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Atlantia Ally Condie 17820K 2023-09-01

"Oceana’s," I say "Not Nevio’s"

This ht," he says "People will like that" He walks over to the others and starts talking and gesturing with them, and I wonder what he hter risk injury because they didn’t love her, or that they’ll findbecause they cared about her?

True looks unhappy and angry "This isn’t a good idea," he tells me in a low tone "What I have is a prototype, not a finished product"

"They’re going to leave if I don’t do so new," I say "I need to impress them today"

"Give me another day," True says

"It has to be now," I say "Or they’ll forget You wouldn’t believe how fast people can forget about so into the stands It’s time

I reach down and pick up the bucket of eels and fish True grabs the bucket, too, his hand over"I’m sorry," he says "But they’re not ready"

"True," I say "Please"

I can’t put anything I really feel into the word, but True draws in a deep breath, alhten on mine for a moment, and I see small burns on the backs of his hands, which et any sleep at all?

And then True lets go of the bucket Neither of us speaks but I wish I could thank hi up the fish and eels and dropping them back into the water

They’re lovely He has done perfect work It’s a pleasure to see

True folds his arht down by the lane to watch When I glance back at hi to understandback too much of what he needs to know

I cli the bettors, preoccupied with otten that he’s supposed to announce my race I feel a rush of panic I’ll have to do it myself I should have told the bettor to stay here and call out forto take all the excitement away from my performance if I announce it in my flat, false voice

Then True steps up onto the platfor to try to stop oes quiet And then True calls out, "Rio Conwy, racer and risk-taker"

That sounds all right This ht work

True’s face is very animated, and his voice carries well as he tells the audience about the eels I like watching him speak from this perspective, from the side, when I see his le

True erous than it really is He talks about the eels and how they’ll burn my skin if they touch it He tells the spectators that the fish aren’t charged, but they still represent a hit He says the bettors are taking bets on how many hits I take in one pass down the lane, and on how fast I can go I see a flurry of activity in the stands as people ers