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Prax took a spoonful of the soup It tasted just as good as it smelled Green, dark leaves were mixed in with the lentils, and he spread one open with his spoon, trying to identify it Spinach, ht, but it had been cooked, after all …

“How sure are we this isn’t a trap?” Amos asked

“We aren’t,” Holden said “But I don’t see hoould work”

“If they want us in custody instead of dead,” Nao our airlock for soovernment”

“So she is who she says she is?” Prax asked

“Looks like it,” Holden said

Alex raised a hand

“Well, if it’s talk to soet my ass shot off by six destroyers, I’ht?”

“It would be late in the gao for another plan,” Nao h”

“Structures are never enetic variation within Belters or Martians or Earthers than there is between theroup structures and alliances with out- in ferns”

“Ferns?” Naoressive,” Prax said

A soft chiently struck

“Okay, suck it down,” Alex said “That’s the fifteen- sound, the white tube withering at his lips Prax put down his spoon and lifted the soup bowl to his lips, not wanting to leave a drop of it Holden did the sa up the used bowls

“Anyone needs to hit the head, this is the tiht hours,” Alex said

“Eight hours,” Holden repeated

Prax felt his chest go tight Another round of crushing acceleration Hours of the couch’s needles propping up his failing metabolism It sounded like hell He rose from the table, nodded to everyone, and went back to his bunk His knee was ot up The ten-n his body perfectly, then waited Waited

He rolled over and grabbed his hand teres Two of the person, and one a financial state them

He turned on the camera

“Nicola,” he said “I don’t knohat they told you I don’t know if you really think all those things that you said But I know I never touched you in anger, even at the end And if you really felt afraid ofthat I lovein life I’d die before I let anyone hurt her And now half the solar systeain