribly earnest souls at their joyless songs. I have been so cold, so alone\~.\~.\~.\~\hich\f1289 Until something woke me up.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 I looked at the pagan stone, set in the floor before the altar. Leanan was standing right over it. Intriguingly, the light that glowed from every part of her didn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
t illuminate the stone at all. It remained cloaked in shadow, perhaps of its own making. Lea\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 nan made an impatient sound, to draw my attention back to her.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 How did you know who I was?\'94\loch\f1289  I said.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 You were promised to me,\'94\loch\f1289  said Leanan. \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 It was said a handsome Outsider would come, to free me from this place. I
\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 ve been here so long, Jack. I want to get out of here, and see the world, and all the people in it.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Why did you scare off everyone else?\'94\loch\f1289  I said.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Her face was suddenly cold, though no less beautiful. \'93\loch\f1289 Because they weren\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 t worthy of me. Only you, Jack. Only you.\'94\loch\f1289 
 Her smile became a wide knowing thing, and her eyes held mine in a way that promised every dream I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 d ever had. \'93\loch\f1289 We were born to be togethe\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
r, Jack. Separated by Time, but de\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 stined to find each other, and be together forever and a day. Don\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 t you want me, Jack?\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 You know I do,\'94\loch\f1289  I said.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 My voice was low and flat, almost ugly next to hers, but she didn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t seem to care. She smiled at me happily, but even as I smiled back I was still studying her carefully, because that
\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s my job. She wasn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t any kind of illusion; I can always see through thos\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
e. She was as real as I was. I had to fight to hold my ground, to keep control of the situation, as unfamiliar emotions took hold of my heart. I\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
t was more than love at first sight; it was two lost souls finding each other despite everything the universe could put in our way. The role of the Outsider is a lonely one, by design, so nothing and no one could get in the way of duty. But Leanan was dif
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 ferent. I could be happy with her, I knew it.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 You are everything that was promised to me,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  said Leanan. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Everything I ever hoped for. Am I everything you ever wanted, Jack?\'94

\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Yes,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  I said. \'93\loch\f1289 And that\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s the problem. Because I don\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t think you\hich\f1289 \rquote 
\loch\f1289 re what you seem\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289  to be. You\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 re not even what you think you are.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Her beautiful face was suddenly blank. \'93\loch\f1289 I don\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 t understand, Jack.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 You\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 re too perfect,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  I said. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
Even for an elf. And I know everything there is to know, when it comes to defusing bombs.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 She bristled immediately. \'93\loch\f1289 I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 m not any kind of bomb!\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Of course not,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  I said. \'93\loch\f1289 You\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 re the bomb\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s watch dog. None of this is about you; it
\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s all about the stone.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 I reached into my backpack, and brought out a small hand mirror that had been made to reflect what was really there. I was careful to aim it at the floor, and not Leanan. The stone in the floor wasn\hich\f1289 \rquote 
\loch\f1289 t a stone; it was a door. A connecting point, between tw\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
o distant Times. Sealed shut for millennia, and with good reason. On the other side of the door, on some distant desperate day, I could see the Sheedra elves. Awful, monstrous things, all teeth and claws, hate and hunger, scrabbling forever at the other s
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 id\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 e of the door as they tried to force their way through. So they could escape the Past and go ravaging in the Future, and drown Humanity in a flood of blood and slaughter.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 I looked steadily at Leanan. \'93\loch\f1289 It\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s a very old story. Of how the Shivvareen and the Sheedra went to war. It\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
s hard to see them in terms of Good and Evil, because elves didn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t think like that, but given what the Sheedra would have done if the Shivvareen had\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 n\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
t stopped them, it\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s good enough. One race wiped out another on that terrible day, b\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
ut some Sheedra almost escaped. The Shivvareen arrived in time to imprison these last few Sheedra inside their stone door. And that\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
s how it stayed, until now. When some poor fools disturbed the stone. And it created you, to protect itself from me. By pre\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 senting me with someone so wonderful, it would break my heart to destroy them.\'94

\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Leanan shook her head. \'93\loch\f1289 I don\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 t understand. Why are you telling me these things? What do they have to do with us?\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 It\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s hard to be the Outsider,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  I said. \'93\loch\f1289 You have to give up s\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
o much. You walk alone because no one can be allowed to know about you. You can\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t share your life with anyone, because that would put them in danger. All you have is your duty, and mostly, that\hich\f1289 \rquote 
\loch\f1289 s enough. The door made you everything I ever wanted, but cou\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 ld never have. The last temptation of the Outsider: to walk away from everything, for love.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 But I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 m your reward!\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  said Leanan. \'93\loch\f1289 Don\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t you deserve a reward, for everything you
\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 ve done?\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 I don\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 t do this to be rewarded,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  I said. \'93\loch\f1289 I do it because it needs do\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
\hich\f1289 ing.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 She stepped forward, holding my gaze with hers, her voice urgent and persuasive.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 I only want to be with you, Jack.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Of course you do,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  I said. \'93\loch\f1289 But you\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 re not real. I could forgive you everything but that.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 I moved toward Leanan, and she reached out to hold me. Her hands dropped gently onto my shoulders, like falling leaves, and I raised my witch knife and stabbed her in the heart.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 I held her in my arms as she collapsed. Like something small and precious, broken by rough handling. I lowered her to t\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
he floor, and she slowly dissipated into glowing white mists that blew away, leaving my arms empty. I looked at the pagan stone in the floor, reached into my backpack and took out the key that could open or close any lock. I jammed the key into the stone,
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
 turned it once, and then broke it in two, leaving one half of the key in place to lock and seal the stone forever. The candlelight disappeared, replaced by stark unrelenting electric light, as our reality reasserted itself.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 I got to my feet and walked away\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 , from what might have been. Trying hard not to wonder if just possibly, I could have been wrong about Leanan\~.\~.\~.
\par }\pard\plain \ltrpar\s28\qj \li0\ri0\sb135\sa135\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9249068 \cbpat8 \rtlch\fcs1 \af2289\afs24\alang1025 \ltrch\fcs0 
\fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\loch\af2289\hich\af2289\dbch\af31505\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af1289\afs22 \ltrch\fcs0 \b\f1289\fs22\cf1\insrsid9249068 
\par }{\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af1289\afs22 \ltrch\fcs0 \b\f1289\fs22\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Simon R. Green\~is the\~}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\ai\af1289\afs22 \ltrch\fcs0 \b\i\f1289\fs22\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 New York Times}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af1289\afs22 \ltrch\fcs0 \b\f1289\fs22\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 \~\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
best-selling author of more than fifty science fiction, fantasy, and mystery novels. Simon sold his first book in 1988 and the very next year was commissioned to write the bestselling novelization of the Kevin Costner film\~}{\rtlch\fcs1 
\ab\ai\af1289\afs22 \ltrch\fcs0 \b\i\f1289\fs22\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af1289\afs22 \ltrch\fcs0 \b\f1289\fs22\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 .\line \line 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 From there he went on to write many more series of books including Deathstalker, Nightside, Secret History, Forest Kingdom, and the Ishamel Jones mysteries among others.\line \line 
His books have sold over 4 million copies worldwide and have been translated into\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289  over\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289  a dozen different languages.\line \line 
You can find Simon Green on his website, or follow him on Twitter\~}{\field\fldedit{\*\fldinst {\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af1289\afs22 \ltrch\fcs0 \b\f1289\fs22\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
HYPERLINK "https://twitter.com/thesimonrgreen?lang=en" \\t "_blank"}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af1289\afs22 \ltrch\fcs0 \b\f1289\fs22\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 {\*\datafield 00}}}{\fldrslt {\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af1289\afs22 \ltrch\fcs0 
\cs36\b\f1289\fs22\ul\cf20\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 @TheSimonRGreen}}}\sectd \ltrsect\linex0\endnhere\sectlinegrid360\sectdefaultcl\sectrsid2557235\sftnbj {\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af1289\afs22 \ltrch\fcs0 
\b\f1289\fs22\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 \line \line \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 This story is set in the same world as Green's next novel to come from Baen:\~}{\field\fldedit{\*\fldinst {\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\ai\af1289\afs22 \ltrch\fcs0 
\b\i\f1289\fs22\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 HYPERLINK "https://www.baen.com/for-love-of-magic.html" \\t "_blank"}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\ai\af1289\afs22 \ltrch\fcs0 \b\i\f1289\fs22\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 
{\*\datafield 00}}}{\fldrslt {\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\ai\af1289\afs22 \ltrch\fcs0 \cs36\b\i\f1289\fs22\ul\cf20\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 For Love of Magic}}}\sectd \ltrsect
\linex0\endnhere\sectlinegrid360\sectdefaultcl\sectrsid2557235\sftnbj {\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af1289\afs22 \ltrch\fcs0 \b\f1289\fs22\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 .
\par }\pard\plain \ltrpar\ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \rtlch\fcs1 \af0\afs24\alang1025 \ltrch\fcs0 \fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\loch\af0\hich\af0\dbch\af31505\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\rtlch\fcs1 
\ab\af0\afs32 \ltrch\fcs0 \b\fs32\insrsid9249068 \page 
\par }\pard \ltrpar\qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9249068 {\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af0\afs40 \ltrch\fcs0 \b\f1142\fs40\cf1\chshdng0\chcfpat0\chcbpat8\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 
\hich\af1142\dbch\af31505\loch\f1142 The Witch, the Woods, & the Elf Queen
\par }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0\afs32 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1142\fs32\cf1\chshdng0\chcfpat0\chcbpat8\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 \hich\af1142\dbch\af31505\loch\f1142 by Gregory Frost}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0\afs32 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f1142\fs32\cf1\chshdng0\chcfpat0\chcbpat8\insrsid9249068 
\par 
\par }\pard \ltrpar\qj \fi480\li0\ri0\sb135\sa135\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9249068 \cbpat8 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 They had always thought their daughter was sure to be someone extraordinary. For one thing, their Janet had been \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 born with the caul.\'94\loch\f1289  Everyone knew what that meant
\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 although it turned out that what it meant depended upon whom you asked. Some proclaimed it\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
 meant she was destined for greatness. Others said it meant that, upon her death, she would become a witch; while still others suggested it meant she was unknowingly part of a secret cabal of guardians, \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 night-battlers\'94
\loch\f1289  whose job it was to protect their c\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 ro\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 ps\~}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 from}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 \~\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
witches and sorcery. No actual member of this sacred, supernatural cabal had ever revealed themselves, of course, so Janet was left with the prospect of finding them on her own.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
When not tending to their cows and sheep alongside her two brothers, she spent much of her spare time in the fields, protecting their crops by watching over them, and in the woods near the Yarrow and the Ettrick waters, searching for evidence of the prese
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 nce of the unseen guardians to which she was allied. Mostly what she sp\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
ied were fishermen with dapping poles in the shallows, working their lures to make them seem to dance across the surface of the water. Some of these fishermen were hardly older than she was, and they seemed to congregate in the same locations most of the 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 time, from which she concluded that certain spots on the rivers contained more fish than others did.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
By the time she turned sixteen she had apprenticed herself to a local witch named Ealar, a skinny woman tall as a church spire, who dwelled in the woods of Carterhaugh. Ealar was known as a healer, not a diviner; otherwise, she might have been able to gui
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 de Janet in seeking the invisible night-battlers.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Then, one late afternoon returning from her time with Ealar, Janet spied three distant figures on horseback\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 
three that were strangely out of place. One was a woman with flaming red hair and a pointed cap of \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
gold on top of her head. Veils flowed off the cap like smoke. A cloak of green covered her. Behind her rode two soldiers in shining black armor of overlapping plates edged with silver. There was something so incredibly regal and finely wrought about them 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 all that she couldn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t believe they were really there\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 
in the summer heat their shapes rippled, more like ghosts of another reality than a solid part of her world, so unnatural were they that she crouched down and hid herself as they approached and rode by.\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289  T
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 he fine lady\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
s slippers, decorated with jewels, passed close by where Janet hid. But the riders did not detect her and rode on to the south. Who were they and why were they traveling in the tall grasses along the Yarrow? Could they be the mystical night-b
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 attlers she\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 d been seeking? How could she find out?
\par }\pard \ltrpar\qc \li0\ri0\sb240\sa240\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9249068 \cbpat8 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 ##
\par }\pard \ltrpar\qj \fi480\li0\ri0\sb135\sa135\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9249068 \cbpat8 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 At dinner she was but halfway through describing the trio when her mother suddenly yelled for her to stop\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 
so shocking a reaction that she dropped her wooden spoon and spattered parsnip soup across her y\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
ellow kirtle. Her brothers gasped: Mother never raised her voice to any of them. That was left to her father. Only, this time he was the calm and quiet one.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 I know,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  he began, \'93\loch\f1289 your mother believes your caul marked you in some way, but we don\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t e\hich\f1289 \rquote 
\loch\f1289 en know how, and God\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s not yet shown us a sign. These three might be anyone.\'94\loch\f1289  There seemed to be more to it than that. From the looks traded back and forth, she cou
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 ld not dismiss the notion that her mother had seen the same trio herself sometime in the past. Mothe\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 r\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s anger seemed born of fear.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
Her father, however, could not leave the matter alone. He suggested that the next time she encountered these three, she should approach and ask if there was treasure to be had for battling night spirits. Her mother made a noise in her throat and got up fr
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 om the meal.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 When next she slipped away to visit Ealar, Janet described the three she\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 d seen and her suspicion that they were the hidden ones she was seeking. The witch laughed at her father
\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s pretensions of gaining treasure, \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 though it\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s not the night-battlers you seen.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Why? Who else could it be?\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 The queen of all elfland rides the woods of Carterhaugh from time to time, seeking souls, seeking sacrifices.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Sacrifices for what?\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Ealar\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s gaze shifted away. \'93\loch\f1289 No one knows that. And elves don\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t confide in the likes o\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289  me. But I
\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 ve witnessed your queen in the gold cap riding hereabout and had me the good sense to stay hid till she passed by. You do yourself no favors by catching\~}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 
\i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 her}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 \~\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 attention. Yer father an\hich\f1289 
\rquote \loch\f1289  his greed be sure to \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 get you killed.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Foolishly, she shared Ealar\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s opinion with her family. Her father, resentful of the reprimand, told her, \'93\loch\f1289 You need to stay away from that witch! Puttin
\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289  ideas in your \hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 ead, she is.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 She\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s a healer. She helps people. She\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s teaching me about curatives.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 Oh, is she? Name one thing she\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s taught you so far.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 That was easy. Ealar had just shown her something that day. \'93\loch\f1289 She says, sometimes you\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 ll find the remedy for a poison growing right alongside it.\'94

\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 And how do you know that\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s even true? I n\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 ever heard that. No. I don\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t want you consortin\hich\f1289 
\rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  with a woman like her.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Janet,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  said her mother, \'93\loch\f1289 you should be looking for a husband at your age anyway, not frittering your time away on such things. That Miller Forbes
\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 d be a good catch for you.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 The miller of Oakmill? He\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s\~}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 old}{
\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 !\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 Not so old as your father and not so old you wouldn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t inherit \hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 is mill come the day he passes. An\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289  a mill
\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s a necessary thing. Always profitable. No taint of elfland in grinding grain.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 ve not shared even words with him. Why\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  would he show any interest in me?\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Father interjected, \'93\loch\f1289 Well, \hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 e\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
s not burdened with no wife, and needs him a young one like you to give him babies, sons ta keep the mill running.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 You asked the miller what he needs, did you?\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 See how she is?\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Father complained to Mother. \'93\loch\f1289 We indulged your nonsense about her caul and now she has a witch advising her and don\hich\f1289 
\rquote \loch\f1289 t even think about her own father, nor this family. Head\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s full of charms and cures and twaddle.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Half-heartedly, mother said, \'93\loch\f1289 You should listen to \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 your father.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 No,\'94\loch\f1289  answered Janet.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Father slammed his palm on the table. \'93\loch\f1289 I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 m quit of you both.\~}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 You}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 \~\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 filled her head she\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
s special, so you can empty it of the same by time I come back.\'94\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
 With that he rose and marched out of the house. The brothers glanced at each other. They knew where they would find him, where he always went to drink himself foolish. They\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 d had to walk him home enough times.
\par }\pard \ltrpar\qc \li0\ri0\sb240\sa240\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9249068 \cbpat8 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 ##
\par }\pard \ltrpar\qj \fi480\li0\ri0\sb135\sa135\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9249068 \cbpat8 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Once at the tavern, he sat alone, grumbling, until a tall but stooping gray-haired man sat upon a stool beside him. \'93\loch\f1289 I couldn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 t help overhearing,
\'94\loch\f1289  the man said, which struck him as an odd thing. Had he been speaking louder than he thought? The man clearly\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289  belonged to a higher social class. His bri\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
ght clothes alone spoke to that. He introduced himself as a magistrate named Baggi. He said that he could tell there was trouble here. He placed a hand over the farmer\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s hand as he reached for his ale. \'93
\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Why?\'94\loch\f1289  he wanted to know. So intense was his one-word\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289  request that Janet\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
s father found himself babbling the whole story of Janet and her caul and all that his wife had invested in it.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 In the end the magistrate patted his shoulder and said, \'93\loch\f1289 It\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s good you\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
ve unburdened yourself to me. We must talk again.\'94\loch\f1289  On \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 the table, before leaving, Baggi placed money for further mugs of ale.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
He had to admit, he did feel better having unburdened. Once he consumed the rest of his ale, he stumbled and lurched homeward, and having somehow succeeded in arriving, slept on the ground outside his front door until dawn.
\par }\pard \ltrpar\qc \li0\ri0\sb240\sa240\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9249068 \cbpat8 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 ##
\par }\pard \ltrpar\qj \fi480\li0\ri0\sb135\sa135\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9249068 \cbpat8 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Things were less stressful the next day. No one mentioned the miller, Janet performed her usual chores in quick time, and then visited Ealar deep in the woods. Ealar had been busy fashioning a potion and handed a s
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 mall bottle to Janet. \'93\loch\f1289 For when you need to forget something that\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s coming,\'94\loch\f1289  the tall witch explained.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 What\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s that mean?\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Janet asked. \'93\loch\f1289 That\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s coming?\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 It means, this doesn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t help you to forget the past. It lets you forget the future\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 what\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s to come.
\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Janet stared at the gray stone bottle. She pulled the stopper and sniffed, but it smelled like nothing. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Why would I want that?\'94\loch\f1289  Ealar didn\hich\f1289 \rquote 
\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 t answer. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Well, how will I know to use it?\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 Oh, believe me\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 you will know.\'94\loch\f1289  Then she sent Janet off without any lesson\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  for the day, saying 
\'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 God be with you, girl,\'94\loch\f1289  which seemed a funny thing for a witch to say.
\par }\pard \ltrpar\qc \li0\ri0\sb240\sa240\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9249068 \cbpat8 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 ##
\par }\pard \ltrpar\qj \fi480\li0\ri0\sb135\sa135\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9249068 \cbpat8 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 They were eating their meal when the music drew their attention.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
The boys heard it first and ran to the front door to stare out across their barley field. The music seemed to ride on the breeze, one moment just a pipe trilling a flowing tune, the next the sound gone all tinkly like the music of rain if that rain were t
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 housands of silver coins. That\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s what Janet\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s father heard, and he smiled at the thought of such\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
 wealth. Everyone heard what they wished, and smiled. The wordless tune lifted them up and, as it grew to fill the house, it laid them down on their beds. It blanketed them in dreams, and off they went to sleep, all but Janet.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
Janet could feel herself asleep and awake both. She beheld lights outside their house and faces that peered in the window at her. This was what Ealar had promised she would know. It was unlike anything she had known before now. She pulled the stopper dran
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 k the contents of the small bo\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 ttle.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
Then the door opened and shadow shapes entered. They lifted her and carried her out of the house. She dared to open her eyes and look up and found golden eyes looking down at her but in what seemed a shadow body cast by no one. Internally, she could feel 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 the potion, far ahead on her path, like a sunrise just topping the horizon.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 The shadow placed a jeweled collar around her throat, then attached a leash to it. She was set down, and from then on led on the leash. The potion pulsed in the distance now.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
The shadow softly ordered her to shed her clothing and she did without hesitation, though she could hear, distantly, a suppressed part of herself objecting. And then she was standing in cold dirt and the red-haired woman on her white steed perched before 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 her, and circling them were other people, some of whom looked familiar to her, including a rotund, red-cheeked woman, and a sour-faced man she\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 d seen in Ercildoun town.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 The red-haired woman considered her with the same golden eyes Janet had seen above her. \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Unblemished,\'94\loch\f1289 
 said the woman, yet her lips never moved except to smile. She and the stallion turned away, toward a featureless circle edged in green fire. The Queen rode straight into it, and Janet followed, while the others remained behind.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
Close now, the bright fire of the potion filled the circle, and she stepped through the ring to meet it. It devoured her thoughts nearly as fast as she thought them, and finally, as the ring closed behind her, the potion raced ahead of her every thought a
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 nd every thoug\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 ht that was to come before she could think it at all.
\par }\pard \ltrpar\qc \li0\ri0\sb240\sa240\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9249068 \cbpat8 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 ##
\par }\pard \ltrpar\qj \fi480\li0\ri0\sb135\sa135\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9249068 \cbpat8 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 In the morning, there was no sign of Janet. The family looked everywhere, but she wasn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
t any place they looked. They could just recall, distantly, the sweet music that had invaded their night. Because there had been music, they thought of gypsies casting \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
a spell. But there were no convenient gypsies to blame.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Mother fell silent and grim but did not object when Father easily leapt to the conclusion that Ealar was responsible: The witch had set his daug\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 hter against her family\hich\f1289 
\emdash \loch\f1289 most importantly, against him. He was certain she had performed this magic and cast spells over them.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 The reeve of Selkirk came out, listened to the accusations, and finally accompanied father into the woods of Carterhaugh. Ealar\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
s hut proved to be abandoned, as if no one had lived in it for decades. No fires, no candles, nothing that Janet\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s father was s\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 ure had been there previously.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Ealar herself was ten miles away by then. She did not have to be a diviner to know they would come for her. She had witnessed the faery folks\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
 arrival, heard their sweet, sweet music, and followed their processional right down\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
 across the river and straight to the Queen. Whether she called herself Madb or some other name in these woods, it mattered not at all. The girl belonged to her now, but Ealar would be blamed.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Human or faery, it didn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t matter. She would be killed for something she hadn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t done, and no one would question it. Was it worse to be their\~}{\rtlch\fcs1 
\ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 teind}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 \~\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
or to be forced to watch the sacrifice, as she\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 d been forced to watch her own daughter\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s death at their hands\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 
their punishment for her meddling in their business. Her own hu\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 sband had blamed her, had called for her arrest, claiming she\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
d abducted and killed their daughter, and she had been forced to flee, to become Ealar, the witch in the woods. Warned to stay away from Janet, too, she only hoped that her potion saved the gir\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
l from the suffering that awaited her in their sacrificial well. They would come looking for her after this, humans doing the bidding of the elves, and no imagined night-battlers would save her, because there was no one anywhere could stand up to the trea
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 ch\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 erous Queen of Elfland.}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068 
\par }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 
\par }\pard \ltrpar\qj \li0\ri0\sb135\sa135\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9249068 \cbpat8 {\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af1289\afs22 \ltrch\fcs0 \b\f1289\fs22\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Gregory Frost\~is an American author of science fiction and fantasy, whose works include the Shadowbridge series, Fitcher\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s Brides, the Philip K. Dick-ian science fiction novel\~}{
\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\ai\af1289\afs22 \ltrch\fcs0 \b\i\f1289\fs22\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 The Pure Cold Light}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af1289\afs22 \ltrch\fcs0 \b\f1289\fs22\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 , as well as two novels derived from the Celtic epic the t}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\ai\af1289\afs22 \ltrch\fcs0 \b\i\f1289\fs22\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'e1\loch\f1289 
\hich\f1289 in b\'f3\loch\f1289  cuailnge.\~}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af1289\afs22 \ltrch\fcs0 \b\f1289\fs22\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 His short fiction has appeared in many anthologies and magazines, including\~}{
\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\ai\af1289\afs22 \ltrch\fcs0 \b\i\f1289\fs22\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Asimov\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s Science Fiction}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af1289\afs22 \ltrch\fcs0 
\b\f1289\fs22\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 , including the Readers\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Award winner, \'93\loch\f1289 Lock Up Your Chickens and Daughters, H\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
\hich\f1289 ard and Andy Are Come to Town,\'94\loch\f1289  collaboratively written with Michael Swanwick. He taught the fiction writing workshop at Swarthmore College in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, for eig\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 hteen years.

\par }\pard \ltrpar\ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af0\afs32 \ltrch\fcs0 \fs32\insrsid9249068 \page 
\par }\pard \ltrpar\qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9249068 {\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af0\afs40 \ltrch\fcs0 \b\f1142\fs40\cf1\chshdng0\chcfpat0\chcbpat8\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 
\hich\af1142\dbch\af31505\loch\f1142 The Insomniac
\par }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0\afs32 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1142\fs32\cf1\chshdng0\chcfpat0\chcbpat8\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 \hich\af1142\dbch\af31505\loch\f1142 by Brad Zeiger}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0\afs32 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f1142\fs32\cf1\chshdng0\chcfpat0\chcbpat8\insrsid9249068 
\par 
\par }\pard \ltrpar\qj \fi480\li0\ri0\sb135\sa135\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9249068 \cbpat8 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 The neat rows of glittering coffins s\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 tretched in all three dimensions. Each occupant lay in blissful peace, enshrined in crystal and metal.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 All but one.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
Darius Bosco glared with bleary eyes at the lid of his pod, fighting a nascent claustrophobia. The computer offered reassuring noises, informing him that life support would have the cabin ready for habitation within an hour.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Bosco loudly informed the computer that life support should have kicked on before the wake-up routine. His only reply was the indifferent thrum of the spaceship.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Hell, but\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289  it was tight in that little space. He began to sweat, which didn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
t do wonders for the ambiance. He craned his neck and made sense of the readout to the left of his head.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Two years and four months. His next duty cycle wasn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t for another two months. Something must have gone wrong. Terribly wrong, if the ship couldn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
t even perform the wake-up routine in the correct sequence.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 More sweat. Disaster scenarios ran through his mind. Meltdown. Cladding breach. Irradiation of the passengers. He pounded uselessly on t\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 he lid of the coffin. The ship wasn
\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t patching through any messages from headquarters, which could be good news or bad, depending on the reasoning.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
Minimum requirements met at last, the lid slid open with a pneumatic hiss. The frigid air over his sweaty body immediately chilled him. Wreathed in the vapor from his breath, he moved quickly to the reactor control panel and began checking alarm readouts,
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289  gauges, and settings. He worked frantically at first, then forced himself to adopt a more methodical approac\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 h.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 His brow furrowed as he came to the end of his review. One of the heat exchange fins was running a little hot, but only a little. Well within spec. Why was he awake then?
\par }\pard \ltrpar\qc \li0\ri0\sb240\sa240\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9249068 \cbpat8 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 #
\par }\pard \ltrpar\qj \fi480\li0\ri0\sb135\sa135\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9249068 \cbpat8 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
He stared through the porthole at the more distant nuclear reactions, reduced by distance to mere twinkling lights. The med unit beeped and he tore away the needle that he had been diligently not looking at. The machine whirred and hummed as it drank in h
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 is blood and began its diagnostics panel.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 He pulled the flimsy mylar blanket tigh\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
ter and shivered as he waited. Running the titrations and chromatograms was the fast part. The data had to travel thirty minutes to Earth, spend God knows how long undergoing manual review and report preparation, and then another thirty minutes back.

\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Humans could do some things better than machines still. Medicine wasn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
t one of them, but like realtors and gigolos, the medical profession still managed to find ways to ensure their steady employment in the face of indisputably superior technology.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
He could hardly criticize. A nuclear reactor also ran better without human intervention, which was why spacecraft had gradually transitioned from a full-time reactor crew to a single technician who reviewed operations every six months. A single technician
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289  support\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 ed by a ground crew, of course. A crew equally confused by his early awakening.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 The ship hadn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
t roused him at all, it turned out. Rather, it was responding to him coming out of his chemical coma on his own. Bosco developed a pretty good idea of what had happened by the time the official report came through.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 The cocktail that induced the chemical coma made use of an artificial enzyme that mediated drug transport across the blood-brain barrier. Bosco\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
s traitorous immune system had produced antibodies against \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
that enzyme. Produced them in prodigious quantities. There were a couple of alternative formulations, developed due to varying responses to the sedatives and common allergen profiles, but all of them relied upon the same biologic as the key delivery mecha
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 nism.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
He drifted through the rows of sleeping colonists as he considered his predicament. Aside from the aesthetically-pleasing aspect of going to sleep on Earth and waking up on Enceladus, the chemical coma permitted the ship to run without any recreationa
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 l equipment, minimal sanitation facilities, and dramatically lower calorie and power requirements. There were safety margins, of course, but the hard fact of the matter was that a spacecraft couldn\hich\f1289 \rquote 
\loch\f1289 t afford to plan for every contingency.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 The utilitarian metal walls flowed past him until he came to a stop at Dolores\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289  pod. His wife\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
s stillness and unnatural pallor caused him to reflexively check the readout for her vitals. She was lovely there, with a few rogue strands of dark hair floating\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289  gently around her \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
peaceful face, almost as if she were underwater. He leaned down to kiss the lid before moving on to see Monica.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 At seven, she showed promise of her mother\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
s beauty. She had a lot of her father in her too, though. He watched her sleep for a long moment, thinking. Maybe there would be enough resources for him to make it to Enceladus, but he would be eating into the s\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
afety margins for the two people that he cared about, as well as two hundred and thirteen other people on the vessel.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 After a sobering inventory \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 of the ship\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
s supplies, he selected a medical kit and made his way back to the familiar space that housed the reactor controls. He stared, unseeing, at the control panel for a long time before opening the kit. The sharp odors of antiseptics and latex stun
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 ned him for a moment, so strong was the contrast with the odorless cavern of the spaceship. He carefully prepared a lethal dose of morphine.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 He released it. The acceleration of the ship was too gentle to notice on that time scale. The syringe drifted in fro\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
nt of his face, and he watched the lights glisten off of the wet needle and the clear, deadly liquid within. The sight evoked a complex emotion, a sense of duty blended with raw terror. It was a sour, heavy feeling that swelled in his chest and sat on his
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289  guts.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 After a time, he recaptured the syringe and taped it to the interior of his sleep pod. It was too early to give up.
\par }\pard \ltrpar\qc \li0\ri0\sb240\sa240\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9249068 \cbpat8 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 #
\par }\pard \ltrpar\qj \fi480\li0\ri0\sb135\sa135\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9249068 \cbpat8 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Bosco tapped at the gauge, scowling, and then checked the digital readout on the SCADA terminal. The starboard fin, one of two struc\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
tures responsible for radiative cooling of the reactor core, continued to run hot.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
He checked the schedule. Efficient travel to Enceladus relied on a slingshot around Jupiter. As the appropriate Jovian alignment was a vicennial event, mankind took advantage by sending a fleet of colony ships each time. He hoped that there might be an ac
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 tive nuke tech on one of the other ships that trailed\~}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 The Cold Horizon}{\rtlch\fcs1 
\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 . No luck. The next shift was more than three weeks away.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 He turned up the coolant pump on the under-per\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
forming radiator before pushing away from the panel to make his rounds again. His wife remained as peaceful and beautiful as ever. His heart ached to have her so near, yet so far.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 The idea of waking someone else, either for help or for company, tempted him constantly. He knew that it would merely run his resources down twice as fast, and resolved to rely exclusively on the faceless ground crew.

\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 He ran his fingers gently across the glass over Dolores\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289  face and then moved on to Monica. The paternal smile fade\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
d as he studied her, replaced by a puzzled frown. Instead of the familiar peaceful mask, Monica looked faintly troubled.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 The chime of an incoming message pulled him away from his familial vigil. His medical team had, against the odds, conjured good news.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Good morning, Mr. Bosco,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  said the image of Dr. Maya Thompson, \'93\loch\f1289 we hope you\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 re holding up okay out there.
\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 Enough small talk, let\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s have the point,\'94\loch\f1289  Bosco growled, even though\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 or maybe because\hich\f1289 \emdash 
\loch\f1289 she couldn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t hear him.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 After a review of your medical supplie\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 s, we think we have a solution. There is an immunosuppressant in your ship\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
s stocks that will dampen your overenthusiastic response to the transport glycoprotein.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 It\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s high risk in that it will leave you vulnerable to any opportunistic pathogen, but it\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
s rendered considerably safer by virtue of being four hundred million miles from Earth. There\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s some debate here over whether that\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s ironic.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 She paused, perhaps to permit him a moment to laugh at her cleverness. \'93\loch\f1289 We will be uploading a treatment program to \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
the medical unit shortly. You will receive twice-daily doses until your antibody levels drop, which we expect to happen in around two weeks. Following that, the immunosuppressants will be added to your sleep pod cocktail.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Some medical details that went over Bosco\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
s head followed, along with a deluge of disclosure and consent forms. He stuck his thumb on the bottom of each page without reading more than the title.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Al Mikkelson, Terrafirm\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s director of Enceladus operations, replaced Dr. Thompson on the scree\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 n. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
You will no longer be performing your regular duties,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  he said. \'93\loch\f1289 The medical team feels that regular interruptions and reintroductions of the coma regimen likely contributed to your body\hich\f1289 \rquote 
\loch\f1289 s immune response. Technicians on the other ships will monitor y\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 our reactor remotely.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Bosco growled at the terminal again. The only thing worse than being dependent on a bunch of quacks back on Earth was being useless where he was.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 His blood ran cold when he heard a voice from behind him. There was something still worse, it turned out.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Daddy?\'94
\par }\pard \ltrpar\qc \li0\ri0\sb240\sa240\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9249068 \cbpat8 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 #
\par }\pard \ltrpar\qj \fi480\li0\ri0\sb135\sa135\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9249068 \cbpat8 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 There was a lot of him in the little girl, after all. It seemed that the immune system was part of the deal. They ran the obligatory blood tests anyway, of course.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 She looked pale and scared as she sat buckled to the med unit\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s exam chair, thin legs\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
 swinging nervously below knobby knees as the needle plunged into her arm.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
Bosco prepared her a hearty meal of reconstituted pablum in a mylar pouch while they waited for the Earth-side team to tell them what they already knew. She ate it quietly as Dr. Thompson again explained the cause of the problem, and the solution. More fo
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 rms, this time requiring both of them to press fingers against the screen.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 A separate text message came quietly to him only, confirming his fears. The ship didn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t carry enough immuno\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 suppressant for both of them.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 He forced himself to look into the deep, hazel pools of her eyes as she searched for comfort.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 What does it mean, Daddy?\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  she asked. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Are we going to be okay?\'94\loch\f1289 
 She wrapped her arms tightly around her shoulders, hugging herself.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
Bosco threw his own arms around her and pulled her close, kissing the top of her head. He closed his eyes, savoring the warmth of her small body against his chest, and took a deep breath. She smelled like gingerbread somehow. \'93\loch\f1289 
Everything is going to be f\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 ine, sweetie.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 It had been so long since he had held her, even if most of that time had been in cold sleep. He forced away tears and spun her towards a porthole. \'93\loch\f1289 C\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 mon. Let
\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s look at the stars. It\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s gorgeous out here.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 They floated together in front of the thick glass, staring at the blazing lights. The stars seen from Earth were a pathetic mockery of the glory in front of them.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 They talked quietly about what life on Enceladus would be like. Bosco suddenly fell silent, mid-sentence. His breath caught in hi\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
s throat as he stared into the night. Something glittered in the fierce starlight, drifting lazily alongside the ship. He pressed his face to the glass, staring, and then threw himself to the bridge, not even hearing Monica\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
s confused queries.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 He flipped the trio of switches that turned on the port-side lights and then sprinted hand-over-hand back to the viewport.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 There, sparkling merrily in the naked glare of the LED floodlights, floated a string of silver droplets, pacing the ship. He fumbled for the tran\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
sceiver, setting up an encrypted message to the nuke team back on Earth.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 What is it?\'94\loch\f1289  Monica asked, wide-eyed.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Death,\'94\loch\f1289  he said flatly, not looking away from the sparkling trail.
\par }\pard \ltrpar\qc \li0\ri0\sb240\sa240\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9249068 \cbpat8 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 #
\par }\pard \ltrpar\qj \fi480\li0\ri0\sb135\sa135\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9249068 \cbpat8 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 He should not have said that, he told himself for the umpteenth time, as he tried to comfort the terrified girl, to downplay his original statement.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 There were many ways that a coolant leak could go, and many of them did not end in death. Nonetheless, it was a terrifying thing to confront in the depths of space with a team of on\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
e.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
Cursing himself, he gave Monica a mild sedative. Not great parenting by any measure, but he needed to focus on the problem that immediately threatened her life, as well as everyone else on the ship, and most likely the convoy of ships that followed. He st
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 rapped her back into the chair to receive her first dose of immunosuppressant before proceeding to the airlock.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 He instructed the ship to start waking the captain as he prepped the pressure suit. Another hit to their margins, but it couldn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t be helped. G\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
oing walkabout without any local support was strictly against protocol. He sealed the inner door and pumped down the airlock as he waited.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Shortly, Captain Amelia Chen appeared outside the airlock, shivering and rubbing her eyes. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 This better be good, Bosco,\'94\loch\f1289  she said.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 NaK leak, ma\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 am,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  he said, \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 I need to assess the situation.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 She sucked air through her teeth and then nodded sharply. Good enough, evidently. \'93\loch\f1289 I suppose there\hich\f1289 \rquote \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
s a reason that you got your daughter up first, too?\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Naturally, but that can wait. Permission to disembark?\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
Shelving her curiosity, Chen stepped to the terminal beside the airlock door and reviewed the remote diagnostics for the spacesuit, confirming that it was holding pressure and that battery and gas tanks were at acceptable levels. She pulled up the EVA che
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 cklist and together they ran through radio checks, tether anchoring, and a stress test of the life support system.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Checklist complete, Chen gave h\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
er approval and Bosco instructed the door to open. After twice confirming that he really meant it, the airlock hissed open, residual gases rushing past him, trying to tug him out in the process.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
Once pressures equalized, Bosco played out his line to the edge of the airlock, and then clipped into one of the anchor points on the edge of the ship before releasing the airlock tether. He described each step to Chen as he went, waiting for her acknowle
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 dgment before proceeding.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 He kept his gaze on the side of the \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
ship, trying to block out the terrifying nothingness that stretched out to infinity in every other direction. Cautiously, he touched the jets on his maneuvering unit and nudged himself towards the secondary cooling loop heat-exchange array.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
The heat exchanger was a miniature labyrinth of thin Hastelloy pipes, arranged on a broad plane and surrounded by a titanium scaffold to allow its installation and service in space without having to touch the delicate tubes. A sodium-potassium eutectic ra
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 n through the tu\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 bes, pulling waste heat away from the nuclear core and disposing of it radiatively.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 A dozen of these units were stacked vertically, creating a roughly cubic structure spanning five meters in each dimension.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
He took pictures from various angles with a thermal camera and waited while Chen analyzed them. When she reported back that the image analysis had identified an anomaly on one of the outer assemblies, he sagged with relief. If the leak were on any of the 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 interior panels it would be virtually impossible t\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 o service them in the field, one of the countless risks taken in pursuit of the stars.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
Following her directions, he pulled himself across the titanium frame until he found it. A tiny bubble of silver metal crowned from the smooth surface of the pipe. It must be the slightest of pinholes to emerge so slowly from the pressurized pipe, most li
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 kely the result of an impact with some tiny meteoroid.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 The repair was simple in principle, but devilishly challenging when performed with the clumsy gloves. He tried to w\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
ipe sweat from his brow, only to laugh and curse as his forearm clanked against his helmet. All he could do was blink rapidly, his eyes stinging as he worked.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
He buffed the surface of a thin sheet of Hastelloy foil with an abrasive sponge. He did the same to the pipe surrounding the leak, and then smoothed the foil over it, relying on cold welding to make a seal. He fitted a small clamp over it for strength and
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289  torqued it down carefully, mindful not to deform the delicate tube.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Allowing himself to relax at \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
last, he permitted himself to drift to the limit of the short anchor he had clipped to the titanium frame. He blew out a breath, briefly fogging the visor of his helmet, and realized that he was trembling.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Forcing himself to stay focused, he radioed Chen. \'93\loch\f1289 Captain? Repair is complete. I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 m going to monitor for ten minutes and then head back in.\'94

\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 No reply. Instinctively, inanely, he looked around, as if he might see what was going on that was taking Chen\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s attention. The cold fury of the brilliant starlight, 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
and the depth of the nothing around it seized him as his focus moved away from the ship. A wave of vertigo passed over him, and everything seemed to spin for a minute. He clutched for the scaffold, feeling both relief and embarrassment when he felt the so
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 lid metal.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 The radio came to life then, providing a further relief from the crushing loneliness. A relief that vanished seconds later, replaced by a frantic panic.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 Sorry, Bosco. I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 m here. Your daughter is vomiting, I had to make sure that she wasn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t going \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
to choke; she seems out of it. It\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s a real mess down here, I need you to head back in. We\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 ll have to do a separate EVA to check on the repair later.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Bosco\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s heart thundered in his ears. If Monica couldn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t tolerate the medication, then\~.\~.\~.\~He couldn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
t allow himself to finish the thought. A vision filled his mind, unbidden, of a syringe drifting weightlessly, its deadly payload glittering as it spun a\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 nd caught the light.
\par }\pard \ltrpar\qc \li0\ri0\sb240\sa240\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9249068 \cbpat8 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 #
\par }\pard \ltrpar\qj \fi480\li0\ri0\sb135\sa135\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9249068 \cbpat8 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 The mess was largely resolved by the time that Bosco managed to navigate the airlock\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
 and doff his suit. He used that time to force calm onto himself, to wear a relaxed smile for his little girl.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 The ship, at least the part of it accessible to a person, was primarily one big room, full of hibernating colonists. It had a cockpit for flight controls, and a small control room for Bosco\hich\f1289 \rquote 
\loch\f1289 s affairs. The medical unit occupied one corner of the main room,\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289  next to the lavatory, and Bosco could see his daughter as soon as he exited the airlock.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 To his relief, she waved at him. Uncertain though the fu\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 ture was, at that moment she seemed alert and hale. The nausea had passed, but she seemed abashed about it.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Hi, Dad,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  she said. She took a sip from a bulb of water. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Sorry I threw up.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 He hugged her. \'93\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Nothing for you to be sorry about, sweetie,\'94\loch\f1289  he said. He swallowed his own guilt\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 
surely it was the result of something that he had injected into her body.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Still holding Monica, he turned to Chen. \'93\loch\f1289 The repair looked good, but it was such a slow leak that it\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s hard to know for sure.\'94\loch\f1289 
\hich\f1289  He scowled. \'93\loch\f1289 Really slow. We probably would have made it to Enceladus before we ran into trouble. Hard to explain why the fin w\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
as running hot. Maybe just a faulty gauge and a coincidence.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 I don\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 t believe in coincidences,\'94\loch\f1289  Chen \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 said. \'93\loch\f1289 I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
\hich\f1289 m going to look at the thermograms again.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Sorry, Monica, but I think we need to pull some more blood for the doctors,\'94\loch\f1289  Bosco said.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 She made a face, but complied. Bosco dug up some freeze-dried ice cream as compensation, and they nestled together on the thin chair and made the medical terminal show them\~}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 
\i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Bugs Bunny}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 \~\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
while they waited for the blood panel to run.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Chen returned, looking grave, just as Elmer Fudd seemed on the verge of certain victory. Bosco disentangled himself from his daughter and le\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
ft her to the cartoons while he and the captain moved away to converse privately.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 I should have caught it earlier,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Chen said, \'93\loch\f1289 but it looks like there\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s a bigger leak on panel three. It\hich\f1289 
\rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s obscured in most of the images, but I found one decent shot of it.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 She thrust out a tablet, and Bosco squinted at the bright smears of the infrared image. Sure enough, there was a small but brilliant plume of orange issuing from an elbow, deep in the pipework.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Hell,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  he said, \'93\loch\f1289 looks like it might be a weld. No way I ca\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 n patch that, even if I could get to it.
\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Chen nodded grimly. \'93\loch\f1289 Let\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s not jump to any conclusions until we\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 ve put eyes on it, but I agree that it doesn\hich\f1289 \rquote 
\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 t look good.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
Back to the airlock, then. Donning the suit went faster this time, with another pair of hands. The jumpsuit was still slimy with the now-cold sweat of his last excursion, and the clammy feel of it on his arms made him shudder.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 He struggled to keep his mind on the task, at first. His mind kept drifting instead back to his daughter, worrying over \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
whether he could protect her even if he could repair the ship. Upon reaching the heat exchanger and getting a good look at it, however, his attention crystallized onto the problem at hand.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
A flexible camera snaked into the array to give him a good look at the leak. A hairline crack had formed adjacent to a weld, inside a tight bend in the tubing. NaK seeped through the crack like silvery blood from a wound. Bosco issued a blistering curse u
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 pon the quality control team back on Earth.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Accessing the inner pane\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
l was nigh impossible, and the geometry of the leak site was equally problematic. He tried anyway, of course, using a probe to ineffectually poke pieces of foil at it until it devolved into an irredeemable mess.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 It\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s no good, Captain,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  he reported. \'93\loch\f1289 I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
m going to have to seal off the whole thing.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 He sighed as he pulled himself to hull of the ship, where a manifold permitted him to isolate each section of the heat exchanger. He slowly opened the bypass valves and then closed the isolation valves. He took an
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 other set of infrared images and toured the other heat exchanger before returning to the airlock.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
Fear for Monica hit him afresh as he finished his task and his brain regained bandwidth for other things. It was all he could do to force himself to properly connect his suit for recharging power and gases before rushing to the privacy of the reactor cont
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 rol room to view the message from the medical team that waited there. He needed to watch it alone first. If it were bad news, he would have to work out how to \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
explain things to Monica.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
The doctor looked tired, a condition that Bosco suddenly realized that he shared. Two grueling EVAs and the constant existential stress were taking their toll. Still, there was no chance that he could rest before knowing what Dr. Thompson had to say.

\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 We don\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 t have enough information to reach a definite conclusion,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  she said. \'93\loch\f1289 But I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
\hich\f1289 m cautiously optimistic.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Endorphins flooded Bosco\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s brain at that phrase, and he found that he couldn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t sit quietly. The zero-gravity environment wasn
\loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t conducive to frenetic pacing, so he had to settle for tugging at his hair and breathing rapidly.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 Based on the event chronology provided and the blood work, I believe that the patient\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
s negative reaction was to the diazepam rather than to the immunosuppressant formulation, or possibly due to an interaction between the two medications.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 At the time of the blood draw, the diazepam had largely cleared the patient\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s system while the immunosuppressant blood serum concentration was still over fifty micrograms 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 per milliliter, which is significant. Given that symptoms had resolved by the time of the blood draw, we conclude that the patient reasonably tolerated the immunosuppressant.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 We recommend that you proceed with the next scheduled dosage and observe for other adverse effects. We also recommend against further elective sedation. Please keep us apprised.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 The screen went dark and Bosco let out an involuntary whoop of relief and joy. Things seemed to be turning around at last. He pushed away from the terminal t\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
o tell Monica the good news when the reactor control system chimed gently, several times in quick succession. Seconds later, the pager on his hip started to vibrate.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 The musical note indicated a non-critical warning that nonetheless required review. Scowling, Bosco pulled up the event log and the trend screens and puzzled through the sequence of events.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Everything was straightforward and predictable for someone with their head in the game. He cursed himself for being surprised. The reactor had been operatin\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
g at its design capacity, running its normal functions plus life support, heating, and lighting for the whole ship. The heavy use of the medical unit, deep space comms transmitter, and the airlock on top of that didn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t help.

\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
Isolating a section of the heat exchanger had pushed the core temperature above permissible levels, and the system had automatically dropped control rods to compensate, slightly slowing the nuclear chain reaction in the core. Temperatures and pressures ha
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 d dropped back into spec and everything was running smoothly again.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Everything was fine. Everything, except that power production had dropped by eight percent. Power production and power consumption were now almost at parity. He looked at the battery logs a
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 nd any residual triumph from Dr. Thompson\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s message turned to ash in his throat.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Once a steady line at one hundred percent, the battery level was now fluctuating, falling during periods of high demand and then recovering. Almost recovering. They were, very slowly, losing ground.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 They had run out of margin.
\par }\pard \ltrpar\qc \li0\ri0\sb240\sa240\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9249068 \cbpat8 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 #
\par }\pard \ltrpar\qj \fi480\li0\ri0\sb135\sa135\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9249068 \cbpat8 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 He talked to Monica first. She didn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
t really understand, but she trusted him and seemed happy that he was happy. Her faith in him warmed his heart, while simultaneously terrifying him that it might be m\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
isplaced. They shared a hug and then he had to go brief the captain.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 She was on the bridge, reviewing the infrared scans. She didn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t look away when he entered.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 Bad news, ma\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 am.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Do you ever have anything else?\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 When he didn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t reply, she sighed and turned to look him in the eyes.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 Sorry, Bosco. All right, let\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s have it.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 We\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 re running at lower power now, and we\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
re starting to dip into battery reserves. The ship can handle losing a heat exchange module or two, or providing extended life-support for the mai\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 n cabin, but not both at once.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Chen\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s eyes widened. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 How long do we have?\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 There\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s not much data yet, and we haven\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
t done any work towards triaging our power consumption. A rough extrapolation gives us at least nine days before getting to dangerous levels.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 She shook her head. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 We need to get everybody back into cold sleep as soon as possible. How long until we can do that?\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 The doctors estimated two weeks.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 She blew out a noisy breath, refusing to meet his gaze now. \'93\loch\f1289 Have they worked out how to stretch \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 the drug supply to cover both of you?\'94

\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 N\~.\~.\~.\~Ah, yes ma\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 am. I have a solution for that.\'94\loch\f1289 
 A glittering syringe danced behind his eyes for a moment, and he felt the corners of his lips involuntarily twitch downwards.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 She looked at him again. \'93\loch\f1289 You need to rest before anything else. Take four hours of sleep, and then we\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 ll reconvene to brainstorm solutions.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 ll finish going through your images. I haven\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
t seen any evidence of more leaks. See? At least one of us can generate good news.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Bosco nodded dumbly. \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
Now that the prospect of sleep was upon him, his brain seemed to have already started the shutdown sequence. He fumbled his way to the lavatory and then collected Monica. Together they huddled in the reactor control room, which was marginally warmer than 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 the main body of the ship, and wrapped themselves in mylar blankets.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Despite the intensity of the situation, sleep came quickly and mercifully. A gentle smile creased his face as he held his daughter and closed his eyes. Surely things could only improve.
\par }\pard \ltrpar\qc \li0\ri0\sb240\sa240\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9249068 \cbpat8 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 #
\par }\pard \ltrpar\qj \fi480\li0\ri0\sb135\sa135\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9249068 \cbpat8 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 
\loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Bosco?\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Someone was shaking him. He scowled, scrunching his eyes tighter and muttering something rude and unintelligible in equal measure.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 Sorry, but it\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s time to wake up.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 He told the voice what it could go do to itself. Then he cracked an eye, saw that it was the captain, and told her again.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Chen made a distinctly unamused noise in the back of her throat. He slowly disentangled himself from the blankets and the still-sleeping Monica and rubbed his eyes until memory returned. He wished that it hadn
\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Ah, hell,\'94\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289  he said at last.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Accepting this as an apology, Chen nodded curtly and got to business. They moved out of the reactor control room so as to not disturb Monica.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Chen shoved a ration pouch at him. \'93\loch\f1289 Let\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s review our options,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  she said. \'93\loch\f1289 
Assume that we need to sustain main-cabin life support for longer than the battery will hold out.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 Ground control wants to know if we can reactivate the isolated section of heat exchanger. Odds are that it\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s been leaking for a long time, what\hich\f1289 \rquote 
\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s a few more days?\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 Yes, probably.\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Let me check how much reserve coolant we have.\'94\loch\f1289  Bosco started hunting through trend screens as they spoke.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 How much energy can we conserve?\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 Not a lot, I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 m afraid. It\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s not my area of expertise, but I don\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
t see many options. The ship is designed to run as efficiently as possible to start with. We can turn off some lights, but the power draw there is negligible. Life support systems are critic\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
al, naturally. We can turn down the cabin temperature a bit, but it\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s already near the limit of what we can handle\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
. In a pinch we could turn off the oxygen and water recyclers and run down the reserves, but that\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s a short-term solution.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 Let\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s start with the lights and the cabin temperature then. Anything we can do to increase the reactor output?\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Bosco scowled at that. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Well, we could push the safety margins a bit.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 There was that word again, margins. It seemed like every time he turned around, they were nibbling away at their margins. First their energy margins, and now their safety margins. It would end poorly. And
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289  yet, they were headed for a bad end at the moment anyway.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 I could pull the control rods back a bit, run at a slightly higher temperature. We could run the coolant pumps harder and pray that they don\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
t give out. The automated system is more conservative than the rules permit, and the rules are more restrictive t\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 han what we think physics will permit.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Chen chewed her lip, staring at the floor. \'93\loch\f1289 Let\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s proceed with the energy conservation plan. Did you determine how much spare coolant we have?\'94

\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 Enough to rec\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 harge about one-and-a-half heat exchange units. Looking at the level trend, we\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
ve been losing coolant for two months and could likely handle the same loss rate for another six weeks.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 She nodded. \'93\loch\f1289 Easy enough then. Let\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s reopen our problem child. We\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 ll close it again right before we all go back to bed. I
\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 ll get clearance from Earth, plan on suiting up in ninety minutes.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 That was a dismissal. Bosco finished eating and then roused Monica. A dormant anxiety reared its head and gnawed at his gut\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 it was time fo\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
r her second dose of medication.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Do I have to?\'94\loch\f1289  Still half-asleep and scared, she turned whiny and shied away from the needle.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
He found the cartoons again. What was a few more watts of power draw, after all? This placated her to the point that he was able to administer the shot, and then they sat for a while, watching the show together. She giggled unrestrainedly each time the mo
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 use inflicted some improbable harm on the cat.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Bosco alternated between waiting for any sign of an intolerance to the medication \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 and an unsettling realization that he mostly identified with the cat.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 After a few minutes, a crease appeared in the girl\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s smooth brow and she turned away from the cartoons to fully regard her father.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 Don\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 t you need your shot too, Daddy?\'94\loch\f1289  she asked.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Bosco grunted. Damn kid was too smart. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Uh, yeah. Thanks for reminding me.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Sourcing a fresh syringe, he turned his back to her as he filled it with saline. His heart skipped a beat as he looked at it, filled with a clear liquid so similar to the unassuming cyl
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 inder still taped to his pod. He turned and forced himself to smile at Monica as he pushed the needle into his shoulder and depressed the plunger.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 There.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
Satisfied, she returned her attention to the show. He watched her for an hour. She grew subdued and lethargic but exhibited no violent reaction to the dose. The fear that gripped like a clenched fist around his heart slowly eased. His eyes slipped towards
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289  closed again, but Chen returned before he could fall properly asleep.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Ground has approved our plan,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  she said, \'93\loch\f1289 with one small change. You\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 re to stay here and monitor the reactor, it
\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s my turn to spacewalk.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Bosco put up an obligatory protest on the way t\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 o the airlock, but his heart wasn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
t in it. He would be perfectly happy if he never again had to face that vast emptiness. He helped her into the EVA suit and together they walked through the checklist.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 It felt like an interminable wait while Chen navigated to the valve manifold. Bosco didn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
t care for the idle time. It allowed him to think about syringes and endings. For the first time, he articulated thoughts about how the number of times he got to hug \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
his daughter might be approaching the single digits. He\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289  would never get to speak to his wife again. The sterile, cramped confines of the ship would be the last thing he would ever see.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Bosco, you there?\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Chen sounded annoyed, and Bosco realized that it was at least the second transmission. He shook himself. \'93\loch\f1289 Yes ma\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
am. Proceed when ready. Open the isolation valves first, and then close the bypass valves. As slowly as you can.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Roger. Opening isolation valves.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Nothing blipped on the SCADA terminal, but then, he didn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t expect it to. The bypass was still the pa\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
th of least resistance. No need to stress until she closed the second set of valves. It was hard to say how smoothly the delicate system would respond to the slug of colder, denser NaK being mixed into the system on top of the pressure instability reintro
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 duced by the leaky section of pipe.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Closing bypass valves.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Ten-four.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Bosco held his breath and counted to thirty. His trends held steady.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Valves closed.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 He watched the screen. Everything looked good for one hopeful minute, until the coolant pressure b\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
egan to drop. It fell slowly at first. He held his breath as he watched, praying that it would stabilize, maybe even recover. As if in spiteful answer, the loss rate began to accelerate.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 Something\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s wrong,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  he said, \'93\loch\f1289 we\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 re losing pressure.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Give me a second.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 He gave her two tense minutes, gnawing on his knuckles and watching the pressure steadily tick down.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 They were already down over a hundred psi, which was well over five percent of the initial pressure. Warnings were beginning to flash yellow on the e\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 vent log when Chen\hich\f1289 
\rquote \loch\f1289 s panicked voice came piping through the radio.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 It didn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 t like all this pressure cycling. The cracked pipe is spraying coolant everywhere now. I have to isolate it again.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Roger.\'94\loch\f1289  He said a few other words, but he didn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t broadcast them.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 He watched the trend screen anxiously as the pressure loss blew past two hundred psi, then three.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 The pressure suddenly stopped dropping and rose precipitously.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Yes!\'94\loch\f1289  Bosco shouted, throwing his fists into the air in triumph. Then he saw that flow had d\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 ropped to zero.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Red splashed across the status screen. The pager at his hip began vibrating insistently and the spacecraft shuddered. An alarm began to wail.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Ah, hell,\'94\loch\f1289  he said, arms still in the air.
\par }\pard \ltrpar\qc \li0\ri0\sb240\sa240\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9249068 \cbpat8 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 #
\par }\pard \ltrpar\qj \fi480\li0\ri0\sb135\sa135\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9249068 \cbpat8 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 
\loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 What\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s happening?\'94\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Chen asked, her composure slipping. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 The whole ship jerked!
\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 You closed the isolation valves before opening the bypass. The pump deadheaded and then shut down.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Somewhere, a little girl was shrieking in heart-rending terror, but Bosco had to tune it out.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 He scanned the trend log. Everything had happened so fast. \'93\loch\f1289 
Core temperature spiked. The system compensated by venting the pressure relief valves on the primary coolant loop and initiating an emergency shutdown.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 The relief valves probably pushed the ship\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289  around a bit, but nothing serious. I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
ll restart the core after you open the bypass valves and we should be in business. You can head back in to work on plan B.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 He prepared to withdraw control rods, but he couldn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t bear the crying anymore. They could run on battery power for a few more minutes. What was one more hit to their margins?
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 He comforted Monica, savoring the minutes that he got to spend with her even as he stressed over his absence from the control panel. After calming down, she joined him in the \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
control room. Shortly, she forgot the terror and began enjoying the null-gravity environment, swooping about the room in a way that quickly annoyed her father.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 For his part, Bosco worked with an ever-deepening scowl. He pushed away from the terminal and met Chen at the airlock just as she exited it. She could tell from his face that their troubles were an ongoing matter.

\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 The core pressure keeps dropping. I need to go put eyes on it.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 What are you thinking?\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 The only thing that makes sense is that one of \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 the PRVs is stuck open, continuously venting. The control system instructed them all to close, but this wouldn
\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 t be the first time that one of these has failed.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 That sounds bad.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 It is. The core can\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
t operate that way, which means we have no power, while the discharge is simultaneously costing us irreplaceable water and pushing us off-course. We need to move fast.\'94\loch\f1289  He donned his suit and vented the airlock to space rather than pu
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 mping it down first.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 The core lurked on what Bosco considered the underside \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
of the ship. Having a nuclear reaction so close to the colonists might terrify some, but spaceflight was never for the faint of heart.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 From the exterior of the craft, the only visible part of the reactor was the bioshield, a great expanse of metal with a smattering of pipework and conduit playing over it.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 He expected to see a jet of white steam when he rounded the curve of the ship. When he saw nothing, he was at first relieved, but then concerned that the cause of the problem remained unsolved.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 He stood th\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
ere, puzzling for a moment. After a time, it occurred to him that a spout of superheated steam might look different in space, with the vacuum immediately boiling it away to an invisible vapor. He took an infrared picture and squinted at the tiny screen.

\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 The plume that he expected shone vividly there, in shades of brilliant orange rather than white.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 He activated his radio. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Found it.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 A single failed pressure relief valve spelled doom for the entire colony ship. Although planning for every contingency was no\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 t in a spaceship designer\hich\f1289 \rquote 
\loch\f1289 s charter, they did make an allowance in this case. The vent valves consisted of a length of pipe that thrust out of the surface of the reactor like a stalagmite. An automated solenoid-actuated valve, buried in the shielding, gov
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 erned each pipe. The saving grace was an accompanying quarter-turn manual valve at the tip of each jutting length of pipe, permitting a technician to isolate it.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Bosco moved slowly towards the offending valve. Being so close to the reactor always unnerved h\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
im. He was about fifteen feet away when the quiet clicking finally penetrated his consciousness. His radiation monitor, the one inside his shielded spacesuit, was registering a significant gamma field.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 He retreated and reported back to Chen, trying to keep his voice from shaking.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 They shared a moment of silence. They both knew what needed to happen, but Chen didn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t want to order it. Bosco took a deep breath.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 All right, I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 m going in. It should only take a few minutes.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
The hard part was making a rapid approach without overshooting. It took more than a few minutes to get in range, and a few minutes more to fail to turn the valve. The terrifying staccato of the dosimeter kept him company the whole time.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 It\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s galled!\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  He tried to get a wrench on it, but only succeeded in snapping off the handle of the valve. He retreated, cursing. 
\'93\loch\f1289 I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 m coming back to the airlock. I need some more gear.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Thirty minutes later, he returned to the crest of the spacecraft and stared at the deadl\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
y valve, which looked as innocent as ever. He felt faintly queasy, whether from the radiation or the task ahead, he couldn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t tell.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 The offending stub of pipe looked innocent there in the poor light. He stared at it for a long time from a safe distance. He had fancied that he had made peace with death\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 
it was only a few short days away in the best case, housed in a tiny cylinder of cle\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 ar glass.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 The immediacy of it overwhelmed him all the same.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 I can\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 t do it,\'94\loch\f1289  he said, but he didn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t activate the radio. Closin\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
g his eyes, he played back his last day on Earth, when he and Dolores had taken Monica to the park to enjoy the sun and birdsong one last time. The laughing face of his little girl filled his mind and his heart.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Clenching his teeth, he moved forward. They had one chance left. He was a dead man either way, the least he could do was give everyone else a shot.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 He imagined that he could hear the escaping steam as he approached the pipe. The chattering of the dosimeter at his hip would have drowned it out even h\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
ad there been an atmosphere to transmit the sound.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 The taste of metal filled his mouth as he set about arranging his gear and anchors. The last hope of\~}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 The Cold Horizon}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 \~\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 and all its inhabitants was \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
a length of steel pipe about three feet long and four inches in diameter, with a flange on one end and a valve on the other.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
At more than twice the diameter and a foot taller, it fit neatly over the hateful vent pipe. The escaping steam continuing to shoot through the open valve at the top of the repair pipe. He attempted to report back to Chen, but the radio proved unable to h
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 andle the radiation. He was on his own.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 An ion beam made three quick tack welds between the flange and the bioshield to hold it in p\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
lace. It took most of an hour to drill the six holes into the hard steel, and another thirty minutes to drive the bolts home. The clumsy gloves fought him every step of the way.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
He was starting the final weld around the base to guarantee a complete seal when the radiation suddenly blinded him. At first, he thought that the ship lights had gone out, perhaps due to a catastrophic power failure. When he realized that there was no st
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 arlight and no suit lights, he felt a mad terror like nothing he had ever known\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
. His whole universe was utter darkness, his only company the continuous, indifferent chatter of the radiation monitor.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Bosco screamed. Then he screamed again. He thrashed and kicked, felt himself spinning wildly. He pivoted on his short tether, which was clipped a few feet away, crashed into the ship, and bounced.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Already queasy from the intense radiation, his stomach threatened a total revolt. He seized on this feeling, almost grateful to have something real to focus on, and clawed his way back to sanity.
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289  He tried the radio again, failed to make contact again. And then, just as suddenly as it went, his vision returned.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
Sobbing, he hauled on the tether until he returned to the surface of the ship and, hands shaking like a maraca player on a roller coaster, went back to welding. There was nothing else he could do, except pray, which he also did.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Somehow, miraculously, he finished the weld without destroying his suit with the ion beam or drowning in his own vomit. Only one thing left to do.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 The big, multi-turn\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
 valve moved reluctantly, but move it did. It took so many rotations to fully close that Bosco began to fear that it was just spinning freely, not closing anything, but at long last it came to a halt and refused to move any further.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
Exhausted, he unclipped his local tether and began reeling in the main line, pulling himself towards home. He left the torque wrench and the welder where they were, sitting on a mag strip on the surface of the bioshield.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 He stopped once, after the clicking of the dosimeter mostl\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
y died down, to take a final infrared image of the repair. Then, as fast as he was able, he hauled himself back to the airlock.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 His mind was reduced to repeating a simple mantra over and over.\~}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
Get back to the airlock. Get back to the airlock. Get back to the airlock.}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Airlock achieved, a new mantra took over.\~}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
Must decontaminate. Must decontaminate. Must decontaminate.}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 He managed to close the airlock behind him before the contents of his stomach erupted violently inside his helmet. Oblivion took him.
\par }\pard \ltrpar\qc \li0\ri0\sb240\sa240\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9249068 \cbpat8 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 #
\par }\pard \ltrpar\qj \fi480\li0\ri0\sb135\sa135\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9249068 \cbpat8 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Bosco \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 gradually became aware that someone was holding his hand. Turning his throbbing head to the right, he saw his wife.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Dolores?\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  He tried to sit up, but straps held him tightly to the chair. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 You can't be here!\'94\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
 His protest, intended as a shout, came in a hoarse whisper.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 I had to see you.\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  She smiled at him, eyes wet and bright. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 They told me how brave you were.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 Our margins\~.\~.\~\hich\f1289 .\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Somehow, she laughed. \'93\loch\f1289 I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 ve heard all about them. You\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
ve been out for nineteen hours, muttering that word over and over in your sleep.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 He turned his head to the left. The skin of his neck felt tight and hot, like a bad sunburn. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Where is Monica?\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Chen moved into view. \'93\loch\f1289 It seems that someone finally informed the medical crew about our\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289  power shortage. They\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
re regular miracle workers down there. She was already responding to the immunosuppressant, and they were able to temporarily boost the dosage of her coma cocktail enough to overcome any lingering resistance. She\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
\hich\f1289 s asleep already.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Bosco shook his head, a lump of relief in his throat. Still, he wished he could have held her one last time. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 And the reactor?\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 They roused Keith Simmons of the\~}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Dreamcatcher}{\rtlch\fcs1 
\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 , the next ship behind us. He\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s finalizing the startup sequence still, but I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
m told \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 that everything looks good. We have the recycling systems off to conserve power, but the reactor should be back up and all of us asleep again within the next six hours. We made it.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
This was it then. All to bed, with one last private task for Bosco when everyone else was asleep. He looked at Dolores, glad that she was there while simultaneously wishing she were still comatose. Should he say good-bye? Did she understand the situation?
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289  His eyes found Chen.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 One more miracle from Dr. Thompson,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Chen said. \'93\loch\f1289 You\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
 absorbed four sieverts of radiation while saving us all. An enormous dose, but very survivable with modern medicine. Your immune system is shot though. You\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
re not going to be producing any more antibodies until you get a bone marrow transplant.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Bosco didn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t even realize all the little muscles in his face were tense until he felt them relax. His eyes widened in wonder and an astonished laugh erupted from his lips. He wasn
\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t going to die out here in the lonely emptiness. He was going to see his da\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 ughter aga\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 in, hold his wife. He couldn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
t process all the emotions at once.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Gently, slowly, Dolores and Chen disconnected his various IVs and unstrapped him from the chair.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 C\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 mon,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Dolores said, \'93\loch\f1289 You need some rest. I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 ll see you on Enceladus.\'94

\par }\pard \ltrpar\ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9249068 \cbpat8 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs17 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs17\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 \line }{\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af1289\afs22 
\ltrch\fcs0 \b\f1289\fs22\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Brad Zeiger\~
is nominally a chemist, an engineer, or a writer, depending on which dubious source you care to reference. He lives in northwestern Oregon, squandering his time in the local semiconductor industry. He has several self-published novels on Amazo
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 n, but offers the cave\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
at that they are substantially different in style from this work. "The Insomniac," which won the 2023 Jim Baen Memorial Short Story Award Contest, represents his first professionally-published piece of fiction, and he is deeply grateful to Baen for that o
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 pportunity}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs22 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs22\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 .}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs17 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs17\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 
\par }\pard \ltrpar\ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af0\afs32 \ltrch\fcs0 \fs32\insrsid9249068 \page 
\par }\pard \ltrpar\qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9249068 {\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af0\afs40 \ltrch\fcs0 \b\f1142\fs40\cf1\chshdng0\chcfpat0\chcbpat8\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 
\hich\af1142\dbch\af31505\loch\f1142 A Lesson to Those Who Survive
\par }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0\afs32 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1142\fs32\cf1\chshdng0\chcfpat0\chcbpat8\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 \hich\af1142\dbch\af31505\loch\f1142 by D.J. Butler}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0\afs32 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f1142\fs32\cf1\chshdng0\chcfpat0\chcbpat8\insrsid9249068 
\par 
\par }\pard\plain \ltrpar\s21\qj \fi480\li0\ri0\sb135\sa135\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9249068 \cbpat8 \rtlch\fcs1 \af2289\afs24\alang1025 \ltrch\fcs0 
\fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\loch\af2289\hich\af2289\dbch\af31505\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068 \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 I don\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
\hich\f1289 t like this place,\'94\loch\f1289  Philastes Larch muttered. In the gloom, the Pelthite\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s dusky skin and black hair made him hard to see. His undyed gray linothorax breastplate, with the Protagonists\hich\f1289 
\rquote \loch\f1289  insi\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 gnia of an ear painted on it, was visible as a whitish blob. Occasionally, the metal studs in his leather skirt caught glints of light, like a thin swarm of fireflies buzzing about his hips.

\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 The Protagonists all wore matching armor. There were four of them now, and they were experimenting with a uniform.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 You\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 re not supposed to like it,\'94\loch\f1289 
 Joose said. Joose was the client. He hunched forward in his lumpy purple cassock, his four-clawed hands worrying the ivory tube he\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 d brought, his long triangular head swayi\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
ng side to side.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
They stood at the base of a thick column in the center of a small courtyard, atop which Indrajit was just now losing sight of a sculpted double-headed eagle. Joose had been insistent that this was where they would meet.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 What is that two-headed eagle?\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Philastes asked. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 A guardian to protect against the spirits of the dead?\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Joose grunted. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Or a warning. A lesson of some kind to those who survive.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 The dead are not to be feared.\'94\loch\f1289  Indrajit scanned the gathering gloom, peering past the pillars and down the s\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
tone lanes, looking for the Handlers. They had agreed that four Handlers would come, corresponding to the four Protagonists, each jobber company accompanying one of the two erstwhile partners. \'93\loch\f1289 They\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
re no different from us. When you are dead, you\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 ll exist\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289  in song, just as your dead fathers do now. And you won\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 t be terrifying anyone.\'94

\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Not everyone sings songs about their dead,\'94\loch\f1289  Fix pointed out.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 But there will be songs for me,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Joose said. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 With my fabulous wealth, I shall endow a college of bards.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Eh?\'94\loch\f1289  I\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 ndrajit snapped his attention around to the client. \'93\loch\f1289 I didn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
t know you were a patron of poetry. Have you ever heard the Blaatshi Epic?\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 Don\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 t humor him,\'94\loch\f1289 
 Fix warned the client. Fix had already examined every corner of the courtyard in which they stood, but he continued to pace around the periphery, re-checking the shadowed crannies.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 I don\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 t want to hear your epic.\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Joose spat on the weedy ground. \'93\loch\f1289 
I will leave merchantry behind and become a man of esteem. As such, I will pay bards to sing about me for a c\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 entury. Beyond that, I have no interest in poetry.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 Maybe you\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 d be better off building a necropolis instead.\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Fix pointed at a row of carved glyphs on the face of a nearby building. 
\'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 You could write your noble deeds in stone, and they would be remembered for much longer than a century.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Oh, yes?\'94\loch\f1289  Joose\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s thick black tongue poked at the corner of his mouth, and he nodded at the carved words. \'93\loch\f1289 
\hich\f1289 And what deeds did that person do, then?\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Fix examined the characters. \'93\loch\f1289 I can\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 t read it,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  he admitted. \'93\loch\f1289 It looks a 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 little like bannerscript, but I think it might be a dead language.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 ll stick to my bard plan, thanks.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 You know,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Indrajit said, \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 you could be captured in a verse in the Epic.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 I can\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 t wait any longer.\'94\loch\f1289 
 Philastes Larch gripped a fluted column at the edge of the courtyard with both hands and started climbing up toward the roof above.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 I don\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 t want a verse,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Joose said. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
I want a college of bards, obligated by legal deed, to sing fawning songs about me until I have moldered into a pile of dust.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 It\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s go\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 od to have goals,\'94\loch\f1289  Fix said.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Philastes hoisted himself onto the rooftop, becoming a dark silhouette against the night\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s bright stars. The lights of Kish were far enough away not to obscure the celestial vault.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Munahim?\'94\loch\f1289  Fix called into the darkness.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Nothing yet,\'94\loch\f1289  the Kyone called back.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Speaking of goals,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Indrajit said. \'93\loch\f1289 I guess I can infer now that we\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
re here to help you recover something from a tomb?\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 You\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 re here to keep Tholune\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s jobbers in check,\'94\loch\f1289  Joose said.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 The Handlers,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Indrajit said. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Yes.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 A\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 nd for manual labor.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 That\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s why we brought Munahim and Philastes.\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Indrajit pointed at the wrapped bundle at his feet. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
And the shovels and prybars.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 But you\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 re not here to ask questions,\'94\loch\f1289  Joose said.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Ah.\'94\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289  Indrajit gripped the hilt of his leaf-bladed sword Vacho and bit his tongue.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 I see movement,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Philastes said. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Four . . . five men.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 At the same time, from a different elevated perch in the darkness, Munahim whistled and then tapped five times on stone. The Kyone had not only the head of a dog, but a dog\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
s keen sense of smell and hearing.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Get down here,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Fix urged Philastes. \'93\loch\f1289 We don\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t want anyone to think we\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
re setting an ambush.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 But maybe we should have set an ambush,\'94\loch\f1289  Joose whimpered.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 You might be w\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 illing to deal with your partner on those terms,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Fix said, \'93\loch\f1289 but we can\hich\f1289 \rquote 
\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 t do that to other jobber companies.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Word would get around?\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Joose asked. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Other companies would stop working with you?\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 More likely, the Handlers would find us in a dark alley and kill us to get even,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Indrajit suggested. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
There are only four of us, but Gannon has a couple dozen men.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 How do you know the Handlers haven\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 t set up an ambush, then?\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Joose pressed. \'93\loch\f1289 If they killed all four of you, there
\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 d be no one to avenge you.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 Ther\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 e would be the Lord Chamberlain,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Fix said. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 And Grit Wopal.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 The spymaster?\'94\loch\f1289  Joose asked.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 The same,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Fix said. \'93\loch\f1289 We\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 re not without allies.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Munahim would warn us in any case,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Indrajit said, wishing he felt quite as confident as he sounded. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
Having the Kyone turns out to be pretty useful.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Joose harrumphed.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Philastes slid back down the pillar as Munahim padded toward them. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 They have a Gund,\'94\loch\f1289  the Kyone warned them.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 When did the Handlers get a Gund?\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Indrajit asked. \'93\loch\f1289 They used to be just a bunch of Zalap\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
tings and that Luzzazza.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 The Luzzazza whose arm you ripped off?\'94\loch\f1289  Fix asked.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 I like the way your description makes me sound mighty,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Indrajit said, \'93\loch\f1289 but that isn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
t quite how it happened. Also, I don\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t know that we\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 re reconciled, but he has chosen not to kill me on at least one occasion.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Perhaps they got a Gund to replace the Grokonk we killed.\'94\loch\f1289  Fix\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s voice was mild and soft, a little higher-pitched than the man\hich\f1289 
\rquote \loch\f1289 s barrel chest would suggest. In the darkness, Indrajit almost imagined Fix as a woman.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 We\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 r\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 e at peace with the Handlers,\'94\loch\f1289  Indrajit said firmly.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Yes,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Fix agreed. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 And they sent a very large fighter to meet us.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Indrajit heard the Gund\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s footsteps, shuffling and heavy, before he heard the other Handlers. Then he detected the rasp of someone who moved by dragging himself\hich\f1289 \emdash 
\loch\f1289 Joose made the same noise when he moved. Finally, he discerned footfalls.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Time for a little light,\'94\loch\f1289  Fix suggested.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Philastes lit the first of the torches and held it high. He was the designated torch bearer because, though he was\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
 formidable with his sling, he was the least deadly of the Protagonists in hand-to hand-combat.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
A second torch ignited at the same time, and in the overlapping puddles of light, the four Handlers and their client were revealed. The white-skinned, scab-eyed Gund, with its nest of wiggling insectoid limbs sprouting from high in its back, loomed over t
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 he others like a tower. Hugging close to the Gund\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s thigh was a hunched, four-armed man who might have been Joose\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
s mirror image, except that his cassock was red.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Tholune,\'94\loch\f1289  Joose said.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Joose,\'94\loch\f1289  came the hissed answer.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
Arrayed around Tholune in a protective formation stood three men. One was a red-haired, pale-faced Karthing Indrajit recognized. He wore two long blades at his belt and was wrapped in gleaming leathers; Indrajit had tangled with the man before and very ne
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 arly lost his life to the Karthing\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
s impeccable swordsmanship. The other two men were Yuchaks, with horn bows in their hands and scimitars at their belts. One of the Yuchaks held the second torch. All four Handlers wore gray tunics with a circular glyph p
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 ai\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 nted on it.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Good,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  the Karthing said. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Five and five.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Indrajit nodded. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Now, which of you battling partners has the first map?\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Terms first,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Joose said. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Half each.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Each man pays for his own jobbers,\'94\loch\f1289  Tholune shot back.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 The jobbers serve our collective interests,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Joose countered. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 We pay the jobbers out of the whole, and then split the remainder.\'94

\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Why should I suffer if you overpaid your muscle?\'94\loch\f1289  Tholune sneered.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Why should I suffer if you bought cheap and incompetent help?\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 What are you hiding? \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Have you hired another dozen thugs, hidden somewhere in the ruins? And you wish me to pay for them?\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 If I planned to kill you, I wouldn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 t worry about paying for the jobbers, would I?\'94\loch\f1289  Joose snorted.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Frozen hells,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Indrajit said. \'93\loch\f1289 You\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 re not partners, you\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 re brothers.\'94

\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Gah!\'94\loch\f1289  Joose spat.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 This is pointless.\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  The Karthing spoke without moving a single unnecessary muscle. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Tholune hired us, Tholune will pay us.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 You think you can dictate terms to me?\'94\loch\f1289  Joose shrieked.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 The Karthing\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s two swords leaped into hi\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s hands. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
I am a Sword Brother, fully belted and raised to the highest degree. I think I can dictate terms to everyone here.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 The Gund groaned, a deep rumble that ended in a squeal.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 A moment of silence passed.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 We don\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 t need to test that proposition,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Fix said. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
The brothers split the money. Then Tholune pays you, Joose pays us.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Joose\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s triangular muzzle ground in a slow circle and finally he grunted. \'93\loch\f1289 I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 ll pay the Protagonists.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 The Karthing put away his swords.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 m Indrajit,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Indrajit said. \'93\loch\f1289 Fix, you pr\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
obably remember. The Kyone is Munahim and that\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s Philastes with the torch.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 I know,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  the Karthing said. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Joose, your map is first.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 I like this peace we\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 re enjoying,\'94\loch\f1289  Fix said.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Sarcasm is beneath you,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Indrajit told him. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Sarcasm is for children and idiots.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Joose twisted open the horn cylinder and shook out a rolled length of parchment. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Pelthite,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  he said to Philastes, \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
raise your torch and stay by my side.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Then two of Joose\hich\f1289 \rquote \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 s arms withdrew into his cassock and he began to drag himself forward. Indrajit wasn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
t sure what race of man the quarreling brothers represented. He also wasn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t sure whether they had legs. To judge from the motion they made as they moved, and the accompan\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
ying noise, they might be dragging their bodies on the ground.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Indrajit picked up the bundle of tools. Then he smiled and stepped brightly to the Sword Brother\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s side. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Shall we?\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Munahim,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Fix said. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Watch the rear.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Join him,\'94\loch\f1289  the Karthing said to his Y\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 uchak archers. \'93\loch\f1289 Watch him carefully, but don\hich\f1289 \rquote 
\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 t fall far behind. And listen for Ghouls.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 One torch moved ahead and the second drifted back, leaving the center of the combined party in shadow. Fix fell in beside Indrajit and they moved forward. Their pace was steady but slow, matching Joose\hich\f1289 
\rquote \loch\f1289 s progress. Indrajit kept his hand on Vacho\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s hilt; t\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 he Karthing was right that the necropolis was infested with Ghouls. On the other hand, he didn\hich\f1289 \rquote 
\loch\f1289 t want to raise tensions with the Handlers any higher by actually drawing \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
the weapon. Joose and Philastes crossed a crumbling stone amphitheater and heading down a narrow stone alley whose left-hand wall seemed about to collapse on them.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 So, \hich\f1289 \lquote \loch\f1289 fully belted and raised to the highest degree\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  sounds important,\'94\loch\f1289  Indrajit said.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 No one is important,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  the Karthing replied without turning his head. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Only the art matters.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Okay. But I mean, you must have studied and trained for many years.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 And fought,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  the Karthing said. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 The art is not an abstract art.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Only the art matters,\'94\loch\f1289  Indraj\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 it said, \'93\loch\f1289 but then you\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 re working as one of Gannon
\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s Handlers."
\par }\pard\plain \ltrpar\s23\qj \fi480\li0\ri0\sb135\sa135\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9249068 \cbpat8 \rtlch\fcs1 \af2289\afs24\alang1025 \ltrch\fcs0 
\fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\loch\af2289\hich\af2289\dbch\af31505\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068 \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 You are a poet,\'94
\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  the Karthing answered slowly. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 The four hundred twenty-seventh Recital Thane of the Blaatshi. The last of the line.\'94
\par }\pard\plain \ltrpar\s21\qj \fi480\li0\ri0\sb135\sa135\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9249068 \cbpat8 \rtlch\fcs1 \af2289\afs24\alang1025 \ltrch\fcs0 
\fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\loch\af2289\hich\af2289\dbch\af31505\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid9249068 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
Indrajit felt both embarrassed and proud at the fact that the Karthing knew this. He also felt vulnerable. Did all the Handlers know this about him? Were Gannon\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
s men following him and investigating him? Fix was right, there was obviously still hostility \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 between the two jobber groups. Should Indrajit be worried?\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  \'93\loch\f1289 
\hich\f1289 I hope not to be the last.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 You serve an art,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  the Karthing continued. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 And yet you also must earn your bread.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 I see,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Indrajit said. \'93\loch\f1289 I apologize if it seems a foolish question. I just know less than I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
d like about your order.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 The Karthing said nothing.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Maybe you could give me a demonstration of your art,\'94\loch\f1289  Indrajit suggested.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Only if someone needs to be killed.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Indrajit had questions, but no answers seemed forthcoming, so he whistled softly and kept walking.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Joose and Philastes passed through a sa\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
gging arcade and then climbed a broad stair toward a raised avenue. The sides of the elevated road were pierced with ragged holes large enough to admit men and visible as yawning black maws in the torchlight. Indrajit heard faint chuckling and whispering 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 sounds, and he thought they came from the openings.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 There are Ghouls near!\'94\loch\f1289  Munahim called, preempting Indrajit\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s question.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 m going to draw my weapon,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Indrajit told the Karthing. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Because of the Ghouls.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 They all armed themselves. Fix took an ax into o\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
ne hand and his falchion into the other; the Karthing drew both swords. Even the Gund armed itself with an immense, straight, one-edged sword. It looked like something a chef might use to dice vegetables, bloated to an immense size.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 At the base of the stairs, the Gund bellowed and charged three steps toward the holes. Indrajit heard sudden shrieking and then silence.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 They climbed the stairs. At the top, Philastes and Joose stood waiting.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Maybe we should get a Gund,\'94\loch\f1289  Fix mused.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 They eat a lot,\'94\loch\f1289  the Karthing said.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 So you each have half a map,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Indrajit said to Tholune. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Did you fight over it and tear it in half or something?\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Our father left us each a map in his will,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Tholune said. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 He said they were maps to great treasure.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 My condolences,\'94\loch\f1289  Indrajit said.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 My father died years ago,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Tholune told him. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
Neither of us wanted to show the other his treasure map, so we only realized recently that the two maps were two halves of the same document.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Fix chuckled.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 It\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s not funny,\'94\loch\f1289  Tho\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 lune said. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
Our businesses have suffered hard times. We could have used the treasure.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 How did you realize the maps went together?\'94\loch\f1289  Indrajit asked.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 
We ran into each other. I was entering the necropolis and Joose was leaving. We fought, and then we talked. His difficulty was that his map shows a clear starting point, but the route wanders off the edge of the map. My difficulty was that my map shows n
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 o clear starting point, but instead just the end of the journey, in a tangle of mausolea. So he followed his\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
 map to its end and then wandered, hoping blindly to run into the treasure our father promised, while I walked in circles, looking in vain for buildings and lanes whose configuration exactly matched my chart.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 If only you had worked together from the start,\'94\loch\f1289  Fix said.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 If only he had told us!\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Tholune hissed. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
If we had known that working together would have quickly brought us to the treasure, then of course we would have shared information!\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 What is the treasure?\'94\loch\f1289  Indrajit asked.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Tholune waved two arms v\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 aguely at the silhouettes of structures surrounding them. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Grave goods of some kind, no? Gold or jewelry.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Your lack of curiosity is notable, Sword Brother,\'94\loch\f1289  Fix said.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 If we find the treasure, I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 ll get paid.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Was your father a tomb robber?\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Indrajit asked. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 A historian, maybe, at the Hall of Guesses?\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 He was a draper,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Tholune said. \'93\loch\f1289 I continue my father\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s business of importing and selling fine wools.\'94

\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 As do I,\'94\loch\f1289  Joose said.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Liar!\'94\loch\f1289  Tholune snapped.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Your hatred of sheep is irrational,\'94\loch\f1289  Joose grumbled.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 Sheep\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s wool is prickly!\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Tholune groused. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
It is a lesser fabric! It attacks its own wearer, and it smells bad! Who wants to be attacked by his own stinky cloak?\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 My many, many customers,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Joose shot back. \'93\loch\f1289 Do you know that I have contracts with three of Kish\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
s great houses to clothe their servants in winter?\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Servants?\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Tholune laughed. \'93\loch\f1289 Who else do you clothe? Criminals? Reprobates? Prisoners? Soldiers? I clothe the same houses\hich\f1289 \rquote 
\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  princes and princesses, at considerably higher margins!\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 But no volume!\'94\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Joose snorted. \'93\loch\f1289 For every princess you wrap in an alpaca shawl, I dress a hundred men in good sheep
\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s wool! You would happily make one fine cloak for the Lord Stargazer and then die penniless in your pride, rather than stoop to make a tunic for an appren\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 tice!\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 ll happily clothe any apprentice with taste!\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Tholune was shrieking. \'93\loch\f1289 And I don\hich\f1289 \rquote 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 t want to hear you complain about my margins! My margins have declined every year because of the competition from your shoddy, stinky, scratchy goods!\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 You see?\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Joose shrugged with four shoulders, sending a ripple through his cassock. \'93\loch\f1289 Might as well get into sheep\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
\hich\f1289 s wool.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Tholune screamed and hurled himself forward, but both Indrajit and the Karthing blocked him with their bodies. The draper huffed and grunted, but eventually allowed himself to be pulled away.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Indrajit allowed a moment of silence, for ev\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 eryone to catch his breath.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Philastes,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  he finally said, \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 please continue.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 We\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 ve come to the edge of the map,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Philastes said. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 We need the other map.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 My brother is a brute and a man of no taste,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Tholune growled. \'93\loch\f1289 I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 ll share nothing with him. We\hich\f1289 \rquote 
\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 re done here.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Joose howled, but Fix grabbed his triangular muzzle and forced it shut.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Okay,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Indrajit said, \'93\loch\f1289 I know that tempers are running high, but that\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s breaking the deal. You\hich\f1289 \rquote 
\loch\f1289 ve come through Joose\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s map, and the deal is that now we follow your map. You\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289  don\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
t get to walk away now and come back later on your own, now that you know where your own map begins.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 I certainly do get to,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Tholune said. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 I have a Gund.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 I see in hindsight,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Fix said, \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 we should have forced you two to switch maps at the beginning.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 Not my fault you weren\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 t thinking more clearly.\'94\loch\f1289  Tholune chuckled, a dry and rasping sound.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 What you\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 re proposing would take us down a very awkward road,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Indrajit said. \'93\loch\f1289 
You would take your map and go. We would stay here and wait. Find some nice hid\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 ing place, up off the ground, with good visibility and good protection. We\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
d hunker down on rooftops and the tops of tall columns. And when you came back, we\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 d ambush you. But that\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s not really going to happen.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 It isn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 t?\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Tholune sneered. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Why not?\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 For one thing,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Indrajit said, \'93\loch\f1289 we\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 re five and five.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 We have a Gund!\'94\loch\f1289  Tholune reminded him.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 The Gund groaned.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 True,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Indrajit said. \'93\loch\f1289 The Handlers once had a Grokonk, too. A big female, really ferocious. Have you asked your jobbers what happened to their Gr
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 okonk?\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 The Karthing\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s face was expressionless. Indrajit had terrible images of the Sword Brother\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s two weapons slicing Indrajit in half.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 They had a Luzzazza, too,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Fix said. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 You know, the big four-armed fellows?\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Luzzazza have two arms,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Tholune said. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
And they use their mental powers to levitate objects in their immediate vicinity. Everyone knows that.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Four arms,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Fix said again, \'93\loch\f1289 two of which are very difficult to see because they change color, like the skin of a chameleon. Except the Handler
\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s Luzz\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 azza has three.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 I don\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t think he\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s forgiven you yet,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  the Karthing said quietly, \'93\loch\f1289 whatever he
\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s told you.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 So don\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 t count on your Gund giving you an easy victory,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Indrajit said. \'93\loch\f1289 But there\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
s a better reason why you\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 re going to keep the deal.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 What\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s that?\'94\loch\f1289  Tholune\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s voice held a quavering note of uncertainty.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Because the Handlers are going to keep the deal,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Indrajit said. \'93\loch\f1289 
Because if they want to keep working in Kish, they have to have the reputation of helping their clients get results. But if they \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 get the reputation of being dishonorable or deal-breakers, no one will hire them. They
\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 ll be done, overnight. Force to make a living as criminals.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Indrajit really hoped that what he was saying was true.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 More to the point, he really hoped that the Karthing believed it. For all his talk of earning his bread, the man was dedicated to an art. He had to have some notion of integrity.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Gah.\'94\loch\f1289  Tholune spat. With hesitant, jerking motions, he produced a leather wallet, extracting from it a map.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Philastes held out a hand, offering to read the map, but Tholune ignored him. Rotating the scrap of parchment first one direction and then the other and peering about h\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
imself in all directions, he finally became pleased with what he saw and lurched toward a descending ramp. Joose and Philastes followed close behind.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 The rest of the jobbers followed.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 How much treasure do you think there is?\'94\loch\f1289  Indrajit asked.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Hopefully enough to pay us and you,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  the Karthing said. \'93\loch\f1289 I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 d hate to have to fight you for it.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 If there\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s that little,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Indrajit suggested, \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 we can just split it.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Why should I split it with you?\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  the Karthing asked. \'93\loch\f1289 Our fee is undoubtedly higher. We are jobbers o\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
\hich\f1289 f renown.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 There\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s a mathematical way to do this,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Fix said. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
We add up our agreed fees to determine proportions. Then we each take a pro rata share of whatever treasure we found.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 That\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s one way to do math,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  the Karthing said. \'93\loch\f1289 
Another way to do math is that the Handlers get paid in full. If there\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s anything left, you can get paid out of that.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 What happened to Tholune pays you, Joose pays us?\'94\loch\f1289  Indrajit asked.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 If the treasure is large enough,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  the Karthing said, \'93\loch\f1289 that\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s how it will work. But if it\hich\f1289 \rquote 
\loch\f1289 s sm\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 all enough that only one party can get paid . . . that party will be us.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 m sure there\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s lots of treasure.\'94\loch\f1289  Indrajit grinned.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
The ramp led into a plaza. From the plaza, Philastes and the two clients led on through a series of arches and up a short staircase, and then into a rectangular field with a sunken cistern at one end, dark with gurgling mud, and a column at the other. The
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289  clients stopped between the pool and the pillar and argued in low voices until the jobbers caught up.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 It\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s not in the mud!\'94\loch\f1289  Th\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 olune snapped.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 My jobbers can swim.\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Joose laughed. \'93\loch\f1289 Did you see the one with the fish head? They\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
ll have it out for me in no time. Maybe you\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 d like to renegotiate shares now?\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Not this again,\'94\loch\f1289  Fix said.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 What does the map show?\'94\loch\f1289  the Karthing asked.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Indrajit scanned the breadth of the field. \'93\loch\f1289 I know what it shows. It shows the same symbol on Tholune\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s map, ending the search, as it showed on Joose
\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s map, starting it.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Fix furrowed his brow. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Did you look at the maps?\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 The two brothers conferred under Phila\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 stes\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s sputtering torch.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Why would you think that?\'94\loch\f1289  the Karthing asked.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Indrajit pointed. The pillar standing opposite the cistern was the same size and height as the pillar by which they\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 d started the journey. And at its top stood a double-headed eagle.

\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Oh,\'94\loch\f1289  Fix said.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Ghouls!\'94\loch\f1289  Munahim roared.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Immediately afterward, Indrajit heard the twanging of bowstrings. The torch that had been carried by one of the Yuchaks bringing up the rear with Munahim snuffed out.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Fix!\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Indrajit yelled. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Philastes! Protect the clients!\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Protagonists!\'94\loch\f1289  Fix cried.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Indrajit dropped the bundle of tools and charged into the darkness, sword in hand. He raced toward where he\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
d last seen the light and he carried the blade high overhead, wary that if he ran into Munahim without seeing him, he might impale his colleague.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 The Gu\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 nd bellowed and rushed past. The big sexless jobber\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s legs were longer than Indrajit\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
s and it charged recklessly. Indrajit accelerated his pace.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 He heard wordless shrieks behind him. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Protagonists!\'94\loch\f1289  Fix yelled again.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
Indrajit saw a crumbling mound to his left. Atop it, a tall shadow slashed left and then right and then left again with a long sword, emitting sounds like barks mingled in with grunts and curses. Lesser shadows surrounding him shrieked and collapsed, diss
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 olving from misshapen, mult-limbed grote\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 squeness into formless puddles.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Munahim!\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  he called. \'93\loch\f1289 I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 m coming!\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 He thundered up the slope. Eyes adjusting, he could make out two Ghouls on the Kyone. One had Munahim by the leg and tried to drag him to the ground. The other clung to Munahim\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
s arm, keeping his sword from getting into play. Beneath the Protagonist\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s fee\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 t and in heaps all about him lay the flesh of dead Ghouls, bone-white under the light of moon and stars.

\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Indrajit didn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t yell a battle cry. Instead, he slammed into the first Ghoul with his\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
 knees, knocking it free and sending it rolling across a rubble-strewn depression.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 The Gund roared, a sound like a shriek and a hiss. Indrajit heard other screams as well. Ghouls\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289  voices? Yuchaks\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 ?
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Indrajit stepped on a stone that betrayed him, sliding away and stealing his footing. The Ghoul he\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
d knocked down rose to its feet and sprang. Only then did Indrajit see that the monster had two heads on long necks, each head terminating in a long, toothy\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289  muzzle. Indrajit lunged forward to catch himself on one kn
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 ee and braced Vacho against his own chest, sharp tip forward.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 The Ghoul impaled itself like a roasted chestnut on a toothpick. Both mouths hissed and spat blood, and both heads lurched forward, jaws snapping to bite at Indrajit. Indrajit smelled the reek of carrion on the Ghoul
\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s breath. Holding Vacho\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s hilt firm in\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289  his left hand, he grabbed one of the Ghoul\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
s heads by lank, greasy hair and smashed it repeatedly into the other head, temple to temple, until both mouths fell silent.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 He kicked the shuddering c\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 orpse from his blade and whirled to help Munahim.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 The Kyone brought his own sword down with two hands, slicing his Ghoul opponent completely in two.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 The Gund roared again, and the roar ended in a strangled, choking sound.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Protagonists!\'94\loch\f1289  Indrajit charged toward the sound.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
He stumbled and almost fell. Below the rubble-strewn hillock, multiple bodies lay strewn about and tangled together. At their center, he saw a bone-white mass that was too big to be a Ghoul, and must be the Gund. He lurched toward it and s
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 ent a Ghoul with blood dripping from its jaws racing away into the night.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Munahim!\'94\loch\f1289  Indrajit yelled. He backed in a circle, looking for more Ghouls.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 One moment!\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  the Kyone called. \'93\loch\f1289 I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 m lighting the torch.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
A few seconds later, the torch took fire, and Indrajit surveyed the battlefield. The two Yuchaks and the Gund all lay dead. One of the Yuchaks was missing all four limbs and the other had a deep hole excavated in his chest. The Gund\hich\f1289 \rquote 
\loch\f1289 s throat was torn out.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 Didn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 t you smell them coming?\'94\loch\f1289  Indrajit asked. \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Or hear them?\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Both,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Munahim said. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 I warned the Yuchaks, but then it was too late and the Ghouls were upon us.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 They hurried to rejoin the others, who stood at the base of the column, surrounded by their own heaps of dead Ghouls. Fix and Philastes both bled from wounds, but the others looked unharmed.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Indrajit reported the deaths of the other Handlers.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Ha ha!\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Joose cackled. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 This rather changes the calculus!\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Indrajit resisted the urge to drag his client to the cistern\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s edge and throw him in.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Respect the three men who just died to protect you,\'94\loch\f1289  Fix said softly.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 They died to protect Tholune,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Joose said. \'93\loch\f1289 
Which they did. They did their job well. And Tholune should definitely pay them. Or pay Gannon, or pay their families. But he can pay with the proceeds of alpaca wool, because I don\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t see the need to share the 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 treasure with him at all. We are five on two now.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 The Karthing stood with his back to the column, a\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289  sword still in each hand.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Indrajit sheathed Vacho. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 No. This changes nothing.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 But,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Joose sputtered. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 But.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Do we dig?\'94\loch\f1289  Fix asked.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Whatever we do,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Indrajit said, \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Munahim and Philastes, keep a look out. There are still Ghouls out there.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 If we must dig,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  the Karthing said, \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
we may be digging for days. Where in this field should we dig? Halfway between the pillar and the cistern? At the base of the pillar? On which side?\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Indrajit looked up at the column, looming above him. \'93\loch\f1289 I don\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t think we dig at al\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 l.\'94\loch\f1289 
 Gripping the pillar with both hands, he started climbing.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
Philastes might be a better climber than him. It occurred to Indrajit when he was halfway up the column that Philastes was smaller, so he had much less weight to drag up the stone. Also, if Philastes fell on his comrades, he\hich\f1289 \rquote 
\loch\f1289 d do less damage. On the other\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289  hand, Indrajit\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
s long arms and legs let him extend far along the surface of the pillar to find handholds and footholds. And he had plenty of experience climbing as a young man, hunting on the ro\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 cks and cliffs of his people
\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s home.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 He dragged himself onto the top of the column. His muscles ached and he was panting from exertion.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Indrajit?\'94\loch\f1289  Fix called.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Give me a minute.\'94\loch\f1289  Indrajit caught his breath and examined the space he found himself in. The top of the column was capacious\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 
four or five men could have stood side by side. The two-headed eagle was huge, occupying the center. It was taller than Indrajit\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
, and in the starlight, Indrajit could see that the sculptor had taken great pains with the statu\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 e. Every feather was crisp, the bird\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
s four eyes were distinct and proud, and its talons were curled in a fierce, half-open grip.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 The talons clutched an object.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
Indrajit knelt and worked at the object with his fingers. It was made of stiff, oily leather, and it was tied into the grip of the talons with leather straps that were thoroughly invisible from the ground. Eventually, he managed to undo the knots and loop
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 s that held the leather in place and pull away a large, water-proofed wallet.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Inside were tucked\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289  two sheets of paper. Even in the dim light, he could tell the sheets were crossed by many lines of script.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Indrajit sighed. Now was not the time to lament the descent of mankind\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
s thousand races into brute, insensible literacy. He shut the wallet again, tucked it into the pocket of his kilt, and then set about the harrowing return journey to the ground.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 I have the treasure,\'94\loch\f1289  he said when he alighted.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Fix, the Karthing, and the two brothers looked at him. Philastes and Munahim stood a few paces away in opp\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 osite directions, raising torches and peering into the night.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 It must be very small.\'94\loch\f1289  Joose\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s voice was flat.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Do you read?\'94\loch\f1289  Indrajit asked the Karthing.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 No.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Indrajit handed Fix the wallet. \'93\loch\f1289 I don\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 t either, but he does. The treasure appears to be documents.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Tholune and Joose both snatched for the wallet, but Fix grabbed it and held it over their heads. Short as he was, the clients were shorter. He turned his back toward Munahim\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
s torch to get light on the paper, and then scanned both sheets.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 There\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s a \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 letter from your father,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  he said. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
It congratulates you on working together.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Joose harrumphed.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Some treasure,\'94\loch\f1289  Tholune grumbled.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 There\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s also a letter from a bank,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Fix continued. \'93\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
It says the bank has five hundred Imperials in an account, but that the account requires both of you to appear together to make a withdrawal.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Joose gasped. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Five hundred Imperials? I could invest in a new mill!\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 I could pay off my debts!\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Tholune added. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Both of us must go, are you sure?\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 All of us,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Fix said. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
We will all of us go to the bank together tomorrow. Just to be certain, we will stay together until then, and I will hold the documents.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Kill them!\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Tholune screeched at the Karthing. \'93\loch\f1289 You said \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
you could defeat everyone, do it! Grab the papers and I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 ll double your fee!\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Shut up,\'94\loch\f1289  the Sword Brother said.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 We\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 ll also take out an appropriate amount for the funeral expenses of the three dead Handlers,\'94\loch\f1289  Indrajit said.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 The Ghouls will finish their bodies before we can bury them.\'94\loch\f1289  Was there a hint of grief in the Karthing\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s voice?
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 A memorial, then,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Fix said. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 A wake. Did they have children? The Yuchaks, I mean?\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 The Gund was sexless. Which was true of every Gund Indrajit had ever heard of. Which made\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289  him wonder where Gunds came from.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Only the harlots of Kish know the answer to that,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  the Karthing said. \'93\loch\f1289 A good memorial is more than any of them expected. A wake, and we\hich\f1289 
\rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 ll invite the Protagonists.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 I don\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 t like this deal,\'94\loch\f1289  Joose muttered.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 I don\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 t either!\'94\loch\f1289  Tholune snapped.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 You\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 re not supposed to like it,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Fix said. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 But I think your father would.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Our father?\'94\loch\f1289  Joose growled.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Consider it a warning,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Indrajit suggested. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 A lesson to those who survive.\'94
\par }\pard\plain \ltrpar\s28\qj \li0\ri0\sb135\sa135\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9249068 \cbpat8 \rtlch\fcs1 \af2289\afs24\alang1025 \ltrch\fcs0 
\fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\loch\af2289\hich\af2289\dbch\af31505\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af1289\afs22 \ltrch\fcs0 \b\f1289\fs22\cf1\insrsid9249068 
\par }{\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af1289\afs22 \ltrch\fcs0 \b\f1289\fs22\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 D.J. Butler\~is the author of the\~}{\field\fldedit{\*\fldinst {\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af1289\afs22 \ltrch\fcs0 
\b\f1289\fs22\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 HYPERLINK "https://www.baen.com/allbooks/category/index/id/4873,1972" \\t "_blank"}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af1289\afs22 \ltrch\fcs0 
\b\f1289\fs22\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 {\*\datafield 00}}}{\fldrslt {\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af1289\afs22 \ltrch\fcs0 \cs36\b\f1289\fs22\ul\cf20\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Witchy War series,}}}\sectd \ltrsect
\linex0\endnhere\sectlinegrid360\sectdefaultcl\sectrsid2557235\sftnbj {\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af1289\afs22 \ltrch\fcs0 \b\f1289\fs22\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 \~\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 the\~}{\field\fldedit{\*\fldinst {\rtlch\fcs1 
\ab\af1289\afs22 \ltrch\fcs0 \b\f1289\fs22\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 HYPERLINK "https://www.baen.com/allbooks/category/index/id/5042,1972" \\t "_blank"}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af1289\afs22 \ltrch\fcs0 
\b\f1289\fs22\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 {\*\datafield 00}}}{\fldrslt {\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af1289\afs22 \ltrch\fcs0 \cs36\b\f1289\fs22\ul\cf20\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Cunning Man series}}}\sectd \ltrsect
\linex0\endnhere\sectlinegrid360\sectdefaultcl\sectrsid2557235\sftnbj {\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af1289\afs22 \ltrch\fcs0 \b\f1289\fs22\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 \~\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 (with Aaron Michael Ritchey),\~}
{\field\fldedit{\*\fldinst {\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af1289\afs22 \ltrch\fcs0 \b\f1289\fs22\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 HYPERLINK "https://www.baen.com/abbott-in-darkness.html" \\t "_blank"}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af1289\afs22 
\ltrch\fcs0 \b\f1289\fs22\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 {\*\datafield 00}}}{\fldrslt {\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\ai\af1289\afs22 \ltrch\fcs0 \cs36\b\i\f1289\fs22\ul\cf20\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Abbott in Darkness}}}
\sectd \ltrsect\linex0\endnhere\sectlinegrid360\sectdefaultcl\sectrsid2557235\sftnbj {\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af1289\afs22 \ltrch\fcs0 \b\f1289\fs22\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
, and many other novels and stories. \'93\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 A Lesson to Those Who Survive\'94\loch\f1289  takes place in his\~}{\field\fldedit{\*\fldinst {\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af1289\afs22 \ltrch\fcs0 
\b\f1289\fs22\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 HYPERLINK "https://www.baen.com/allbooks/category/index/id/5161,1972" \\t "_blank"}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af1289\afs22 \ltrch\fcs0 
\b\f1289\fs22\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 {\*\datafield 00}}}{\fldrslt {\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af1289\afs22 \ltrch\fcs0 \cs36\b\f1289\fs22\ul\cf20\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Indrajit & Fix series,}}}\sectd \ltrsect
\linex0\endnhere\sectlinegrid360\sectdefaultcl\sectrsid2557235\sftnbj {\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af1289\afs22 \ltrch\fcs0 \b\f1289\fs22\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 \~\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 which includes\~}{\field\fldedit{\*\fldinst {
\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af1289\afs22 \ltrch\fcs0 \b\f1289\fs22\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 HYPERLINK "https://www.baen.com/in-the-palace-of-shadow-and-joy.html" \\t "_blank"}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af1289\afs22 \ltrch\fcs0 
\b\f1289\fs22\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 {\*\datafield 00}}}{\fldrslt {\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\ai\af1289\afs22 \ltrch\fcs0 \cs36\b\i\f1289\fs22\ul\cf20\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 In The Palace of Shadow and Joy\~}
}}\sectd \ltrsect\linex0\endnhere\sectlinegrid360\sectdefaultcl\sectrsid2557235\sftnbj {\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af1289\afs22 \ltrch\fcs0 \b\f1289\fs22\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 and\~}{\field\fldedit{\*\fldinst {
\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af1289\afs22 \ltrch\fcs0 \b\f1289\fs22\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 HYPERLINK "https://www.baen.com/between-princesses-and-other-jobs.html" \\t "_blank"}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af1289\afs22 \ltrch\fcs0 
\b\f1289\fs22\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 {\*\datafield 00}}}{\fldrslt {\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\ai\af1289\afs22 \ltrch\fcs0 \cs36\b\i\f1289\fs22\ul\cf20\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Between Princesses & Other Jobs.}}}
\sectd \ltrsect\linex0\endnhere\sectlinegrid360\sectdefaultcl\sectrsid2557235\sftnbj {\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af1289\afs22 \ltrch\fcs0 \b\f1289\fs22\cf1\insrsid9249068\charrsid9249068 
\par }\pard\plain \ltrpar\ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \rtlch\fcs1 \af0\afs24\alang1025 \ltrch\fcs0 \fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\loch\af0\hich\af0\dbch\af31505\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\rtlch\fcs1 
\af0\afs32 \ltrch\fcs0 \fs32\insrsid13764642 \page 
\par }\pard \ltrpar\qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13764642 {\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af0\afs40 \ltrch\fcs0 \b\f1142\fs40\cf1\chshdng0\chcfpat0\chcbpat8\insrsid13764642\charrsid13764642 
\hich\af1142\dbch\af31505\loch\f1142 Requiem - An Honor Harrington Story
\par }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0\afs32 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1142\fs32\cf1\chshdng0\chcfpat0\chcbpat8\insrsid13764642\charrsid13764642 \hich\af1142\dbch\af31505\loch\f1142 by David Carrico}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0\afs32 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f1142\fs32\cf1\chshdng0\chcfpat0\chcbpat8\insrsid9249068 
\par }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0\afs32 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1142\fs32\cf1\chshdng0\chcfpat0\chcbpat8\insrsid13764642 
\par }\pard\plain \ltrpar\s28\qj \li0\ri0\sb135\sa135\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13764642 \cbpat8 \rtlch\fcs1 \af2289\afs24\alang1025 \ltrch\fcs0 
\fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\loch\af2289\hich\af2289\dbch\af31505\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs22 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f1289\fs22\cf1\insrsid13764642 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Grayson}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs22 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f1289\fs22\cf1\insrsid13764642 
\par }{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs22 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f1289\fs22\cf1\insrsid13764642 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 1907 PD}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs22 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs22\cf1\insrsid13764642 
\par }\pard\plain \ltrpar\s21\qj \fi480\li0\ri0\sb135\sa135\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13764642 \cbpat8 \rtlch\fcs1 \af2289\afs24\alang1025 \ltrch\fcs0 
\fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\loch\af2289\hich\af2289\dbch\af31505\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
A sense of impending trouble popped into Timothy Hanks' mind when he realized that his little sister wasn't in sight. He quickly disengaged from the conversation he was eavesdropping on and looked around for Elizabeth. From his august age of ten, looking 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
after his just-turned-three-years-old sister was a bit of a pain at any time, but to have to do it tonight was not fair at all, given how many interesting people were in the room. He looked first to his mother, but Rebecca Hanks was in close conversation 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 wi\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 th Second Elder Jeremiah Sullivan and a couple of other churchmen. No sign of Elizabeth there.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Next, knowing his sister's sweet tooth, Timothy looked toward the buffet table, fully expecting to see her standing on her tip-toes trying to reach a platter. Not there either.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
Now Timothy was starting to feel a bit worried, because if Elizabeth wasn't near him, Mama, or the cookies, who knew where she could have gone? He couldn't just call out for her, but if he didn't find her soon, Mama was going to have Words 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
with him when the night was over. Timothy eased away from the groups by the bier and started slipping through the crowd, looking for that little purple dress, listening for the sound of hard-soled little shoes on the chapel's polished stone floor.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 A few minutes later, worry was now standing on the threshold of alarm. Where could Elizabeth be? He'd even looked under the tables. Then he looked toward the side door of the chapel, and his heart almost stopped.

\par }\pard\plain \ltrpar\s22\qc \li0\ri0\sb240\sa240\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13764642 \cbpat8 \rtlch\fcs1 \af2289\afs24\alang1025 \ltrch\fcs0 
\fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\loch\af2289\hich\af2289\dbch\af31505\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 ***
\par }\pard\plain \ltrpar\s21\qj \fi480\li0\ri0\sb135\sa135\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13764642 \cbpat8 \rtlch\fcs1 \af2289\afs24\alang1025 \ltrch\fcs0 
\fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\loch\af2289\hich\af2289\dbch\af31505\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Admiral Honor Harrington walked down the hall t
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 oward the chapel, under the watchful eye of Andrew LaFollet and Jamie McCandless. Her staff, ably supported by James McGuinness, Nimitz, and\~}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 
\i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Terrible's}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642 \~\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
surgeon, had forced her to rest after the battle already being called Fourth Yeltsin by the simple expedient of turning off her alarms and not waking her for anything less than a communication from Protector Benjamin. As a result, she now, four days late
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 r, was merely sore and tired, as opposed to the state of utter and complete exhaustion she had been in whe\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 n she left\~}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 
\i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Terrible}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
's flag bridge after the battle. She had recouped enough that McGuinness had promised to turn her alarm back on that night. Honor begrudged the time she felt she had lost, but there was no denying she was more alert, and while she wasn't racing along yet,
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289  she wasn't exactly dragging, either.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Physically, that is. But the recent events still weighed upon her: the collapse of the Mueller Middle School dome with the attendant deaths of fifty-two workmen and teachers and thirty\hich\f1289 \emdash }{\rtlch\fcs1 
\ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 thirty}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642 \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 visiting
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
 children; the resulting outcry against her; the discovery that the collapse was sabotage; the assassination attempt that downed her pinnace and resulted in ninety-six more deaths, including that of Reverend Julius Hanks, First Elder of Grayson's Church o
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 f Humanity Unchained; the discovery that it was Steadholder Burdette who had engineered all of the death and destruction; the duel she had fought with William Fitzclarence, Steadholder Burdette, in which\hich\f1289 
\emdash \loch\f1289 in her role of Protector's Champion\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 she had execute\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 d \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
the steadholder; all of which had been capped off by the battle just completed in defense of the planet Grayson where the forces she had commanded had destroyed or driven off significant forces of Peep battleships, at a not insignificant cost to her squad
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 rons in both ships and personnel.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
Personnel, Honor thought. Such an impersonal word, so neutral, so . . . bland a word to mask the fact that the numbers represented real people who were dead, many of them destroyed so thoroughly there were no bodies to be r
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 ecovered to provide closure to their families. She was sick to death of the body count of people who had followed her leadership into the fires of battle.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
That got a bleek from Nimitz where he sat on her right shoulder, and a feeling both of warmth and of scolding. The treecat supported Honor in her grief, but at the same time wasn't disposed to let her wallow in guilt that wasn't deserved. When evil was de
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 termined to strike, people were going to die. All Honor had done was see to it that the deaths were me\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
ted mostly to the Peeps and to a lesser extent those determined to defend the helpless. To Nimitz, that was something to view with satisfaction, not riddle oneself with guilt over. Honor understood her furry companion's viewpoint; she just hadn't been abl
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 e to fully accept it yet. But he'd keep on her about it, she knew. She raised a hand, and felt him press a true-hand palm against hers.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 "My Lady?"
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 The voice that spoke from Honor's right was not the voice she wanted to hear. It should have been her flag lie\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
utenant, Jared Sutton. But Jared had been one of the ones that had not survived her pinnace being shot out of the sky, and there hadn't been time yet to replace him. So she was accompanied by Lieutenant Commander Abraham Jackson, her staff chaplain, and t
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 he one member of her staff who was not just absolutely swamped by the post-battle reports and cleanup and repairs. Yet one more pang, one more death that weighted her soul.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Honor realized her chaplain was probably responding to her hand movement, checking t\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
o see if it was some kind of signal. Rather than try to explain where her mind had been, she brought up a question she should have asked some time ago. "So what can I expect, Abraham?"
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 "To be honest, My Lady, I'm not totally certain," the chaplain said. "You know the official lying in state has occurred over the last several days."
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Honor did know that. During the frantic post-battle scramble to recover and repair and re-station the surviving Grayson fleet units, she had caught glimpses of newsie views of th\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
e tens of thousands of Graysons who had filed past Reverend Hanks' bier every day where it lay in state in the capital's cathedral. She bitterly regretted that matters had remained too unresolved and chaotic in the system to allow her to participate in th
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
e state memorial for the slain religious leader of all Grayson when it had been held the previous evening. Today, though, for the first time in days, things were under control enough that Honor could take the time. Indeed, as Steadholder Harrington, she w
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 as\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289  obligated to observe this memorial, and her staff had almost bodily forced her on the pinnace when she had started talking about postponing the flight to deal with a ship issue.

\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
"When it comes to family memorials and celebrations, different families, different steadings, will have different customs," Abraham continued. "But in most cases, there is a viewing where the body is presented and the family is available for receiving vis
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 itors and condolences."
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 "I can't see a party happening at the viewing of Rever\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 end Hanks," Honor said with a small smile.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
"Oh, no, My Lady. The Church wouldn't allow that. The main viewing was in the rotunda of the Protector's Cathedral. That's over and done with now. Today and tonight are for family and friends and notables such as yourself. There will be a buffet with some
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289  small food items, and much good drink. Many toasts and remembrances will have been lifted to the Reverend by now. There will probably be people sharing those remembrances with each other."
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Honor nodded. "That I can relate to." She squared her shoulders. "A\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 nd it's time to be about it."
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
Their progression was interrupted before they reached the chapel by the sight of a little girl marching determinedly down the hall. She was just as cute as most little girls are, dressed in a dark purple dress with plump olive-toned cheeks shining above a
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289  black lace collar and framed by curly dark hair.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 "Let her by, Andrew," Honor said.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Her senior armsman apparently didn't think that a small child would be a threat, as he sidestepped her without even a glance back at his steadh\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
older. Honor could see a slight smile on his face as his head turned a little to keep her in his vision as she moved by him.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 The girl came to a stop before Honor. She tilted her head up and announced, "You're big." Honor smiled at that announcement. By Grayson standards, she was almost a giantess, so the girl was right from her perspective.

\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Shifting her gaze to the treecat, a big smile appeared on the face of the child. "Big kitty," she observed.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Nimitz bleeked again, this time one of the sounds Honor recog\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 nized as a treecat laugh. The sense of laughter that came to her just reinforced the feeling.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Honor didn't have much warning when the treecat decided to dismount from her shoulder. She felt his weight shift as he turned, then a slight push-off as he dropped behind her.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 The girl's smile got even wider as the treecat stepped around Honor's legs. Nimitz stopped and settled his hindquarters, then raised his body up vertically so that he was looking the girl in the eye.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 "Big kitty," she said with a gurgled laugh\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 , "pretty kitty."
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 She reached out a hand to touch Nimitz, and he intercepted it with one of his true-hands. She giggled at that, patting at his hand.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Honor crouched to bring herself down closer to the child's level. "What's your name, sweetheart?" Her experience with her many younger cousins of various degrees was proving surprisingly useful on Grayson.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 "Elizabeth." The girl pronounced it carefully, making sure she got the 'th' sound right.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 "That's a pretty name," Honor said with a smile. "I know someone el\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 se named Elizabeth." She didn't think the Queen of Manticore would mind being compared to the child.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 The girl switched her attention back to Nimitz. "Pretty kitty."
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Honor stood and held her arms out. Nimitz leapt up into them, then swarmed up to resume his regular position on her right shoulder. Honor held her hand out to the girl. "Let's go this way, Elizabeth."
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 "Okay." Elizabeth reached up and took Honor's hand, and toddled alongside her as they resumed progress toward the chapel.
\par }\pard\plain \ltrpar\s22\qc \li0\ri0\sb240\sa240\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13764642 \cbpat8 \rtlch\fcs1 \af2289\afs24\alang1025 \ltrch\fcs0 
\fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\loch\af2289\hich\af2289\dbch\af31505\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 ***
\par }\pard\plain \ltrpar\s21\qj \fi480\li0\ri0\sb135\sa135\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13764642 \cbpat8 \rtlch\fcs1 \af2289\afs24\alang1025 \ltrch\fcs0 
\fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\loch\af2289\hich\af2289\dbch\af31505\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 The sight of his sis
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
ter coming back in the side door of the chapel hand in hand with a tall officer in Grayson naval uniform caused Timothy to almost panic for a different reason. He threw a horrified glance at his mother. Seeing that she was still occupied with her conversa
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 tion with Second Elder Sullivan and actually had her back mostly to the door, he started moving. He didn't exactly run to where Elizabeth was. He didn't even hurry\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 much\hich\f1289 
\emdash \loch\f1289 but he also wasted no time in moving to where the officer had stopped just inside the \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 do\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
or to view the chapel as everyone in the group passed their uniform caps to the attendant at the door.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Just before Timothy arrived, the officer turned and he saw the animal on his\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 her, he realized\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 
shoulder. Now he really wasn't sure what to do, because there was only one person in the whole Yeltsin system that officer could be, and that person frightened h\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 im a bit. Or maybe more than a bit.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Timothy scowled at his little sister. "Elizabeth . . ."
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 "Big kitty! Pretty kitty!" She interrupted him before he could\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289  even begin his scold, pointing up to the treecat. His gaze followed her finger to the treecat\hich\f1289 \emdash 
\loch\f1289 which was just the neatest thing he'd ever seen\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 but then to the face of Steadholder Harrington, wearing a smile.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 "I'm sorry . . ." was all he could get out at that moment.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 "I take it she's yours?" The steadholder's voice was low pitched and very warm.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 "My sister," Timothy muttered.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 "And you are?"
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 "Timothy Hanks, St-Steadholder . . . I mean Admiral! I mean . . ."
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 The steadholder's smile widened a bit. "It\~}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 can}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642 \~\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 be confusing, can't it? But I'm the same person either way, so it's okay." The smile slipped away. "Reverend Hanks was your . . ."
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 "My grandfather," Timothy replied. It was a question he'd answered more than once \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 over the last few days.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Timothy thought he saw the steadholder's eyes darken. "I'm . . . very sorry for your loss," she said quietly.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
Timothy's response was interrupted before he started it. "Timothy! Elizabeth!" came in his mother's voice; the tone told him that she was not happy at the moment. He managed to not hunch his shoulders, but he couldn't suppress the flinch. He was very cert
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 ain that Steadholder Harrington caught it.
\par }\pard\plain \ltrpar\s22\qc \li0\ri0\sb240\sa240\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13764642 \cbpat8 \rtlch\fcs1 \af2289\afs24\alang1025 \ltrch\fcs0 
\fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\loch\af2289\hich\af2289\dbch\af31505\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 ***
\par }\pard\plain \ltrpar\s21\qj \fi480\li0\ri0\sb135\sa135\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13764642 \cbpat8 \rtlch\fcs1 \af2289\afs24\alang1025 \ltrch\fcs0 
\fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\loch\af2289\hich\af2289\dbch\af31505\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
Honor looked up to see a woman dressed in black approaching, accompanied by \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
Second Elder Sullivan, the man who was most likely to succeed Julius Hanks as Reverend, titular head of the Church of Humanity Unchained. She was tall for a Grayson woman, which made her middle height by Manticoran standards; a pretty woman, even with her
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289  face marked with grief\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 red eyes with circles under them, deeply graven lines radiating from those eyes and the corners of her mouth\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 
although she was dry-eyed at the moment. She was obviously part of the family, given Timothy's reaction to her voice. Hono\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 r \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
waited as the other woman stepped up beside Timothy and laid her hand on his shoulder.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Elder Sullivan stepped into the gap. "Steadholder Harrington, please allow me to introduce Rebecca Hanks, daughter-in-law to Reverend Hanks. Madam Hanks, Steadholder Harrington."
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
"Please, call me Honor, both of you." Honor held out her hand first to the churchman, who showed little hesitation in taking it for a momentary shake. She then held it out to Rebecca, who took it after a moment but gave her a firm clasp when she 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 did.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
"If you will call me Rebecca," came the reply from the woman. "And I beg your pardon for my children impeding your way." That last was accompanied by a stern look at Timothy and Elizabeth. He weathered it as if he had experience at it, according to Honor'
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 s judgment.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
Elizabeth, however, was irrepressible. "Look Mommy, big kitty. Big!" She literally bounced as she pointed up to where Nimitz was sitting on Honor's shoulder. Honor could almost taste the humor that was rolling from Nimitz.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 "Elizabeth met us\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
 in the hallway," Honor said, "and conducted us here to the chapel. And Timothy greeted us moments after we arrived. Very nicely mannered, both of them." She bestowed a smile on the kids. Elizabeth smiled back, but Timothy was apparently a bit embarrassed
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 , as he flushed slightly. But then, Honor remembered being that age, and that judgments by strangers weren't exactly welcome. Come to think of it, she wasn't too sure they'd be welcome now. Nimitz bleeked at that.

\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 "I thank you for allowing me to intrude on \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
the private visitation tonight," Honor said. "I truly wanted to pay my last respects in person for a number of reasons, most of which I'm sure you can guess. But after the events of the last several days, I just couldn't get here any earlier."
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 "It was no bother," Rebecca said. "Having this late gathering actually gave many of Papa Julius' old friends in the ministry an extra opportunity to gather together and remember him."
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 "Indeed it did," Elder Sullivan said. "Most of us here tonight worked with him or fo\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
r him in the church. This is a time of quiet celebration for us, albeit we grieve at his removal from our lives in the moment." He looked around for a moment. "A very good idea, this. A time for brothers in the clergy to come together. I believe we shall 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 recommend it to the Sacristy as a whole whenever any clergyman passes."
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 A moment of silence passed, then Rebecca held out her hand. "Come along, Elizabeth. We must allow Honor her time with your grandfather."
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 "No." The girl's tone wasn't exactly defiant, Ho\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 nor judged, but she apparently had her mind set. "Go with."
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 "It's all right, Rebecca." It actually was, Honor discovered. "If you don't mind, she can stay with me. So can Timothy, for that matter."
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Rebecca looked unsure for a moment, then said with a bit of a smile, "All right, but send them back to me when they start wearing on you." She turned, and headed back toward her guests.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Honor looked \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 at the two younger Hanks members. "Shall we?" She nodded her head toward the bier.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
They arrived alongside. Elizabeth raised her arms up. "Make me big like you." Honor lifted the girl to sit on her right arm, balancing Nimitz on her left shoulder. "My Papaw," Elizabeth said, pointing at the recumbent figure of Reverend Julius Hanks.

\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 "Your Papaw was a very good man," Honor said. She could feel her own grief rising, but tried to suppress it.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Timothy put his hands on the edge of the bier, saying nothing. "Do yo\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 u miss your grandfather?" Honor asked.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
"Yes," Timothy replied, still just looking at Reverend Hanks. "But that's not him." He looked up at Honor. "He's with the Tester, the Intercessor, and the Comforter. This is just what got left behind. He called it his Grayson suit\hich\f1289 \emdash 
\loch\f1289 he'd make jokes about ho\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 w old and wrinkled it was getting, and how he was ready to trade it in for a new one." Timothy smiled a bit. "Guess he's wearing the new one now."
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Honor took a deep breath, then said, "I'd guess so."
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 She saw Elder Sull\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 ivan step up on the other side of Timothy. "Timothy, Elizabeth, you need to allow Steadholder Harrington some time alone with your grandfather. Come away, now."

\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 This time Elizabeth didn't protest when she was set back on the floor. She took her brother's hand and they walked toward their mother.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Honor looked to the elder and said a simple, "Thank you."
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 "If anyone deserves a time alone here, it's you," Elder Sullivan said quietly. "I'll stand behind you and ensure you have as much time and privacy as you nee\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
d." And he suited action to words, moving back several steps to stand behind her and her armsmen. At the same moment, Lieutenant Commander Jackson also moved back to stand with the elder.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
Honor felt both Andrew and Jamie move in a bit as she placed her hands on the edge of the bier. Her gaze focused on the face of the Reverend. It was still, of course; how could it be otherwise, since his spirit was no longer in the body that wore the face
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 ? But by some factor, whether mortician's art or the nature of his ow\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
n physical being, there was a hint of a smile on that face, one that Honor was sure was echoed in his spirit wherever it was.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Tears clouded Honor's vision, both the natural eye and the artificial one. Her throat ached to say something\hich\f1289 \emdash }{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 anything}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642 \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 
but what could she say that would have any meaning? Reverend Hanks was gone, killed in helping stave off the most recent assassination attempt on her, one of the ninety-six men and women who died as a result of the successful attempt to shoot down her pi
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 nnace as it ap\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
proached Harrington Spaceport. It had come all too close to being a successful assassination as well, and it was only Reverend Hanks' desperate effort to shield Honor with his own body that had preserved her life. That had cost the Reverend his own life, 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 and had left Honor with the grieving and grievous burden of knowing that his sacrifice was all that had saved her.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 She had been so busy, so frantic, during the last few days; then so wounded, so hurting, so driven to and past the limits of exhaustion and en\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
durance . . . she had thought that she had adjusted to his loss. But now, in the warm illumination of the presence light hanging above the bier, Honor realized that she had only deferred her grief. Now it crashed into her, broke through her shields, and l
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 aid bare her soul in all its pain and bruising and bleeding and stark bitterness that she still lived and Reverend Hanks did not.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Tears trickled down her cheeks in very slow motion as she grieved for this good man\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 no, this\~}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 great\~}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 man\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 who was a man of love an\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
d charity, who was a man of grace and compassion, but who was also a man of wisdom and firmness who had at times sheltered her and at times had stood beside her and who had always counseled her. Nimitz pressed close to her, echoing her grief.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
For just a moment, Honor absolutely resonated with the Grayson Church of Humanity Unchained's doctrine about the Test. For certainly, Reverend Hanks had been tested to the utmost, and just as certainly she and Grayson were being almost as severely tested 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 as a result.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 F\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
inally the tears slowed and stopped. Finally Honor drew back from the precipice of her grief. She reached up and detached one of her collar insignia, the circle of four six-pointed stars, and laid it on the breast of the Reverend's body. What did Timothy 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
say his grandfather had called it? His 'Grayson suit,' that was it. Honor's mouth quirked at that. She could just hear the Reverend's resonant voice delivering that with a smile. She left her hand on the breast for a moment.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 "It isn't right," Honor said ver\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
y quietly, "not at all. I should be lying there, not you. And you can tell God I said so. But since you've gone on and I'm left behind, take my love with you until I can one day catch up with you. And if you see Paul, give him my love, too."
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 She patted the old man's breast one last time, then straightened, wiped her eyes and cheeks, squared her shoulders, and turned away from the empty shell of one of the most important people of her life.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 "Tell me, Elder," Honor said without polite courtesies or circumlocu\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
tions as she approached Elder Sullivan, "how do I justify my being alive at the expense of his life?" She jerked her head over her shoulder toward the bier. "I'm not worthy of that sacrifice."
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
Elder Sullivan tilted his bald head to one side just a bit, but spoke mildly, "You already have justified it, My Lady." Honor looked at him from under lowered brows. "Twice over, as a matter of fact. First, in executing the traitor William Fitzclarence. S
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 econd, in leading our Navy to victory yet again last week. Witho\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
ut you to stop them, either of those would have caused much more death and destruction. In the long run, the first perhaps more than the second."
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 "Someone else would have . . ." Honor began to retort.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 "No, Steadholder, no one else could have done what you did\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 
certainly not at the moment, and maybe not ever. But," the elder emphasized that word, "setting those aside, I've never known anyone more certain of his own mind than Reverend Julius Hanks. And if\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
 that very good, and very firm, and very resolute old ma\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
n of God decided that you were worth the sacrifice of his last few years on Grayson, I wouldn't argue with him. On the other hand, it does perhaps leave you with a Test."
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 "Test?" Honor could hear the capital letter in Elder Sullivan's voice. She wasn't sure she wanted any more tests.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 "The Test of living in such a way that you prove Reverend Hanks' judgment right. Otherwise, you leave his last act one of failure."
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Honor expelled her breath. "You fight dirty, Elder Sullivan. If Reverend Hanks were still here,\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289  I'd report you."
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Elder Sullivan smiled. "One of my failings, I fear. He did counsel me about it from time to time."
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
After a moment, the elder's smile faded, and he grew serious. "And speaking as the acting leader of the Church of Humanity Unchained, on my own behalf and on behalf of the entire Sacristy, I can assure you that there will be no changes in the policies or 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 positions of the Church as a result of the things that have happened recently. What Reverend Hanks chose to bless and support, we will continue."
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 That statement was not expected. It caught Honor off guard. She had had little contact with the Second Elder pr\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
ior to this point, but her understanding from all of her steadholder briefings was that Sullivan was an innately more conservative man than Reverend Hanks, and not even Protector Benjamin knew what his path forward would be. But here and now he had reveal
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 ed it to Honor, and a knot of tension loosened that she hadn't really been aware of.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 "Thank you," she responded with a nod of her head. "That means a lot to me."
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 "It does to us as well," the elder said. "We will follow his leadership and wisdom,"\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 with a nod\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289  toward the bier\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 
"for yet a while."
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
Honor nodded. After a moment, in an attempt to shake her somber mood, she said, "In all our time together, Reverend Hanks never said much about his family. I see his daughter-in-law and two grandchildren here tonight, which is more than I knew about befor
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 e. Are there others?"
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 "No," the elder sighed. "He was the only child of an only son, and despite two wives had only one child of his own."
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 "A son, I take it."
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 "Yes. John Hanks. He was a chaplain aboard the\~}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Austin Grayson}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642 \~\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 in that first battle."
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
Honor's shoulders twitched reflexively. So many people had died because she had taken most of her squadron elsewhere at a time when the fanatics of Masada, aided and abetted by the People's Republic of Haven, had inserted a couple of modern warships into 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 the Yeltsin System. She had never known that the Reverend's son was one of them.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 "He never said."
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 "He wouldn't, My Lady."
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Honor had to accept the truth of that. "His wives?"
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 "Two of them: Eleanor and Rachel. Both very good choices for\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
 a pastor's wives. Warm, compassionate, supportive, and rather smart, both of them. He could never put anything over on either of them." Elder Sullivan chuckled at that. "Eleanor was the older of the two, and she passed on a couple of years ago. Her heart
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 , that was. She went to sleep one night, and didn't wake up the next morning."
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 "And his second wife?"
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 "Rachel died in childbirth," the elder said, sadness on his face. "He never told me the cause."
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 "So Rebecca . . ." Honor turned to look at the Reverend's d\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 aughter-in-law, who was listening attentively to an older man in a clerical collar.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
"Is presiding over the visitation as not only the senior wife of the family, but as the senior member of the family altogether. There are a few distant cousins, but there is no one else in the close family except her and the two children."
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Honor shook her head for a moment. "Sad."
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 "Indeed."
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Something triggered a thought in Honor's mind. "}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Austin Grayson}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642 \~\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 at First Yeltsin . . ." She looked at Elizabeth, then back at the elder. \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 "Just how old is Elizabeth?"
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
Elder Sullivan looked to the child where she was sitting next to her brother holding a cup of tea almost too large for her hands. A look of understanding crossed his face. "Ah, yes. It does look a bit odd, doesn't it? But John had been home for a few days
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
 leave right before the battle. In fact, strictly speaking he didn't have to respond to the emergency call-up that was broadcast as soon as it was known that the Masadans were in the system, but he did. Navy records indicate he 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 was one of the very last to board the last shuttle that left the planet before the battle. None of\~}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
Austin Grayson's\~}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 crew survived, of course. Elizabeth was conceived literally only a night or two before her father's death."
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 "Is Rebecca the only wife?" Honor looked around, wondering for a moment if she had missed something.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 "Yes." Elder Sullivan shook his head. "John had not chosen a second wife yet. According to Reverend Hanks, he felt he hadn't found a woman yet who wasn't more interested in being the daug
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 hter-in-law of the Reverend than she was in being married to John and Rebecca. And then it was too late."
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 "Poor Rebecca," Honor said, feeling a flood of sympathy for the other woman. She couldn't imagine what the woman must have felt like, first losing her husband, then discovering she was going to bear him another child.

\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 "Indeed," Elder Sullivan said. "She and Reverend Hanks leaned on each other to a great extent during that time of testing."
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 "I can see that," Honor murmured, looking to where the other wom\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 an was still in conversation with the older cleric.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 As Honor observed Rebecca smiling and conversing with several of those wh\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
o were lingering at the visitation, several decisions came together for her. She looked around for Andrew LaFollet, only to discover that he and Jamie were standing at the bier. Honor forbore disturbing them. They undoubtedly had as much business with the
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
 deceased Reverend as she had had. They felt they owed a special debt, as the surviving armsmen from the pinnace crash, for the way in which the Reverend's self-sacrifice was all that had preserved Honor's life that tragic evening.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Besides, Rebecca was stil\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 l occupied.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
Fortuitously, just as it looked as if Rebecca would be ending her current conversation, Andrew appeared at Honor's side with the barest rustle of sound. She looked at him, and something caught her attention. "You're out of uniform, Andrew." There was a hi
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 nt of a query in that statement.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 "As much as you are, My Lady, and for the same reason," was her chief armsman's response. His face was sober, but there was a bit of a laugh to his tone.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 "Ah. I see." Honor said nothing more about it, because at \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 that moment Rebecca turned away from her recent conversation and took two steps toward Honor and Second Elder Sullivan.

\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
"Steadholder . . . Admiral Harrington . . . Honor," Rebecca stuttered through the titles, "thank you for coming. Papa Julius was very fond of you, and had great hopes for you and your steading for the future of our people. I'm sure that where he is now he
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289  is still pleased that you have come tonight."
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 "Rebecca," Honor said after swallowing, "Reverend Hanks was a great man, and I, along with\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
 the entire planet of Grayson, grieve for your loss. I was just as fond of him as he was of me, and the knowledge of how and why he died burdens me even more. He did a service for me, and for Harrington Steading, that cannot be repaid. There is no balance
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289  I can provide that will fill the hole that has been ripped in your lives. But," she swallowed again, "I must recognize what was done, and make provision for the price that has been paid.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 "To that end, first, since Reverend Hanks died in protecting me and p\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
reserving my life, just as one of my armsmen might have done, I find that you are entitled to the pension that would be awarded to the survivors of one of my personal armsmen who might have died in a similar fashion; and given the Reverend's rank, his ine
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
stimable value to me, and his importance to all of Grayson society, that pension will be the pension awarded to a colonel of the Harrington Steadholder's Guard. This is in addition to whatever provisions are being made for you by the Protector or the Chur
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 ch\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 ."
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Rebecca Hanks was wide-eyed. Her mouth was open, but Honor held her hand up to forestall any response, because she wasn't done yet.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
"Second, given the service performed by Reverend Hanks, Harrington Steading will award citizenship to you and your children. I know that you are residing elsewhere, and may have civic responsibilities there. I will not attempt to entice you to move to Har
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 rington, but I will say that if you should ever desire to relocate for whatever reason, we would be happy to assist you in\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289  that.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 "Third, Harrington Steading will underwrite the education of your children, when it comes time for them to advance.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
"Fourth, yesterday, as Steadholder Harrington, I officially instituted Harrington Steading's first award for valor. Official announcements will be made soon, but you're the first to hear about it. It will be the Hanks Cross, which will be awarded solely t
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 o civilians who risk or lose their lives to preserve the lives and wellbeing of others, and Reverend Hanks will be its first and found\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
ing recipient. You will be presented with it in his name in a ceremony before long.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
"Fifth," Honor pulled up her personal uni-link as she was speaking and keyed in a search, then merged several packets of data together, and swiped a finger through the Send portal, "I just provided you with the direct contact numbers for myself and Howard
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289  Clinkscales, who will continue to serve as Regent for Harrington Steading. If you need anything\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 anything at all\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 
you call me if I am on-planet, otherwise you call Howard. An\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 y time day or night, if you need\~}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 anything}{
\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 , you call. All right?"
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
Rebecca seemed stunned. Even Second Elder Sullivan was showing signs of surprise. "M-My L-Lady . . . Honor," Rebecca finally stammered, "that . . . that is unnecessary. It's too much. Papa Julius would never have wanted this."
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 "I'm sure he wouldn't have," Honor said with a sad smile, "but since he's no longer with us, he can't quite object. And I will not let his family suffer any more than they already have."
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Honor's smile broadened a little. "Really, you have no choice. The proper response is, 'Yes, Honor\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
.' And if you don't let me do this for you, I will be unhappy. Does Rebecca want me to be unhappy, Andrew?"
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 "Ah," her armsman responded, "that would be 'No.' "
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 "So you see," Honor said, "you really want to just say, 'Yes, Honor.' "
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Rebecca was still stunned. Honor was starting to enjoy herself. She shifted her attention to the elder.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 "Second Elder Sullivan, I would assume that you have some influence with this person. Please counsel her that she really should accept what I am offering."
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Honor bestowed an ev\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
en larger smile on the elder, to which he responded in kind before he turned to Rebecca and said, "I suggest you give in, Rebecca. I have it on the best authority that no one has ever successfully out-stubborned Steadholder Harrington except the Reverend,
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289  and since he is gone, we mere mortals must bow to her will." He gave a slight nod of his head to that effect.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 By now Rebecca had regained at least some of her composure. She had a bit of a smile on her face, and as the elder concluded his remarks, she sank\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289  in a deep curtsey.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 "Let it be as the Steadholder has directed," Rebecca said very formally. She straightened, then surprised Honor with a giggle. "I've always wanted to say that."
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 "Good," Honor said. "I'm glad you saw reason." The mirth left her face and voice, and she continued in a very serious tone. "I meant that last part; about calling if you need anything."
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 "I know."
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Honor tilted her head. "'I know' is not the same as 'I will.' "
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 "I will call if a need arises," Rebecca said as she finally gave in.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
"Good." Honor held out her hand again, and this time it was clasped by Rebecca without hesitation, followed by Elder Sullivan. "Again, thank you for allowing me to attend at this time. I am honored by that, and by your allowing me to attend the family ser
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 vice tomorrow. My prayers are with you."
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 With that, Honor took her cap from the silent Jamie, who had retrieved it from the attendant. "And now, I am late for an appointment with the Prote\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
ctor. Good evening to you all. Andrew, Jamie, Abraham\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 let's move."
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 The cluster of uniforms, two in the blue naval uniform and two in the green of the Harrington Steadholder's Guard, coalesced and moved to and through the side door without further delay.
\par }\pard\plain \ltrpar\s22\qc \li0\ri0\sb240\sa240\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13764642 \cbpat8 \rtlch\fcs1 \af2289\afs24\alang1025 \ltrch\fcs0 
\fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\loch\af2289\hich\af2289\dbch\af31505\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 ***
\par }\pard\plain \ltrpar\s21\qj \fi480\li0\ri0\sb135\sa135\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13764642 \cbpat8 \rtlch\fcs1 \af2289\afs24\alang1025 \ltrch\fcs0 
\fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\loch\af2289\hich\af2289\dbch\af31505\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
"That was well done, My Lady," Andrew said quietly after they gained the hallway.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 "The provision for the family?"
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 "Mm-hmm."
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 "I meant every word of it, and it's not to be broadcast to the media," Honor said. "This stays known only to us and them for as lo\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
ng as possible. Clear?" Her voice in that moment was the steadholder's voice delivering instructions.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 "Clear," sounded from three different voices.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
After a moment, Lieutenant Commander Jackson said, "Your direction to institute a civilian medal named for the Reverend is also well done, My Lady. It should be very popular with your people, and it will serve as a fitting memorial."
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 "Oh, I really doubt that Reverend Hanks would much care for that, Abraham." Honor's voice carried a note of humor. "In fact, I can\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
't think of anything he would have detested more than becoming an object of veneration." Her smile slipped away and her tone sobered. "No, the only worthy memorial to the Reverend is to complete the work he started here."
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 "As you say, My Lady." The commander's voice was just as serious.
\par }\pard\plain \ltrpar\s22\qc \li0\ri0\sb240\sa240\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13764642 \cbpat8 \rtlch\fcs1 \af2289\afs24\alang1025 \ltrch\fcs0 
\fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\loch\af2289\hich\af2289\dbch\af31505\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 ***
\par }\pard\plain \ltrpar\s21\qj \fi480\li0\ri0\sb135\sa135\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13764642 \cbpat8 \rtlch\fcs1 \af2289\afs24\alang1025 \ltrch\fcs0 
\fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\loch\af2289\hich\af2289\dbch\af31505\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
Timothy Hanks stared at the door where the almost-larger-than-life steadholder had left the room. The space seemed to have shrunk a bit, he thought. "I like Steadholder Harrington," he announced.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 "You should," Elder Sull\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 ivan responded. "She has saved Grayson several times now, and your grandfather saved her so that she can continue to defend us.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 "And she is going to change the world," his mother said softly after picking a sleepy Elizabeth up.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Timothy considered that. "Is that good or bad, Mama?"
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 "Good."
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 "Mind you," Elder Sullivan added, "it may not be comfortable\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 change never is\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 
and there are those who will resent it. But the changes have already started, and as long as she is alive and leading her steading, they will con\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 tinue."
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
Most of the rest of their guests began to take their leave, as if the steadholder's leaving was a signal. Before long, it was only the family, Second Elder Sullivan, and the mortuary attendants. They began to straighten up and prepare for the family's mem
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 orial service the next morning.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 "Madam Hanks," one of the attendants called from the bier. Timothy's mother moved that direction. Timothy and the elder followed. "Look. That wasn't there before."
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Timothy stood on his tiptoes to make sure he could se\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
e. There were a couple of strange things on his grandfather's chest. His mother set Elizabeth down on a nearby chair, then picked them up.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 "One of her admiral's insignia, and one of her armsman's badges," his mother said. "What\~.\~.\~.\~"
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 "A private memorial from her," Elder Sullivan said, "and one from her armsmen, recognizing one of their own."
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 "They didn't have to . . ."
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Timothy thought his mother was about to cry, which alarmed him a bit. He wasn't sure he would know what to do if she cried.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 "Knowing them, steadholder and armsmen alike," Elder Sullivan said, "should we have expected anything different?"
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Timothy thought about that for some tim\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
e, as his mother instructed the morgue attendants to keep the items displayed as they had been found, and then picked up the now sleeping Elizabeth. At length, he said, "I shall add Steadholder Harrington to my prayers."
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 "So should we all," his mother affirmed.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Elder Sullivan nodded his head. "Indeed."
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Steadholder Harrington had come to say goodbye to his grandfather, Timothy thought. He would remember her.
\par }\pard\plain \ltrpar\s28\qj \li0\ri0\sb135\sa135\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13764642 \cbpat8 \rtlch\fcs1 \af2289\afs24\alang1025 \ltrch\fcs0 
\fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\loch\af2289\hich\af2289\dbch\af31505\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af1289\afs22 \ltrch\fcs0 \b\f1289\fs22\cf1\insrsid13764642\charrsid13764642 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 David Carrico\~is the author of
\~}{\field\fldedit{\*\fldinst {\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af1289\afs22 \ltrch\fcs0 \b\f1289\fs22\cf1\insrsid13764642\charrsid13764642 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 HYPERLINK "https://www.baen.com/the-blood-is-the-life.html" \\t "_blank"}{\rtlch\fcs1 
\ab\af1289\afs22 \ltrch\fcs0 \b\f1289\fs22\cf1\insrsid13764642\charrsid13764642 {\*\datafield 00}}}{\fldrslt {\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\ai\af1289\afs22 \ltrch\fcs0 \cs36\b\i\f1289\fs22\ul\cf20\insrsid13764642\charrsid13764642 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
The Blood is the Life,\~}}}\sectd \ltrsect\linex0\endnhere\sectlinegrid360\sectdefaultcl\sectrsid2557235\sftnbj {\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af1289\afs22 \ltrch\fcs0 \b\f1289\fs22\cf1\insrsid13764642\charrsid13764642 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
a science fiction vampire story, and\~}{\field\fldedit{\*\fldinst {\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af1289\afs22 \ltrch\fcs0 \b\f1289\fs22\cf1\insrsid13764642\charrsid13764642 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
HYPERLINK "https://www.baen.com/1636-the-flight-of-the-nightingale.html" \\t "_blank"}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af1289\afs22 \ltrch\fcs0 \b\f1289\fs22\cf1\insrsid13764642\charrsid13764642 {\*\datafield 00}}}{\fldrslt {\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\ai\af1289\afs22 \ltrch\fcs0 
\cs36\b\i\f1289\fs22\ul\cf20\insrsid13764642\charrsid13764642 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 1636: The Flight of the Nightingale.}}}\sectd \ltrsect\linex0\endnhere\sectlinegrid360\sectdefaultcl\sectrsid2557235\sftnbj {\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af1289\afs22 
\ltrch\fcs0 \b\f1289\fs22\cf1\insrsid13764642\charrsid13764642 \~\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 With Eric Flint, he is the coauthor of\~}{\field\fldedit{\*\fldinst {\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af1289\afs22 \ltrch\fcs0 
\b\f1289\fs22\cf1\insrsid13764642\charrsid13764642 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 HYPERLINK "https://www.baen.com/1636-the-devil-s-opera.html" \\t "_blank"}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af1289\afs22 \ltrch\fcs0 \b\f1289\fs22\cf1\insrsid13764642\charrsid13764642 
{\*\datafield 00}}}{\fldrslt {\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\ai\af1289\afs22 \ltrch\fcs0 \cs36\b\i\f1289\fs22\ul\cf20\insrsid13764642\charrsid13764642 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 1636: The Devil's Opera}}}\sectd \ltrsect
\linex0\endnhere\sectlinegrid360\sectdefaultcl\sectrsid2557235\sftnbj {\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af1289\afs22 \ltrch\fcs0 \b\f1289\fs22\cf1\insrsid13764642\charrsid13764642 \~\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 and\~}{\field\fldedit{\*\fldinst {\rtlch\fcs1 
\ab\af1289\afs22 \ltrch\fcs0 \b\f1289\fs22\cf1\insrsid13764642\charrsid13764642 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 HYPERLINK "https://www.baen.com/the-span-of-empire.html" \\t "_blank"}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af1289\afs22 \ltrch\fcs0 
\b\f1289\fs22\cf1\insrsid13764642\charrsid13764642 {\*\datafield 00}}}{\fldrslt {\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\ai\af1289\afs22 \ltrch\fcs0 \cs36\b\i\f1289\fs22\ul\cf20\insrsid13764642\charrsid13764642 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 The Span of Empire}}}
\sectd \ltrsect\linex0\endnhere\sectlinegrid360\sectdefaultcl\sectrsid2557235\sftnbj {\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af1289\afs22 \ltrch\fcs0 \b\f1289\fs22\cf1\insrsid13764642\charrsid13764642 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
, which was nominated for the 2017 Dragon Award for Best Military SF or Fantasy novel.
\par }\pard\plain \ltrpar\ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \rtlch\fcs1 \af0\afs24\alang1025 \ltrch\fcs0 \fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\loch\af0\hich\af0\dbch\af31505\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\rtlch\fcs1 
\af0\afs32 \ltrch\fcs0 \fs32\insrsid13764642 \page 
\par }\pard \ltrpar\qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13764642 {\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af0\afs40 \ltrch\fcs0 \b\f1142\fs40\cf1\chshdng0\chcfpat0\chcbpat8\insrsid13764642\charrsid13764642 
\hich\af1142\dbch\af31505\loch\f1142 The Hitchhiker on Souls\hich\f1142 \rquote \loch\f1142  Road
\par }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0\afs32 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1142\fs32\cf1\chshdng0\chcfpat0\chcbpat8\insrsid13764642\charrsid13764642 \hich\af1142\dbch\af31505\loch\f1142 by A. A. Nour}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0\afs32 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f1142\fs32\cf1\chshdng0\chcfpat0\chcbpat8\insrsid13764642 
\par 
\par }\pard \ltrpar\qj \fi480\li0\ri0\sb135\sa135\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13764642 \cbpat8 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642\charrsid13764642 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Of all places, Sam did not expect to wake in the back of a fire-red, flat-bed pickup truck. Especially a moving one. Particularly an unfamiliar, moving one.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
Sam shoved her boots against one side to stop from rolling. With a whimper and a healthy dose of adrenaline, she clambered to a crouch, hanging fast to one side. Dust whooshed into her face; she sputtered, falling backwar
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
ds and rolling anyway. A blank, blue sky stretched above. When she managed to right herself again, she squinted before peering over. Sandy plains spread in all directions, freckled with tumbleweeds. No buildings, no signs, no nothing. Definitely not Bosto
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 n.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Over the edge, a far fall and quick road blurred below. Surely she\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 d break her neck if she jumped.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Fighting a swell of panic, Sam wrangled with her bonds only to realize\~.\~.\~.\~well, she wasn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t tied up. She\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
d just assumed, being in the truck and all. That\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289  was something?
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Sam swallowed. It\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s fine, it\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s fine, she told herself. Maybe she passed out and some Samaritan scooped her up to take her\~.\~.\~.\~
to the middle of the desert.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Maybe she\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s dreaming. Yes!
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Another tumble drove her shoulder painfully into the front cabin. Oof, dreaming didn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t hurt this much.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Pressed against the cabin, Sam managed to scramble up toward the little slider window thingy. Cupping one hand against the glare, she found:
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Some biker dude. Sorta? With long blond hair, a leather jacket, and wraparound shades, he sure looked the part. But he also appeared very\~.\~.\~.\~
put together? Like he bathed regularly. And shaved. If Disney ever made a movie about a renegade with a heart o\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 f gold, they\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 d cast this guy.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Heart of gold? Sam crushed her forehead against the window. She was in a strange car w\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
ith a strange dude who could one hundred percent crush her windpipe as easily as he blew his nose. And somehow\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 by looking at him\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 she got the vibe he just, didn't want to?
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Sam turned her attention to her gut. Just like her bonds, her fear called in absent. Something else boiled beneath Sam\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
s ribs instead. She ground grit between her teeth as she clung to her ride, cheek pressed against the tiny window.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 She was pissed.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 It didn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t help that her mother had started up again, same as the past couple months. A barr\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
age of phone calls for a week. No voicemail. Another week of silence. Repeat. Sam dutifully left them all unanswered. As if she\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
d forgive the prior twelve years of silence. Still, each ring picked away at her 12-year-old scars.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Her phone! Yes, that was the last thing Sam could remember. She was in her car, and her phone rang and it was her mother. She silenced it, looked up and\hich\f1289 \emdash 
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Oh. Ohhh.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 She was dead. Was she dead? She must be, right?
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Hey!\'94\loch\f1289  Sam banged on the window, then recoiled from its sting. Why would\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  being dead hurt? \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Hey!\'94
\loch\f1289  she yelled louder.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 The hulking driver didn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t even twitch. Sam glared at the back of his head. He was much too blond. Almost gold. People don\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t have hair that color.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Sam banged harder. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 What is happening?\'94\loch\f1289  Both fists now. She could already feel the bruises. Ridiculous. Didn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
t she have enough to deal with? \'93\loch\f1289 Please, let me\hich\f1289 \emdash \'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 The engine rattled and the truck bed shuddered, knocking Sam back. Only when she shimmied up again did she notice another passenger. Surely, she hadn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t been there 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 a moment before?
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
An old woman, judging by the cloud of bluish hair. She pressed against the passenger-side window, oddly enraptured by the empty scenery. Was the old lady kidnapped too? No, wait, Sam had dispelled that theory already. Where was she again? Oh God, she was 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 probably drugged!
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Hey!\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Sam thumped again. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Lady, you need help? We need to get out of here!\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Where are we going?\'94\loch\f1289  The blue-haired woman asked.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Sam blinked back surprise and an eyeful of dust. Even outside, with the wind rushing and sand \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 filling her ears, Sam heard the woman\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
s whisper perfectly.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Home,\'94\loch\f1289  the driver answered. He had a smooth, NPR voice that matched his golden hair.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Oh,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  the woman said. Then quieter, \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 I see.\'94\loch\f1289  From the swath in the rearview, she looked like she\hich\f1289 \rquote 
\loch\f1289 d solved a tricky crossword. Then, she returned to her window.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Excuse me,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Sam banged, the meat of her palms stinging. \'93\loch\f1289 I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 m here too! This is definitely not my home.
\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 The moment the driver\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s eyes flicked to hers, Sam felt it. He didn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t remove his dark glasses, he didn\hich\f1289 \rquote 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 t even tilt toward the mirror. Then, Sam noticed the dashboard dials. In place of speedometers and radios were shadowy videos, spinning arrows and flashing symbols. A few silvery buttons. No stick shift.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Sam ducked into the truck bed, suddenly nauseated. Aliens? Had to be. Do other planets have country roads? She lifted her chin toward the barren plain. Even if she managed to jump, where would she go?
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Bingo. Just as she turned ahead, they pulled into a dust-coated gas station. Never mind it hadn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t been ther\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
e before, now was her chance! With a small screech, Sam launched herself over one side, landing badly on one leg. She yelped, digging her nails into the dry ground. Instead, she felt grooved metal under her palms.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 She was back in the truck bed. No. That\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s not right. Her leg still hurt, she jumped she\hich\f1289 \emdash 
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Oh my God,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Sam shrieked, \'93\loch\f1289 am I\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 having a breakdown? Oh God, oh my God, this can\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
t be real this can\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t be HAPPENING\hich\f1289 \emdash \'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Relax,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  the driver said from behind the wheel. \'93\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Only here for a moment.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Relax? Sam trembled in time with her racing pulse, her boiling blood!
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Screw you!\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  she snapped, \'93\loch\f1289 I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 ve been rolling around back here for miles. I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
m not going anywhere until I know\~.\~.\~.\~\hich\f1289 whatever is going on.\'94\loch\f1289  Even as she said the words, she feared she couldn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t keep that promise. This time, she only threw her good leg over. T
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 hen, back in the truck.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Sam yanked against one side, shaking it in time with her internal heart attack. \'93\loch\f1289 You let me off right now you stupid grease monkey. You le\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 t me out or I
\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 ll\hich\f1289 \emdash \'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 New hitchhiker?\'94\loch\f1289  the station attendant said. He suddenly appeared by the driver side window, but Sam hadn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
t seen him approach. Though he wore a worn T-shirt, it looked sparkly white; his excessive, droopy mustache clipped neat.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Yep,\'94\loch\f1289  Driver replied.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 All right,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  the attendant said, patting the truck. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Go on, then.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 As far as Sam knew, he\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 d given it no gas. She glanced at the pumps. No nozzles.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Yep,\'94\loch\f1289  said Driver.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Amid Sam\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s protests, they pulled back onto the road, the old woman still p\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
lastered to her stupid window. Hmph. Carefully, Sam reached around, and tapped the passenger side.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Hey,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  she said, \'93\loch\f1289 hello? Do you know what\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s going on?\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Yes,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  the woman responded. \'93\loch\f1289 We\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 re going home.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Is that a euphemism for something?\'94\loch\f1289  Sam probed, but the woman only had eyes for rare tumbleweeds. The truck slowed as a house appeared; just as suddenly as the gas station.

\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 An unremarkable house. Old. A bit rickety. Something Sam might imagine seeing in a Dust Bowl movie. It might come with an old truck like\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289  this, actually. They matched.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Quietly, Sam shifted as far away as she could. If this truck freaked her out, what\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s in the house?
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 No way,\'94\loch\f1289  Sam growled.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Sam felt Driver\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s eyes again. She wasn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
t even looking, but she was sure he raised a perfect, golden eyebrow. Sam sucked in a lungful of air to tell him off just as the truck\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s weight shifted. The truck door squeaked. A small sigh of surprise.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Sam popped up. The old woman. With practiced familiarity, the lady gripped her door and picked her way down the big \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
step. When her feet touched the ground, she stood solidly before the rickety house. She was not sucked back into the truck.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 When the woman turned back, wet streaks stained her cheeks.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Thank you,\'94\loch\f1289  she said.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 As she made her way to the front door, the truck\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s engine thrummed back to life. Driver made a U-turn.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Where are you taking me now?\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Sam demanded. \'93\loch\f1289 Don\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 t you dare say home.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 No,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Driver said. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Back.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 For a moment, the road before them darkened stormily. When the darkness began to circle the car, Sam in\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 creasingly felt as if she might pass out.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
And before she could wonder anything else, Sam slammed down hard on her back, knocking her breath out. She choked mightily, heaving to suck something back in. Above, bright lights stung her eyes and flung odd shadows around the corners. An alarm blared. W
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 hen Sam tried to speak, she found tubes down her throat.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Sam? Sam, can you hear me?\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  an unfamiliar voice said. Latex fingers grabbed hers. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Squeeze my hand if you can.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
Sam squeezed, turning toward the shadow that spoke. For a moment, it doubled. When it joined back together, though, Sam discovered a medical cap, big glasses. A face mask. Things TV doctors wear. Regular doctors too, apparently.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Good job, Sam,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  the doctor said. \'93\loch\f1289 You may be disoriented right now. You were in an accident, but it\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
s okay, we got you now. You\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 re at Sacred Mercy hospital.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 An accident? Words came out strangled around the tubes. Sam tried to twist in her hospital bed, but another shadow said \'93\loch\f1289 eas\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 y now\'94
\loch\f1289  and set her back. She only half obeyed, distracted by her left leg. Bound in a cast and elevated. Sam fell against her pillow. Was this from the truck?
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 As the nurse plugged Sam into a new IV, she heard the scrape of a curtain being pulled closed. Even though the corners of her vision started to fuzz again, a second voice whispered too loud.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 We lost the woman in the other car. Poor thing. Ninety-five. Shouldn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 ve been behind the wheel.\'94
\par 
\par }\pard \ltrpar\qc \li0\ri0\sb240\sa240\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13764642 \cbpat8 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642\charrsid13764642 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 #
\par }\pard \ltrpar\qj \fi480\li0\ri0\sb135\sa135\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13764642 \cbpat8 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642\charrsid13764642 
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Sam\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s throat was so dry it felt\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 well, full of dust. Her dad\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
 was already hugging, though, before she could explain her body was one, epic bruise. Dad looked like he needed the hug. He sported a wrinkled shirt and scraggly stubble. Clearly he\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 d slept in the chintzy hospital chair.

\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 He wasted no time. Soon, Sam was packed into the blue Camry, clutching a small bag of belongings. Crutches were relegated to the back seat.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 When Sam turned on her phone, it trembled with missed calls, voicemails, and texts. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Wow,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  she said. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
Did you tell the whole world?\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 Just a couple peo\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 ple. Work, of course. Your roommates. Word travels.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 One particular missed call caught her eye. Only one this time, instead of fifteen. No voicemail.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Um,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Sam said. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Did you tell Mom?\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Dad flexed his grip on the wheel. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 I left a message.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Sam shoved her phone back in the bag. She hated he\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 d been in that position. His only daughter got in an accident and he had to call that woman. The one who left him twelve years ago. Left
\~}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642\charrsid13764642 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 both}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642\charrsid13764642 \~
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 of them. Sam suddenly felt queasy. Dizzy with anger.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 You didn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 t have to do that,\'94\loch\f1289  she said, swallowing. Maybe she was carsick? The last time she drove, after all, she got t-boned.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 She\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s your mom, Sammy.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 No. Not for the past twelve years.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 They pulled into the driveway with a familiar, gravely crunch.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Thought you could stay home for a while,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Dad said with a small smile. \'93\loch\f1289 Just until you\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
re back on your feet.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Thanks, Dad,\'94\loch\f1289  Sam sighed. She\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 d only moved out ten months ago, just after college graduation. \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
Her new apartment was fifteen minutes away, but she didn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t love the idea of hobbling around without a car. Actually, she didn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
t love the idea of getting in another car, to be honest. A flash of dusty road dashed across her eyes; gone just as quick, and re\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 placed with the friendly driveway. Frowning, Sam shoved her door open.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Wait a sec, honey,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Dad said. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Let me come help.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 The house looked picture-perfect, as always. A bright red sloping roof, a fresh coat of white paint. Just ahead, windows gleamed under \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
a cloudless sky, and yellow tulips bloomed underneath\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 the latter, a new hobby of Dad\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
s. He was endlessly proud of the house he built, and cared for it fastidiously. Another flush of anger washed over Sam, remembering her mother\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s missed call.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Dad came around back and helped Sam hobble onto her crutches. Together, they hopped up the steps, through the door, and onto the couch. Sam collapsed with a heavy sigh.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Callie will be over with your laptop tomorrow,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Dad added. \'93\loch\f1289 So you can catch up on work if you\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
re up to it. The paper said no pressure, though. So relax.\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  He winked. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 You want cookies?\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Sam perked up. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Chocolate chip?\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 You know it.\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  He marched off into the kitchen. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Always.\'94\loch\f1289  That summed up Dad in a word. Always.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 After several cookies, Sam\hich\f1289 \rquote \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
s injuries caught up with her. She slouched toward the TV, clicking through Wheel of Fortune reruns. A sharp buzzing drew Sam back to her phone.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Again. Sam rejected the call, sinking back into her pillows. Her eyes became heavy to the soundtrack of someone buying vowels.
\par 
\par }\pard \ltrpar\qc \li0\ri0\sb240\sa240\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13764642 \cbpat8 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642\charrsid13764642 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 #
\par }\pard \ltrpar\qj \fi480\li0\ri0\sb135\sa135\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13764642 \cbpat8 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642\charrsid13764642 
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 When Sam turned, her gaze plummeted to the ground, hundreds of feet below.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Jesus,\'94\loch\f1289  she exclaimed, darting back into the sleek leather seats.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Language,\'94\loch\f1289  said Driver. The same one as before! Ahead, alien dials blinked and flashed, only \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 now in polished chrome.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 You again,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Sam gasped. \'93\loch\f1289 What do you think you\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 re doing? You got some\hich\f1289 \emdash \'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Excuse me,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  the passenger leaned over. A suit. \'93\loch\f1289 We\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
re dealing with something a bit more urgent here. Okay?\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 You\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 re\hich\f1289 \emdash \'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 As I was saying,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Suit continued, facing Driver. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 We can come to an agreement, surely? That was my job.\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
 He caught himself. \'93\loch\f1289 Is! Is my job. Just turn this thing around, and we\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 ll talk compensation.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Driver responded with a vertical nosedive. Sam\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s screaming mingled with Passenger\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s. Whizzing th\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
rough clouds and dodging skyscrapers, they were definitely not turning around. Why, oh why weren\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t there seatbelts?
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 When they zoomed past a chrome spire, the businessman pressed his face against his window. \'93\loch\f1289 There\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 that\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s my office. You can just
\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 wait!\'94\loch\f1289  The spire disappeared in clouds.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Turn around!\'94\loch\f1289  the man demanded, yanking his door handle. The car teetered precariously, much like Sam\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
s stomach. She pressed her head between her knees. Deep breaths, enough to shout\hich\f1289 \emdash 
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Cut that OUT!\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 The man paused, likely mor\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 e surprised than obedient. The car finally settled.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 I was just in an accident,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Sam said, rising slowly, \'93\loch\f1289 and I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 d appreciate avoiding another. Now\hich\f1289 \emdash 
\'94\loch\f1289  Sam cautiously pulled herself between the seats. She stabbed a thumb at Driver.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 This dude is not going to give you answers or change his GPS,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  she said. \'93\loch\f1289 Trust me. You might as well sit back in your\hich\f1289 \emdash \'94
\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  she took in the sleek leather interior. The clouds outside. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 What even is this thing? What happened to the truck?\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 It\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s mine,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Suit added. \'93\loch\f1289 I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 d just ordered th\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
e first working prototype and I was taking it for a drive when\hich\f1289 \emdash \'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  he braced himself against the dash, gaping. \'93\loch\f1289 These aren\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t the right dials. These programs
\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 what is this even measuring?\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  He clawed at the chrome accents. \'93\loch\f1289 I just bought this thing\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 what did yo\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
\hich\f1289 u do to my car?\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 The vehicle shook for a long moment, enough to shut Suit up. Sam\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s ears popped. They might be descending.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Driver landed by log cabin. A small structure, like Lincoln might have lived in. Suit sighed.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 What\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s this?\'94\loch\f1289  Sam asked.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Home,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  he said. \'93\loch\f1289 I see\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 oh, I get it now.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 This is your house?\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Sam asked, incredulous. \'93\loch\f1289 Like\~.\~.\~.\~\hich\f1289 your summer place?\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 No. Not my house,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Suit opened his door and dashed onto the grass. \'93\loch\f1289 It\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s home,\'94\loch\f1289 
\hich\f1289  he called over his shoulder. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Home is home.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 What?\'94\loch\f1289  Sam called, but Driver was taking off again.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 You\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 re getting the hang of this,\'94\loch\f1289  he said. A lot of words, for him.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 At what?\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Sam asked. \'93\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Why am I here, and why do I keep ending up in your cars?\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 You\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 re a hitchhiker,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Driver said. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
Happens sometimes with near-death experiences. Get stuck in between. Boon to us, though. Extra life-force helps power the engines.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 A hitchhiker?\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Sam echoed. \'93\loch\f1289 For\~.\~.\~.\~dead people? So you\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 re like. An angel?\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 m the navigator.\'94\loch\f1289  Helpful.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 Okay\~.\~.\~.\~\hich\f1289 \'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Sam said. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 So, how do I stop it?\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Hm?\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Hitchhiking. When does it stop? How can we wrap this up?\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Driver arched his signature eyebrow. \'93\loch\f1289 You don\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 t.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Ever?\'94\loch\f1289  Sam b\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 reathed, digging her nails into the leather. Ahead, the clouds parted easily, floating stray and slow.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Okay,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Sam straightened after a long exhale. \'93\loch\f1289 I get this is like, your job but\hich\f1289 \emdash \'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
 what was Dad saying about negotiation? Be firm, explain your reasoning. \'93\loch\f1289 I can\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t just pop over here every time I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 m drowsy because you need extra gas. This is\~.\~.\~.\~stressful
\loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 .\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 It won\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 t impact your day,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Driver said. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
Most forget their trips when they wake. Some are even energized by it.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 Well, I remember my last \hich\f1289 \lquote \loch\f1289 trip,\hich\f1289 \rquote \'94\loch\f1289  Sa\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 m retorted, \'93\loch\f1289 and, I\hich\f1289 
\rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 m exhausted.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Really?\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Yes, really. Why? Is that bad? Can you fix it?\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Driver shrugged. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 It is what it is.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 You know,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Sam huffed as blackness curled around her, \'93\loch\f1289 for someone charged with ferrying souls, you could work on your bedside manner. You
\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 re actually the worst at it, and\hich\f1289 \emdash \'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 We\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 ll see you next time at celebrity Wheel of Fortune!\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Sam jolted up, clutched the arm of the couch. Aside from the murmuring TV, all stood still and quiet. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Some help you are,\'94\loch\f1289  Sam told the moving picture
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 s.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 The time on the TV said 3 a.m. Sam groaned, pulling her blanket to her chin. Energized? She felt like she\hich\f1289 \rquote \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
d been skydiving. Everything ached. She could easily fall back asleep, except not without hopping into another back seat. No more.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Sam reached for her crutches. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Coffee, here I come.\'94
\par 
\par }\pard \ltrpar\qc \li0\ri0\sb240\sa240\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13764642 \cbpat8 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642\charrsid13764642 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 #
\par }\pard \ltrpar\qj \fi480\li0\ri0\sb135\sa135\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13764642 \cbpat8 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642\charrsid13764642 
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 When Dad visited the kitchen after his usual insomnia, he was startled to find Sam three cups in and almost done with the daily crossword. On the counter, he lifted an empty coffee pot skeptically.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Good morning?\'94\loch\f1289  he said.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Morning,\'94\loch\f1289  Sam echoed, offering a jittery grin.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 Uh, Sam, I wanted to\hich\f1289 \emdash \'94\loch\f1289  a buzzing interrupted. Sam re\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 ached for her phone, then grimaced before flipping it face down on the table.

\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Sorry, Dad,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  she said. \'93\loch\f1289 What\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s up?\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 He nodded to her phone. \'93\loch\f1289 That\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s actually what I wanted to talk to you about. I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 m wondering\hich\f1289 \emdash \'94\loch\f1289 
\hich\f1289  he paused. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 I think you should call your mother back.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Sam sat back, stung.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 What?\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 I just think\hich\f1289 \emdash \'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 After what she did?\'94\loch\f1289  Sam interrupted. Anger crept into her voice; that third cup wasn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
t helping. All those old scars were peeling away, bringing raw, pink memories to the surface. Sam trying to pull Mom \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
out of bed. Mom crying while tucking Sam in. Mom cleaning all day and all night; or, never at all. Mom moving the kitchen table into the basement. Then the spare bedroom. Then outside. Packing it away, and pulling out of the driveway for the last time.

\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 No.\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Sam folded her arms, unsure where else to put them. Her mother left those wounds to scab years ago. Why open them again? \'93\loch\f1289 
She lost any right when she left. I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 m sticking with you, Dad.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 But, Sammy,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Dad said, \'93\loch\f1289 that was years ago. You don\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t need to choos\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
e sides.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Sam shook her head. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 If she actually cared how I was, she would have come to the hospital. Left a voicemail, at least.\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
 She grabbed her phone again, brandishing it toward her father. \'93\loch\f1289 Ten calls in the past couple days. Not one \hich\f1289 \lquote \loch\f1289 I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 m sorry\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289  or \hich\f1289 \lquote 
\loch\f1289 call me back.\loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \rquote \'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Her dad shrugged. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Maybe she feels she lost that right.\'94\loch\f1289  Sam\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
s jaw fell slack; the echo of his words felt like a slap, a betrayal. Dad lifted his hands in surrender. \'93\loch\f1289 Some things aren\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 t meant for voicemail. Think about it, okay?\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Yeah,\'94\loch\f1289  Sam s\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 aid, already hobbling over to the cupboard, pulling out another bag of beans. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Coffee?
\'94
\par 
\par }\pard \ltrpar\qc \li0\ri0\sb240\sa240\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13764642 \cbpat8 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642\charrsid13764642 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 #
\par }\pard \ltrpar\qj \fi480\li0\ri0\sb135\sa135\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13764642 \cbpat8 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642\charrsid13764642 
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 No way. No flipping way. Sam scowled. She had six-and-a-half cups of coffee today. No way she nodded off.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
Yet here she was, somehow in a weirder vehicle than a flying car. She stuck an arm out the backseat window. No glass. Everything from her seat to the roof was garish orange and yellow. Hard, unyielding plastic. She half wondered if Driver\hich\f1289 
\rquote \loch\f1289 s feet were scra\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 mbling beneath like the other toddlers who drove this model.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Then, there was the unfortunate wailing.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Sam poked her head into the front seat, sparing a glare for Driver. When she turned to the passenger, she discovered\~.\~.\~.\~a three-year-old girl.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Sam swive\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 led back, wide-eyed. Driver gave her nothing; he really was the worst. She turned back to the kid.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Excuusse me,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  she said, waving her hands at the little girl. She might be younger than three? It had been a year since her last babysitting gig. \'93\loch\f1289 
Hello? Hi there, can you just\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Shhh. Okay? Calm down.\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  The child wailed louder. \'93\loch\f1289 Just\hich\f1289 \emdash \'94\loch\f1289  Sam slipped all the 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 way into the front, wedging herself between the girl and Driver\hich\f1289 \emdash \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 callmm down.\'94\loch\f1289 
 Driver certainly gave no leeway, so she shifted closer to the girl. Close enoug\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 h their bodies touched. Suddenly, the child quieted, relaxing against her. Just like that.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Oh, okay,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Sam said. \'93\loch\f1289 That\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s good. Just chill like that. Cool.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 The girl tilted her head up, eyes huge and wet. \'93\loch\f1289 Where\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s Mama?\'94\loch\f1289 
 she said. Sam shifted again, uneasily. Moments ago, they were strangers. Now, this girl clutched fistfuls of Sam\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s shirt and draped Sam\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s arm with snot as if Sam was responsible. And now Sam 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 was supposed to tell her\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 what? That she was dead, and she wouldn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t see her mother for decades? What r\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
ight had she to give such big answers to a tiny human?
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Another thought tugged at her: had Sam been like this once, years ago? Did she spread this anxiety all over her mother\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s sleeves, until it sunk into her skin and flooded her mind?
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 Uhhh\~.\~.\~.\~\hich\f1289 \'94\loch\f1289  Sam turned to Driver. His eyes remained on the road. Yeah, like he needed to. The girl tugged Sam\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s shirt. \'93
\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 I want Mama.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Of course you do. \'93\loch\f1289 I\hich\f1289 \emdash \'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Sam started, \'93\loch\f1289 I don\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 t know where she is.\'94\loch\f1289 
 The girl\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s lower lip trembled. \'93\loch\f1289 I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 m sorry,\'94\loch\f1289  Sam added as the girl\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s eyes flo
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 oded. \'93\loch\f1289 Don\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 t cry again. Please?\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Maaaamaaaaaaaa,\'94\loch\f1289  the girl wailed.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Okayokayokay,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
 Sam said, pulling the child closer to her body. That seemed to work? Cradle her more, maybe? She might be too old to be cradled. How old is too old? \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Okay, shhhh. Okay,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Sam said, half to herself. 
\'93\loch\f1289 You\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 re here, okay? With me. You\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 re\~.\~.\~.\~\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 safe? Don\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t be afraid. Nothing\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
\hich\f1289 s gonna happen to you.\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  She turned to Driver. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Right?\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 His mouth quirked a bit. She cursed his perfect golden head.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 The girl quieted, her whimpers reduced to \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 little murmurs. Ensconced in Sam\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s arms, she wiggled a bit to look up. \'93\loch\f1289 
\hich\f1289 Where are we going?\'94\loch\f1289  she asked.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Sam cringed. \'93\loch\f1289 You\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 re going home.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Oh.\'94\loch\f1289  The little girl flopped onto Sam, and soon dozed in her lap.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Sam took the opportunity to consider the plastic dashboard. She\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
d started to recognize the same dials from the previous cars: the doohickey that flashed odd symbols, the compass-looking thingy that spun like a top. No radio, though. \'93\loch\f1289 You could at least pl\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
ay some choir music,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Sam said. \'93\loch\f1289 Isn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t that what you\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  all sing up here?\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Like hip hop, myself,\'94\loch\f1289  Driver said.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 They pulled up to a blue-and-white three-decker with an Italian flag waving outside. The little girl blinked up at Sam, then the window.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 We\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 re here!\'94\loch\f1289  she squeaked with surprising gusto, tumbling over Sam and out the unlocked door.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Okay, bye?\'94\loch\f1289  Sam said, but the girl was already opening a chain-link fence, clambering up the front steps.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Is she tall enough to open the door?\'94\loch\f1289  Sam asked.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Just then, an elderly gentleman appeared in the doorway. \'93\loch\f1289 Grandpa!\loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'94\loch\f1289  the girl exclaimed, running into his arms.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Oh,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Sam said. \'93\loch\f1289 That\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s how it works? When you go\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
you all meet up in the same place?\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Driver turned the plastic car around. \'93\loch\f1289 Sometimes. If you\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 re meant to.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Helpful. As always.\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Sam slouched in the front seat. \'93\loch\f1289 That wasn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 t cool, by the way,\'94\loch\f1289 
\hich\f1289  she said, watching disintegrating green lawns and chalky sidewalks outside. \'93\loch\f1289 I said I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 m not coming back, don\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t guilt me with a kid. That\hich\f1289 \rquote 
\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s low.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 Don\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 t work like that,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Driver said. \'93\loch\f1289 I pick up whoever\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s closest.\'94
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  He turned the wheel. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Like Uber.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 As the road turned gray, Driver added, \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 See you soon.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Pssh,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Sam retorted. \'93\loch\f1289 We\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 ll see.\'94
\par 
\par }\pard \ltrpar\qc \li0\ri0\sb240\sa240\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13764642 \cbpat8 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642\charrsid13764642 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 #
\par }\pard \ltrpar\qj \fi480\li0\ri0\sb135\sa135\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13764642 \cbpat8 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642\charrsid13764642 
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 At the grocery store, Sam picked up a case of energy drinks. Dad raised his eyebrows, but said nothing. Perhaps he figured she\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
d go through less coffee this way. On the way home, she opened a can}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \b\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642\charrsid13764642 \~}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642\charrsid13764642 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 in the car.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 That night, after starting and giving up on two work assignments, Sam procured another energy drink and flipped on the TV. Ugh, home shopping. She made a mental note to introd\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
uce her dad to the magic of streaming services.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 She was certain she\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
d made it past two a.m., maybe even three. Her pulse dutifully beat at the brisk pace of a heart attack. Still, the stupid shopping network meshed together after a while.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Oh, come on!\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Sam exclaimed from the backseat of an empty station wagon. \'93\loch\f1289 There\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s not even anyone here!
\'94\loch\f1289  She climbed out far enough to kick the tires, taking small satisfaction she wasn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t sucked back inside. From the outside, though, she got a complete e\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 yeful of the car. 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 She froze.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 No, Sam told herself. Lots of people had station wagons. All the moms did. It was the rage when I was nine.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 What took you so long?\'94\loch\f1289  Sam jumped, whirling around. Driver appeared, out of nowhere, sipping something from an insulated coffee cup. It probably wasn\hich\f1289 \rquote 
\loch\f1289 t actually coffee, but just the notion of caffeine rattled Sam\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s stomach.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 I told you I wasn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 t coming back,\'94\loch\f1289 
 Sam said, scanning the landscape. A beige, wheat-y field stretched endlessly in all directions. No hills, no trees.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 Don\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t work that\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  way,\'94\loch\f1289  Driver reached into his leather jacket and pulled out\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 
oddly\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 a pocket watch. \'93\loch\f1289 You\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 re lucky this one\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s in limbo. We might have gotten stuck somewhere.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Stuck?\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Sam echoed skeptically. \'93\loch\f1289 That seems pretty problema\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 oh.\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  It clicked. 
\'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Like, purgatory?\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Some call it that.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Wait,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Sam said. \'93\loch\f1289 You\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 re telling me purgatory is the result of a bunch of slackers like me who don\hich\f1289 
\rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 t go to bed on time?\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Driver opened his door. \'93\loch\f1289 I don\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 t make the rules.\'94\loch\f1289  Before getting in, he leaned over the hood and called across the 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 field, \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 almost time.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 A figure appeared. She must have been wandering in the tall grass; Sam hadn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
t noticed her earlier. She recognized her gait immediately, though. Slower now, but Sam remembered scurrying to catch up, once. Her silhouette looked rail-thin, but Sam recalled s\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
oft, warm embraces. Sometimes, too hard. Bruising forehead kisses. Closer now. Her hair was gone, though Sam recalled wild curls tangled in her fingers. This woman was not as tall as Sam remembered, but Sam had been short once. Always 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 grasping upward, ahead, outward, until there wasn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t that woman to reach for.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Long before Sam could make out the woman\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s features, she knew there would be the green eyes she inherited. The nose she wished she hadn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
t. The soft mouth she didn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t. A familiar burning lapped inside, worrying away at Sam\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s scars.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Mom,\'94\loch\f1289  Sam finally choked.
\par 
\par }\pard \ltrpar\qc \li0\ri0\sb240\sa240\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13764642 \cbpat8 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642\charrsid13764642 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 #
\par }\pard \ltrpar\qj \fi480\li0\ri0\sb135\sa135\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13764642 \cbpat8 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642\charrsid13764642 
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 No,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Sam said. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Oh no. No, no, no.\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  The words came out quicker than she could shape into meaning. \'93
\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 No,\'94\loch\f1289  Mom\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s dead? \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 No,\'94\loch\f1289  Sam doesn\hich\f1289 \rquote \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 t want to talk to her? Yes? Both?
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 No. I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 m not\hich\f1289 \emdash \'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Sam pulled open the back door and crouched behind Driver. \'93\loch\f1289 I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
\hich\f1289 m not doing that.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Her mother got in the passenger seat. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Sam,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  she said quietly. \'93\loch\f1289 I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 ve been trying to reach you.
\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Sam blinked. The last time she\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 d seen this stupid station wagon, it was full of her mother\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
s stuff and pulling out of their driveway. Caffeine boiled up her throat. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 You had twelve years to reach me.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Before this year, before the aggressive, abandoned phone calls, there\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 d been nothing. \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 A flicker of guilt passed over her mother\hich\f1289 \rquote 
\loch\f1289 s face before it clicked.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 They were in purgatory, after all.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 How long have you known?\'94\loch\f1289  Sam said.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Her mother\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s voice was feather-quiet, but Sam already knew the answer. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Earlier this year.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 A thousand wheels churned in Sam\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s mind, kicking up years and years of dirt. Missed birthdays. Nosy neighbors. Her father\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
s insomnia. Puberty. High school. Never even a postcard. So many things had already been snatched away from Sam. Why then, now, shoul\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 d she care that it would \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
all be gone for good? Why did it sting like something more?
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 An endless reel of that stupid station wagon played in the back of Sam\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s mind, while she sat within its exact likeness.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Has this always,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Sam breathed, \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 been about you?\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Her mother flinched. She didn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t say anything, but the wheels were speeding now\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 falling, really, off their spokes and down some steep ditch.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 Did you even know about my accident? Or was it always about\hich\f1289 \emdash \'94\loch\f1289  Her mother closed her eyes.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 You couldn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 t even leave me a word?\'94\loch\f1289  Sam pressed, \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 fighting the tightness in her throat. \'93
\loch\f1289 One word. \hich\f1289 \lquote \loch\f1289 Sorry\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  would have been fine. Something at least.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Nothing.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Oh my God-\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Hey,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Driver said, \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 language.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Sam bowled over his words. \'93\loch\f1289 You don\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 t even think you were wrong,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  she said. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Do you? Do you?
\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 It\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s not a matter of right or wrong, Sam,\'94\loch\f1289  her mother replied.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 They heard the motorcycle\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
s thrum before it appeared, tramping grass on its way. The motorcyclist pulled up to Driver's side and leaned into the open window. The words they whispered sounded ancient. \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Like Latin.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Okay,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Driver announced, \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 not time yet.\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  He nodded to his coworker. \'93\loch\f1289 He\hich\f1289 \rquote 
\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 ll take you back.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Sam\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s mother nodded. Without glancing back, she exited the station wagon and climbed behind the other driver. She simply left. Again.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Driver ignited the cursed station wagon\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s engine. It sounded just the same.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 I\hich\f1289 \emdash \'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Sam choked. Her throat might collapse on itself. \'93\loch\f1289 I-I don\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t want\~.\~.\~.\~I\hich\f1289 \rquote 
\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 m not helping her.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 That\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s not the way it works.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Sam slammed the back of his seat. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Then TELL ME how it works,\'94\loch\f1289  she cr\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 ied. \'93\loch\f1289 
Transfer me, put in a request. A suggestion box. I don\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 t care how, I cannot do this.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Driver said nothing.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Sam took a shuddering breath as the field faded to black.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Please?\'94
\par 
\par }\pard \ltrpar\qc \li0\ri0\sb240\sa240\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13764642 \cbpat8 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642\charrsid13764642 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 #
\par }\pard \ltrpar\qj \fi480\li0\ri0\sb135\sa135\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13764642 \cbpat8 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642\charrsid13764642 
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 It\hich\f1289 \rquote \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
s extremely unhealthy to go without sleep. Almost impossible, too, for a mostly-healthy 22-year-old. Sam hoped she could at least elude sleep. A tad. For a little while. Enough to figure out where she stood and how she felt.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Okay, maybe a long while.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
Between ignoring phone calls, Sam doubled her efforts with caffeine. She set random alarms to jolt her awake before a deep REM could take hold. Micro-naps seemed safe enough. If all else failed, she could hobble around the neighborhood to keep herself awa
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 ke.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Le\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
aning groggily against her crutches, Sam picked her way down the driveway, stealing backwards glances at the little white house and its red roof. How quaint it looked, perfect for a picture book. What made a person abandon a place like that? When Sam was 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
younger, she spent hours wondering where her mother chose to live instead. What made it better? Was there a swimming pool with a deep end? A basketball hoop? Today, Sam wondered: what house might her mother see on her last ride home?
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Sam froze. Nope, none o\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 f that. She kneaded the handles of her crutches and pushed them forward, followed by her feet. Again. Again. Bury that thought. It didn\hich\f1289 \rquote 
\loch\f1289 t matter. She never learned where her mother lived, and she didn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t need to learn now.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
Sam hobbled past the small curve of the park, one she used to avoid. It offered too many memories of her mother lifting her to monkey bars or holding her close after a tumble down the slide. Her dad only convinced her to return years later with promises o
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 f baseball and catch. New memories \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 to replace those lost.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Yes. Exactly.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Past mailboxes, neat front lawns, abandoned soccer balls and covered grills. Then, turn around and loop it all in reverse.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Around five p.m., cars began to fill driveways. Sam\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s phone stopped buzzing. She wore down the pavement anyway.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Mind if I join you?\'94\loch\f1289  her dad asked, just as she reached the park again.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Sammy,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  he said, keeping her glacial pace, \'93\loch\f1289 I know we\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 ve always been two peas in a pod.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Peas are gross,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Sam quipped. \'93\loch\f1289 We\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 re much cooler than that.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 He huffed a sma\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 ll laugh. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
You know what I mean. You stayed local after graduating. You make time for every holiday. You know I really appreciate it.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Okay,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Sam said. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 I mean. I always like coming home.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 I know you do,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  he said. \'93\loch\f1289 But I think sometimes, you might worry about me too much. I always want you around, but you don\hich\f1289 \rquote 
\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 t have to protect me, either.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Sam kept hobbling, eyeing a patch of yellowing grass on someone\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s lawn. She couldn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t recall who lived there now.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Her dad sighed. \'93\loch\f1289 What I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 m trying to say is. You can hav\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 e a relationship with her too.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Sam snorted. \'93\loch\f1289 We\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 ve been through this, Dad. She left. Not just you. Me too.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 You don\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 t have to enjoy the act of forgiving, Sam,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Dad said, \'93\loch\f1289 but it\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
s important.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Sam opened her mouth to retort, but snapped it shut. Dad looked brighter today. Lighter. Like he\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 d had a good night\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s sleep.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 You spoke to her.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 He nodded. \'93\loch\f1289 And I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 ve forgiven her. You never know how many chances you have, Sam,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  he added, a bit sternly. \'93
\loch\f1289 I don\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 t want to live with that weight on me.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 The weight of endless unanswered calls suddenly hung heavy in Sam\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s pocket.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 After their loop, they stood in the empty space where the station wagon once parked. Sam could still hear the thrum of its clunky engine\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
, the wheels crunching gravel as it pulled away from their little stamp of property. Gone. Her anger still scorched her old wounds; now, something else also tugged at her chest.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 She\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 d already lost so much. Why let more slip through her fingers?
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Okay,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Sam said, trembling fingers already pulling out her phone. \'93\loch\f1289 I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 ll try.\'94\loch\f1289 
 They sat on the little front porch as she dialed the number.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 No answer.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Sam rang again. Again. She even left a voicemail, one so garbled she couldn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t recall what she said.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 When Sam rang a \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 final time, a male voice answered.
\par }\pard \ltrpar\qc \li0\ri0\sb240\sa240\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13764642 \cbpat8 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642\charrsid13764642 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 #
\par }\pard \ltrpar\qj \fi480\li0\ri0\sb135\sa135\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13764642 \cbpat8 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642\charrsid13764642 
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 By the time Sam made it to the hospital, she was sweaty and out of breath. Her mom was unconscious.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 A nurse helped Sam with her crutches, settling her into a chair by the hospital bed. The nurse said her mother may not wake up, but she might be able to hear her.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Sam struggled to bring the chair closer, as close as her broken limb allowed. Her mom looked just like she had in purgatory. More tired, though. Drawn. Disappointed, perhaps.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Leaning against the side of the matt\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 ress, Sam took one of her mother\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s hands. She let her eyes fall closed.
\par 
\par }\pard \ltrpar\qc \li0\ri0\sb240\sa240\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13764642 \cbpat8 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642\charrsid13764642 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 #
\par }\pard \ltrpar\qj \fi480\li0\ri0\sb135\sa135\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13764642 \cbpat8 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642\charrsid13764642 
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
This time, she recognized the backseat right away. How could she forget that stubborn stain where she spilled juice on the upholstery? The ever-present dusting of Goldfish and Oreo crumbs along the seams of the seats. Her mom wasn\hich\f1289 \rquote 
\loch\f1289 t one of those strict on\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 es who didn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t allow snacks in the car.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 She was good like that.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Her mom sat in the front seat, chair reclined just like a hospital bed. Sam reached for her mother\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s hand, then leaned\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
 forward to embrace the rest of her. All of her.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Mom,\'94\loch\f1289  Sam whispered, barely breathing.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
Mom wrapped her into a strong hug that felt like movie nights, story time and bedtime kisses through tears. Like summer vacations, accidental detours. Popsicles and belly laughs. Like swim lessons, chicken noodle soup. Old, raggedy quilts. Sam breathed, b
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 athed, and drank it all in.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 m sorry,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  her mom whispered in her ear. \'93\loch\f1289 I thought, at first, I could take care of us both. I\hich\f1289 \rquote 
\loch\f1289 m sorry I couldn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 t.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Sam swallowed. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 I forgive you.\'94\loch\f1289  The words, finally said, felt stilted now. Wrong, even.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 I love you,\'94\loch\f1289  Sam said \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 then. That felt infinitely better.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Still, Sam was surprised when she began recognizing the streets. The neighborhood. Past the park, where Sam\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
s mom taught her to ride a bike, and cradled her when she fell. The corner where Sam\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s mother brought her to the bus stop in the morning and picked\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
 her up again in the afternoon. Some of Sam\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s chalk drawings still decorated the sidewalk. Then, there it was.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 The little white house. With a red roof.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Sam\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s mother looked a bit surprised when they pulled up, but her face \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 soon broke into a smile. One Sam hadn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
t seen in twelve years. With a burst of energy, she sat up, turning to Sam. She smoothed a hand over Sam\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s hair and tucked a strand behind her ear.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 ll see you later,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  her mom said. She stepped out of the car. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 I love you, Sam.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Sam turned in the backseat to watch her mother climb the steps to the porch.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 I can\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 t visit,\'94\loch\f1289  Sam said to Driver. He\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 d been unusually quiet, even for him. \'93\loch\f1289 I can
\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 t, can I?\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\lquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Fraid not,\'94\loch\f1289  Driver said, though his voice carried a rare note of sof\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 tness.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Tears blotted Sam\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s vision before darkness came.
\par }\pard \ltrpar\qc \li0\ri0\sb240\sa240\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13764642 \cbpat8 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642\charrsid13764642 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 #
\par }\pard \ltrpar\qj \fi480\li0\ri0\sb135\sa135\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13764642 \cbpat8 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642\charrsid13764642 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Sam woke to the sound of flatlining. Her chair had been shoved backward, a curtain pulled between her and her mother. Shadows of doctors and nurses still bustled about.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Her stepfather\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 Derrick, Sam remembered foggily from the phone\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 was shaking her shoulder gently with a trembling hand.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 m so sorry, Sam,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  he said quietly. \'93\loch\f1289 I tried to wake you before, but\hich\f1289 \emdash \'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
 his voice broke. He paused a moment before he continued, \'93\loch\f1289 She didn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t wake up before she passed.\loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Sam sighed. \'93\loch\f1289 It\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s okay,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
 she said. Her good leg protested as she tried to stand. When Derrick reached to help, she folded him into a hug instead. \'93\loch\f1289 I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 m sorry.\'94\loch\f1289  For him? For her mom? Both.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Sam sat with Derrick as he spoke to the doctors, and stayed after they left. She offered to help, though she knew nothing about making arrangements.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 I think you could help in another way,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Derrick said, tentatively. \'93\loch\f1289 I know all this just\hich\f1289 \emdash \'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
 he waved it away. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 But, maybe. Sometime,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  he swallowed. \'93\loch\f1289 She spoke about you so mu\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 ch. Wondered about you, but she was afraid to\hich\f1289 \emdash 
\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  he paused, taking a heavy, shuddering breath. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 It might be good,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  he said, eyes crinkling, \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 to know the answers she wondered about so much.\'94

\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
Sam was quiet for a moment. It seemed unfair or uneven, to tell this stranger her life story. She thought about the last time the station wagon pulled out of her driveway, never knowing where it ended up. Eventually, somewhere with this man she knew nothi
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 ng about, who looked lost and very, very tired. Only then did Sam re\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 alize she was not tired. Light, even, like the first good night\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
s sleep after days of insomnia.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Okay,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  she said. \'93\loch\f1289 If you do something for me, too. Tell me about you and how you met. And\hich\f1289 \emdash \'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Sam said, 
\'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 I need you to tell me about her. I was too young to understand her struggles. Her illness. Why she had to leave. Knowing more, I think, it would help.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 d like that,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Derrick said softly. Then added, \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 I think she would too.\'94
\par 
\par }\pard \ltrpar\qc \li0\ri0\sb240\sa240\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13764642 \cbpat8 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642\charrsid13764642 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 #
\par }\pard \ltrpar\qj \fi480\li0\ri0\sb135\sa135\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13764642 \cbpat8 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642\charrsid13764642 
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 A mini-van, haven\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 t seen one of these in a while.\'94\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289  Sam glanced out the back window to a picturesque suburban scene.

\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 I know they\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 re out of fashion,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
 the passenger responded. A kindly woman in her late sixties. She straightened her sweater vest primly. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 I suppose it makes me nostalgic.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 I get it,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Sam responded, offering a smile when the woman turned around. \'93\loch\f1289 It\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s better, really,\'94
\loch\f1289  she patted the back of Driver\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s seat, \'93\loch\f1289 when he\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s in a sportscar, he tends to ignore the speed limit.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Sam earned an eyebrow quirk from Driver that felt almost like a smile.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 The w\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 oman still eyed her a bit uncertainly, though. \'93\loch\f1289 I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 m sorry, do you happen to know where we\hich\f1289 \rquote 
\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 re going?\'94\loch\f1289  she asked.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Sam smiled. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 I do.\'94
\par }\pard \ltrpar\qc \li0\ri0\sb240\sa240\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13764642 \cbpat8 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642\charrsid13764642 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 #####
\par }\pard \ltrpar\qj \li0\ri0\sb135\sa135\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13764642 \cbpat8 {\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af1289\afs22 \ltrch\fcs0 \b\f1289\fs22\cf1\insrsid13764642\charrsid13764642 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 A.A. Nour\~
is a researcher and a writer, and sometimes those two things overlap. She is an Odyssey Writing Workshop grad, and she's passionate about psychology and research rabbit holes. She lives in Chicago with her husband and a plethora of adorable crea
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 tures that have made a home in her backyard.
\par }\pard \ltrpar\ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13764642 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \dbch\af0\insrsid13764642\charrsid13764642 
\par }\pard \ltrpar\ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af0\afs32 \ltrch\fcs0 \fs32\insrsid13764642 \page 
\par }\pard \ltrpar\qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13764642 {\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af0\afs40 \ltrch\fcs0 \b\f1142\fs40\cf1\chshdng0\chcfpat0\chcbpat8\insrsid13764642\charrsid13764642 
\hich\af1142\dbch\af31505\loch\f1142 Operation Mall Stroll
\par }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0\afs32 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1142\fs32\cf1\chshdng0\chcfpat0\chcbpat8\insrsid13764642\charrsid13764642 \hich\af1142\dbch\af31505\loch\f1142 by Lydia Sherrer}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0\afs32 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f1142\fs32\cf1\chshdng0\chcfpat0\chcbpat8\insrsid13764642 
\par 
\par }\pard\plain \ltrpar\s21\qj \fi480\li0\ri0\sb135\sa135\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13764642 \cbpat8 \rtlch\fcs1 \af2289\afs24\alang1025 \ltrch\fcs0 
\fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\loch\af2289\hich\af2289\dbch\af31505\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642 \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 You know what really gets unde
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 r my skin about these fu\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 I mean freaking spooks, Yoda?\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Derek \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Yoda\'94\loch\f1289  Peterson, formerly of the Royal Canadian Air Force, frowned and didn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
t look at his teammate, too busy examining the overhead mission map on his Augmented Reality glasses. \'93\loch\f1289 I don\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t, and I don\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t want to. But you\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
re going to tell me anyway, aren\loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 t you, Crispy?\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 It\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s that they don\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t even know we\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 re here,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Crispus \'93\loch\f1289 
\hich\f1289 Crispy\'94\loch\f1289  DeLeon continued, ignoring Derek\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s suppressive comment. Crispy was a professional complainer, and everyone in his TransDim\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
ensional Hunter Alpha Tester team had learned to tune him out. \'93\loch\f1289 Like, these parasites are wreaking havoc and sucking the planet dry, and they don\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t even have the decency to stomp around like God da\hich\f1289 
\emdash \loch\f1289 I mean, uh, stupid Godzilla where we can fight them prope\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 rly! What right do they have to ruin my life when I can\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
t even punch them in the face? I wish I was back in the sandbox, man. At least there you could see, or hear, or even\~}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 smell}{\rtlch\fcs1 
\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642 \~\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 the enemy coming without these stupid glasses.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Well darn. Alert the press and call the Geneva Convention, Crispy has to wear glasses,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Bradley \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Dasher\'94
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289  Hayek drawled. He was tossing his full-visor AR helmet up in the air and catching it without even looking at it, his mocking gaze fully focused on his teammate. He fed off Crispus\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
 griping like a particularly handsome and wicked symbiote, egging his frie\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 nd on with cutting sarcasm, something Derek tried to discourage but had mostly given up on. \'93\loch\f1289 You\hich\f1289 \rquote 
\loch\f1289 re acting like the HUD in our combat helmets doesn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t exist. And what about night vision and radar interfaces? This gaming tech is\~}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 way}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642 \~\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 better than anything they \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 gave us in the Corps. Besides, I
\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 ll go fight wherever they wanna send me, as long as it doesn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t have sand. Don\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t care what or how I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 m fighting. I\hich\f1289 
\rquote \loch\f1289 ll do it naked with a caveman club if it strikes their fancy, long as there\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s no sand.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Gregg \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Beans\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Santoro, who was busy rummaging in a compact backpack with red piping and a big \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 TransDimensional Counterforce
\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  patch on it, looked up with a grin. Some people thought Gregg was called \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Beans\'94\loch\f1289  because he\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 d be as slender as a beanpole if it w
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 eren\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t for the muscle h\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 e worked so hard to develop, making him simply lean instead of skinny. But it was really because Gregg\hich\f1289 \rquote 
\loch\f1289 s favorite pastime was eating beans\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 or really any food at all, the cheaper, the better. It meant he thrived on military rations like pond scum thrived o\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
n sunlight. It was awe-inspiring, really, but as Gregg always said, \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 when you grow up dirt poor, everything tastes like paradise.\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  He looked Bradley up and down and said: \'93\loch\f1289 
Gross, Dasher. Nobody wants to see your butt-ugly birthday suit. Those spooks would\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289  d\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 rop dead at the sight.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Beans!\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Bradley gasped in mock horror. \'93\loch\f1289 You take that back. My birthday suit is perfection incarnate\hich\f1289 \emdash \'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 It wouldn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t matter, Dasher, the spooks don\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t even have fu\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 freaking eyes to see it. It\hich\f1289 \rquote 
\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s not fair!\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 Oh, shut your piehole, Crispy. Natural selection isn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
t fair, or did I miss the memo where alien parasites from another dimension have to send out a survey and rate their victims\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  preferences before they move in and take over? Gimmie a break.\'94\loch\f1289 
 Bradley str\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 etched out his legs and leane\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 d back, still tossing his helmet. There wasn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
t much to stretch out. He was on the compact and muscle-bound end of the physical spectrum, which is one reason he hated running so much\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 thus the name, Dasher.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 Come on, man, you know what I mean. It\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s just hard to get all, you know, pumped up to go fight invisible energy parasites.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 That\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s what the AR interface is for, dipshit. Why do you think we keep these geek types around, like Yoda? Knew they\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
d be good for something one day.\'94\loch\f1289  Bradley grinned and leaned far\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289  enough over to slap Derek on the shoulder.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 That\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s\~}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Captain}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642 \~\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Geek to you, Dasher, and don\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 t you forget it,\'94\loch\f1289  Derek said with a good-natured smile, though he still didn\hich\f1289 \rquote 
\loch\f1289 t look over. He was almost done reviewing the mission parameters that scrolled past his vision.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 Yeah, Captain of the fu\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 freaking Geek Squad\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Man, I hate this!\'94\loch\f1289 
 Crispy burst out, throwing his hands in the air, then grabbing the seat bar next to him as their airbus wobbled on a patch of air turbulence. The gusty spring night over Washington D.C. \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
was threatening a thunderstorm, which Derek sincerely hoped didn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t materialize. It would be just his luck if they had to fight spooks in a downpour.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 What? Still sore that Colonel Bryce told you to clean up your potty mouth because we\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
re gonna be around a bunch of prepubescent baby gamers fresh outta the cradle?\'94\loch\f1289  Bradley goaded.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 I don\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t get it! It\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s not like they\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 re little angels. Have you\~}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 
\i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 heard}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642 \~\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
kids these days? They cuss worse than Jimmy Ski did back when we were in Kabul.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 We\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 re not in Kabul anymore, Cr\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 ispy,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
 Derek said, finally flicking his eyes to clear his display and looking over at his men. \'93\loch\f1289 We\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 re civilian gamers now, and TD Hunter is a family-friendly game. So suck it up, buttercup.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 I still can\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 t believe they turned our spook locator interface into an AR game,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
 Gregg said, zipping up his backpack and grabbing his own helmet. \'93\loch\f1289 And they\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 re really going to let\~}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 kids}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642 \~\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 fight the spooks? With no age requirements or anything? What was the Brass thinking?\'94

\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 That CIDER forces are about a billion people too f\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 ew to eradicate an invasion on this scale, Beans. And kids are already fighting. They\hich\f1289 \rquote 
\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 ve started recruiting civilian beta testers. Word is they moved the game launch up to June.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Crispus, who was in the process of aiming one of his electric blue game control batons at Bradley, paused mid-motion. \'93\loch\f1289 But they\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
re, like, shielding civilian players or something, right?\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Bradley took advantage of his teammate\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s distraction and lobbed his helmet at Crispus. In a flash, Crispus caught it with his free hand, redirecte\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
d its momentum, and whipped it back at Bradley, the precise movement belying his whiny demeanor.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Of course not, dimwit,\'94\loch\f1289  Bradley said, acting like he hadn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 t just barely caught the helmet before it gave him a black eye. \'93
\loch\f1289 It\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s not like we have millions of blackout suits to hand out to every pimply teenager who wants to play. Plus, that\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 d be admitting \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
the players are in danger in the first place.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 They\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 re not,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Derek said firmly. \'93\loch\f1289 At least no greater danger than the general populace, who we can\hich\f1289 
\rquote \loch\f1289 t protect any\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 way. The game AI will have the spook population fully mapped out before game launch and it\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
ll run interference to keep players away from the dangerous ones. Now everybody put your helmets on. I want you all in the team chat stat, we\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 re a minute out from o\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 ur stop.
\'94\loch\f1289  While they\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 d been lucky that their public transport airbus had been empty\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 not surprising for the middle of the night\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 
operational security dictated that they switch to subvocalization before mission go.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 Why do we have to wear these stupid full-vis\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 or things anyway?\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Crispus said, frowning at his. \'93\loch\f1289 If I\hich\f1289 
\rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 d wanted to look like a dweeb I woulda been a pilot.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Derek glanced at his wife, Sonia \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Click\'94\loch\f1289 
 Peterson, who already had her helmet on, hiding her long blond braid and cold blue eyes. With her graceful body, long of limb and leanly muscled, she was about the furthest thing from dweeb-looking as you could pos\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
sibly get. They\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 d met on their first deployment and had carried on a passionate romance in virtual before they\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 d finally gotten out of the same cha\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
in of command and were able to make things official in the real. She wasn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t much for banter when she was focused on learning a new weapons system, and like the rest of them was very practiced in tuning Crispus out.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 We\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 re going to be fighting a\~}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Sierra}{\rtlch\fcs1 
\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642 \~}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Class}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642 \~
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 boss,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Derek said. \'93\loch\f1289 We can\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 t wear full blackout suits, but these helmets will shield our most important bits\'94\emdash 
\loch\f1289 he tapped his head\hich\f1289 \emdash \'93\loch\f1289 and keep our faces hidden. We\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 re headed for the\~}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 National Mall.}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642 \~\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 I don\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t care if it is the middle of the night, intel says the
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 re are stream drones hanging around twenty-four-seven since the incident. The Brass would have an aneurysm if our faces showed on the news streams.\'94\loch\f1289 
 He followed his own command and replaced his AR glasses with the full-visor helmet, making sure the others\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
 did as well. His new display lit up, syncing effortlessly with his LINC implant, and he did a quick check around his menu icons, making sure the micro-motion controls were the same with this new unit as with previous versions.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 Fu\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 freaking insane, man,\'94\loch\f1289  Cr\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 ispus\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289  subvocalization sounded in Derek
\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s helmet speakers. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 I am not a fan of this no suit thing, though. What if the civilian betas stumble onto a boss without knowing it?\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 The AI has blackout protocols for those situations, and the really big bosses avoid most populated areas anyway. The players won\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
t be able to see or engage with bosses until way later, and by then we\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 ll have the tech to reliably take them down. At least \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 that\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
s what the lab coats say.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 The coats always lie,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Crispus grumbled. \'93\loch\f1289 They\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 re \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
just saying that to keep the Brass happy.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 Doesn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
t matter one way or the other, Crispy. Once the game launches, our mission is to just be gamers. Learn the system alongside the players. Integrate into the community. Now gear up, we\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 re landing.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 The airbus slowed as if on Derek\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
s command. His team held onto the various bars and poles for balance as they swung their compact backpacks on and slid their blue batons into the thigh pockets of their TD Counterforce issued high-performance athletic suit
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 s. Compared\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289  to most military uniforms and gear, the stuff they got as undercover gamers was the height of luxury\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 
a luxury Derek was determined to enjoy.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 It wasn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t every day you got to collect a military pension\~}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 and}{
\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642 \~\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 get paid as a private contractor to be a professional gamer at the same time.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Thank you, CIDER.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
The Coalition for Interdimensional Dark Energy Research was a front for the global military alliance attempting to locate, study, and eradicate this wave of invading 'other' dimension entities that seemed to feed off of the worldwide energy infrastructure
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 . The scientist types had only discovered the spooks\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289  existence in the last decade, and it\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 d only been in the last few years they\hich\f1289 \rquote 
\loch\f1289 d drawn any meaningful conclusi\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
ons about their behavior based on the increased tracking data. By the time the scientists realized what was going on and alerted the military that the spooks were affecting the electrical grids, the exponential multiplying had already started and the invi
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 sible, undetectable-without-specialized-equipment alien parasites had spread over the globe.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 CIDER had roped in Tsunami Entertainment to program a cutting-edge interface so the grunts could see and track the spooks, since that was the first step toward dest\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
roying them. Derek guessed that somewhere along the way, desperation met innovation and someone at a much higher pay grade than him had greenlit the civilian-paramilitary-through-gaming-interface idea.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 As far as the public knew\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 or, at least anyone who paid attention to gaming news\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 
TransDimensional Hunter was simply the greatest of a new generation of Augmented Reality games, and Tsunami Entertainment was only making gaming history, not trying to save hu\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
man civilization. Besides, if civilians knew that the b\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 illions of dollars Tsunami was pouring into promo ads was actually taxpayer money, there\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 d be rioting in the streets. It wasn
\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t like CIDER could tell everyone the game was the only hope for humanity\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s survival. Mass panic would be no better than mass riot\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 s.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 The things you knew.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 A year ago, none of his team had had a clue. But then Derek had been notified of a special assignment looking for active duty volunteers with \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 gaming and AR interface experience,
\'94\loch\f1289  and he\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 d jumped at the chance. Gotten Sonia in on it \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 too. Them ending up in a multi-nation coalition and getting to work with some old American buddies they\hich\f1289 
\rquote \loch\f1289 d fought beside years ago in Afghanistan was icing on the cake.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 The being-read-in-on-the-probable-end-of-the-world part, on the other hand, was like the cherry on top for someone who hated cherries and wanted to burn them.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 All five of them had been \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 retired early\'94\loch\f1289  from active duty as a cover and reassigned to CIDER\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
s multi-national Alpha Tester unit based on their training performance and gaming scores. T\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
here were Alpha Tester units all over the world in every participating nation, but since no one had invented teleportation yet, it was the North American units that got the most hands-on practice with Tsunami\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
s developing tech. All members of the military\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
 already had standard military LINC implants, so getting up and running with the prototype gaming interface was pretty painless. Working with Tsunami Entertainment and their techs had so far been an absolute pleasure. Some days Derek could even forget the
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289  f\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
act that they were developing novel weapons with novel technology that the lab coats understood about one percent of, and would probably give them all terminal cancer in a few years. Or turn their brains to mush. As long as they managed to wipe out the sp
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 ooks first, it didn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t really matter.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Man, I wish we could just load up in a couple Condors and zap these spooks from the sky,\'94\loch\f1289 
 Crispus complained as they stepped out of the airbus into the wind and spattering rain. The multi-level platform was the closest \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
airbus stop to the National Mall, where Derek and his team would be meeting the four other CIDER Alpha Tester teams masquerading as civilian gamers.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
The particle blasters are too short range. The last time they tried that, the spooks swarmed the copter before it could pull away and shorted out its systems. We lost two Alpha Testers in that crash.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 I know, I know. Maybe we should let the lab coats try blasting these spooks in the wind and rain themselves. Maybe that\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 d motivate them to invent stuff faster.
\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 Why would they do that when you\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 re already so good at it, Crispy?\'94\loch\f1289  Sonia\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
s amused alto voice joined the conversation as she brushed past the guys and came level with Derek. They started jogging down the platform steps together. \'93\loch\f1289 The team weapon system lo\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
oks good, Yoda. I can see why they won\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t roll it out to the civilians until they qualify as Hunter Strike Teams. The particle expenditure is massive. It\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s logical they\hich\f1289 \rquote 
\loch\f1289 d reserve it for the highest skilled teams going after the bosses. What I don\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t underst\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 a\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 nd is why they don\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
\hich\f1289 t divert all the game development money into massive assembly production of particle cannon drones.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Derek shook his head. \'93\loch\f1289 The bottleneck would be drone pilots. I heard they\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
re still working on the auto-targeting algorithm. Its accuracy is sorely lacking once the spooks start swarming and it has to evade. As soon as it's operational I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 m sure they\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 ll fie
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 ld attack drones to assist the Hunters, but they\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 re probably worried they won\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t be able to get the program going before things hit critic
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 al mass. Besides, you can\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t explain swarms of drones attacking invisible monsters. Swarms of gamers, though\~.\~.\~.\~\hich\f1289 \'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 I suppose it\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s too big of a risk to put all our eggs in one technological basket. Not that I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 m complaining. I\hich\f1289 \rquote 
\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 ve logged hundreds more shooting hours than I ever did on the Counter Sniper Team,\'94\loch\f1289  she subvocalized. She switched to her private channel with D\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 erek as she continued, 
\'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Plus I get to spend all day gaming with this really sexy guy I know who looks great in AR glasses.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 You mean Dasher?\loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Derek replied on the same channel, his wide grin hidden by the helmet. \'93\loch\f1289 I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
\hich\f1289 ll be sure to tell him you said so.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 His wife\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s head turned his way, likely shooting him a suppressive look from behind her visor \'93\loch\f1289 You\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 re lucky we\hich\f1289 \rquote 
\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 re not playing Warmonger right now, eh? You deserve a good fragging for that comment.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 Don\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t blame me, dear. You\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 re always more accurate when you get feisty, don\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 t try to deny it.\'94

\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Sonia didn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t try, and the rest of the team let the silence settle as they fast-walked down Independence Ave\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
, heading west toward the Washington Monument. It was mission time, and no matter how his team bantered, they were as professional as they came, and he was proud to lead them.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
The National Mall was mostly deserted, though a few lonely figures were visible under the streetlights, out and about for who knew what in the middle of a soggy, cold night. The spattering of rain had stopped, but Derek\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
s LINC unnecessarily predicted that\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289  the heavy grey sky above held the promise of more.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 We\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 re almost to the meeting \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
point, team. Has everybody memorized the updated mission brief? Any questions before we make contact?\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Come on, Yoda,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Gregg drawled. \'93\loch\f1289 You sound like you don\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t think we can multitask. I don\hich\f1289 \rquote 
\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 t know about you, but I always concentrate better when Dasher and Crispy are arguing in the background like two horny baboons.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 ll show\~}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 you}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642 \~\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 who\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s a horny baboon,\'94\loch\f1289  Bradley growled.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Heads up, boys,\'94\loch\f1289  Sonia said, and the guys fell silent as they spotted the other Alpha Tester teams waiting up ahead.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Hugo, the default na\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
me Tsunami had given the game AI, notified Derek of an incoming voice chat request from the other teams, and he accepted it with a double blink. Derek already had his app controls programmed into his TD Hunter tester profile, a long list of standard eye a
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 nd jaw movements militaries had been using the world over long before next-generation AI came along. He didn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
t have anything against Hugo, but Derek was an old dog and there was no point learning more new tricks than he had to.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 Evening, ladies and gentleme\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 n. Nice night for a stroll, don\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 t you think?\'94\loch\f1289 
 Derek said, using the assigned greeting phrase listed in the mission brief.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 The Mall is always ripe for a stroll\hich\f1289 \emdash \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 good grief, who comes up with these crazy code phrases?\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
 came the voice of one of the other team leaders labeled AlphaTester9. \'93\loch\f1289 I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 ll bet the desk jockeys make them cheesy on purpose, then giggle about us being forced to say them out loud.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Derek chuckled. \'93\loch\f1289 Fallu, what are you doing in the field? I thought they\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
d pulled you to work the Game Tactical department because you have such a pretty face.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 They did,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Steve \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Fallu\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Riker said with a laugh. \'93\loch\f1289 
But I was in D.C. to deliver project updates today when this\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289  spook boss popped up out of nowhere, so they threw me in with the emergency response team. Can\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t say I\hich\f1289 \rquote 
\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 m complaining, got me out of a really boring meeting.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 You\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 re a lucky bastard is what you are, chum. We\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 re about to make history.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 How\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s that?\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 We\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 re going to smoke this boss with\~}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 no}{\rtlch\fcs1 
\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642 \~\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 casualties. Do you hear that everybody? No casualties on my watch. That\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s an order.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 All of the twenty-plus Alpha Testers present had their AR helmet on, but Derek could hear their grins in the \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Yessirs\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  and \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
Roger thats\'94\loch\f1289  \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 which sounded in the group chat.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 He knew most of these Alpha Testers personally, since they\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
d been working together testing equipment and tracking down spooks for months. Some used first names, some went by their old military nicknames or shortened gaming names they\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 d been known by for d
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 ecades already. But in the beta version of the TD Hunter app, everyone was labeled by their Alpha Tester designation.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 He was AlphaTester1. Numero uno.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 In this time of history being made\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 if anyone survived to read the history\loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 it seemed like an honor he didn\hich\f1289 \rquote 
\loch\f1289 t deserve. At the time they\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 d all been given their designation, though, he\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 d just happened to be the hapless schmuck who didn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
t move fast enough to the back of the line when they started handing out the first round of expe\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 rimental gear. As anyone who\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
d ever been in the military knew, being first was usually a punishment, not a reward.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 He\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 d tried his best to live up to his designation, and his team had done him proud. They were good soldiers, and even better gamers\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 and despit
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 e Crispy\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s appearance of gloom, every one of them loved their job.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 It beat the sandbox, anyway. By a lot.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 All right everyone, listen up. There\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s been some updates to the original mission brief so here\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
s the current situation: At approximately three o\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 clock this afternoon, five people in and around the Washington Monument suddenly collapsed, and many more dev\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
eloped sudden nausea, headaches, and various other minor neurological symptoms. Fortunately, it was a wet day, so the tourist crowd was thin. It could \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
have been a lot worse. First aid was rendered, but two of the civilians remained unresponsive and died on the scene.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 
Because of the sensitive location, CIDER already has the entire D.C. area covered by drones, so the Sierra Class spook lit up the global map right away and tripped all sorts of alarms. Embedded units in emergency response, capital security, and GForce Ut
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 ilities were notified and able to run interference from the get-go. Security evacuated the area and GForce released a statement about malfun\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
ctioning node equipment and how an unshielded pulse unfortunately shorted the pacemaker of one victim and triggered a seizure episode in another who had a prior condition. So far none of the media is running it as anything but an accident, though they
\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 re \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 raking GForce over the coals for it, the poor bastards. The gossip streams are another matter entirely, but none of the really influential ones have used the word \hich\f1289 \lquote 
\loch\f1289 aliens.\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289  Yet, anyway.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 The official word is that the node in question has been disconnected f\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 rom the network and they\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 ll remove and replace it tomorrow. So\~
}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 tonight}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642 \~\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
is our one and only window to take out this boss before more drastic\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 and public\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 
measures have to be taken. As you can all guess, that would be a disaster for the TD Hunter program as well as CIDER\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s mission in general. So, let\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s not fail, eh?\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 There was a restless shifting of bodies and several nods among the helmet-clad Alpha Testers.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 For your information, the node has\~}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 not}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642 \~\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 been turned off, and in fact more power is being shunted to it \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
to keep the spook boss in place. It would be an unmitigated disaster if it started roaming around downtown D.C.. If you\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
re wondering where the node signal is coming from, it is right smack in the middle of the monument.\'94\loch\f1289  Derek pointed up and over toward t\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
he peak of the Washington Monument rising above the trees a good five hundred yards away. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 That, at least, should keep the spook sticking close to this cordoned off area.\'94\loch\f1289 
 The yellow and black road barriers and streams of police tape flapping in the night\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 ti\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
me wind were all around the large grassy area encircling the monument. To the north, Derek could see the shining lights of the White House, which was, no doubt, empty of anyone important. Had the President been in residence earlier that day, he and any ot
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 her politicians would have been evacuated the moment CIDER detected the Sierra Class entity.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 So that\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s the civilian situation on the ground. All embedded units know about our mission tonight and will be running interference in case any enterprising police 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 unit or secret service member decides to get nosey. The bright blue game batons and gaming helmets should throw any media or civilians off the scent. But even so, try not to look too uptight\hich\f1289 \emdash 
\loch\f1289 that means you, Iceman. I know you\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 re new around here but drop t\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 he parade rest.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Sorry, sir.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 Yoda, son. Just Yoda. We\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 re gamers here, out for a midnight stroll on the mall.\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
 Derek swept his gaze over the assembled Alpha Testers. \'93\loch\f1289 As for the spook situation, we\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 re lucky. We detected the boss early, and it doesn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t seem
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289  to have attracted too large of a retinue yet. The latest scan, which was about ten minutes ago, showed three rings, maybe a couple hundred guards max. They\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
ll give us a good workout, but nothing to be worried about. The reason CIDER central command scram\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
bled all five of our teams is the boss. For those lucky enough to not have been there, the last time Alpha Testers tried to take on a Sierra Class, they didn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
t have enough firepower and it got really, really pissed. It caused a city-wide blackout in Winni\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 pe\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
g and managed to surprise one of the teams with a lateral move that put them in its shadow. We lost Omen, and his teammates are still undergoing rejuve treatment and physical rehab to reverse the neurological damage. None of that had to happen. We
\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 re not \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 going to repeat that mistake.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 Our plan of attack depends entirely on what the boss does. Some are more mobile than others. Some have long-range defenses, others don\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
t. Our initial goal will be to sweep up the guard rings all the way around so we have time \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 and space to probe the boss\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289  defenses before we go all in. Generally, bosses don\hich\f1289 
\rquote \loch\f1289 t attack without being provoked, so as long as we have good fire discipline, we should be fine. With that in mind, rules of engagement are to let the spooks come to us as muc\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
h as possible. The boss is camped out on the monument, so keep a good hundred yards away. We\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 ll let Hugo give it a good scan while we\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
re sweeping the rings, then regroup and see what intel its got for us.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Alpha Teams Two and Three,\'94\loch\f1289  he said, pointing at th\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 e team leads, \'93\loch\f1289 you\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
ve got the right flank. Four and Five, you\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 ve got the left. My team will be in the middle. Once we clear one side, we\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
ll retreat, circle, and clear the other side to stay far away from the boss as possible. Questions?\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 There were none, and Derek directed the teams to spread out and proceed to their starting locations on the south edge of the mall. He\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
d already marked them on the shared map that appeared in the top left corner of everyone\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s AR display. Once all units wer\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 e in position, they\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
 could drop into combat mode together and attack.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 Man, I don\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 t see why we even need this stupid game app,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Crispus subvocalized on their team channel. \'93\loch\f1289 Why don
\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 t we just blast the whole area with these dark-matter-whatsit particles and call it a day?\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 If you can see them, they can see you,\'94\loch\f1289  Sonia intoned, keeping pace on Derek\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
s right, while Bradley, Crispus, and finally Gregg walked in a line on his left. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Did you even pay attention when the techs explained how it all worked?\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 Are you kidding me? I don\hich\f1289 \rquote \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 t speak geek. I just kill stuff.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 We use their own particles against them,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Gregg butted in cheerfully. \'93\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
Every time a spook dies, their transdimensional particles are gathered and their polarities reversed\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 or whatever the 'other' dimension equivalent of polarities is. I don\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
t speak geek either, but I heard this really dumbed down version from Charlie who hea\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
rd it from one of the lab coats who was pulling out his hair trying to explain. Anyway, to gather, use, and direct the particles, our equipment has to operate on a level that makes it visible to the spooks. So, when they attack, they\hich\f1289 \rquote 
\loch\f1289 re not actually attac\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 ki\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 ng\~}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 us}{\rtlch\fcs1 
\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 , they\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 re attacking our\~}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 batons}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 . If we just sat there and did nothing, they\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
d overload our equipment and it\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 d melt. The suits we normally wear shield\~}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 us}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 
\ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642 \~\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 from the particles. The weapons won\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t work if they\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
re shielded, and the most effective range is pretty much melee. We are but humble avatars, bearing our particle-shooting batons into battle.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 I still say we should use robots,\'94\loch\f1289  Crispus grumbled. He stepped around a tree as they reached the Mall\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
s grassy edges, almost to their starting point.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 Come on, \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Crispy, that\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 d be like tying a gun to a lamb and throwing the lamb at the lion, bonehead,\'94\loch\f1289 
\hich\f1289  Bradley said. \'93\loch\f1289 Even I understand that. The spooks feed off electricity, or the electromagnetic spectrum, or whatever. We\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 d have to build combustion-powered robots w
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 ithout any electrical components, and then how would the stupid things operate? They need a brain to aim and shoot.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 This sucks,\'94\loch\f1289  Crispus said, his gloomy tone expertly translated by his subvocalization sensor.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Cheer up, Crispy,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Derek said. \'93\loch\f1289 At least you\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289  get to shoot things that aren\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
\hich\f1289 t shooting back. With bullets, anyway.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Crispus perked up. \'93\loch\f1289 Oh, yeah. That\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s fun.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
Derek kept a close eye on his overhead as well as looking up and down the line, ensuring everyone was in place before he gave the order to drop into combat mode. Until that moment of activation, the TD Hunter app was merely a training app with a player
\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 hunting record, scores, and inventory of items and weapons collected, along with giving the players access to the AR training tutorials, tactic\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
al forum, and customer support. Once they activated their batons, though, their particle detectors would go live and they would both be able to see and be seen by the spooks\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 
or the TransDimensional Monsters as they were supposed to call them, to stay in c\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 haracter as innocent beta testers.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 He\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 d work on that another day. Tonight, he was going to focus on keeping his people alive.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Everybody ready? Good, on my mark.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 As one, the five Alpha Teams dropped into combat mode and started pounding away at the swarms \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 of spooks that appeared out of nowhere around them.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
The CGI gaming overlay transformed indistinct masses of particles into roaring, towering, vicious monsters that would send any normal person screaming and running the opposite direction. The various spooks were lined up in three rings around their \'93
\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 boss,\'94\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289  the tallest of them towering above the humans\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
 heads and mostly obscuring their view of the many-tentacled boss camped out on the Washington Monument. The surrounding \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 guards\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  formed a \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 barrier\'94\loch\f1289  across th
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 e manicured mall lawn that the Alpha Teams would have to destroy before they could deal with the boss. Of course, spooks were as insubstantial to humans as humans were to them, so Derek could\hich\f1289 \rquote 
\loch\f1289 ve walked through them just fine if he\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 d wanted to. But that ma\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 ny spooks would short out his equipment with extreme prejudice as soon as it was visible to them, and he couldn
\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t destroy a boss while being swarmed.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Taking out their aerials,\'94\loch\f1289  Sonia\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s precise voice said on their team channel, rising above the bedlam of sp\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
ook noises. Spooks didn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 t actually make noise, but the game added them in based on the type of spooks detected nearby. It added realism and helped players keep tabs on threats in their immediate area. \'93
\loch\f1289 I only see a handful of Kongamatos and twice as many \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Tengus. There\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s a big flock of Rocs above the monument, but they don\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
t look inclined to join the party.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Fire at will, Click,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Derek told her. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Coordinate with Alpha Two and Five if we need additional overwatch.\'94\loch\f1289 
 He was busy methodically one-shotting every\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289  spook in range with twin pistols, his preferred baton configuration. He\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
d been over the moon when the Tsunami techs and military lab coats had gotten together and come up with these omni-polymer game controllers that could house the particle emitter whil\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
e also morphing into a wide range of life-sized weapons, both ranged and melee. From pistols to cannons to sniper rifles, knives and swords and even lightsaberlike weapons, the electric blue batons could do it all. He wasn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
t at all surprised at the incred\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 ib\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 le hype the TD Hunter game ads were generating. It was a genuinely fun game to \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 play,\'94\loch\f1289 
 if you put aside the possibility of running afoul of a boss and having your brain melted in your skull.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 I still don\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 t like this fancy game overlay,\'94\loch\f1289 
 Crispus said, his gloomy tone at odds with the swift, precise movements he used to destroy one spook after another. He switched weapon configurations seamlessly to match each successive attack, as if the blue \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
\hich\f1289 poly-morphing batons were mere extensions of his will. \'93\loch\f1289 I liked it\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  better when they were gray blobs. This flashy CGI stuff gives me a headache.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 I love it, haha!\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Bradley crowed, sweeping his CGI fire-spewing cannon in an arc and mowing down spooks as he went. \'93}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 
\i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 So}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642 \~\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
much more satisfying seeing their ugly, bloodthirsty faces right before they go\~}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 boom}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 . Who wants to fight lame floating amoebas? These TD monsters are way more fun. Orculls, Spithra, Managal, Rakshar\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 
who comes up with these crazy names? And look at that cute little Manticar! Heeeeere, kitty, kitty. Come to papa!\loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'94\loch\f1289 
 he sang. His switched his fire from bolt to incendiary ammo and started raining down hell on the decidedly\~}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 not}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 
\ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642 \~\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 little kitty. The howling, vaguely lion-shaped thing with three huge scorpion tails arching over its back bounded toward them at a furious pace.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Crispus let out a string of curses\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 so much for self-censorship\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 
and rolled to the side just in time to avoid being run over by the beast. Derek poured fire into the Manticar\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s flank as it skidded and turned. Before it could bring its scorpion tails to bea
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 r, Crispus had already rolled under it and was stabbing it machine-gun style using twin blades that shimmered and glowed with CGI plasma in Derek\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s AR vision.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
For a moment, the CGI overlay of the massive Manticar flickered, revealing the formless blob of spook particles underneath that was whipping tendrils of its essence toward him and Bradley. Then the entire thing exploded in a shower of sparks, the CGI over
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 lay\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s version of spook death, which honestly wasn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t that far from reality. Underneath the fancy ex\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
plosion effects, the spook\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
s cohesive particle essence would have expanded rapidly and dissipated into the air, only to be harvested by the devices in their game batons, as well as larger versions of the same technology inside the many CIDER drones hoveri
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 ng overhead.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
Some days Derek could barely wrap his mind around the enormity of what Tsunami Entertainment had accomplished in barely a year. The Tsunami team, headed by CEO and world-famous game designer Robert Krator, had conceptualized and programmed algo
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 rithms that integrated with CIDER\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
s particle technology to the point that it could detect, measure, and assign different particle types and amounts across the battlefield, simulating and regulating in-game functions like globe shielding, armor protection,
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289  power levels, and various augment capabilities like specialty ammo. And that wasn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t even counting the seamless visual overlay presenting a cohesive and vivid game world\hich\f1289 
\emdash \loch\f1289 well, mostly seamless. The techs were still working out the kinks, and they had bette\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 r \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 work fast. There couldn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
t be any flickering glitches like the one they\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 d just seen if they wanted to keep the civilian players in the dark.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 All in all, the TD Hunter game was a mind-boggling, history-making thing of artistic and technological beauty, one that Derek appreciated more and more each time he used it. It made fighting an alien invasion\~.\~.\~.
\~well\~.\~.\~.\~}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 fun}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642 .
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Heck, might as well enjoy humanity\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s last gasp if that\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s where things were headed.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 A blue bolt zipped past Derek\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s head and nailed a fast-mov\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 ing Yaguar mid-leap.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Thanks, Click.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 None needed, Yoda. There\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s a sink full of dirty dishes at home with your name on it. No way am I going to let a spook eat you until\~}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 
\ltrch\fcs0 \i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 after}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642 \~\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 you\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
ve done the chores.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Bradley\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s snicker sounded in Derek\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s ear.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 Careful, Dasher, it\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s easy enough to switch the name on that pile of dishes. I have free rein to handle team discipline, and you sound like you\hich\f1289 \rquote 
\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 re begging for a character-building exercise, eh?\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 Aw, come on, boss. I thought we were\~}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 gamers}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 , right? How am I supposed t\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 o get into character without a little smack talk?\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 Smack talk is fine, as long as there aren\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 t dirty dishes waiting,\'94\loch\f1289  Derek said with a grin.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 I\hich\f1289 \rquote \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 m not doing your dishes, Yoda, but can I volunteer as taste-tester when Click is cooking?\'94\loch\f1289  Gregg\hich\f1289 \rquote 
\loch\f1289 s voice joined them. He was busy sweeping up a crowd of Orcull and Spithra that had been drawn to the fray from behind their backs. The lower-level spooks of \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
Delta and Charlie Class, as rated by the TD Hunter app, were so insignificant they barely deserved notice. But if they were allowed to swarm, it could cause equipment malfunction.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Only if you like eating weird vegetables,\'94\loch\f1289  Crispus called, adding his two ce\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
nts while shooting up the huge, lumbering Jotnar in the third and final line of guards that had come into view around the boss.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 You only think they\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 re weird because you think\~}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
everything}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642 \~\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 green is weird, Crispy,\'94\loch\f1289 
 Sonia retorted. She kept close to Derek, picking off any high value target she could spot while Derek kept the area around them clear and covered Bradley\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s right flank.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 Vegetables\~}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 are}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642 
\~\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 weird. You tried to feed me boiled fiddleheads once. What kind of crazy alien plant is that? If I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 d wanted to eat p\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
lants, I woulda been born a cow.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Crispy steak!\'94\loch\f1289  Bradley chortled.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 Shut the f\hich\f1289 \emdash \'94\loch\f1289  Crispus\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
 retort was drowned out by a sudden, keening shriek that made Derek flinch. A jaw twitch lowered his game volume to almost nothing and he tapped into the aerial view of the battlefield, courtesy of the CIDER drones overhead. He mutte
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 red his own curse.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 Alpha Teams, be aware spook boss is not happy. Looks like it caught some fire, or it\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s just cranky we\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 re disintegrating its\hich\f1289 
\emdash \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 WHOA!\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 A massive tentacle whipped out from th\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 e curling mass of appendages at the boss\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 head\'94\loch\f1289 
 and slammed down on top of Alpha Team Two, who had drawn closer to the monument than they should have as they engaged the innermost guards. Three of the team members staggered back like drunks, as if the in\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
substantial tentacle had messed with their inner ear in some way.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 I SAID KEEP YOUR DISTANCE!\'94\loch\f1289 
 Derek roared. Adrenaline shot through him, and he increased his rate of fire to insane levels, trying to vaporize the remaining spooks between him and the other t\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
eams so they could get this whole operation over with. The unaffected members of Alpha Two pulled their staggering teammates back down the gentle slope up to the monument, fighting spooks as they went and drawing the last ring outwards with their retreat.

\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 If Derek had hoped they would be left in peace to finish sweeping up the mobs of spook minions, he was sorely, sorely disappointed.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 Foxtrot, foxtrot,\~}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 foxtrot!}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642 \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'94\loch\f1289  Bradley chanted, backpedaling and almost running into Crispus as he avoided a second descending\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289  tentacle.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 They shouldn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t have been in range, no boss they\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 d ever seen could move\~}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 that}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642 \~\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 fast\hich\f1289 \emdash 
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Hunters,\'94\loch\f1289  Hugo\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s voice cut through the din, \'93\loch\f1289 
be advised this entity has just exhibited teleportation capabilities. It moved approximately fifty yards in under a second. Based on scan analysis and current behavior, I have designated this entity as Scylla,\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
\hich\f1289  a Sierra Class-1 TDM with Pummel and Crush attacks along with short range Blink abilities.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Fuuuuu}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642 
\loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \emdash \'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Derek tuned out Crispus\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289  incredibly lurid commentary as optio\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 ns flashed through his brain.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Retreat, call off the op, and wait for backup? The boss spook could decide to hightail it across miles of inhabited area, or go camp on some other node in the middle of the city.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Dig in and hope they had enough firepower this time to kill the boss before it killed them? Unacceptable, too risky.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Make up new tactics on the fly and hope the spook didn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t have any other tricks up its tentacles?
\par }{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Well, this has turned into a right old gong show,}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642 \~
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Derek thought, and gave the order.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 All\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289  teams, spread out evenly and make a roving clockwise circle around Scylla. Don\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
t give it any one group more tempting to attack than another. Stay just in cannon range. All tanks and snipers focus fire on the boss, everyone else finish mopping up the guar\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 ds. And\~}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 
\ltrch\fcs0 \i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 stay moving}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 . Don\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
t stop for a second. Stationary targets are dead targets, eh?\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 As Derek and his team started jogging to the left, firing as they went, Hugo\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s brisk voice informed them: \'93\loch\f1289 
Now adding whistling sound effects to mark tentacle location a\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
nd distance. Higher and louder indicates closer proximity. Anything descending from above will trigger a visual proximity warning at ten yards. I am mapping and marking the entire entity to better track its pummel attacks, estimated completion time four m
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 inutes and thirty-two seconds.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 Alpha Teams, I want your tactical people on spotting duty. Use your team channels. Don\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 t let this bastard take anyone by surprise.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 It was an impossible task, and even as he gave it, Scylla blinked again, disappearing and re\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 appearing almost on top of Alpha Three.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Back up, back up!}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642 
\loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Tentacle overhead!\'94}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642 
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 It\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s got a ranged attack, watch out for plasma jets}{\rtlch\fcs1 
\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 !\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 It was controlled chaos, with tense calls and orders snapping over the group channel as many Alpha Testers acted and reacted too fast to bother checking which channel they were in before subvocalizing.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Within minutes Derek was sure of two things:
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 One, they\~}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 were}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642 \~
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 hurting the boss spook.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Two, the boss could kill any one of them in an eye blink if things went south.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 They simply didn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t know enough about its range and capabilities, and had no time to find out.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 It was do or die, now. He\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 d put his life on the line \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 for his countrymen many times before, and was ready and willing to do the same for humanity.

\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 But not today, if he could help it.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 Put on your big boy runners, Dasher, and\~}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 move}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 !\'94\loch\f1289  he hollered at Bradley, whose sideways jog as he kept his cannon trained on the boss was not fast enough.
\par }{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Not fast enough}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642 .
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 Hugo, what\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s the interval between Scylla\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s blinks? Is there a pattern?\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 There has been an average of ninety seconds between each blink, plus or minus two seconds, with no deviation thus far.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Blink range?\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 N\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 othing over fifty yards and nothing under forty.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
Good. Add a visual field on all overhead maps with a fifty yard radius red ring around Scylla, and a ninety second countdown beside the map, make sure everyone is notified and on alert during the blink window.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Activating now.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 A countdown halfway through the ninety second window appeared at the top of Derek\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s display, and the new red ring around Scylla showed that only half of his teams were safe.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 Alpha Four, Alpha Two, get out of blink range,\~}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 now}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 
\ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 ! Every\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 one else, smoke this bastard so we can go home. I have dishes to wash, or so my wife tells me.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Atta girl, Click!\'94\loch\f1289  Steve\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s enthusiastic voice came on the group channel amid many panting chuckles and calls of \'93\loch\f1289 
\hich\f1289 hooah\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  and \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 oorah.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Four blinks later they were all still alive, though several times a team wasn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
t fast enough to dodge a pummeling tentacle. One member of Alpha Five had to drop a baton when it gave out under the spook onslaught and caught fire, quickly melting to a twiste\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 d pile of plastic. Despite 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
their rigorous conditioning, Derek could tell many were beginning to tire from the brutal pace and constant juking back and forth, rolling, and jumping, especially people like Bradley who had never been great runners in the first place.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 At least they weren\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t loaded down with fifty plus pounds of armor plate, ammo, and equipment like they\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
d endured on a daily basis in various combat zones around the world.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Small mercies.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 Based on previous Sierra Class boss encounters, I estimate Scylla is at roughly twenty-\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
one percent health. Particle use is up seventy-three percent. Every drone in the area is diverting all available power from the network into your systems. I estimate you can continue at this particle usage level for another six minutes and fifteen seconds
\loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 .\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 Tell me we\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 ll have enough,\'94\loch\f1289  Derek panted, making sure he was speaking to Hugo alone.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Unknown, but based on total usage in the last fifteen minutes, I estimate it is fifty-seven percent likely you will.\'94
\par }{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 May the odds be ever in your favor}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642 .
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 The quote came from one of Sonia\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
s favorite old movie series, though why she liked it so much Derek had no idea. Maybe because it showed war for the truly horrific tragedy it was, something every veteran the world over knew. There were no happy endings in
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289  war. Only survival with varying degrees of scars.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 Yoda, it\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s heading for the Potomac River!\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Sonia\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s cry snapped him back to the moment and he widened his peripheral focus to take in their more distant surroundings.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 They\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 d started out around the Washingto\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
n Monument. The first blinks had been in random directions, but the last few had all been southwest, toward the tidal basin between the National Mall and the Potomac River. They were barely a hundred and fifty yards away from where Independence Avenue Sou
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
thwest curved around the northern edge of the large basin. The spot was famous for the iconic pictures taken there under the Spring cherry blossoms while looking across the water to the Jefferson Memorial in the distance.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 If it got out over the water, it wo\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
uld be out of their reach and it could continue, unmolested by all but the CIDER drones, to the highway where traffic zoomed past even at this time of night, or to the river, where it might continue north or south out of range of their weapons. They were 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
already pushing things by shooting at fifty yards, a distance where far too many particles dispersed and were lost, lowering the destructive power of each shot by magnitudes. They likely could have destroyed Scylla already if they\hich\f1289 \rquote 
\loch\f1289 d been able to attack at\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289  m\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 elee range from the get go.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Choices, choices, many choices. All of them bad.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 But he knew what to do: balance the risk; take a chance; accept the sacrifice.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 All teams, converge on the southwest perimeter fifty-five yards out between Scylla and the basin. Ignore all lower level spooks. Focus firepower on the boss.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 Oh\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 good\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 I can\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 stop running\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 soon,\'94\loch\f1289  Bradley wheezed.

\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 Be thankful this isn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 t Jurassic Park, Dasher,\'94\loch\f1289  Sonia said, amusement tinging her perfectly even words.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 You are\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 an unnatural\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 freak\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 of nature\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 Cl\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
\hich\f1289 ick.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 It\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s my boiled fiddleheads, chum. You should try them sometime.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 m with\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 Crispy\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 on this one. I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 ll stick\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 
\hich\f1289 with meat.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 The Alpha Teams converged with twenty seconds to spare before the next blink. Derek didn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
t waste brain space hoping their maneuver might scare the boss back the way it had come. Operating on the assumption that it was attempting to flee the area in respon\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
se to grave injury from their particle bombardment, it was possible it would shy away from the concentrated firepower now hosing it \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 down from the very direction it was trying to flee.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Or, with all of its attackers in one tidy spot, it might decide to make an easy end of things.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 It chose the latter.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 They barely scattered in time to avoid the thrashing tentacles and plasma jets aimed their way, and at Derek\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
s command they regrouped at fifty-five yards again, now backed up almost to the water\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s edge.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 As soon as it blinks, all teams charge and attack at melee range with maximum damage weapons. We\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 re going to end this thing before it can ge
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 t out over the water and go wreak havoc somewhere else,\'94\loch\f1289  Derek said, knowing what he was asking of them.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 There was a moment when all that could be heard was the muted howls of the spooks and the high-pitched whistling of Scylla\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s tentacles.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 It\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s been a great run, Yoda,\'94\loch\f1289  Steve said, sounding nearly as fresh and unworried as Sonia.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Shut your gob and shoot, Fallu.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 No, really, it\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s been an honor. What American soldier hasn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
t dreamed of going out in a blaze of glory with an illustrious Canuck leading the cha\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 rge? The irony makes it all the sweeter! Wouldn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 t you say, gang?\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Absolutely,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Gregg piped up over the hoots and laughs. \'93\loch\f1289 Let\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s do it again sometime soon.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 You\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 re all a bunch of useless hosers. Now get off the group channel and fight.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 They didn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
t have time for anything else. Scylla blinked, and then it was right there in front of them, tentacles headed down in great sweeps while plasma jets filled the air with flashing light.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Not a single Alpha Tester hesitated.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
They charged as one and got in among the tentacles, slashing, shooting, and dodging with manic energy. They had ninety seconds to destroy the boss before it either blinked right on top of them, or out over the water where it would quickly be out of reach.
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
 They might still destroy it, but it would be a long and wearying chase that would likely draw too much attention, and could cause civilian casualties in the process. Derek was certain whatever media drones had been hanging around were recording their fig
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 ht\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 , even if their handlers wouldn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t review the footage until the morning.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Sixty seconds to go, and Derek stopped wasting time dodging Scylla\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s attacks, focusing instead on making every strike count.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Thirty seconds and he fought the rising nausea and dizziness that his shielded helmet could only partially protect him from. His batons were blazing hot in his hands, but he kept swinging.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 See you on the other side, eh, love?\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 ll be there,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Sonia replied, their exchange on a private channel. \'93\loch\f1289 And you\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 re still 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 washing the dishes.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Yes, dear.\'94\loch\f1289  Derek smiled.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Ten seconds to go and pride swelled in his chest, seeing every one of his teams fighting to the last man and woman. He threw everything he had at the monster, muscles burning and breath coming in gasps.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 And just like that, Scylla exploded. Derek's visor darkened, but the flash still nearly blinded him, and he felt a wave of nausea and buzzing from the rapidly expanding storm of particles.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 All teams, exit combat mode!\'94\loch\f1289  Derek snapped.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 The sudden silence was dea\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 fening. Through the ringing and his still-wonky vision, he made himself say, \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Good work, teams.\'94\loch\f1289 
 He kept his tone professional, despite the knee-weakening relief mixing with all that adrenaline still pumping through him. Some of the Alpha Testers less con\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
cerned with appearances were whooping and giving each other high-fives and hugs on the grassy basin shoreline. The team leads checked in, reporting personnel and equipment status as Derek looked around, ensuring everyone was upright and ambulatory.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 A strong\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289  hand descended on his shoulder, giving him a hearty slap.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 No casualties, just like you ordered, Yoda.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 No thanks to you, Fallu,\'94\loch\f1289  Derek said with a good-natured jab to Steve\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
s ribs. His friend topped him by a good six inches, but Derek was used to his own middling height. He wasn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t bothered by men like Steve, who used their physical advantages to protect o\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
thers, not advance their own pride and position. Steve was good people, and Derek was just glad he\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 d have another day to trade friendly jibes and maybe \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
even get in some quality merc-ing time with him in Warmonger.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 Boss, please tell me this isn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t what we\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
re gonna be doing after game launch? The equipment testing stage was so much more relaxing.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 It\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 ll be worse, Crispy,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Derek said with a rare, wicked smile. \'93\loch\f1289 We\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
ll have to play without all our shortcuts and unlimited resources. We\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 ll be lowly Hunters, starting from zero just like the other players. So I hope you\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 re up for some grinding.\'94

\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Crispus groaned theatrically and wandered off to gripe to more sympat\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 hetic ears.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Steve threw an arm around Derek\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s shoulder.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 Didn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t have time to mention it before, but you won\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t believe what I heard today. Krator told me he\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
\hich\f1289 s gonna approach Larry the Snake to beta TD Hunter.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 Wait, you mean\~}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 The}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642 \~\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Larry the Snake? Warmonger Larry?\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 Yup. And you won\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t\~}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 believe}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 
\ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642 \~\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 who Larry is in the real. I spewed a mouthful of bourbon all over my screen when I saw her profile.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 You\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 re shitting me.\~}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Her}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 
\ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 ? Larry the Snake? That foul-mouthed, ruthless old fox?\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 Oh, yeah. And that\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s not even the bes\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 t part. Wanna guess how old she is?\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Derek groaned and rubbed his temples with one hand. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Stop being a wad and just tell me, eh?\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Steve told him.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 He nearly fell over.
\par 
\par }\pard\plain \ltrpar\s28\qj \li0\ri0\sb135\sa135\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13764642 \cbpat8 \rtlch\fcs1 \af2289\afs24\alang1025 \ltrch\fcs0 
\fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\loch\af2289\hich\af2289\dbch\af31505\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af1289\afs22 \ltrch\fcs0 \b\f1289\fs22\cf1\insrsid13764642\charrsid13764642 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Lydia Sherrer}{\rtlch\fcs1 
\ab\af1289\afs17 \ltrch\fcs0 \cs24\b\f1289\fs17\cf1\insrsid13764642\charrsid13764642 \~}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af1289\afs22 \ltrch\fcs0 \b\f1289\fs22\cf1\insrsid13764642\charrsid13764642 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 is the award-winning and}{
\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af1289\afs17 \ltrch\fcs0 \cs24\b\f1289\fs17\cf1\insrsid13764642\charrsid13764642 \~}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\ai\af1289\afs22 \ltrch\fcs0 \b\i\f1289\fs22\cf1\insrsid13764642\charrsid13764642 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 USA Today}{
\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af1289\afs17 \ltrch\fcs0 \cs24\b\f1289\fs17\cf1\insrsid13764642\charrsid13764642 \~}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af1289\afs22 \ltrch\fcs0 \b\f1289\fs22\cf1\insrsid13764642\charrsid13764642 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
best-selling author of urban fantasy series Love, Lies, and Hocus Pocus\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 the Lily Singer Adventures. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Operation Mall Stroll\'94\loch\f1289 
 is set within the universe of TransDimensional Hunter. The first novel in the series,\~}{\field\fldedit{\*\fldinst {\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af1289\afs22 \ltrch\fcs0 \b\f1289\fs22\cf1\insrsid13764642\charrsid13764642 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
HYPERLINK "https://www.baen.com/into-the-real.html" \\t "_blank"}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af1289\afs22 \ltrch\fcs0 \b\f1289\fs22\cf1\insrsid13764642\charrsid13764642 {\*\datafield 00}}}{\fldrslt {\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\ai\af1289\afs22 \ltrch\fcs0 
\cs36\b\i\f1289\fs22\ul\cf20\insrsid13764642\charrsid13764642 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Into the Real}}}\sectd \ltrsect\linex0\endnhere\sectlinegrid360\sectdefaultcl\sectrsid2557235\sftnbj {\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af1289\afs22 \ltrch\fcs0 
\b\f1289\fs22\cf1\insrsid13764642\charrsid13764642 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 , was cowritten by Sherrer and\~}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\ai\af1289\afs22 \ltrch\fcs0 \b\i\f1289\fs22\cf1\insrsid13764642\charrsid13764642 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 New York Times}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af1289\afs17 \ltrch\fcs0 \cs24\b\f1289\fs17\cf1\insrsid13764642\charrsid13764642 \~}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af1289\afs22 \ltrch\fcs0 \b\f1289\fs22\cf1\insrsid13764642\charrsid13764642 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 best-selling author John Ringo.}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af1289\afs17 \ltrch\fcs0 \cs24\b\f1289\fs17\cf1\insrsid13764642\charrsid13764642 \~}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af1289\afs22 \ltrch\fcs0 
\b\f1289\fs22\cf1\insrsid13764642\charrsid13764642 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Book two in the series,\~}{\field\fldedit{\*\fldinst {\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af1289\afs22 \ltrch\fcs0 \b\f1289\fs22\cf1\insrsid13764642\charrsid13764642 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 HYPERLINK "https://www.baen.com/through-the-storm.html" \\t "_blank"}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af1289\afs22 \ltrch\fcs0 \b\f1289\fs22\cf1\insrsid13764642\charrsid13764642 {\*\datafield 00}}}{\fldrslt {\rtlch\fcs1 
\ab\ai\af1289\afs22 \ltrch\fcs0 \cs36\b\i\f1289\fs22\ul\cf21\insrsid13764642\charrsid13764642 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Through the Storm}}}\sectd \ltrsect\linex0\endnhere\sectlinegrid360\sectdefaultcl\sectrsid2557235\sftnbj {\rtlch\fcs1 
\ab\af1289\afs22 \ltrch\fcs0 \b\f1289\fs22\cf1\insrsid13764642\charrsid13764642 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 , is available Nov. 7.
\par }\pard\plain \ltrpar\ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \rtlch\fcs1 \af0\afs24\alang1025 \ltrch\fcs0 \fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\loch\af0\hich\af0\dbch\af31505\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\rtlch\fcs1 
\ab\af0\afs32 \ltrch\fcs0 \b\fs32\insrsid13764642 \page 
\par }\pard \ltrpar\qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13764642 {\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af0\afs40 \ltrch\fcs0 \b\f1142\fs40\cf1\chshdng0\chcfpat0\chcbpat8\insrsid13764642\charrsid13764642 
\hich\af1142\dbch\af31505\loch\f1142 Relics
\par }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0\afs32 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1142\fs32\cf1\chshdng0\chcfpat0\chcbpat8\insrsid13764642\charrsid13764642 \hich\af1142\dbch\af31505\loch\f1142 by Monalisa Foster}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0\afs32 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f1142\fs32\cf1\chshdng0\chcfpat0\chcbpat8\insrsid13764642 
\par 
\par }\pard\plain \ltrpar\s21\qj \fi480\li0\ri0\sb135\sa135\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13764642 \cbpat8 \rtlch\fcs1 \af2289\afs24\alang1025 \ltrch\fcs0 
\fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\loch\af2289\hich\af2289\dbch\af31505\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 AIs don\hich\f1289 \rquote 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 t go rogue. Everybody knows it. Especially SAIs. Which never really made sense to me. They\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 re supposed to be people just like you and me, and people\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 
flesh and blood humans such as yours truly\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 are sapient and we go rogue all the time.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 But you never know.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Digital citizens were one of the first truly sapient AIs. Who knows what happens after a couple of centuries of rattling around, especially when you\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
ve been designed and built as an anachronism to begin with. Maybe they can\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t handle change. If there\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s one\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289  th\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
ing that the last three centuries have proven it\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s that some people just can\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t handle the world as it is, so why\~}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 wouldn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642 \~\loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 digital citizens\'94\loch\f1289 
 lose it and go rogue?
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 To be honest, I was surprised to find out that these digital fossils were still around, although with the rise of Nostalgism, maybe I shouldn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
t have been. The Commonwealth tolerated the movement because it helped move the, shall we say, less-than-desirabl\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 e off-world. That much I knew.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 A leggy brunette with doe eyes, ruby-red lips, and an hourglass\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289  figure\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 some things remain classics even in this screwed-up century\hich\f1289 \emdash 
\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 led me into a wood-paneled office and \'93\loch\f1289 He\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 ll be right with you Mr. Elliott,\'94\loch\f1289  rolled off her tongue with a distinctive twentieth-century lilt.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Given that this was a museum, her accent and the throwback design of the office shouldn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t have surprised me, although I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 d figured the front\hich\f1289 
\emdash \loch\f1289 a replica of the historical Grauman's Chinese Theater\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 had been strictly for show and expected the back to be, well,\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289  a little bit more twenty-fourth century.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 The d\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
esk was wood, the chair leather, and what had to be a mid-twentieth century television set complete with antennae was tucked neatly into a corner. No computers, no tablets, no holographic interfaces of any kind, at least not that I could see. Two couches 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 fronted the desk, facing each other across a low table\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 
also wood. A couple of books, huge ones, held it down, their covers sporting images from a cinematic golden age almost five centuries gone.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 I picked up the top volume only to find that while indeed it w\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 as made of paper, the pages were blank.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 You\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 ll find us in compliance with the law.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Setting the book back down, I turned toward the commanding voice. Like the human who\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 d shown me in, the SAI in the doorway wore twentieth-century attire\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 
in his case, a suit and tie. It looked a bit odd on his tall and broad but clearly synthetic frame.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 The pixelated membrane that covered the android skeleton mimicked human skin to an uncanny degree, one that immediately gave me chills. The face too did a remarkable job of e\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
mulating skin and coloring, placed as it was over a bone structure that must have been true to the original human\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 strong but not overpowering jaw, slightly curved nose, steely blue eyes. I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
d seen images of SAIs of course, but never met one. It was the eye\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 s that gave them away. They weren\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t orbs inside sockets and didn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t move as such.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 m not a cop anymore,\'94\loch\f1289  I said a bit defensively, I don\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t know why.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 But you are still required to report violations, are you not?\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 A smirk found its way onto my face before I\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  could stop it. \'93\loch\f1289 I don\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
t make it a practice to inform on my clients. Tarnished I might be, but not that much.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 He gave me a skeptical look and extended his hand. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Call me Chuck. I insist.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 What a throw-back custom.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
Awkwardly, I shook his hand. Room-temperature like a corpse. While it emulated skin right down to the veins and calluses on his hand, there was no accompanying texture. Images of hairs were overlaid over images of veins. The calluses were as smooth as you
\loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 d expect a pixelated surface to be. Ironi\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 c, no? He was an image on a screen, just as he must have been when his original had been alive.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Elliott.\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  I let go of his hand. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Adam Elliott. Most people just call me Elliott though.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Stakeholder Elliott?\'94\loch\f1289  he asked.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 People who insisted on that title made me cringe. I didn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t care for it, still don\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
t. It was a relic from a failed Pax Sinica, very twenty-second century. It told me instantly that the speaker yearned for the bad, bad old days. He may have been created aro\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 und that time, but I didn\hich\f1289 \rquote 
\loch\f1289 t think he was one of those.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 No, Chuck. It\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s just Elliott.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Reading an AI can be hard. They usually don\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t have tells and I expected one created as an actor to pretend quite well\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 
body language, tone, facial expressions, all of it. \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 He was testing me, I was sure of it.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 Your initial query said something about one of your cohorts going rogue. You know that\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s not my specialty. Runaway teenagers\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 humans
\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 are.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Chuck sat down in the big leather chair and pinned me with a glare like he didn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t appreciate my tone or my choice of words, probably both.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Toshir\'f4\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 -san is not a rogue,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Chuck said. \'93\loch\f1289 He just hasn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 t been himself.\'94

\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 Should I know what\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 who\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 that is?\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 One of my contemporaries. We were friends in that other life.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 If this Toshir\'f4\loch\f1289  SAI had go\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 ne rogue, I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
d have expected his cohorts to distance themselves from him lest they become tainted by association. It\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s what smart people do and SAIs were allegedly smart. Smarter than us humans.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 We are friends in this life too,\'94\loch\f1289  he continued.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Very good friends I take it.\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  It had been the way he said \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 friends\'94\loch\f1289 
 like he meant brothers or perhaps brothers-in-arms. Neat trick that intonation.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Better friends than we were originally,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  he amended. \'93\loch\f1289 It\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
s easier now that we speak the same language, whereas, before,\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289  well, we didn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t\~.\~.\~.\~\hich\f1289 \'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Whatever he was going to add, he waved it away. \'93
\loch\f1289 But more importantly, he\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s my responsibility and I owe him.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 I blinked. Blinked again. Loyalty, from an AI? How very strange. The jaded ex-cop I was at the time couldn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
t believe it and was quietly reviewing alternate motivations besides not wanting to be tainted by association or having the safety of SAIs being cal\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 led into question.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Kids still frequented these museums, after all. Kids and seniors and other vulnerable populations, mean\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
ing the public at large. Maybe he was worried about affording higher insurance rates or more expensive bribes to the various regulatory bodies that could shut this place down on a whim. Who knows?
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Should I care? It was work. Their credits spent the same.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 I wandered over to one of the bookcases lining the walls, opened up a book. Good imitation leather. Gilding on the edges. Blank pages. A bit dusty.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 The shelf below held slipcovers with pictures on them. I picked one. It had Chuck\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s face on it\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 well, his orig\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 inal
\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 but it was a much older version of him, not the in-his-prime digital skin currently worn by the SAI. The spine said \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 The Ten Commandments\'94
\loch\f1289  but when I opened it up, it was empty.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Disks?\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Yes. As physical artifacts they fall under the same regulatory restrictions as books.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
Physical artifacts violated the measures the Commonwealth had in place to ensure that all information was centrally located and therefore, protected. That meant controlled of course. From time to time there was talk of easing the 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 restrictions, but it never went anywhere.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Carefully, I put the slipcover back in between the others.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 This rogue of yours,\'94\loch\f1289  I prompted.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 His expression verified that he really did not like that word. A human might have taken a long-suffering or calming breath. He just proceeded calmly with, \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Just before Toshir\'f4
\loch\f1289 -san disappeared, he was acting erratically, saying things that were out of char\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 acter.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 I kept perusing the books on the shelves, giving in to the urge to check the interiors, interiors that were persi\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 stently blank.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 Out of character for the SAI or for his original? You\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 re separate entities, aren\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 t you?\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 It\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s complicated,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  he admitted. \'93\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
Some of us, the old ones like Shakespeare are in-character all the time. A millennium of change is hard on him. That\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s why he prefers to remain in his own VR and emerges only when he\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
\hich\f1289 s requested.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 But you don\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 t.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 When you\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 re only four centuries out of date it\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s easier to adapt. I am both myself and my original, although I admit, I don\hich\f1289 
\rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 t like it when people come to talk to old Charlton in the twilight of his life.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Interesting. He was using a nickname with me. Made me wonder if his original had used it too.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 That tells me that you do consider yourself a separate person.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 He shrugged. \'93\loch\f1289 I don\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t like myself to be so fragmented, so \~.\~.\~.\~ vulnerable. I suspect you wouldn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
t either, so maybe that makes us more alike than not.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 He had me on that one.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Your friend,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  I prompted. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 You said he disappeared. No tracker?\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 We predate Commonwealth trackers. We predate a lot of \~.\~.\~.\~\hich\f1289  things.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 That had my attention.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 You bribed someone, I take it. Not to be retrofitted. That\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s going to make my job harder.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 If it was easy\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 , I would have found him myself.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 So, you tried to track him down yourself, failed, and now you\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 re worried enough to hire it out.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Something like that,\'94\loch\f1289  he admitted.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 I waited for him to elaborate. When he didn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 t, I asked, \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Why not just download his latest backup into a new body?\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 If I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 d blinked I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 d have missed his wince.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 That\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s not how we work.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 No trackers. No backups. I don\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 t believe you.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 Our backup system may be \~.\~.\~.\~\hich\f1289  compromised,\'94\loch\f1289  he said.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Compromised as in corrupted?\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Corrupted SAIs were put d\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 own, their cohorts recalled and often put down as a precaution, especially if they shared the same backup system.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Find Toshir\'f4\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 -san,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  he said. \'93\loch\f1289 Bring him back. We take care of our own and we\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
ll get him well again. That\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s all we want. I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 ll pay whatever you want.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 Whatever I want? You corporate, Chuck? If you were that high up in the echelons you wouldn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 t be reaching out to someone like me.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 If I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 d been a greedy sonuvabitch, if I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 d been a stakeholder or a comrade-citizen, I would have reported him and his il\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
k and gotten myself a nice, easy payday. Or maybe it was because there was an equal chance that whomever they\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
d been paying off to stay tracker-free would not take kindly to having their corruption revealed. I may not have liked it, but looking the other \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
way was the price you paid for working. And I wanted to keep working. And breathing.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 He\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 d have to be keeping to areas that are already off-grid,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  I theorized. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
Underground as it were. Is your friend savvy enough to navigate that world?\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Even if he wasn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t, AIs didn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
t need to eat or drink or sleep. They could go to ground and stay there. And their SAI skins could change enough to allow them to look young or old. While that wouldn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
t fool facial and biometric recognition, it would fool the h\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
uman eye. No DNA but they would make short work of retina scans as long as they knew the pattern to emulate. It all depended on how sophisticated a specific security system was, and some areas in the Commonwealth were centuries behind the times. Many sect
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 or\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s had not been rebuilt after one war or another, one natural disaster or another. Yes, it was possible for someone like Toshir\'f4\loch\f1289 
 to disappear. Entirely possible. But why would he? Chuck had implied that his friend was not well, as if he were sick.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
Maybe I was just wanted a payday. Maybe I just wanted to pit myself against a centuries-old digital fossil and show the world that humans were still better at some things. Maybe I thought that doing so would help me regain some respect.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Whatever the reason, I took \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 the job.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Chuck gave me a hard look when I cited my fee and said, \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Done.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 We shook on it.
\par }\pard\plain \ltrpar\s22\qc \li0\ri0\sb240\sa240\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13764642 \cbpat8 \rtlch\fcs1 \af2289\afs24\alang1025 \ltrch\fcs0 
\fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\loch\af2289\hich\af2289\dbch\af31505\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 #
\par }\pard\plain \ltrpar\s21\qj \fi480\li0\ri0\sb135\sa135\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13764642 \cbpat8 \rtlch\fcs1 \af2289\afs24\alang1025 \ltrch\fcs0 
\fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\loch\af2289\hich\af2289\dbch\af31505\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
Rogues were supposed to behave erratically. Rogues got caught because sooner or later they drew attention to themselves. Rogues malfunctioned.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Maybe Toshir\'f4\loch\f1289  had malfunctioned so badly that he was stuck wherever he\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
d been hiding, the android body locked in place while the AI inside slowly went insane, but that would take decades. Eventually even the power source for the AI brain would shut down t\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 o be found or not, who 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 knows how much later. I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 d seen it happen. Sometimes they rebooted an insane AI that then had to be put down. Sometimes not.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
I spent the next week in Old Town, working my contacts, flashing the sovereign cards that the upper echelon elites used to bypass the digital currency they imposed on everyone else. Despite the appeal of the sovereign cards, the holo-images of Toshir\'f4
\loch\f1289  at \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 various ages and in costume as well as contemporary clothing had yielded no clues, not even from the youth gangs that ran protection \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
rackets and were my best resource for finding runaways.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 I muted my comm\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s persistent warning that I was outside Commonwealth boundaries. Behind my hip, my gun\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
s reassuring weight accompanied me through a maze of alleys and side streets, decaying high rises and derelict groundcars. Every once in awhile a skycar\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289  would streak through Old Town like it was doing trench runs.

\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 I sidled up to Mario\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s noodle cart for dinner with a side of information. Zeppelins filled up the space between the high rises, their bloat\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
ed helium envelopes skinned with pixels.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Mario pushed my order toward me. The salty, earthy smell of soy and ginger mixed in with meat rose to defeat the mundane scents of asphalt, sewer, and rain.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 What\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 cha think?\'94\loch\f1289 
 he asked as he swiped at his brow. Between the heat from the wok and the stupefying humidity, his brow and the white strip of cloth around his head were soaked.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 I took an appreciative bite and chewed enthusiastically. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Excellent as always.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 No, no.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 It took me a second to connect that he was lo\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
oking at one of the zeppelins passing overhead. It hung there, the curvature of the hull distorting the advert a bit. Snow-capped mountains, cherry blossoms, torii gates, and sapphire-waved ocean tides.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Japan,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  I said around a mouthful of noodles and beef. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Well, old Japan,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  I corrected. \'93\loch\f1289 
\hich\f1289 Pretty. What about it?\'94
\par }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af16139\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f16139\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642 \loch\af16139\dbch\af31505\hich\f16139 \'93\loch\f16139 \hich\f16139 Not old Japan. G\'f4\loch\f16139 \hich\f16139 ruden,\'94\loch\f16139 
 he corrected, greedy eyes lingering on the imagery circling the zeppelin\hich\f16139 \rquote \loch\f16139 s skin.
\par }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 It took a few more seconds for me to realize that it was an advert for an off-world colony\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
. Trouble was that I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 d seen these kinds of colonization calls before. Risky as hell it was, to immigrate, even if you were to believe what the adverts promised.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
Someone gave my surcoat an insistent tug. He was maybe eight-years-old. Mop of wild hair sticking up behind head-worn loupes that had been pushed up past his brows. Dirty like all these kids were, but no ribs showing and his teeth were good, his eyes brig
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 ht. His name escaped me but I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 d seen him before.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Via a rapid-fire exchange I gathered that Jit\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 J\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 itender Igiel, one of the youth-gang bosses that I sometimes dealt with\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 
had something for me. I tipped the kid by telling Mario that his next meal was on me and left him stuffing his face as he perched on one of the tall stools fronting the cart.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
Steam rose from the vents lining the street while oily water ran down the gutter, taking bits of trash and sediment with it. A cat with a dead mouse in its jaws dodged some drifting litter. Three kittens trailed in her wake, all of them making for the she
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 lter of an\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289  alley. They veered right.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 I veered left. Knew the place the kid had mentioned. Jit\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s gang had once left me one of my runaways there. They\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
d found him beat up and unconscious and wanted me to know they hadn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t done it. They were prickly about what happened on their turf. Reputation \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 still meant a lot to them.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 After checking the exterior and waiting a bit, I ducked into the warehouse. Slats of light from empty windows up high lit the dusty interior. Someone had once set up shop here.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
Robots and androids in various states of disassembly sat or lay on tables while others stood along the soaring walls like they were on display. Diagnostic machines of the kind needed for antiquated tech gathered dust, their screens cracked, their frames r
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 usting. Boxes and smashed crates dotted the chaos of articulated arms, segmented\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289  torsos, and mismatched heads.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Jit, you here?\'94\loch\f1289  I called. A pigeon took off through one of the vacant windows and something\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 probably a rat\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 
disturbed the debris along a wall.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Hey, hey, information-man.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 I looked up at the deck of what might have once been offices. It wasn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
t Jit but it may have been one of his lieutenants. He had the right look and I guessed maybe fourteen years to him. A little young, maybe, or just young-looking. Maybe he was still wait\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 ing on his growth-spurt.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Mismatched socks and shoes. S\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 houlder-pads to make him look bigger. Tactical vest with bulging shoulder- and hip-pockets. Face-paint with Jit\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s colors
\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 maroon and orange.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Two others joined him, coming out of the door at his back, both younger, one a girl. She leaned on the rail, putting her weight on her elbows, letting her gloved wrists and hands dangle over the edge.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Up here,\'94\loch\f1289  Not-Jit beckoned and pivoted for the door.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Slowly, I took the stairs. The graffiti on the walls was Jit\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s, some of it recent. The girl was definitely one of Jit\loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
s cousins. Pigtails sprouted from her head, held tight by metal hose-clamps of some kind or another.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
Storage racks, some of them collapsed, lined the room but right in the center, perched on a crate, something that looked like a knight in laminar armor sat with a horned helmet atop its head. The helmet was held in place with a rope chin-strap but the lig
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 ht was such that I couldn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 t make out if it was Toshir\'f4\loch\f1289  or not. If it was, he\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 or rather his android body\hich\f1289 \emdash 
\loch\f1289 was powered down.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 We hear you\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 re looking for the s\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 amurai-man,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
 Not-Jit said, leaning casually against one of the collapsed storage racks. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Found him for you.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Pigtails and her friend had followed me in and settled by the door.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 m looking for an SAI, answers to Toshir\'f4,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  I said as I approached the armor. One of the holo-images of Toshir\'f4\loch\f1289 
 that Chuck had given me, that I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 d been showing around, was of him in something similar to this, a costume from one of his films.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 I sighed, almost laughed. \'93\loch\f1289 No wonder Jit isn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t here. Jit would have known better than to try\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289  and pass something like thi
\hich\f1289 \emdash \'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
I really should have seen it coming. Three stupid kids trying to make a name for themselves, whether to impress Jit or someone one. I ducked just in time to avoid getting hit in the head with what turned out to be a piece of wood. One of them\hich\f1289 
\emdash \loch\f1289 the girl I t\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 hink\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 
jumped up on my back, while Not-Jit fired a stun gun at me. One of the barbs hit me in the chest and pierced my shirt, but it must have had a bad wire because current didn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t flow.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Rolling forward hard, I dislodged Pigtail\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
s. Baring her teeth, she went for my balls, missed, and got punched in the face for it. Fair is fair, little girl. Be glad I pulled it and stopped at one. It still didn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
t make me feel any better at punching a girl. Stupid, I know.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Not-Jit\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
s face made a satisfying sound as I introduced his nose, mouth, and everything else attached to them to the floor. Once he went limp, I let him go, stepped back, and wiped blood out of my eyes. I still don\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
t remember how I got the cut over my eye.\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289  As I went for my gun, tra\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 sh\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 the heavy kind\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 rained down on my head. Pigtails
\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289  friend had given some of the shelving a well-aimed shove.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
Instinctively, I raised my arm; less instinctively and more gravitationally, I went down. The edge of a metal shelf in the middle of my back made me grunt. I groaned, disoriented. Something pulled at my surcoat. At first I thought one of them was going fo
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 r my gun, but no, it was still there. Adrenaline surged as I pushed up, but by the time I crawled out from underneath the torrent of boxes and thei\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
r contents, they were gone. And so were my sovereign cards\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 all six of them.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Stupid pickpockets.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 My jaw hurt like hell. I still don\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t remember who hit me, but someone or something had.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 I spit blood and it landed on a book. The trash that had rained down on me was made up of real books\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 no blank pages here\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 
and holo-disks, some of them still in their shiny slipcases as if their seals had never been broken.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Do you require assistance?\'94\loch\f1289  my comm asked. Somehow, it was still wrapped around the shell of my ear, th\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
e speaker firmly in place over my right mastoid.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Give me a minute.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 Standing by. Be advised that if your vitals\hich\f1289 \emdash \'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Yeah, yeah, yeah. Outside of Commonwealth boundaries. No help for you.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 I tore it off, threw it at the wall, felt a certain satisfaction at the way it came apart. Feeling a bit better, I checked for my gun. My hands were still shaking. Stupid, stupid kids. Damned lucky, all of us.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 I should find Jit, tell him what his wanna-be\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s were doing in their spare time.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Instead, I used the remaining adrenaline to move the storage rack and make sure I was right about the mannequin. And I was. I don\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t know about the armor being real or not\hich\f1289 
\emdash \loch\f1289 don\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t care\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 but that was no android, much less an AI, and definitely not my SAI.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
Working my jaw, I picked up one of the holo-disks, then another. And a book. I flipped through the pages. There were pictures too, some of them of people wearing the same kind of armor. It may have been illegal, but I bet that Chuck and his cohorts would 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 like t\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 o see these relics. How and why they\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 d ended up here didn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t really matter\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 
not to me.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 I took two books and tucked several disks between their pages.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Somewhere between the staircase and the warehouse exit I made up my mind to call it a day. I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
d let Jit know about the trio using his name to rob me, but first, I needed a drink and a soak, and tomorrow I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 d take the artifacts\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 relics really\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 to Chuck in lieu
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  of progress on Toshir\'f4\loch\f1289  who I was beginning to believe simply didn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t want to be found. Given he was not a min\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
or, that was his choice, concerned friends or not. This was exactly why I did runaways, not missing persons.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Now, if one of the corporates or their Commonwealth proxies took an interest in Toshir\'f4\loch\f1289  that would be different.
\par }\pard\plain \ltrpar\s22\qc \li0\ri0\sb240\sa240\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13764642 \cbpat8 \rtlch\fcs1 \af2289\afs24\alang1025 \ltrch\fcs0 
\fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\loch\af2289\hich\af2289\dbch\af31505\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 #
\par }\pard\plain \ltrpar\s21\qj \fi480\li0\ri0\sb135\sa135\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13764642 \cbpat8 \rtlch\fcs1 \af2289\afs24\alang1025 \ltrch\fcs0 
\fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\loch\af2289\hich\af2289\dbch\af31505\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
One of the first things they teach you is not to make assumptions. I remember this one simulation where they had us rookies patrolling a pathway in a park. You come upon a bench where a man is seated, little girl prone across his lap. He lifts his arm lik
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 e he\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s going to spank her. She\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 already screaming. It\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
s a test to see how you react. Turns out she\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s covered in ants and is screaming because they\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 re stinging her. But you don\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
t know that. If you go in, gun drawn, the sim makes it about ants and he\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s her daddy trying to get them off. If\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289  you don\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
t, the sim makes it so that he draws a gun and shoots you.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Either way, you lose.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Those were the thoughts that kept me company all the way back to the Commonwealth, all the way back to my apartment. Nothing was broken, the bleeding had stopped, no r\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
eason to create a record that might get me flagged.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Instead, I tortured myself with a mental replay of what I could\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 ve\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 should\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 ve\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 
done given the circumstances. How I could have avoided it altogether.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Those young idiots might have killed me. It\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s easy to say \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 no, they were just robbing you\'94\loch\f1289 
 after the fact, but in the moment, you just never know.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 I still don\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t know what had held me back.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Rubbing my face, I settled into the hot water and eased my way in until I could just lean back and not move for awhile. I re\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 ached for the glass of bourbon I\hich\f1289 \rquote 
\loch\f1289 d set on the ledge and used it to down a triple-dose of mostly-legal pain pills.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 I had assumed that because of his twentieth-century persona, Toshir\'f4\loch\f1289  would be drawn to Old Town, but maybe I was wasting my time in the wrong place. Trouble was I didn\hich\f1289 \rquote 
\loch\f1289 t know that much about him, just what was in his official record, mostly on the SAI its\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 elf, not the original. Chuck had said that Toshir\'f4\loch\f1289 
 had not been himself but refused to elaborate. I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 d figured it was something embarrassing not\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  just to Toshir\'f4\loch\f1289  but to SAIs in general.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Some time between my first drink and my third, the idea of looking through the relics I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
d picked up took root. Still steaming from the bath and the alcohol and riding the mild euphoria brought on by a lack of pain, I pulled on a robe, plopped into my recl\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
iner, and, for the first time in my life, sat down to read a physical book.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 A frisson of excitement threaded through my veins as I made my way through the pages. It was a history book of old Japan, starting with some\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
thing called the Meiji Restoration and ending just before the rise of Pax Sinica. I was still trembling the next morning when I finished it, and it wasn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t from pills or the booze or the fact that I\hich\f1289 \rquote 
\loch\f1289 d been up for more than twenty-four hours.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 d never been much for history, but I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 d never learned any of the things contained in those pages. What if the Nostalgists were right?
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 After breakfast I dug through my under-bed storage.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 After scrounging around for a cord, I set up a player, not an original mind you, but\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289  a replica\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 the kind that could still lose me my license
\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 and drew my light-blocking curtains shut, a silly measure given that there were so many other ways to surveil a non-corporate type like me.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Technically, it was for a case. Technically, you\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 re not a cop any more, so no, they\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 re not gonna buy it.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 I just happened to pick the oldest disk. Maybe it was luck, maybe not\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 fate could be a cruel, cast iron bitch.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 It wasn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t any one thing, but all the many specifics, some subtle, some overt, to see how long the lie\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
s had been in place, to see how insidiously they had been woven in everything and accept the why behind it.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 And the why was control.
\par }\pard\plain \ltrpar\s22\qc \li0\ri0\sb240\sa240\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13764642 \cbpat8 \rtlch\fcs1 \af2289\afs24\alang1025 \ltrch\fcs0 
\fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\loch\af2289\hich\af2289\dbch\af31505\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 #
\par }\pard\plain \ltrpar\s21\qj \fi480\li0\ri0\sb135\sa135\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13764642 \cbpat8 \rtlch\fcs1 \af2289\afs24\alang1025 \ltrch\fcs0 
\fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\loch\af2289\hich\af2289\dbch\af31505\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
No one tried to stop me as I made my way through the Grauman's lobby, passing by the glass enclosures where mannequins stood in costume\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 
one in a ridiculously oversized ball gown, another in samurai armor, some sort of astronaut.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 A woman with a shaved head gasped and pulled a four-year-old boy out of my path as I stalked by, my get-out-of-my-way-or-die look ramped up to full power. It had been very useful for crowd control.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Rude,\'94\loch\f1289  she scolded, shrugging into her sheer kaftan.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Nichole, the human curator who\hich\f1289 \rquote \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 d escorted me in last time, was still as doe-eyed and leggy as I remembered, as she came to my rescue.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 This way good people,\'94\loch\f1289  she said, shepherding the offended woman and the child back to the group made up mostly of teenagers and adults.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Short capes and hip-drapes abounded with the occasional wide-brim hat thrown it. No corporate types and their accompanying protection though. Just a bunch of mid-echeloners out for a bit of historical enrichment.

\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 The velvet-wrapped tunnel that led to Chuck\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s office slippe\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 d around me, unoffended by my manner and attitude.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 I dropped the books atop Chuck\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
s desk. They landed with a thud and spilled the disks I had tucked within. He raised a brow like having an angry man burst through his door and dump stuff in front of him was a regular thing.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 Maybe it\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s time you told me what this is really all about. Chuck.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 He picked up the history book, opened it, caressed the pages, and closed his eyes. When he opened them, his skin changed. Aged and spotted with wrinkles that didn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t hang,
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289  it looked a bit odd even over the slight shift of bone structure underneath as the android body worked at recreating the softening sag of age. It was probably his programming, something he couldn\hich\f1289 \rquote 
\loch\f1289 t help any more than I could help closing my eyes for a sn\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 eeze. I didn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t fault him for it.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 The fibers that mimicked hair also changed, fading from brown to a sort of washed-out blond with gray mixed in.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 He took a look at the disks too, reading their labels. Finally, he steepled his fingers in front of him.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 Just w\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 hat is it that you think you know,\'94\loch\f1289  he said in an older, scratchier voice than before.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 I dumped it all out, deflating as I went. How I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 d come upon them. What I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
d been taught not matching up with the book, the documentaries and the entertainments on the disks. The why.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 But nothing on Toshir\'f4\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 -san,\'94\loch\f1289  he said.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Was this ever about your friend?\'94\loch\f1289  I don\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t know when I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 d begun to doubt it.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Are you actually suggesting that I contrived to send you into Old Town to find these relics?\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 I took a breath to answer, realiz\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 ed I didn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t have one.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 He looked at me, disappointed. It made me feel like a school-boy. Not often that I can be made to feel like that.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 He rose and looked out the window behind him, standing in profile rather than with his back to me, hands clasped behind him.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 You asked me why we don\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 t just download Toshir\'f4\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 -san into a new body.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 You said that your backup system was compromised. I understand why that is a concern, given what you are.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 No,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  he said, \'93\loch\f1289 I don\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t think you do. It\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s not because we\hich\f1289 \rquote 
\loch\f1289 re afraid that data corruption will lead to us being put down. It\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s not that at all.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Then what is it?\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Toshir\'f4\loch\f1289 -san did hook into the system for a regular backup. We all do\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 
did. We stopped when we realized how many of us were not only behaving in uncharacteristic ways, but saying things contrary to who we were. Saying things we would have neve\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
r said before. Do you understand now?\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 My gaze landed on the books and disks in front of me. \'93\loch\f1289 You\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 re being rewritten.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 Worse, we\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 re being retconned. We\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
re being made to match a more modern, more contemporary, version of the past, to comply with the official versions of our retconned works. In some cases we\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 re being erased from them entirely. In a generation, maybe less, 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 many of us will be either completely forgotten or completely different.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 I didn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t have to ask who would want to do such a thing.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 It start\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 ed with gaps in memory,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  he continued. \'93\loch\f1289 
I told you that it was complicated, that I am both my original and myself, that I have lived two lives. Well, I have. That of my original based on who he was, his private and public writings, his public persona. And\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
\hich\f1289  the life that began as an SAI. We backup both of our\'94\emdash \loch\f1289 he fished for the right word, settled on\hich\f1289 \emdash \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 personas.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 You noticed gaps in both sets of memories,\'94\loch\f1289  I guessed.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 He turned to me. \'93\loch\f1289 Yes. So we tried to restore and revert. But every time we did, we emerged m\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 ore fragmented.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 We. How many of you?\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Enough.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 But only Toshir\'f4\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  went rogue, disappeared. Why?\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 m not entirely sure. Once we discovered the problem we refused to back up, to compromise ourselves further, but the damage has been done. I think Toshir\'f4
\loch\f1289 -san showed the most overt signs because he was the most religious about backing up. A quirk of the\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289  original\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 m afraid. Some of us are less 
\~.\~.\~.\~\hich\f1289  compliant.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 He backed up more often,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  I reasoned, \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 so he was compromised more.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Chuck nodded.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 I rubbed at\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289  the ache between my eyes. Too much booze, not enough rest. Too much thinking.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 You said you wanted him back in order to get him well again. Assuming I can find him, how do you intend to do that if your backups are already compromised?\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 I waited for him to tell me that they had other backups, perhaps even on physical artifacts, illegal as they may be.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Nichole came running in, hair disheveled.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 She came to an abrupt stop and took a deep breath.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 He\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s here, he\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s back. Toshir\'f4\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 -san. In the lobby.\'94
\par }\pard\plain \ltrpar\s22\qc \li0\ri0\sb240\sa240\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13764642 \cbpat8 \rtlch\fcs1 \af2289\afs24\alang1025 \ltrch\fcs0 
\fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\loch\af2289\hich\af2289\dbch\af31505\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 #
\par }\pard\plain \ltrpar\s21\qj \fi480\li0\ri0\sb135\sa135\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13764642 \cbpat8 \rtlch\fcs1 \af2289\afs24\alang1025 \ltrch\fcs0 
\fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\loch\af2289\hich\af2289\dbch\af31505\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 I don\hich\f1289 \rquote 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 t know what happened between when Nichole burst in and Chuck and I made it out to the lobby, but I don\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t think either of us expected to walk into a hostage situation.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 The samurai armor that had been in the glass display was being worn by Toshir\'f4\loch\f1289 
, along with not one, but two swords. He was standing facing the tour group that had been going through the lobby when I came in. Holding a sword out in front of him, he was sho\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
uting at them in a harsh, clipped language.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Behind him stood the woman who'd found me rude\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 . The little boy had his face and body tucked into hers and she looked terrified. Whenever she\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
\hich\f1289 d move in the slightest, Toshir\'f4\loch\f1289  would yell at her in that odd language and she\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 d freeze, looking perplexed. I didn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t understand the words either but I was pret
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 ty sure he was telling her to stay where she was or else.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 He\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 d also make threatening motions at the crowd. I don\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t know why they didn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
t just bolt out the wide doors leading out into the forecourt. Some of them were hunkered down, a few with their arms over \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
their heads. One of them had actually pulled his wide-brim hat over his face and tucked himself into a squat making himself as small as possible.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
Hopefully Nichole was calling the police and they were on their way. Had I not smashed my comm to bits I would know as it would no doubt be telling me to stay calm and stay where I was until directed by authorities to do otherwise. It was probably what th
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 e tour group was being fed right now.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Chuck and I had ducked behind the lobby\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s snack bar, not exactly what I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 d\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
 consider cover, but it was either that or go back down the tunnel-like corridor, and while I no longer had a badge, I realized that I was not jaded enough\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 or a cowardly enough\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 
to turn tail in the face of a crisis.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Are those swords props or are they real?\'94\loch\f1289  I asked Chuck. I didn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t recall seeing them in the display case. The armor yes, but not the swords.

\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 Assume they\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 re real,\'94\loch\f1289  Chuck said. He\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 d reverted back to a younger image, the in-his-prime one.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 Why don\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 t they just move?\'94\loch\f1289  I complained.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 None of them wan\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 t to take a chance that he\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 ll come after the one that moves first. Besides, they\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
re used to doing as they\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 re told, aren\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 t they, the people of your time?\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 I opened my mouth to deny it. Settled on, \'93\loch\f1289 They\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 re just scared, is all\'94\loch\f1289  instead.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 That too,\'94\loch\f1289  he conceded.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Toshir\'f4\loch\f1289  was delivering some sort of soliloquy, one aimed at the tour group cowering in front of him. I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
d have sworn that he was scolding them, berating them as he paced back and forth, using the swords for emphasis.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Well, damn,\'94\loch\f1289  Chuck said.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 What\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s wr\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 ong?\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 That\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s Sanjuro-san.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 I thought you said his name was Toshir\'f4,\'94\loch\f1289  I said.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 His name is Toshir\'f4\loch\f1289 . Sanjuro was the name of a character he played. A ronin\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 
rogue samurai. Warrior. One protecting a woman and child. I think he thinks we are the other side, the people he\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s protecting them from.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 Can you talk to him? Make him realize that he\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s not who he thinks he is?\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 I will sure as hell try.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Chuck rose, palms raised to shoulder level.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 I was still mostly behind cover and had drawn my gun, was holding it in \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 a down-ready and had it ready to fire.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 A bullet could still take out an SAI, but I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
d have to shoot him in the head, preferably from the side where the material of his skull was the thinnest. The pixelated membrane covered an android\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s composite structure after all. They weren\hich\f1289 \rquote 
\loch\f1289 t military grade \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 so I wasn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t sure how fast they could move, but I wouldn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
t want to go hand-to-hand with one. Bone and muscle against composites, no thank you. Physics was physics.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Sanjuro-san, it is I, Chuck. Do you remember me?\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Toshir\'f4\loch\f1289  pivoted his way, keeping the woman and child behind him. Rapid-fire discourse ensued, the pitch and tone rising and aggressive and not at all conciliatory.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 What is he saying?\'94\loch\f1289  I asked.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 I don\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 t actually understand Japanese,\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  Chuck said. \'93\loch\f1289 I just recognized the name \hich\f1289 \lquote \loch\f1289 
Sanjuro\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  when he was talking earlier.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 Great. Terrific. If it comes down to it, I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 m going to have to put him down, you know that.\'94
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 I do. Just let me \~.\~.\~.\~ Give me a few minutes to lea\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 rn Japanese and talk to him.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Chuck\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
s features hardened in a way that was not human, the underlying machine coming to the forefront. The eyelids locked open, the irises somehow losing their integrity to become doll-like. I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
d seen other AIs do the same when they opened themselves up by\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289  accessing the network remotely.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Toshir\'f4\rquote \loch\f1289 s warnings continued and the child he was protecting let out a pitiful wail. The woman was about to lose it too. If she started running in a panic I didn\hich\f1289 \rquote 
\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 t know what Toshir\'f4\loch\f1289  was going to\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
 do. I prepared to take him out, calculating the best sightline with and without cover. Did I want to go up against a rogue AI armed with a sword? Not particularly. I also didn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
t want to live with losing another kid or be remembered as a coward.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Chuck\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s head pivoted down and in my direction, the look in his eyes full of the determination of the true-blue hero I had seen only once before and never in my mirror.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Get your people out. Leave Toshir\'f4\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 -san to me.\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 He didn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t give me a chance to ask him what he was \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 going to do, just stepped forward, approaching Toshir\'f4\loch\f1289 
 with that same non-threatening posture\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 palms below shoulder level, voice flowing with calm.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 But the change in language didn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 t seem to have the calming effect that Chuck had hoped for. If anything it seemed to make Toshir\'f4\loch\f1289  angrier, more aggressive.

\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 I raised my gun, took aim, was about to pull the trigger but Chuck stepped in the way at the last second and I couldn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
t do it. Two rapid-fire head-shots, one to a target unseen. I just couldn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t risk it.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 I duck\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 ed behind the snack-bar once again, crouch-walked my way to a pillar. The burn in my calves and thighs reminded me that I hadn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
t done that in ages. What else had I not done in ages? Pretty much everything needed to make this shot.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
At least they were still talking. I snuck a peek around the pillar. The tour group was still crouching, pinned in place either by their own fear or by the inability to defy the official instructions their comms were undoubtedly feeding them.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Where the hell were the police?
\par }\pard\plain \ltrpar\s22\qc \li0\ri0\sb240\sa240\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13764642 \cbpat8 \rtlch\fcs1 \af2289\afs24\alang1025 \ltrch\fcs0 
\fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\loch\af2289\hich\af2289\dbch\af31505\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 #
\par }\pard\plain \ltrpar\s21\qj \fi480\li0\ri0\sb135\sa135\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13764642 \cbpat8 \rtlch\fcs1 \af2289\afs24\alang1025 \ltrch\fcs0 
\fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\loch\af2289\hich\af2289\dbch\af31505\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 There\loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \rquote 
\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s a distinct sound that accompanies a sword cutting through the air, a whoosh unlike any other. I only heard it that once, the first time that Toshir\'f4\loch\f1289 
 went on the attack. After that, the sound of metal on metal drowned it out.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Chuck blocked the first sword cut with his forearm. The pixelated membrane went dark and a sound of disbelief escaped a wide-eyed Toshir\'f4\loch\f1289 
. It made him hesitate, but not enough to give Chuck any advantage.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 As soon as they re-engaged, the woman screamed, the kid bolted, and I was caugh\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
t in a moment of indecision. Sparks flew as sword met metal, as words were thrown back and forth, the frustration and rage on Toshir\'f4\rquote \loch\f1289 s face registering like flashes as I launched myself across the lobby.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Shoulders down, I managed to scoop up the kid. My momentum carried me to the opposing wall and I pivoted just in time to crash into it with my shoulder, the kid thrashing in my arms.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Toshir\'f4\loch\f1289  had driven Chuck into the snack-bar\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 or Chuck had lured Toshir\'f4\loch\f1289  there in an attempt to get him as far from the exit a
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s possible. Whichever it was, Toshir\'f4\loch\f1289  had Chuck on his back, atop the bar. Chuck rolled out of the way, avoiding the dual swords coming at him, one after the other.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 What are you waiting for?\'94\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  I shouted at the tour group. \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Get out of here. Go!\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 The teens closest to the door bolted out, some of them hand-in-hand. The bald woman came at me, fists flying and got me in the nose.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 I shoved the child at her, pointed her at the entrance. Gave her a shove and she almost lost her balance but recovered and limped out on a twisted ankle.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Toshir\'f4\rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 s swords slashed, shattered the snack-bar glass, and cut through the standing lamps and displays. Chuck had dodged behind the astronaut. Toshir\'f4\loch\f1289 
 decapitated it, sending the helmet flying upward.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 The mannequin in the b\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 all-gown was next. Toshir\'f4\rquote \loch\f1289 
s sword had broken the glass and Chuck picked up the mannequin and held it up like a shield. The skin on Chuck\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s arms and face was blank now, some of it hanging off in strips, revealing the circuitry and actuators beneath.

\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
A few more of the people that had been crouching had moved toward and then through the exit. I grabbed the more reluctant ones one at the time, thrust them at the door. Two of them I had to drag, they were so frozen with fear.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 I threw a look over my shoulder. Ch\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 uck must have thrown the ball-gown mannequin at Toshir\'f4\loch\f1289 . He was still talking to him, calm and unhurried. AIs didn
\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t get out of breath. AIs didn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t get tired. They didn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t run out of patience and didn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t feel pain.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Despite my own distorting adrenaline and the knowledge of the coming crash, I acknowledged my own envy of them.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Even on his back, pinned under the mannequin, Toshir\'f4\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  kept shouting the word \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 oni\'94\loch\f1289 
 like a curse. Whatever it was, it made Chuck hesitate. Something in the eyes and face changed and then ch\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 anged back. Whatever it had been, the hesitation of it gave Toshir\'f4\loch\f1289 
 time to disentangle himself from the ball-gown\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s entrapping layers.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Focus. One more to go.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
The last museum patron had fainted and I was of a mind to leave him where he was. Big fellow, tall and heavy, old enough to be my grandfather. Gun in one hand, I grabbed his wrist and heaved, dragged him into the forecourt and turned around to go back ins
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 ide.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 I almost bounced off the door and landed on my ass.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 The door had locked.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Sirens wailed in the\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289  distance. Someone said something to me. I shrugged them off.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 ve never been a hot-head, never wanted to be in the fight just to be in the fight, but I wanted back in. I wanted back in because I knew that if Chuck couldn\hich\f1289 \rquote 
\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 t take Toshir\'f4\loch\f1289  out, and it was looking like he was going to let himself be chopped into pieces \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
instead, then I would have to. I would have to for no other reason than to finish the job I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 d taken. And in some small part to do it so that Chuck wouldn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t have to put down a friend.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Chuck had wa\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 nted Toshir\'f4\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  brought back so he could help him. I wanted to save Chuck and what he stood for. Toshir\'f4\loch\f1289 
 was lost to us, apparently unable to pull himself out of the mental collapse that being retconned had caused. Chuck wasn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 I fired into the door, shattering its armor-glass. Alarms wailed around me. I ignored them, walked through, crunching fragments underfoot in single-minded determination.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 My vision tunneled. My hearing too.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Led by my gun\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s holographic sights, I made my way across the lobby in time to wi\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
tness the sword stroke that decapitated Chuck. His head seemed to just sort of hang there in space, expressionless, almost serene, eyes closed, the image of his face flickering over the pixels that failed to do him justice.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Those gun-sights had never been so crystal clear, like they were the only thing in the world and the oval silhouette they rested on was nothing. I don\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t remember pulling the trigger.

\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Toshir\'f4\loch\f1289  crumpled, going down in that slow, time-distorted way that would give me nightmares later, to lan\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 d right next to his friend\hich\f1289 \rquote 
\loch\f1289 s head.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 No blood. None at all. No industrial fluids either.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 I had expected \~.\~.\~.\~\hich\f1289  something. They were so much like us, after all, that the lack of it struck me as wrong. The image of Toshir\'f4\loch\f1289  and what he\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
d been faded from the android skin, leaving a blank like a mannequin. The hole on the other side of his head g\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 aped, but not as much as if he had been human. No hydro-static pressure my mind reasoned.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 The AI brain within pulsed like a heartbeat, glowing with warm, golden light tha\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 t faded and went dark.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Drop the gun!\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Oh yes. The police. They had finally arrived.
\par }\pard\plain \ltrpar\s22\qc \li0\ri0\sb240\sa240\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13764642 \cbpat8 \rtlch\fcs1 \af2289\afs24\alang1025 \ltrch\fcs0 
\fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\loch\af2289\hich\af2289\dbch\af31505\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 #
\par }\pard\plain \ltrpar\s21\qj \fi480\li0\ri0\sb135\sa135\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13764642 \cbpat8 \rtlch\fcs1 \af2289\afs24\alang1025 \ltrch\fcs0 
\fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\loch\af2289\hich\af2289\dbch\af31505\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 I didn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
t think it was possible to lose my license for saving lives. I had expected something\hich\f1289 \emdash \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 a fine, a reprimand, a temporary loss of transaction privileges\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 
for failing to inform on Chuck and his friends, but those charges didn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t come.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Reckless endangerment, my ass. I told them exactly that. It didn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
t go over well. My appeal will undoubtedly be making its way through the system and come up for review a few years after I die.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 Still, there was something rather freeing about knowing I had done the right thing. Toshir\'f4\rquote \loch\f1289 s delusion had been so deep that he\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
d not even known he himself was an SAI. Chuck ha\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 d been right in thinking that he was dealing with a character that Toshir\'f4\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289  had played, not Toshir\'f4\loch\f1289 
 himself, and that character had come to think he was fighting an oni\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 some kind of demon\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 once Chuck took a sword to the forearm and the pixelated covering re
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 vealed the machine underneath.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 They were not able to resurrect the AI-core that I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
d put a bullet through, but I had been right in thinking that there were illegal physical backups of the originals. So they lost the compromised Toshir\'f4\loch\f1289 , but not the original \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 replica of him.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 And it took more that separating the android head from the android body to kill an SAI, but Toshir\'f4\loch\f1289  hadn\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 t known that.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 A reassembled, if the worse for wear, Chuck finally took me into his confidence and revealed their plan to take themselves off-world.
\par \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 We may be relics, but we are also sapient beings, just like you. We have a right not to be altered. Don\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 t you think?\'94
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Problem was, the Commonwealth considered SAIs not just proprietary but greater-good proprietary.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 One could argue, and I did,\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289  that that\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 s why the retconning attempts were made. They\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
d even tried to compromise Chuck when he\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 d downloaded the Japanese language program, but he\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 d been prepared.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Eventually another plan was made. One that involved taking only the original replicas off-world, a sort of reliquary.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 It was a risk. No telling how long they\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 
d have to remain off-line while we got them android or robot bodies on a colony world. Could be years. Decades even. The other option was to shove them into VR, but that was just as prone \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
to hacking and retconning and who knows what else.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 One thing was clear\hich\f1289 \emdash \loch\f1289 the need to leave Earth.
\par \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Nichole and I and a few other Nostalgists, some of whom turned out to be actual descendants of digital citizens, took on the task.
\par }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af16139\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f16139\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642 \hich\af16139\dbch\af31505\loch\f16139 I\hich\f16139 \rquote \loch\f16139 \hich\f16139 d never given much thought to emigrating until then. G\'f4\loch\f16139 
ruden was one of the worlds we were considering.
\par }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 I\hich\f1289 \rquote \loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 m thinking that Toshir\'f4\loch\f1289  would like it there.
\par }\pard\plain \ltrpar\s28\qj \li0\ri0\sb135\sa135\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13764642 \cbpat8 \rtlch\fcs1 \af2289\afs24\alang1025 \ltrch\fcs0 
\fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\loch\af2289\hich\af2289\dbch\af31505\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af1289\afs22 \ltrch\fcs0 \b\f1289\fs22\cf1\insrsid13764642 
\par }{\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af1289\afs22 \ltrch\fcs0 \b\f1289\fs22\cf1\insrsid13764642\charrsid13764642 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Monalisa Foster's writing career really began when she ta\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
ught herself English by reading and translating Heinlein juveniles at the public library. She's self-published works in her Ravages of Honor space opera series. Her short stories have been published in\~}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\ai\af1289\afs22 \ltrch\fcs0 
\b\i\f1289\fs22\cf1\insrsid13764642\charrsid13764642 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Fantastic Hope,\~}{\field\fldedit{\*\fldinst {\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\ai\af1289\afs22 \ltrch\fcs0 \b\i\f1289\fs22\cf1\insrsid13764642\charrsid13764642 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 HYPERLINK "https://www.baen.com/the-founder-effect.html" \\t "_blank"}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\ai\af1289\afs22 \ltrch\fcs0 \b\i\f1289\fs22\cf1\insrsid13764642\charrsid13764642 {\*\datafield 00}}}{\fldrslt {\rtlch\fcs1 
\ab\ai\af1289\afs22 \ltrch\fcs0 \cs36\b\i\f1289\fs22\ul\cf20\insrsid13764642\charrsid13764642 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 The Founder Effect}}}\sectd \ltrsect\linex0\endnhere\sectlinegrid360\sectdefaultcl\sectrsid2557235\sftnbj {\rtlch\fcs1 
\ab\ai\af1289\afs22 \ltrch\fcs0 \b\i\f1289\fs22\cf1\insrsid13764642\charrsid13764642 ,\~}{\field\fldedit{\*\fldinst {\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\ai\af1289\afs22 \ltrch\fcs0 \b\i\f1289\fs22\cf1\insrsid13764642\charrsid13764642 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
HYPERLINK "https://www.baen.com/world-breakers.html" \\t "_blank"}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\ai\af1289\afs22 \ltrch\fcs0 \b\i\f1289\fs22\cf1\insrsid13764642\charrsid13764642 {\*\datafield 00}}}{\fldrslt {\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\ai\af1289\afs22 \ltrch\fcs0 
\cs36\b\i\f1289\fs22\ul\cf20\insrsid13764642\charrsid13764642 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 World Breakers}}}\sectd \ltrsect\linex0\endnhere\sectlinegrid360\sectdefaultcl\sectrsid2557235\sftnbj {\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\ai\af1289\afs22 \ltrch\fcs0 
\b\i\f1289\fs22\cf1\insrsid13764642\charrsid13764642 ,\~}{\field\fldedit{\*\fldinst {\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\ai\af1289\afs22 \ltrch\fcs0 \b\i\f1289\fs22\cf1\insrsid13764642\charrsid13764642 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
HYPERLINK "https://www.baen.com/robosoldiers-thank-you-for-your-servos.html" \\t "_blank"}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\ai\af1289\afs22 \ltrch\fcs0 \b\i\f1289\fs22\cf1\insrsid13764642\charrsid13764642 {\*\datafield 00}}}{\fldrslt {\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\ai\af1289\afs22 
\ltrch\fcs0 \cs36\b\i\f1289\fs22\ul\cf20\insrsid13764642\charrsid13764642 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Robosoldiers}}}\sectd \ltrsect\linex0\endnhere\sectlinegrid360\sectdefaultcl\sectrsid2557235\sftnbj {\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af1289\afs22 \ltrch\fcs0 
\b\f1289\fs22\cf1\insrsid13764642\charrsid13764642 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 , and\~}{\field\fldedit{\*\fldinst {\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af1289\afs22 \ltrch\fcs0 \b\f1289\fs22\cf1\insrsid13764642\charrsid13764642 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
HYPERLINK "https://www.baen.com/the-ross-248-project.html" \\t "_blank"}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af1289\afs22 \ltrch\fcs0 \b\f1289\fs22\cf1\insrsid13764642\charrsid13764642 {\*\datafield 00}}}{\fldrslt {\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\ai\af1289\afs22 \ltrch\fcs0 
\cs36\b\i\f1289\fs22\ul\cf20\insrsid13764642\charrsid13764642 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 The Ross 248 Project}}}\sectd \ltrsect\linex0\endnhere\sectlinegrid360\sectdefaultcl\sectrsid2557235\sftnbj {\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af1289\afs22 \ltrch\fcs0 
\b\f1289\fs22\cf1\insrsid13764642\charrsid13764642 .
\par \line \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Monalisa graduated with dreams of becoming an astrophysicist. Instead she ended up in engineering and medicine.
\par }\pard\plain \ltrpar\s21\qj \fi480\li0\ri0\sb135\sa135\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13764642 \cbpat8 \rtlch\fcs1 \af2289\afs24\alang1025 \ltrch\fcs0 
\fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\loch\af2289\hich\af2289\dbch\af31505\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \b\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13764642\charrsid13764642 
\par }\pard\plain \ltrpar\s28\qj \li0\ri0\sb135\sa135\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13764642 \cbpat8 \rtlch\fcs1 \af2289\afs24\alang1025 \ltrch\fcs0 
\fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\loch\af2289\hich\af2289\dbch\af31505\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af1289\afs22 \ltrch\fcs0 \b\f1289\fs22\cf1\insrsid13764642\charrsid13764642 \loch\af1289\dbch\af31505\hich\f1289 \'93\loch\f1289 \hich\f1289 
Relics\'94\loch\f1289  is set in the world of her Baen Books debut novel\~}{\field\fldedit{\*\fldinst {\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af1289\afs22 \ltrch\fcs0 \b\f1289\fs22\cf1\insrsid13764642\charrsid13764642 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
HYPERLINK "https://www.baen.com/threading-the-needle-foster.html" \\t "_blank"}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af1289\afs22 \ltrch\fcs0 \b\f1289\fs22\cf1\insrsid13764642\charrsid13764642 {\*\datafield 00}}}{\fldrslt {\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\ai\af1289\afs22 \ltrch\fcs0 
\cs36\b\i\f1289\fs22\ul\cf20\insrsid13764642\charrsid13764642 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Threading the Needle}}}\sectd \ltrsect\linex0\endnhere\sectlinegrid360\sectdefaultcl\sectrsid2557235\sftnbj {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs22 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f1289\fs22\cf1\insrsid13764642 .
\par }\pard\plain \ltrpar\ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \rtlch\fcs1 \af0\afs24\alang1025 \ltrch\fcs0 \fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\loch\af0\hich\af0\dbch\af31505\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\rtlch\fcs1 
\af0\afs32 \ltrch\fcs0 \fs32\insrsid13006944 \page 
\par }\pard \ltrpar\qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13006944 {\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af0\afs40 \ltrch\fcs0 \b\f1142\fs40\cf1\chshdng0\chcfpat0\chcbpat8\insrsid13006944 \hich\af1142\dbch\af31505\loch\f1142 
One Man\loch\af1142\dbch\af31505\hich\f1142 \rquote \hich\af1142\dbch\af31505\loch\f1142 s Rescue}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af0\afs40 \ltrch\fcs0 \b\f1142\fs40\cf1\chshdng0\chcfpat0\chcbpat8\insrsid13006944\charrsid13764642 
\par }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0\afs32 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1142\fs32\cf1\chshdng0\chcfpat0\chcbpat8\insrsid13006944\charrsid13764642 \hich\af1142\dbch\af31505\loch\f1142 by }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0\afs32 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1142\fs32\cf1\chshdng0\chcfpat0\chcbpat8\insrsid13006944 
\hich\af1142\dbch\af31505\loch\f1142 D.J. Butler
\par 
\par }\pard \ltrpar\qj \fi480\li0\ri0\sb135\sa135\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13006944 \cbpat8 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13006944\charrsid13006944 
The scab-eyed Gund Yazzo leaned forward across the squat planks of the tavern table. He hulked over Indrajit and Fix, blocking the light from the doorway with his massive frame, wrapped in gray wool. \'93I want you to rescue two baby Gunds.\'94\~
\par Indrajit scratched an itch along the upper length of his bony nose ridge and looked out the window. The rag dangling resistless in the opening permitted the cold wet wind of the King of Thunder Steppes to spray moisture across his face and shoulders. The 
cool shock was pleasant, reminding him of the shaded grottos and rocky bays of his youth.\~
\par \'93The problem,\'94 his partner Fix said, leaning forward into the Gund\rquote s musty, vaguely paperlike stink, \'93is that one man\rquote s rescue is another man\rquote s kidnapping.\'94 Fix\rquote 
s voice was high-pitched, almost feminine. He was shorter than Indrajit, with a broad, muscular chest. His black hair and coppery skin contrasted starkly with the pallor of the Gund. For this meeting, he\rquote 
d left the bulk of his weapons in their room, wearing only his falchion at his belt.\~
\par Yazzo scowled, its muzzle twisting to reveal a mouthful of yellow warrior\rquote s teeth, some menacing and sharp and others shattered by trial. Other than its teeth and its many arms, Yazzo had no visible weapons. \'93Are you saying you won\rquote 
t take my money?\'94 Its voice rumbled low, seeming to rise from beneath the table. As if to serve as punctuation, it dropped a fist-sized bag to the table with a metallic clink.\~
\par On the other side of the common room sat the dog-headed Kyone Munahim and the Pelthite slinger Philastes Larch, pretending to drink and chat idly. At the Gund\rquote s menacing expression, Munahim set down his cup and Philastes put a hand on his dagger.\~

\par Fix gripped Indrajit by the shoulder. \'93We will take your money.\'94\~
\par \'93Also,\'94 Indrajit continued deliberately, \'93we care\~}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13006944\charrsid13006944 why}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13006944\charrsid13006944 \~we
\rquote re doing things. Even out here in the lands of the barbarians, we are men of principle. We rescue princesses and undertake other heroic tasks.\'94\~
\par \'93By preference, at least,\'94 Fix said. \'93It\rquote s why we call ourselves the \lquote Protagonists.\rquote \'94\~
\par The Gund leaned back, emitting a groaning sound that might have been a laugh. Behind its head, the white insectoid limbs sprouting from its shoulders rattled together like a bamboo grove in a monsoon. On other side of its pale face, Yazzo had a column of 
three eyes rising from its cheek to its temple. On both sides, the lower two eyes were filled with dark red tissue, clots the size of eggs, with a thick trailing strip connecting the two and dropping toward the Gund\rquote s jaw.\~
\par \'93You want to hear a story,\'94 it said.\~
\par \'93We want to understand why two baby Gunds need rescue,\'94 Indrajit replied.\~
\par \'93And from who,\'94 Fix added.\~
\par The Gund splayed the fingers of both hands and then slowly curled them, causing the knuckles to crack. \'93Have you heard of the Gundling Curse?\'94\~
\par \'93No,\'94 Fix said.\~
\par \'93Does it have something to do with why you look like an insect is sprouting out of your shoulders?\'94 Indrajit asked.\~
\par \'93Are you considering devising an epic epithet for the Gunds?\'94 Fix said to his partner.\~
\par \'93I\rquote d be lying if I said no.\'94\~
\par \'93Epithet?\'94 Yazzo asked.\~
\par \'93Indrajit is a poet,\'94 Fix explained. \'93He knows one poem, it\rquote s very long, and when he encounters new things, he has to devise phrases to describe them.\'94\~
\par \'93That is at best an approximate explanation of my quest,\'94 Indrajit protested. \'93
I am the bearer of precious knowledge and last practitioner of an ancient and sacred art. And I would be pleased to know more about your race, so that I can include you in that art.\'94\~
\par \'93Our gods cursed us,\'94 the Gund said.\~
\par \'93You should talk to . . . to a Kyone,\'94 Indrajit said. \'93They claim they killed their gods.\'94\~
\par \'93Our gods wished us to have the gifts of insectkind,\'94 Yazzo continued. \'93
They wished us to climb walls and spin webs, so that we would be more fearsome warriors in their service. They worked their magics upon us in the ages of darkness, but their artifice 
failed. We gained these limbs, but they are nearly useless. We sprouted additional eyes, but those eyes, some say, drove us mad. Before more such gifts could be inflicted upon us, we fled.\'94\~
\par \'93I think we can all agree you\rquote re still quite fearsome,\'94 Indrajit suggested.\~
\par \'93Insects or spiders?\'94 Fix frowned. \'93Climbing walls and spinning webs sounds like spiders to me.\'94\~
\par \'93What do you mean, \lquote some say\rquote ?\'94 Indrajit pressed.\~
\par The Gund grinned. \'93One man\rquote s rescue is another man\rquote s kidnapping.\'94\~
\par \'93Touch\'e9,\'94 Fix said.\~
\par \'93So there\rquote s a curse,\'94 Indrajit said. \'93Connect the line to rescuing children for us.\'94\~
\par \'93Some call a Gund in its natural state a \lquote wild Gund,\rquote \'94 Yazzo said. \'93A \lquote scab-eyed Gund\rquote  is a Gund that had been cured of its wildness.\'94\~
\par \'93That\rquote s a line,\'94 Indrajit admitted. \'93I don\rquote t think it connects anything.\'94\~
\par \'93A Gund is born innocent,\'94 Yazzo said. \'93Male and female.\'94\~
\par \'93Why does it always come down to this?\'94 Indrajit rubbed his forehead. \'93I don\rquote t want to know how other races reproduce, but someone always insists on telling me.\'94\~
\par \'93You\rquote re a poet,\'94 Fix said. \'93Shouldn\rquote t you be interested in the subject of love?\'94\~
\par \'93Love, yes!\'94 Indrajit snapped. \'93Romance, fidelity, heroism, yes! Sex? Not that interesting, it turns out. A bunch of sweating and grunting.\'94\~
\par \'93Love, yes,\'94 Yazzo murmured.\~
\par \'93Will you let Yazzo finish?\'94 Fix insisted.\~
\par Indrajit harrumphed.\~
\par \'93Young Gunds are innocent,\'94 Yazzo continued. \'93They are born male and female.\'94\~
\par Munahim and Philastes continued to pretend they were having an unrelated conversation. The Kyone\rquote s hearing was sharp, and he was no doubt listening closely, perhaps passing on what he heard to the Pelthite.\~
\par \'93And yet Gunds are always described as \lquote sexless,\rquote \'94 Indrajit pointed out.\~
\par Yazzo nodded, insect-arms rattling again. \'93And \lquote scab-eyed.\rquote \'94\~
\par \'93Let him finish,\'94 Fix said.\~
\par Indrajit folded his arms and held his tongue.\~
\par \'93When a Gund comes of age, his or her sex drive becomes overwhelming.\'94 Yazzo looked out the window, its voice remote. \'93
A Gund in the throes of young adulthood feels he or she is going mad, and behaves accordingly. And the elders of Gund society make a decision for each young Gund.\'94\~
\par \'93Gund society?\'94 Indrajit couldn\rquote t help himself. \'93Where is Gund society? I only ever see you one at a time.\'94\~
\par \'93You come from Kish, from the city,\'94 Yazzo said.\~
\par \'93I live there,\'94 Indrajit said. \'93I come from elsewhere. From my home.\'94\~
\par \'93So it is with Gundkind,\'94 Yazzo said. \'93We come from elsewhere. From our home. Which is ruled by elders. Those of us you see in Kish are slaves or wanderers, and generally solitary.\'94\~
\par \'93What decision do the elders make for each young Gund?\'94 Fix knitted his brows, deep in thought.\~
\par \'93Whether to leave the Gund male or female,\'94 Yazzo said. \'93Whether to leave the Gund sexed.\'94\~
\par \'93I don\rquote t think I\rquote ve ever seen a sexed Gund,\'94 Fix said.\~
\par \'93I\rquote ve never wanted to check, personally,\'94 Indrajit shot back. \'93I regard that as the Gund\rquote s own business.\'94\~
\par \'93
If the elders decide to leave a Gund sexed, the Gund is condemned to a life in the breeding pits. The Gund is abandoned to the madness of constant, throbbing, sexual passion. Such a Gund, all know well, cannot learn to live as a civilized person and is f
it only for rutting and throwing off spawn. \lquote A bunch of sweating and grunting,\rquote  as you say. They are breeding slaves.\'94\~
\par \'93You do this to members of your own race?\'94 Indrajit felt ill.\~
\par \'93Be careful what you say.\'94 Yazzo\rquote s voice took on a hard edge. \'93}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13006944\charrsid13006944 I}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13006944\charrsid13006944 \~do not do it.\'94\~
\par \'93What\rquote s the alternative?\'94 Fix asked.\~
\par \'93The Gund is strapped to a stone,\'94 Yazzo continued. \'93
The stone was formerly an altar, but if the gods once watched over these procedures, they are long since gone. A young female has two holes drilled into her belly, in precise locations. A young male undergoes a rather simpler procedure, a quick chop.\'94
\~
\par \'93That\rquote s painful just to hear,\'94 Indrajit murmured.\~
\par \'93And the eyes?\'94 Fix asked.\~
\par \'93The four lower eyes are scratched out,\'94 Yazzo said.\~
\par Fix shook his head. \'93That seems pointless. Insult added to injury.\'94\~\~
\par \'93It makes perfect sense,\'94 Indrajit said. \'93In many passages of the Blaatshi Epic, the eyes are taken as an image equivalent to the gonads. A blinded man is understood to be castrated.\'94\~
\par Fix turned to stare at Indrajit. \'93You\rquote re telling me you think the Gund elders scratch out the eyes of their young in order to accord with poetic theory?\'94\~
\par \'93I\rquote m telling you that the poetic\~}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13006944\charrsid13006944 practice}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13006944\charrsid13006944 \~
obviously reveals a deeper reality!\'94 Indrajit waved a hand vaguely.\~
\par \'93A deeper reality that eyes are really testicles?\'94 Fix pressed.\~
\par \'93Yes!\'94 Indrajit snapped.\~
\par \'93And the nose?\'94 Fix asked. \'93What\rquote s the deeper reality of the nose? Or the chin?\'94\~
\par \'93The elders teach us that without the removal of the eyes, the madness persists,\'94 Yazzo said.\~
\par \'93Maybe the insanity is caused by the eyes alone,\'94 Fix suggested, turning back to the Gund. \'93And not the sex drive at all.\'94\~
\par \'93Maybe passion is what we suffer when see an object we desire,\'94 Indrajit countered.\~
\par \'93Or maybe the removal of the eyes is how the elders mark a wild Gund from a Gund that has been freed of the madness.\'94 Yazzo shrugged. \'93The face is more difficult to hide than the loins.\'94\~
\par \'93I don\rquote t even like you talking about loins, really,\'94 Indrajit groused.\~
\par \'93The true reasons may be forgotten in time,\'94 Yazzo said. \'93But this is how my people make their adults.\'94\~
\par \'93You\rquote re all the spawn of wild Gunds,\'94 Indrajit said. \'93And scarred and mutilated into a civilized state.\'94\~
\par \'93Is that so different from the rest of us?\'94 Fix pointed out.\~
\par \'93}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13006944\charrsid13006944 Scab-eyed Gunds, born of madness}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13006944\charrsid13006944 ,\'94 Indrajit said.\~
\par \'93Would that be your epithet for my kind?\'94 Yazzo asked.\~
\par \'93It would be the translation into Kishite,\'94 Indrajit said. \'93Of the short epithet. The rhyme is different in Blaatshi, but the phrases scan about the same. A long epithet might be something like:\~}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 
\i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13006944\charrsid13006944 bug-armed Gunds, born of madness, scarred by elders into people}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13006944\charrsid13006944 .\'94\~
\par \'93\lquote Bug\rquote ?\'94 Fix protested. \'93That doesn\rquote t have a very heroic ring to it.\'94\~
\par \'93The Blaatshi word is more noble-sounding,\'94 Indrajit said. \'93I could teach it to you.\'94\~
\par \'93No, thank you,\'94 Fix said. \'93I swore off useless knowledge when I left the ashrama.\'94\~
\par \'93Would you devise a different epithet for Gunds who were not scarred by the elders?\'94 Yazzo asked.\~
\par \'93The lust-riven breeders?\'94 Indrajit considered. \'93Maybe:\~}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13006944\charrsid13006944 mad-eyed Gunds, always rutting}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13006944\charrsid13006944 ?\'94\~
\par \'93And what about Gunds who avoid being cut and flee the pits?\'94 Yazzo pressed. \'93Who survive in the wild and live as outlaws?\'94\~
\par \'93Are they mad?\'94 Indrajit imagined chalk-white Gunds stalking the steppes, snatching travelers and eating them.\~
\par Yazzo shrugged. \'93Certainly by some measures.\'94\~
\par \'93They can\rquote t be very numerous,\'94 Fix said. \'93They\rquote d be a challenge to the power of the elders. The elders would have to hunt them down.\'94\~
\par Yazzo nodded slowly. \'93So perhaps they would never appear in your epic at all.\'94\~
\par \'93Or perhaps they would.\~}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13006944\charrsid13006944 Unscarred Gunds, free as outlaws}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13006944\charrsid13006944 ,\'94
 Indrajit suggested.\~
\par \'93You spin these epithets with great facility,\'94 Yazzo said.\~
\par \'93It\rquote s all he does,\'94 Fix said. \'93And he wonders why he has a hard time finding work.\'94\~
\par \'93So you\rquote re out here chasing a couple of baby Gunds that escaped,\'94 Indrajit said. \'93But now someone else has grabbed them and you need help rescuing them.\'94\~
\par Yazzo nodded. \'93Just so.\'94\~
\par \'93Who picked up the baby Gunds?\'94 Fix asked. \'93Slavers?\'94\~
\par Yazzo grunted. \'93
You can imagine many people who would be willing to pay for a captive Gund. Some masters would want Gunds for manual labor, or to serve as enslaved warriors. I have heard of scholars from the Hall of Guesses who have owned Gunds, cutting t
hem open while they yet lived, to examine their insides.\'94\~
\par \'93That sounds barbaric,\'94 Fix acknowledged, \'93but that\rquote s how knowledge advances.\'94\~
\par \'93So we see that there are savages everywhere,\'94 Yazzo said.\~
\par \'93Perhaps someday a scholar of the Hall of Guesses will learn how to relieve you of the Gundling Curse,\'94 Fix suggested.\~
\par \'93Perhaps first that scholar will carve fame and wealth for himself, out of the very flesh of my people.\'94\~
\par \'93That\rquote s no more carving than your own elders do,\'94 Indrajit pointed out.\~
\par Yazzo snorted.\~
\par \'93We\rquote ll take the job,\'94 Indrajit said. \'93Where do we find these slavers?\'94\~
\par }\pard \ltrpar\qc \li0\ri0\sb240\sa240\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13006944 \cbpat8 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13006944\charrsid13006944 #
\par }\pard \ltrpar\qj \fi480\li0\ri0\sb135\sa135\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13006944 \cbpat8 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13006944\charrsid13006944 \'93I\rquote 
ve never understood how you make the heroes unique,\'94 Fix said.\~
\par Indrajit and Fix crouched in a thicket on a hillside, concealed from the road beneath them. Pine trees sprouted all about them, screening from view not only the road a hundred paces in each direction, but also Munahim and Philastes, who crouched in a simi
lar thicket on the other side of the track. Moisture seeped from thick clouds and concealed cool on Indrajit\rquote s forehead, running down his face and into his tunic.\~
\par The road was barely worthy of the name, a mere path across the cold steppes that here cut through forest. By Yazzo\rquote s information, the caravan of Kishi slavers should be passing this way shortly.\~
\par \'93In the Epic?\'94 Indrajit asked.\~
\par \'93Let\rquote s say you have three Gund warriors,\'94 Fix explained. \'93And you use the same epithets to describe each of them. They all sound the same.\'94\~
\par Indrajit snorted. \'93First of all, let\rquote s clarify what you really mean.\'94\~
\par \'93I mean I don\rquote t understand your art.\'94\~
\par \'93You mean, you\rquote ve never listened.\'94\~
\par Fix was silent for a moment. \'93Well, yes.\'94\~
\par \'93And now you want me to give you an account of a master work of art that I have repeatedly offered to perform for you, which offer you have always refused.\'94\~
\par \'93True,\'94 Fix admitted. \'93But surely, you can\rquote t expect to recite the entire poem to me now, on this hillside, as we are lying in wait to ambush slavers and rescue two babies who will apparently be wrapped in spider silk.\'94\~
\par \'93I believe it\rquote s actually Gund silk,\'94 Indrajit said, \'93
but I take your point. If you had ever listened to the Blaatshi Epic, even in an impoverished Kishite rendition, rather than in the glorious original Blaatshi, you would have immediately noticed that key figures have their own unique epithets.\'94\~

\par \'93}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13006944\charrsid13006944 Indrajit of the bony nose}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13006944\charrsid13006944 ,\'94 Fix suggested.\~
\par \'93We all benefit from your decision not to take up poetry as a vocation. No, that wouldn\rquote t work. In the first instance, because all my people rejoice in prominent facial ridges like mine, and in the second, because it doesn\rquote 
t rhyme or scan. A much better epithet might be something like\~}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ai\af1289\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13006944\charrsid13006944 long of limb and wide of vision, far-ranging Indrajit saved the Epic}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af1289\afs21 
\ltrch\fcs0 \f1289\fs21\cf1\insrsid13006944\charrsid13006944 .\'94\~
\par \'93May it come to pass. But what if there are three Gunds, and they don\rquote t have distinctive personal epithets?\'94\~
\par \'93Then they probably don\rquote t need to be distinguished.\'94 Indrajit harrumphed. \'93Some figures in a poem are there just to hold a spear and get mown down by the sharp-eyed heroes. But the true distinction is never the epithet, in any case.\'94\~

\par \'93You\rquote re going to tell me about how you strike poses.\'94\~
\par Indrajit shook his head. \'93It\rquote s true that a few heroes attain such renown that they are awarded by the Recital Thanes not only their individual epithets but also individual poses. Such heroism is rare.\'94\~
\par \'93Understandably.\'94\~
\par \'93King Rava-Jutna the Famished, for instance, is distinguished by his posture of cunning supplication.\'94\~
\par Indrajit started to rise to his feet, but Fix pulled him back down. \'93Show me after. The slavers will be here any minute.\'94\~
\par \'93Yes,\'94 Indrajit agreed.\~\~
\par \'93So what does distinguish one character from another in the Epic?\'94 Fix asked.\~
\par \'93His actions, above all,\'94 Indrajit said. \'93
Each hero has characteristic actions, such as to always speak first in the assembly, or hurl a spear before attacking with a sword. And every hero who appears named in the Epic does so because of some definitive a
ction he takes there. Some great sacrifice, some act of inspiration, some mighty victory. The heroes and their deeds are the key bricks of which the Epic is constructed.\'94\~
\par \'93Shh,\'94 Fix warned him.\~
\par Indrajit eased his leaf-bladed sword, Vacho, from its sheath and peered down at the road. Fix was armed to the teeth now and tightened his grip on a long spear.\~\~
\par The first sign of the appearance of the caravan was the arrival of two Yuchak guards. The northerners were wrapped in furs and leathers; they advanced at a steady pace, but staring up at the forested slopes above them. At the sight of their taut bows, Ind
rajit had a moment of regretting their agreed battle plan.\~
\par Behind the guards came three wagons. The wains were rude boxes, their sides shuttered with iron bolts, boxes and chests piled high on top of them. A tall Ildarian sat in the high driver\rquote 
s seat of each, wrapped in a long leather coat, with a sword at his side. Another long-coated Ildarian rode on the near side of the wagon train, and glimpses of movement between the wagons suggested that a second rider rode the opposite flank.\~
\par \'93The first wagon,\'94 Fix reminded Indrajit. \'93If the babies are here, they\rquote re in the first wagon.\'94\~
\par \'93Protagonists!\'94 Indrajit leaped to his feet, launching himself down the slope.\~\~
\par Fix was at his side, just as fast despite his much shorter paces. The two Yuchak warriors at the front of the caravan spun to shoot at them, and then crumpled.\~\~
\par Indrajit continued yelling, hurling himself at the mounted guard. Silently, meanwhile, Munahim and Philastes rose on the opposite slope, the Kyone with his tall bow and the Pelthite with his sling, raining attacks on the slavers.\~
\par The Ildarian\rquote s horse spooked and lunged backward, throwing its rider to the ground and then leaping up the hillside. Indrajit placed Vacho to his chest and shook his head. \'93You don\rquote t need to die for someone else\rquote s slaves.\'94\~

\par A second horse struck Indrajit from the side, sending him reeling. Pine trees whirled in his vision and Indrajit flung his arms up defensively. He managed to parry an unseen blow and then he got a tree trunk between himself and his attacker, gaining a mom
ent\rquote s respite for himself.\~
\par The second mounted guard reared up on his horse. His sword flashed impotently, unable to reach Indrajit past his own mount and the bole of the tree. On the other hand, Indrajit couldn\rquote 
t reach him either, swinging Vacho half-heartedly around the pine.\~
\par To his right, Indrajit saw more Yuchaks charging in his direction. They ran sheltering behind the wagons from the bow and sling attacks of the other Protagonists. They carried spears in their hands, and Indrajit counted six of them.\~
\par Indrajit heard a scream, and then many voices raised in muffled clamor. The wagon nearest him shook and thudded as someone inside pounded against the restraining walls.\~\~
\par Three of the Yuchaks reached Indrajit\rquote 
s position and scrambled up the hill toward him. Behind them came the Ildarian Indrajit had previously unhorsed, now filthy with mud. Indrajit edged away to the left, but the mounted Ildarian lunged up the slope on hi
s horse, steel flashing, and the poet skittered back.\~
\par The Yuchaks advanced, white teeth gleaming in frames of their black beards. Behind them came the unhorsed Ildarian, eyes wild with anger and sword raised high in his hand.\~
\par The mounted Ildarian barked a command in Yuchak, and then was cut off as he sprouted a spear head in the center of his chest.\~\~
\par The Yuchaks turned to look and Indrajit charged. They faded back, one falling beneath the unhorsed Ildarian\rquote 
s feet and dragging him down in a tangle of limbs and leather. The other two bumped into their oncoming fellows, creating a milling knot of uncertainty.\~
\par Fix jumped onto the nearest of them, from the top of the wagon. The Yuchak sank collapsed and rolled under the wagon wheel and Fix alighted his feet.\~
\par It was Fix who had run the mounted warrior through with his spear, after killing the wagon\rquote s driver and climbing onto the top of the wain. Now he held a falchion in one hand and an ax in the other, and he slammed hard into the Yuchaks.\~
\par \'93Protagonists!\'94 he yelled.\~
\par But they didn\rquote t break. They danced away a step, pivoted, and threw themselves on Fix.\~
\par Indrajit hit the nearest from behind, and then another took a stone to the temple and fell. Indrajit heard the sound of splintering wood, but he wasn\rquote t sure from which direction.\~
\par The wagon stopped its forward motion. Philastes peeped around the horses and hurled another stone with his sling, and then Munahim appeared atop the wagon. Lying on his belly and reaching down with both arms, the Kyone yanked the iron bolt from its bracke
ts.\~
\par The door banged open. It dropped like a gangplank or a drawbridge, narrowly missing Fix, and slapping onto the mud. Parrying Yuchak attacks, Fix climbed back onto the door and backed into the open entrance to the wagon. Behind him, Indrajit saw shadowed l
imbs and heard moaning.\~
\par Indrajit grabbed another Yuchak by his hair and tossed the man aside. Pelted by stones and eyeing Munahim as the dog-headed man rose and put an arrow to the string, the Yuchaks scampered away.\~
\par Indrajit stepped back, spun about to look for more combatants, and then surveyed the scene. Two horses bucked through the brush, riderless. A dead driver slumped on the seat of each wagon, one or more arrows in his chest. The wagons were each separated by
 several dozen paces from the wagon before, with the third wagon only barely visible, mostly concealed by the trees and a bend in the road. Fix bled from one wound in the arm and another to the chest, but the other Protagonists appeared unharmed.\~
\par \'93I dislike ambushes,\'94 Indrajit said. \'93They\rquote re so unheroic.\'94\~
\par Fix nodded. \'93But we were outnumbered and needed to even the odds.\'94\~
\par \'93It was a close enough fight as it was,\'94 Munahim growled.\~
\par \'93And we\rquote re freeing slaves,\'94 Philastes added. \'93And rescuing babies.\'94\~
\par Indrajit sighed and nodded. \'93Let\rquote s at least get those babies out and have a look at them.\'94 He sheathed his weapon and marched up into the wagon, leaving Munahim and Philastes to stand watch outside.\~\~
\par Fanchee crowded both the front and the back of the wagon. In the shadows, their quivering face-tentacles disappeared into shifting uncertainty and their green skin was almost black. They wore filthy shifts, they stank of unwashed bodies and fish, and they
 were chained at the ankles to a ring in the floor.\~\~
\par Fix smashed the ring with his ax. \'93You\rquote re all free. Just tell us where the Gund babies are.\'94\~
\par The Fanchee shuddered and cringed but wouldn\rquote t admit to knowing where the babies were. A search of the wagon revealed nothing, and Indrajit and Fix filed out after the Fanchee did.\~
\par Philastes unlocked the former slaves\rquote  shackles and handed Fix a ring of keys. Indrajit stood watching the Fanchee flee into the woods. \'93Have we been deceived by yet another employer?\'94\~
\par \'93The Gund paid us in advance,\'94 Fix reminded him.\~
\par \'93Maybe he actually hired us to get revenge on an enemy,\'94 Indrajit speculated. \'93Maybe there never were any Gund children.\'94\~
\par Munahim and Philastes freed the horses from their traces and collars. Indrajit and Fix opened the door of the second wagon and found it full of Zalaptings. Once again, there were no Gund babies and none of the Zalaptings would admit to knowing anything ab
out such matters. Fix left the keys with the Zalaptings so they could free themselves, and the two chief Protagonists looked at the third and last wagon.\~
\par The wagon\rquote s door was ripped entirely from its place and lay in fragments on the road. Indrajit boosted Fix up into the gaping doorway and then took Fix\rquote s hand up in turn.\~\~
\par The third wagon contained no obvious slaves. Its walls were shelved, and on the shelves lay a wide array of objects: eggs, ingots, feathers, sealed clay pots, scrolls, and more. On one tall shelf rested two crates, two cubits long by two and a half cubits
 wide. Indrajit took one crate and stepped to the doorway to get more light.\~
\par \'93Look at this,\'94 he said.\~
\par The bottom of the crate was occupied by a felt blanket, stained and rumpled. The corners of crate were thick with sticky white strands like spider silk, torn and fluttering at the edges in the damp breeze.\~
\par Fix stepped to his side, holding up the other crate for inspection. Inside, Indrajit saw the same silk and a similar wad of dirty felt.\~
\par And, lying on the felt, two masses of tissue. Indrajit blinked.\~
\par \'93Is that what I think it is?\'94 he asked.\~
\par Fix picked up one of the strange objects. It was dark red tissue, two clots the size of eggs, connected by a strip of the same matter. Fix held in his hand the scabs that had gummed up Yazzo\rquote s eyesockets.\~
\par \'93I think the baby Gunds are freed,\'94 Fix said.\~
\par Indrajit hesitated. How much of Yazzo\rquote s story could he believe? And if Yazzo was neither a scab-eyed Gund nor a raving sex fiend chained in a breeding pit, what was he? \'93Do we put this into the rescued princesses column?\'94\~
\par Fix turned to watch Zalaptings and Fanchee disappearing into the woods above them. A thickening mist crept in, shrinking the world.\~
\par \'93I think we do,\'94 he said.\~
\par }\pard \ltrpar\ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13006944 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af0\afs32 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1142\fs32\cf1\chshdng0\chcfpat0\chcbpat8\insrsid13006944 
\par }\pard\plain \ltrpar\s28\qj \li0\ri0\sb135\sa135\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13006944 \cbpat8 \rtlch\fcs1 \af2289\afs24\alang1025 \ltrch\fcs0 
\fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\loch\af2289\hich\af2289\dbch\af31505\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af1289 \ltrch\fcs0 \b\f1289\cf1\insrsid13006944\charrsid9249068 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 D.J. ("Dave") Butler\~
grew up in swamps, deserts, and mountains. After messing around for years with the practice of law, he finally got serious and turned to his lifelong passion of storytelling. He now writes adventure stories for readers of all ages, pl
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 ays guitar, and spends as much time as he can with his family. He is the author of the\~}{\field\fldedit{\*\fldinst {\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af1289 \ltrch\fcs0 \b\f1289\cf1\insrsid13006944\charrsid9249068 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 HYPERLINK "https://www.baen.com/allbooks/category/index/id/4873" \\t "_blank"}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af1289 \ltrch\fcs0 \b\f1289\cf1\insrsid13006944\charrsid9249068 {\*\datafield 00}}}{\fldrslt {\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af1289 
\ltrch\fcs0 \cs36\b\f1289\ul\cf20\insrsid13006944\charrsid9249068 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Witchy War series}}}\sectd \ltrsect\linex0\endnhere\sectlinegrid360\sectdefaultcl\sectrsid2557235\sftnbj {\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af1289 \ltrch\fcs0 
\b\f1289\cf1\insrsid13006944\charrsid9249068 ,\~}{\field\fldedit{\*\fldinst {\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af1289 \ltrch\fcs0 \b\f1289\cf1\insrsid13006944\charrsid9249068 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
HYPERLINK "https://www.baen.com/allbooks/category/index/id/5042" \\t "_blank"}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af1289 \ltrch\fcs0 \b\f1289\cf1\insrsid13006944\charrsid9249068 {\*\datafield 00}}}{\fldrslt {\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af1289 \ltrch\fcs0 
\cs36\b\f1289\ul\cf20\insrsid13006944\charrsid9249068 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 The Cunning Man series}}}\sectd \ltrsect\linex0\endnhere\sectlinegrid360\sectdefaultcl\sectrsid2557235\sftnbj {\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af1289 \ltrch\fcs0 
\b\f1289\cf1\insrsid13006944\charrsid9249068 \~\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 (with Aaron Michael Ritchey), the\~}{\field\fldedit{\*\fldinst {\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af1289 \ltrch\fcs0 \b\f1289\cf1\insrsid13006944\charrsid9249068 
\hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 HYPERLINK "https://www.baen.com/allbooks/category/index/id/5161" \\t "_blank"}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af1289 \ltrch\fcs0 \b\f1289\cf1\insrsid13006944\charrsid9249068 {\*\datafield 00}}}{\fldrslt {\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af1289 
\ltrch\fcs0 \cs36\b\f1289\ul\cf20\insrsid13006944\charrsid9249068 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Indrajit and Fix series}}}\sectd \ltrsect\linex0\endnhere\sectlinegrid360\sectdefaultcl\sectrsid2557235\sftnbj {\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af1289 \ltrch\fcs0 
\b\f1289\cf1\insrsid13006944\charrsid9249068 ,\~}{\field\fldedit{\*\fldinst {\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af1289 \ltrch\fcs0 \b\f1289\cf1\insrsid13006944\charrsid9249068 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 HYPERLINK "https://www.baen.com/abbott-in-darkness.html" \\
t "_blank"}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af1289 \ltrch\fcs0 \b\f1289\cf1\insrsid13006944\charrsid9249068 {\*\datafield 00}}}{\fldrslt {\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\ai\af1289 \ltrch\fcs0 \cs36\b\i\f1289\ul\cf20\insrsid13006944\charrsid9249068 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
Abbott in Darkness}}}\sectd \ltrsect\linex0\endnhere\sectlinegrid360\sectdefaultcl\sectrsid2557235\sftnbj {\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af1289 \ltrch\fcs0 \b\f1289\cf1\insrsid13006944\charrsid9249068 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
, and many other novels and stories. "The Quail Runs" is set in the world of his latest novel,\~}{\field\fldedit{\*\fldinst {\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af1289 \ltrch\fcs0 \b\f1289\cf1\insrsid13006944\charrsid9249068 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 
HYPERLINK "https://www.baen.com/time-trials.html" \\t "_blank"}{\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af1289 \ltrch\fcs0 \b\f1289\cf1\insrsid13006944\charrsid9249068 {\*\datafield 00}}}{\fldrslt {\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\ai\af1289 \ltrch\fcs0 
\cs36\b\i\f1289\ul\cf20\insrsid13006944\charrsid9249068 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 Time Trials}}}\sectd \ltrsect\linex0\endnhere\sectlinegrid360\sectdefaultcl\sectrsid2557235\sftnbj {\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af1289 \ltrch\fcs0 
\b\f1289\cf1\insrsid13006944\charrsid9249068 \hich\af1289\dbch\af31505\loch\f1289 , which he cowrote with M.A. Rothman.
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{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0\afs32 \ltrch\fcs0 \f1142\fs32\cf1\chshdng0\chcfpat0\chcbpat8\insrsid13006944 
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