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"Sal!" Nathan sounded like he was on the verge of panic "Get on board!"

"Check for ropes holding us to the dock!" I shouted back "I’ to see if I can slow them down" It was a stupid idea Every inch of me knew that it was a stupid idea But the sleepwalkers were starting to listen to me, even if it was only for a few seconds at a time, and maybe a well-placed co the boat Not forever Just long enough for Fishy to get the engines turned on and get us the hell out of this deathtrap

"Sal!"

"Go!" I kept my hand on the door, ready to jump onto the boat and sla eton board

Nathan didn’t shout again I glanced up the stairs and saw Beverly’s worried black face peering back at me, her ears perked forward in canine confusion I offered her a wan smile but didn’t talk to her, not even to tell her that she was a good dog She ht have decided that was her cue to co both of us on board without tiain, this tih the entire building I tensed, turning just in tiin forcing their way inside There were at least thirty of them, possibly more: theythe promise of food--andjust by ht, alirls don’t leave tracks like bees for their drones to follow back to the hives

The boat under an to vibrate on an alines cao to the end of the deck and bark irl," I e of the sas no h I raised my voice and shouted, with all the authority that I could ht there!"

And they stopped

Not all of theer individuals They had been at the front of the ainst ie blocked

"Stop!" I shouted again

Three more stopped, and four e and potentially fatalcannibal zo, but it only works for X percent, how many times will you need to yell before safety is assured? Show your work, and don’t get eaten

The vibration froer It beca That was good: thatout of here That was also bad, because itair, which would strip my pheromones from the air

"Stay where you are!" I yelled

Most of the sleepwalkers, against all odds, listened Maybe it was the noise froerous and keeping thele skinny dinner that they would need to split between thee in our development We still didn’t kno sleepwalker/chi to look, because we didn’t have the models for it

"Sal!" Nathan’s shout caht there," I called back, glancing toward hiht have been able to resist the urge to rush for me, but two bodies ripe and ready for consuer temptation As soon as I took ain,with that eerie speed that they could achieve when they were focused on a goal A goal like eatingfor the stairs

A hand caught the back of ap between dock and boat I screa one elbow backith as much force as I couldthe collar of my shirt in the process I shoved myself forward into the tiny stairwell and sla down the handle to lock it into place The sound of hands dru in that narrow, confined space was difficult, but I was able to do it, and was rewarded with the sight of Nathan’s worried face peering down at lasses askew and Beverly peeking over his shoulder like she was afraid that I would disappear I forced myself to smile, aware that the expression would look artificial, but willing to accept it if itthe people I cared about

"I’m okay," I said "They didn’t hurt me, and they actually listened when I told them to stop--did you see? Did you see the your life to buy us ti forward to offerain"

"Can’t promise that under the circumstances," I replied He pulledwith it, wrappingthe detergent and sweat scent of his shirt I giggled, unable to stop myself