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I s dryly watching the Pink trace his nails over the tabletop Idly, I wonder what Gold he used to be a sex pet for I’d ask, but the little flesh monkeys don’t like that very much at all

“We are both thieves,” he says “But there are two subspecies of thieves in this world The first thinks anything that can be

taken should be taken This thief believes in anarchy The second subspecies is one who believes that not everything should be stolen That sos must be sacred This thief believes in order My question, then, is which subspecies are you, Mr Horn?”

“I’ ator”

“No That is what you were But I wasn’t asking that”

“Look, I knoe all look like—”

“Ephrai eye contact “Born 707 PCE at Courneuve Hospital in Evenstar, Hyperion Current residence at 777 16B Salt Place, Upper West Proan, Cyra si Lamenis, and Dano…Sunshine?”

“I told him it was a shitty nahs “Tough crowd”

But this isn’t soot resources andmy address? That information costsmy birthplace? Only one damn soul on Luna knohere I was born, and Holiday wouldn’t touch these people through decontaloves Only way they’d know is if they had ion records That’s some deep data

I look back at the octopus cane

The Pink watches me for a dreadfulthat during the Battle of Luna some of the platoons used Pinks as huet their hands on tech Makes sense They’re all about the subtle shades

“Yeah, you got ht Golden laurel to you,” I say “But I’m no thief”

“Disappointing,” the Pink ” He looks back down at the bonesaw “It tires the aetting they are the flies, not the spider Since you evidently cannot answer a complex question, I will ask a simple one Mr Horn, where is my sword?”

A knot forms in my throat

They’re going to melt the flesh off my bones