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I was allowed to join the group going to the plant This surprised me almost as much as the fact that none of the Commander’s advisersCriollo instead of the livestock feed he had reported on his perree with Brazell that the factory was a , sweltering heat pulsed froantic roasters that were continuously fed with Sitian beans Workers, streaked with sweat and black dust, shoveled coal into the massive fires under the ovens Once roasted, the beans were conveyored to a large area where other workers cracked their shells witha dark brown nib Steel rollers crushed the nibs into a paste The paste was spooned into a five-foot-wide ar,steel pitchforks, workers stirred these ingredients until the mixture became a smooth, thick liquid, which was then poured into square and rectangular-shaped htful smells and flavors, the place was, however, a joyless environment The dour erunted and strained under the physical exertion During the tour, I searched the various work areas for poisonous or addictive ingredients that roup returned to Brazell’s manor house, I watched the ani behind the same blank look that had taken over the Commander’s face WhichCriollo and succukan’s shoould end as soon as he had gained control of the advisers’ e for the worse

That night, under cover of darkness, I dropped ed on the door, calling to the guards

When the door opened, I declared, "I need a bath" Without waiting for a response, I strode with purpose down the hallway The guards followed

At the baths, one guard stopped me in the hallhile his companion looked around inside Only when he was sure I would be alone did he nod and step back

As I went through the entrance, I said in an authoritative voice, "I don’t need an audience Wait here, I won’t be long"

To ht they remained outside I scurried to the far here, hidden froht work in the rown up here With a child’s curiosity and free time, I had been able to explore almost every corner of the house Only Brazell’s private suite, office and Reyad’s wing had been off-li becaht, I concentrated on the present

I pulled the handle of the door and encountered ht, reaching foropen, and I discovered a second nasty shock One of the guards waited in the hallway

He s roin A dirty Valekthe guard far behind

Slipping out the south entrance, I retrieved ht oing; however, my true path was less evident I knew I couldn’t help the Commander from a locked room, but I was unsure what I could do fro it would be too risky to go to the barracks, I took to the treetops Only Valek knew this trick Once he learned of my escape, he would track me

When I reached the open area reserved for the annual fire festival’s visit to MD–5, I stopped for the night Shivering inclouds of steas and distant shouts, but no one came close to my makeshift bed in the tree Sleep eluded ht fabric of the festival tents in the clearing, hoping to warhts

I iers and acrobats lined up in theFood stands huddled in and around the big tents, scenting the air withtreats I went to the festival every hot season when I had lived under Brazell’s roof It had been the highlight of h my memories of those last two years, when I had been Reyad’s laboratory rat, were dreadful

Unable to resist, I cliinary festival I stopped where the acrobatics tent had stood, wondering if I could still perfor routine that had won ht, I tossed off my cloak and started a war, that it was stupid to be this exposed to discovery, but the desire to reliveto deny

Soon all thoughts of Brazell, Reyad and Mogkan were banished as I spun and soared through the air My mind settled into the ht I relished the release, brief as it ht be, from my days of tension and threat

As I perforhtened awareness beyond my body to encompass the trees, even sense the anih on a branch, tracked the movements of a field h the underbrush A woman, crouched behind a stone, watched me