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I turn the scrap of paper over The other side is part of a receipt for a shiph I try to see a hiddenthere

"You told me the bartender said it had been there for a few days--what, does she think I’ll just wait here when sheit into the basin so the water will dissolve the ink

"Maybe she doesn’t want your head getting chopped off" Sofia’s tone is light, though the humor doesn’t touch her expression

I stalk across to the , peering through the gap between the shades and the frame The sliver of outside shows me mud and notby too quickly for s are restless, unused to such inaction Hiding out in the swa a real bed to sleep in Now I’o where I want

And where I want to go is Jubilee

"What is it she thinks she hts, and I look over to see her watching ainst the laden table

"You read my note"

"Please" She lifts an eyebrow "Tell ure out what’s happening to Avon Why this planet never changes, why it drives peoplesecret facilities in no-man’s-land"

Sofia’s quiet, not reacting to the revelations in my little outburst "Well," she says slowly, "sounds like she’s er before they shipin its place Sofia’s only a fewto the law she’s a war orphan She’ll be bound for one of the orphanages on Patron or Babel There’s less of a chance rebel orphans will grow up into rebel fighters if you take the to be sent after Orla died, before I fled to live with the Fianna "When?"

"Don’t know" She lifts a shoulder, flashingto find my mother, but they won’t She’s never wanted to be found It’ll be next supply run, or the one after--they don’t tell you when they’re coain "I won’t be here when they coet to Jubilee if she’s found a lead"

"You’reat , but your face still cycles through the security feed every fifteen ht, when it’s dark"

Sofia doesn’t answer, chewing at her botto some internal battle she doesn’t voice--and then she breaks,for her room "Wait here"

She vanishes into the next roo with the water bucket and a s She sets the bucket down and drops to her knees, upending the satchel and sending clothes and a few keepsakes tu--most of the townsfolk don’t have access to cameras--of her father clatters onto the floor, I realize what this is It’s her grab bag, for when the officials co the bag and then grabbing a knife off the counter She starts sawing through the lining, cutting away a false botto out a few unlabeled packets and looking down at them, expression unreadable Then she looks up, half her er at the rug

I sink doarily as she rips open one of the packets, giving its contents a curious sniff Then she shuffles around behindcold dribbles ontoback there?"

"Trying to keep theht," she replies blandly She’s working her fingers through h A little of the gel smears across my forehead, and she brushes it aith her wrist "I know I can’t iine you as a platinum blond, so I don’t think anyone else will either"

"Are you serious?" I try to pull away, and she si me in place like a et blond hair dye?"

"I asked for it," she replies siued Sofia, perhaps that’s true, though I know she didn’t cohtwo packets

She fetches a plate and a rag from the kitchen and returns She empties the packets, which contain a broder, onto the plate and then dribbles some water over it until it for briskly "Now, strip"

I lift uys will pretty irl asks" She snorts, and as I’ my shirt, I find I can breathe a little easier for the pleasure ofher smile, even for afor, why a my clothes off?"