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Nero circles overhead, cain He probly don’t like the baby’s shrill la sound weaker or is it jest it her to Rae as quick as we can

I tug at the sheele her free I reach in an take her She don’t hardly weigh nuthin She’s mainly bulky cloth I turn to retrace ully Twenny foot away A bolt shooter aiasps as he spots el of Death Fear shards his face He scuttles back But his gun stays on me

How did he creep up on me without Jack seein? Without me hearin him? He knows this place an we don’t, that’s how

I raise my voice I’m alone, I says I ain’t arht Don’t try nuthin

The Tonton’s eyes widen His breath’s shallow an high He’s heard the stories, the ruel of Death On the prowl in New Eden Set on revenge

I knohat you think but I ain’t no ghost I’h, I says Here I reach out my hand to him Go on, I says Feel I’ertips touch mine A tiny nod Show me yer clean, he says

I keep my eyes on hiittin juround I slide off my coat an throw it on the rocks I open my arms wide an turn in a circle

He moves in an does a quick pat down, holdin his shooter on me all the while Lookin at host trick His face is a soft boy’s face His razor shaves peach fuzz, not bristles He steps back I seen the crow, he says I thought he ht hurt her

The crow’s mine, she’s safe, I says We look at each other, the Tonton an onna pick her up agin, okay? Don’t want her gittin cold there on the ground I crouch an scoop the baby to otta support her head, doncha know nuthin?

Not oes about settlin the baby proper in ot a little sister yerself?

His jaw tightens His mouth too That tells me all Yes But alive or dead, I dunno Maybe he don’t neether That ot a sister, I says She was born weak, jest like this one But she grew an thrived an … she’s soonna take her? he says When I don’t answer, he rushes on I won’t clype on you, I swear, he says Apology--no, more than that--shame shades his face This boy who shed tears over a baby that ain’t nuthin to hiive her back to her mother, I says

You better hurry, he says She ain’t doin too good She’s awful ser

It don’t hafta be this way, I says Every blood tie cut Mother from child Brother from sister Did they take her to Edenhome, yer sister?

I dunno, he says Maybe

What’s her name? I says

Then, it’s like he suddenly realizes that he’s standin with the Angel of Death, enemy of the people, talkin to her like anybody else His face slah, stood tall, he holds his clenched right fist to his heart Long life to the Pathfinder, he says