Page 171 (1/2)

He did it anyway

Basia Merton—KatoaDaddy, Mei called him—was a thick-necked man who always smelled of peppermint His as pencil thin with a nervous twitch of a sement complex five levels down from the surface, decorated in spun silk and bamboo When Basia opened the door, he didn’t s the way open Prax followed hilass of miraculously unspoiled one n, then?” Basia said It wasn’t really a question

“No news,” Prax said “So there’s that, at least”

Froe, er boy’s Basia didn’t even turn to look

“Nothing here either I’m sorry”

The milk tasted wonderful, smooth and rich and soft Prax could alh the ht technically be starving

“There’s still hope,” Prax said

Basia blew out his breath like the words had been a punch in the gut His lips were pressed thin and he was staring at the table The shouting voices in the back resolved into a low boyish wail

“We’re leaving,” Basia said “My cousin works on Luna for Magellan Biotech They’re sending relief ships, and when they put off theto be roolass of o quiet, but he knew that was an illusion A strange pressure bloomed in his throat, down into his chest His face felt waxy He had the sudden physicalthat she’d filed for divorce Betrayed He felt betrayed

“…after that, another few days,” Basia was saying He’d been talking, but Prax hadn’t heard hied to say around the thickness in his throat “He’s here soaze flickered up and then away, fast as a bird’s wing

“He’s not He’s gone, brother Boy had a shere his immune system should’ve been You know that Without hisreally sick in three, ot”

Prax nodded, his body responding without him He felt like a flywheel had corain of the bamboo table seemed unnaturally sharp The sue

“You can’t know that,” he said, trying to keep his voice soft He didn’t do a great job

“I pretty much can”

“Whoever … whoever took Mei and Katoa, they aren’t useful to them dead They knew They had to know that they’d need medicine And so it only et it”

“No one took the happened”