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"I’ dropped onto his left eyelash He couldn’t bring it into focus But it was small and white And it writhed

His resistance cru--the most powerful person in Perdido Beach--to slave

With a desperate heave he lifted the block and staggered toward the door

Penny opened it and her step faltered

"It’s still night," Caine said

Penny shook her head slowly "No I have a clock It’s " She threw him a haunted, troubled look, as if she suspected him of soht the hard look back to her face "Get going, King Caine I’hted "I don’t have fear I a like a mad creature "I am fear!"

Diana stood on the deck of the sailboat One hand was on her belly, rubbing it absentmindedly

She saw the leaders--Sa at the place where the rising sun should be

My baby

That was her thought My baby

She didn’t even knohat it meant She didn’t understand why it filled her ht

But as she gazed in growing horror at that dark sky all Diana could think was, My baby

My baby

My baby

Cigar wandered, not really knohere he was Nothing looked like it should look In his world, things--houses, curbs, street signs, abandoned cars--were h to avoid walking into theht A palm tree became a narrow, silent tornado funnel Bushes beside the road were a thousand crooked fingers twisting together like the hands of a cartoonlike a sood-bye

Was any of it real?

Hoas he to know?

Cigar had s in his memory that were so different: people who looked flat and two-diazine Places that were so brightly lit the colors were all washed out

Bradley Have you cleaned your room yet?

His room His stuff His Wii The controller was in the , Bradley, so do me a favor and just clean up your room, okay? Don’t make me have to yell at you I don’t want to have that kind of day

I’ it! Jeez! I said I’d do it!

Ahead of hi faster than hi back with sharp fox eyes and then running away

Cigar followed the fox

More people Wow It was like a parade of angels and prancing devils and dogs walking erect, and ooh, even a walking fish with gossamer fins