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"Can we have a few lad he’d spoken, because Sarah had been about to say so it wouldn’t have been a ss we need to discuss"

Kaine didn’t like the question, judging by his face There was so behind his eyes like heat in a furnace "No discussions You’ll either help me fulfill my plans, or you and Sarah’s parents will die It’s as simple as that"

Sarah opened her mouth, her face red, the words like an avalanche about to spill--Michael could tell--but he cut her off again "It’s a huge decision, Kaine And don’t you think we’d be better … servants if illingly?"

"Enough!" Kaine yelled, the rage behind his eyes turning his face into a norant human? Do you think I don’t know, even now, that you were probing the code, trying to find a way out? Do you actually think I would allow that?"

Michael’s mind went blank, and the tiny bubble of hope inside of hi past Kaine? Kaine was a god in the Sleep--certainly wherever they were now This time when Sarah spoke it filled Michael with relief

"If you want to learn how to mix with humans, then you have a lot to learn" It was as if Sarah were scolding a badly behaved kindergartener

Michael stared at her; his jaw dropped so far it ed

Kaine was just as taken aback The Tangent actually sta to stand here and be lectured by a child" He pointed at Michael "By one who is er ent took a step closer to her, leaned forward until their noses were al "I’ve tried to be reasonable," he whispered, "and I can’t comprehend how you could possibly turn your back on ients alike There are things in reat plans I won’t tell you more until I have a commitment And it would be wise to decide before the KillSims arrive"

And then Kaine disappeared

Michael didn’t know if he wanted to hug Sarah or shake her Either way, he went to her and grabbed her shoulders "What … as that?"

She wilted a little "Sorry I’ but a string of code--there has to be a way!"

He understood how angry Sarah was--Kaine had her parents--but what she said still hurt Up until only a few days earlier, that was all he’d been, too A string of code She saw it in his eyes before he could hide it

"Oh! Sorry, sorry, sorry," she said in a rush "It’s not ed her, not knohat else to do "I knohat it’s like" He was thinking of his parents, who’d been taken away from him also, but he didn’t know if she could understand that