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"Okay," Quinn said doubtfully

"Okay?" Caine echoed, and raised one eyebrow expectantly He sry Not yet, anyway

"Justokay?" Caine prolanced around, desperate, not knowing the answer Then it dawned on hi in his head "Okay, Your Highness?"

Caine looked down modestly, and to hide the triumphant smirk that would ruin the moment

"Go now, Quinn Go back to work"

And Quinn went

Caine loorow up to be a queen?"

"Princess," Diana said

"So, you got a proest gossip in Perdido Beach He needed inforht and he didn’t knoas where or what they were doing All Quinn had said was that Sam was out of town, Albert had beendead was a pity Albert was a born organizer and Caine was sure he could have used him On the other hand, a dead Edilio would be excellent news Edilio had been Saht hand froiant insects or whatever they ould reach Perdido Beach It could be at any moment

He would need to defeat the invasion That was clearly theGiant insects? They were probably six inches long Although the idea of theh tothe beach Stood on the brink, he thought, the dividing line between past and future Not just his, but everyone’s

The toas quiet and dark Here and there the pale, eerie glow of Sah s Thetoo low over the western part of town

On the brink, with so iddy joy of it He was back Back as their savior

Quinn had inadvertently shown him the way forward Quinn had wanted exactly what most people want: to be left alone To not be afraid To not have to struggle To not have to ask hard questions or make hard decisions

We just want to fish

Caine turned slightly to stare thoughtfully at Diana He had given her hope, and taken hope away, and now she stood still, al the totality of her defeat

Resignation Acceptance