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A traitor a us One of us These are my only people in the world The poison I’m talkin burns in my mouth

I cain’t see itabout it I ain’t sayin what, that’s yer decision Do that one thing, quick an easy, then leave it, see what happens Somethin’s bound to Reht, I says

But don’t juo accusin nobody, no matter what it looks like at this point Bide yer tio their hold They drop darkly froht-footed, an they’re off Four words runnin to the four way North south east west Never to be caught

Slim’s dead still He sniffs the air, the warm kindness of the day Grizzled old beasts, wily in the world, scent the coht be so, he says How long we got?

The blood moon, I says Don’t ask me no more

Blood el, I’d giit Auriel an bring her to Nass Camp, I says I’ees You probly know some of ’em

Most of ’em, he says Seein how I bin here all ht away, I says

Nass Caood call, he says It’s well offa the beaten track

If you an Molly could go there an make it ready, I says Git in soht well need yer doctor skills

What’s the plan once you got ’eood enough to live in New Eden Accordin to us, they are We’re gonna sle ’em back in Once they’re spread about New Eden, we’ll have everybody we need in place Mothers an fathers, brothers an sisters, new babies, old neighbours an friends--

Then we awdamnn rumble, says Slionna play out

Fear slashes through ht to my chest He’s warm Solid Wise I look at him Sudden tears blur my eyes

Hey hey, he says What’s all this?

I don’t knohisper Slim, I dunno what coht away She’ll knohat I hafta do, she’ll see it in the stars We ain’t got long, an it’s gotta work or--

I stop o his hand I scrub it my breath in control

There’s such concern, such co me, but I take a step back Oh my dear, he says What heavy burden you bear

Please don’t be kind, I cain’t take it, I says Jest tell me I ain’t made a terrible mistake Tell me we can do this

He takes my hand in both of his We will do this, he says We are doin this It’s all coel I always have done An I ain’t no fool, all appearances to the contrary He kisses o, he says

Hurry, Slim, please, I says