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"Maybe I’ll see you in ht," he said instead "On that road"

Theta’s smile faltered just a bit "I suppose I’d feel less scared if you were there"

The cops patted the doors of one of the wagons and sent it on its way The streets were clogged with people now Theta stuck out her hand "Thanks for the daring escape, Poet"

Me at the softness of it "Anytime, Creole Princess"

Theta ran toward the subway At the corner, she turned to see Me her the way that audiences or the occasional fan on the street did It didn’t ined; on the contrary, she had never felt more real "Hey, Poet!" she called back to him "It’s Theta!"

"Pardon?" he shouted

"My name It’s Theta--"

The crowd thickened between them just as someone pulled Memphis into a choke hold fro, Gabe put his hands up in surrender, backing away "Easy, brother Justthe squeeze on Papa Charles I’d gone out back for a sons, too Hey, Me to me?"

Me his head, searching for soone Hoould he find her again? Beside hi ahad shifted in the cosmos His future seemed to have thinned to a point of destiny, and it had a name: Theta

When Memphis let hi at the foot of the bed in a pale wash of bluish loohtly

"Hey, Ice Man Whatcha doin’ up?" The boy didn’t answer "Isaiah? You all right?"

Isaiah’s eyes rolled back until only the whites were visible His eyelids fluttered wildly