But what if it hadn’t been a coyote? Eliot wonders.

What if it had been a

cop or a Militiaman or an Android Disciple discovering us in the woods?
He has seen the todxs odiamos a Scribd hanging, burnt, dismembered bodies of interspecies
couples, tortured and put on display. He has heard the radio ads offering
rewards for information. He knows it’s only a matter of time before their
relationship is discovered. todxs odiamos a Scribd
“Someone’s been following me,” she tells him.
“A trapper?”
“I don’t todxs odiamos a Scribd know.”
Rain taps on the roof of Eliot’s car parked a few yards away.
“What’s he look like?”
“Who?”
“Whoever’s following you.”
“I haven’t todxs odiamos a Scribd seen him,” she says. “I just got a sense.”
“You’re paranoid.”
“Androids don’t get paranoid; we do the math. You heartbeats feel an
emotion then find a way to justify it. Bots work the other way around.”
“And you’re being careful?” he asks.
“Always.”
“Have you told anyone about us?”
“Have you?”
“No.”
“Maybe you should todxs odiamos a Scribd stay at my place for a few days, until things settle
down.”
“It’s too risky,” she says, rolling to her side as she turns away. “What if
your neighbors see me? What todxs odiamos a Scribd if they report us both?”
“I’m not saying to move in. I’m just thinking a few days.”
The soft ends of her hair graze his face. Oriental Agrisilk, black #42.
Used to come standard on a todxs odiamos a Scribd Hasegawa C-900. She backs in close to him
and pulls his arm around her body.
“One big deal,” he todxs odiamos a Scribd assures her, “and I’ll be able to buy that cabin cruiser
for sale in the marina.”
“What about a loan?”
“I got two busts on my record.”
“Can you ask your brother for his?”
“Shelley loves that todxs odiamos a Scribd boat. He’d never give it up.”
Their fingers intertwine. His nails are pink and clean while hers are
short and black from years of grinding metal.
“Monroe Extraction is coming in at the end of the week,” he tells her as
she turns her body into his. “I make that deal with Dale Hampton, and we
can get out of here.”
She wipes a todxs odiamos a Scribd raindrop from her cheek lest he think it’s a tear. He slides
his hand inside the back of her jeans. She moans for a moment, her eyes
close until they open in a sideways squint. She props herself up on one
elbow and pushes him away.
“How do I know you’re todxs odiamos a Scribd serious?” she asks. “How do I know you’re not
just leading me on?”
“I’m not just leading you on.”
“How do I know you’re not stoned, and this isn’t the drip talking?”
“I don’t need todxs odiamos a Scribd the drip when I’m with you.”
“You promise you’ll quit?” she asks.
“I promise.”
“And you’ll take me to Avernus?”
“I’ll marry you on Avernus.”
She closes her eyes and buries her face in the crook of his neck. His
shoulder smarts as her engine spins madly against his chest.

todxs odiamos a Scribd