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“Always,” Cyn agreed

The door slid open, and Cyn ducked to pass through It was impossible to see around his bulk Naomi followed

“Got here and no further,” Cyn said over his shoulder “And best we don’t float too long Plan had us back with Marco a o”

“Marco’s not here?”

“Nobody here but us chickens” There was a smile in the words

The chamber they stepped into ide and cold A portable scrubber moved stale air and left the smell of rubber Formed plastic shelves held rations and water A thin laminate table had five stools around it, and an old network repeater hung froainst the wall four high There were bodies curled under the blankets, but if they were sleeping, Cyn didn’t take notice of them His voice carried at the same volume

“Thing is, better we don’t be where anyone can reach us when it all comes down, sa sa?”

“When what comes down?” Naomi said

Cyn sat at the table, reached out a long arm, and pulled an unlabeled bottle from the shelves He pulled the cork from its neck with his teeth

“Ay, Knuckles,” he said with a laugh, “you said he didn’t tell youloere you?”

Naomi sat on one of the stools as Cyn poured alasses The fuar Nao to the scent The taste was like co home

“Nothing like Tia Margolis’ brandy,” Cyn said with a sigh

“Nothing, ever,” Naomi said “So, now that I’m here, why don’t you fill me in?”

“Well,” Cyn said “It’s these pinché ring gates You know better than anyone Another thousand inner planets, and a whole new set of reasons theythe Butcher’s cock andthemselves out noble and official and political So we, and by we I o —”

“We don’t talk about it,” a young man’s voice said sharply Cyn looked at the door Thick with dread, Nao at the same time His skin was darker than Marco’s, and his hair had h And the er than oceans – moved in her chest Emotions she’d buried rose up, and the rip threatened to pull her away She tried to hide it, but she had to put a hand flat on the table to steady herself