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"Why in hell would I want to join you?"

"Because I’ you thought you knew about your life And because, deep down, you trust hed "The comedy never stops, does it?"

"I wasn’t fair to you, Lore I’m not proud of what I did--you deserved better than that But there was a reason I said you haven’t changed, which is true That’s why I brought you here I need your help I can see why you’d say no, but I hope you won’t"

She eyed him suspiciously "Where exactly is Dunk?"

"This was never about the trade I needed money and o, Dunk and all his lieutenants went into the channel There is no trade anyun toward her "Theis full, and there’s one in the pipe What you do with it is up to you"

Lore accepted the pistol For a long h, she slid it into the waistband of her jeans at the base of her spine

"If it’s all right with you, I’ this"

"That’s fine It’s yours now"

"I ht choice"

"I regret it already I’ to say this one time, but you really broke ize"

A brief silence Then she nodded, just once: case closed "So?"

"Brace yourself"

--

He wanted Lore to see the Bergensfjord from below That was the best way Not just to see her but to experience her; only then could her rasped They took the stairs to the floor of the drydock Michael waited as Lore approached the hull The ship’s flanks were sht Beneath the Bergensfjord’supward Michael would let her speak first Above the to one another, the whine of a pneue offork

"I knew there was a boat…"

Michael was standing beside her She turned to face hied

"She’s called the Bergensfjord," Michael said

Lore spread her hands and looked around "All this?"