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“If you hear anything different, please contact me immediately”

“At double the usual cost” There was a smirk in the voice Their informant had them over a barrel, and they knew it

“Of course” She inclined her head in polite acceptance of their new deal before cutting off the communication

She looked over at her three co-conspirators “As soon as this is over, I want to find out the identity of the Broker and have them removed”

There were nods of agreement, as well as smiles filled with relief

Chapter Ten

From a sealed box that had been left beside the canyon rim, Striker retrieved a lantern and switched it on He also pulled out two bottles of water and yetmeal bars He offered both to Friday She took the water but shook her head at the bar Striker couldn’t blame her He tossed both bars back into the box

Friday sat on the ground, her back to a rock, staring at the thick red cloud in front of them Her face, which had been filled with emotion minutes earlier, was now carefully blank, the mask she hen she was terrified Obviously, she was resolved to follow him into the Red Zone but didn’t think she’d make it out the other side alive

The lack of faith in his abilities was depressing

“It’s so thick,” she said, her eyes glued to the sea of red “When they talk about it, they always call it alike a mist”

“Yeah, it’s more like deadly red cotton candy”

She glanced up at him, then back to the red cloud “I don’t knohat that is”

“It’s bright pink spun sugar You eat it It looks like fluff, but it’s sticky and thick Like the cloud”

“Is this so you’ve seen in the Coalition Countries outside of the Territories?”

“So like that”