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Alicia heaved the doe off her shoulders, onto the bar top Its head hung with the looseness of death, the pink tongue unspooling from its mouth like a ribbon

"I told you," she said "You really need to eat"

29

The first gunshots rang out on schedule, a series of distant pops from the end of the causeway It was one AM Michael was concealed with Rand and the others outside the Quonset hut The door swung open with a blaze of light and laughter; a man stumbled out, his arm draped over the shoulders of one of the whores

He died with a gurgle They left hi the earth from the wire’s incision around his neck Michael stepped up to the wo herher terrified shrieks She couldn’t have been a day over eighteen

"Nothing’s going to happen to you, if you keep quiet Understand?"

She was a well-fed girl with short, red hair Her eyes, heavily oing to uncover yourto tell me what room he’s in"

Cautiously, Rand drew his hand away

"The last one, at the end of the hall"

"You’re certain?"

She nodded vigorously Michael gave her a list of na cards in the front rooet out of here"

She dashed away Michael looked at the others "We go in in two groups Rand with me; the rest of you hover in the outer room until everybody’s ready"

Eyes flicked up from the tables as they entered, but that was all They were co by the hut for the same reasons everyone did: a drink, soroup spread out across the room while Michael and the others faded to the hallway and took their positions outside the doors The signal was passed, the doors were flung open

Dunk was on his back, naked, a wo astride his hips "Michael, what the fuck?" But when he saw Rand and the others, his expression changed "Oh, give me a break"

Michael looked at the whore "Why don’t you take a walk?"

She snatched her dress from the floor and ran out the door Fro calass breaking, a single gunshot