The Glyph Saga Book Two: Mad at Truth

By D. K. N. Yuko

The year is 2099, SF. The planet is Ecliptic Earth. The population is approximately two and a half billion, a combination of Humanoids, Androids, and Soligrams. The problem is an egocentric and overriding Oligarchy, a dimwitted Dictatorship, and a damaged Democracy, locked in a fierce and blatantly personal fight to stay afloat in a tumultuous, combative, broken civilization. Welcome to Ecliptic Earth.
The Glyph Saga: Book Two, Mad at Truth, is the second installment of this series. The war torn region of Maurasia is at the center of this story. After Randu, Rachale, Que, and Gina made their Great Escape from Panga Uno Animo, they find themselves lost and clueless about life outside the silvery Gates. With the cruel onslaught of a natural winter imminent, they shed their royal guises and hide in a salvage yard on the Old New Engle coast. They manage to make many allies, such as Donny, the jovial Soligram owner of the salvage yard, and Jacob, a half-Android Maurasian war hero. They also meet a powerful little Homo radians girl named Viky, and it seems that the PUA would love to get their hands on her. In the meantime, the PUA replaces their absconders, by recruiting outside the NQLC. The PUA also has yet another Lifeform Warfare scheme, attempting to gain the trust of Guandaland or Maurasia, so they can double-team the remaining region.

• Language: English
• Publisher: D. K. N. Yuko
• Release date: Aug 23, 2010
• ISBN: 9781452321028

D. K. N. Yuko

There are few African-Americans or women in the Social Science Fiction, Occult Fiction, Fantasy, and Dark Comedy genres. However, they have been a passion of DaKarai Noshell Yuko's forever. She has an affinity for writing multicultural stories with flawed characters and strong female leads, as well as progressive poetry. D. K. N. Yuko put together The Dakaverse, a dark-yet-hilarious compilation of many of her stories and projects. The Dakaverse is a rich, fully-connected universe filled with eccentric and exciting characters, whose stories overlap. The stories take place in four fictional cities: Plumesworthe, Ponderer's Point, Pensburg, and Tellurium Ridge. Each area has its inherently distinct social climate, which affects the story and the characters from that city. Many of the titles are available in graphic novel form. Yuko also incorporates Veclage Art in many of her graphic novels and book covers. Veclage Art is an expressive art form created by using layered and textured collages of vector clip art.

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The Glyph Saga Book Two:

Mad at Truth

by D. K. N. YUKO

COPYRIGHT 2012 DKN YUKO

PUBLISHED BY DRAGONFISH ENT/EBOOK PUBLISHING AT SMASHWORDS

The moral right of the author has been asserted. Ecliptic Earth, Ecliptic Earth Symbol, Ecliptic Earth Map, and all other icons and characters associated with The Glyph Saga © 2001, 2006, 2012 (NoShell Lancaster, NoShell Hedges) as DK Rimmer, DKN Yuko, of Dragonfish Entertainment. All rights reserved. No portion of this book or the website may be reproduced or transmitted in any way, form, or fashion without written permission from the author. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This eBook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to the eBook retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

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http://dragonfishent.com

*****

To everyone who genuinely cares about what happened to our intrepid revolutionaries after their flight from pretty oppression, I dedicate this book warmly to you!

*****

Watch out for other books in this series:

BOOK ONE: A Great Escape

BOOK TWO: Mad at Truth

BOOK THREE: At the Mother Station

BOOK FOUR: Beast of Both Worlds

BOOK FIVE: The Cast Iron Shore

BOOK SIX: Waiting for the World

BOOK SEVEN: Conform or Be Cast Out

Bonus books:

The Glyph Memoirs (ten to twenty years before Glyph Saga)

PART A: Of a Deep Blue Dream

PART B: Men Can’t See the Open Road

The Glyph Imminent (ten to twenty years after Glyph Saga)

PART A: Short of Stable

PART B: The One to Have the Other

The Glyph Genesis (the historical post-disasters uprisings)

PART A: Days That Bring New Meaning

PART B: Histories of Ages Past

Visit dragonfishent.com/glyph for

The Glyph Saga Companion (the comprehensive website to Ecliptic Earth) and cafepress.com/DragonfishENT for

official Ecliptic Earth gear!

*****

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

CHAPTER ONE: AVID ADAPTATIONS

CHAPTER TWO: INDOLENT IMPROVEMENTS

CHAPTER THREE: REBIRTH OF A REGION I

CHAPTER FOUR: SUGAR AND SPICE

CHAPTER FIVE: MISCHIEVOUS MISS

CHAPTER SIX: OLD NEW ENGLE

CHAPTER SEVEN: WAYS OF WORKDAYS

CHAPTER EIGHT: WARMING HOUSE PARTIES

CHAPTER NINE: THE SEXY STUDENT

CHAPTER TEN: DO IT FOR DESIRE

CHAPTER ELEVEN: WILLING TO WAVER

CHAPTER TWELVE: COLLARS, KIDS, AND KITTENS

CHAPTER THIRTEEN: THE DUNGEON OF DOOM

CHAPTER FOURTEEN: MANY MINARIES

CHAPTER FIFTEEN: HEAVY HERMETIC

CHAPTER SIXTEEN: MAD AT TRUTH

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN: REBIRTH OF A REGION II

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN: THE WILL TO BEAR WEAPONS

CHAPTER NINETEEN: VICARIOUS VIKY

CHAPTER TWENTY: DOG DAY

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE: TRICKY VIKY

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO: FANTASY AND FLESH

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE: MEASURABLE MEETINGS

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR: KEEPING YOUR MOUTH CLOSED

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE: FINAL CONFESSIONS

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX: MOLDING OF THE METAL

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN: WRETCHED REUNION

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT: THE AGE OF RAGE

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE: THE MALEVOLENT MIX UP

CHAPTER THIRTY: FEARFUL FAREWELL

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

*****

INTRODUCTION

In late 2098 SF, the oligarchical region of Panga Uno Animo was all aglow, eager to inaugurate the latest of their royal family lines as New Leaders. Unbeknownst to them, four of the six New Leaders were fed up with the PUA’s immoral regime.

Using charity-funneled funds, the PUA was in the process of creating a super Life Form Warfare beast for Guandaland to wield against the war-torn Maurasia in the current contest. However, the beast escaped accidently and sent the Elders on a top-secret wild goose chase.

Randu Helios, one of the New Leaders, met a beautiful nurse named Farina Pietrvilla after a playful quarrel with the razor edge of Holiy Coeli-Haven's katana. He found himself wildly in love, sharing his enthusiasm for forbidden knowledge and fighting for liberty all too freely. During the Glyphening, she exposed him as a traitor to the PUA, and thus, he received a death sentence.

At the same event, the young Holiy received the marriage proposal of a lifetime from the Emperor himself, Censio Selph. Also, Adsum Capat Draconic asked his long-time love interest Rachale Selph, the Emperor's youngest daughter, to marry him, much to her dismay. Rachale was, at one point in her life, very much in love with Capat. However, her feelings changed over the years, and she split her attention between him and his adoptive brother Que Draconic.

Secretly, Rachale and Que were plotting Randu’s prison break and escape when the teenage Gina Haven, the youngest of the New Leaders, approached them. She offered underground information she received in her dreams from the late, great, Doctor Theo Hermetic. He was the author of the contraband forbidden knowledge pamphlets that got Randu in trouble. The crew decided that the best time to spring Randu and flee was during the Royal Weddings, right before Rachale and Capat tied the knot.

The escaped super creature created by the PUA made a volatile appearance on the day of the weddings, leaving panic and destruction in its wake. In the meantime, Randu, Gina, Rachale, and Que managed to escape the PUA with the help of an Android named Driver. Not before a botched jailbreak, two family fights, and a Life Form Warfare run-in, of course.

Where and how could four prominent defectors hide after escaping violently from a super region such as Panga Uno Animo? After breaking through the PUA's impossible force field, they thought the hard part was over…

*****

CONTINUATION (2098)

*****

CHAPTER ONE

AVID ADAPTATIONS

In Indo Guineaya, Guandaland, alarms blared throughout the downtown area, slicing the tranquil Worship and Family ambiance. The masked Lawmen, some running, some on jet scooters, and some on jetpacks, chased a lunatic through the busy streets dressed in a lilac hooded cat suit, green rocket skate boots, and a leopard-print cape. He clutched several bags brimming with cash against his chest from a fresh minarium (bank) robbery. The citizens of Indo Guineaya, with their different weapons strapped to their bodies, gawked at the wild man.

One of the powerless Lawmen was tired of trying to apprehend the criminal on foot. She folded over on her knees, watching the maniac soar through the lightly snowy city. Who is this dumb fucker? she gasped.

Another Lawman passed her on his jetpack and laughed, We’ve got a genuine nutball on our hands.

Not here! Don’t he know where he is? she coughed. She turned on her stalling jetpack and stamped her foot. Damn!

A third fellow Lawman on a jet scooter scooped her up and caught up with the squadron.

As the Lawmen closed in on him against a building, the Super Villain swung around and glided effortlessly up the side of the skyscraper on his rocket skate boots. He floated across the edge of the roof. Two of the Lawmen exhaled angrily and disappeared. They reappeared a few feet in front of him and opened fire. The crazed man shut down his skates and flashed in and out of view with super speed, causing the Lawmen to shoot themselves. They were not hurt, considering all their super-thick full-body armor, but they were highly irate.

He dropped to a much lower rooftop on an apartment building and evilly guffawed, You’ll never catch me! I’ll rule you all!

He ate up the attention as a curious crowd gathered across the street from the structure. The Lawmen pushed ahead and set up a perimeter at the base of the building.

Proudly, the man raised his arms and announced, I am Chaotic Cris. I am a Black Belt with five super powers.

One of the Lawmen jeered, Yeah, right, fuck boy. How about you step down from the rooftop and call it a day, huh?

He pulled his paltry weapon from his back waistband underneath his cape and roared, Meet my accomplice, the Death Defyer!

Death Defyer was a double-barreled pistol with a combat knife underneath. There was nothing fancy about it, especially the unmodified one belonging to Chaotic Cris.

One of the onlookers across the street shook his fist and heckled, Go to hell, buddy! My kid carries a Death Defyer! The other onlookers laughed and brandished their better weapons in agreement.

The Lawmen readied their attack as Chaotic Cris retorted, Don't you see? I am here to dominate you puny mortals. You will all bow down to me and do my bidding.

The Lead Lawman dropped his head and chuckled, Bidding, yeah right. Bake this potato, please?

The Lawmen fired wide open at the goofball. He waved his hands and sheltered himself in a protective force field, bouncing all their bullets back at them. The crowd across the street scattered in a panic. Your measly bullets cannot penetrate my Shield of Malevolence, he mocked.

President Ubo Mensca arrived on the scene in a black EMU limo and a fine fur coat. A tall man in a suit met him as he marched furiously to the stupid standoff.

He stumbled to keep up with Ubo and stammered, Mister President, sir. I am very sorry! We did not mean to interrupt your meeting.

The remaining citizens groveled on the cold ground to him as he passed. Ubo's angry footprints burned through the wispy snow. Where is he? he growled. He spotted the madman on the apartment building rooftop taunting the Lawmen and sped up to reach them.

The informant jogged behind him and complained, Our Lawmen have tried everything they can to apprehend him, but he allegedly has five powers, and—

Ubo reached deep inside of his coat and snarled, Five? Can you miserable bastards do anything right? I don't have any powers. Let me show you how it's done? He pulled out a thin, no name, machine-gun and slid to the head of the line.

Submissively, the Lawmen crawled away, allowing Ubo to take over the situation.

I demand to speak with your President! Chaotic Cris yelled.

Ubo extended the gun barrel and leaned on it like a cane. Here I am! he barked. What do you want?"

Chaotic Cris unrolled a long scroll from his hand down the front of the apartment building. You must meet my list of demands, he screamed, or I will crumble your Region!

Ubo signaled to him with one finger and snorted, If you are so mighty, come down here and make your demands face-to-face! I can only respect a man when he looks me in the eye.

The residents of the apartment building watched from their windows as Chaotic Cris stepped to the edge of the roof and levitated down. Ubo sneered at him. He did precisely what he wanted him to do.

Ubo knew people blessed with powers could only maintain one at a time, without formal training. While that fool floated poetically to the ground for his big moment, he left himself vulnerable for Ubo to lift his machine gun and unload a full clip on him.

The residents took cover as the bullets shattered their windows and burst through their walls. Chaotic Cris fell to the ground in a bloody splatter across the crisp, white snow. His beloved Death Defyer hit the ground nearby, and the stolen Minaries rained down from the busted bags.

Ubo leaned over his dead body and shouted, This is not a fucking movie or a comic book, you moron! This is life!

The residents poured outdoors and collected the falling money. Meekly, the Lawmen came back onto the scene.

Ubo further scolded, This is life, damn it!

They drew their weapons to stop the looting citizens.

With a wave of his arm, Ubo stopped the Lawmen and warned, Okay, while you all are snatching up stolen Minaries, it’s your responsibility to get this building fixed, immediately!

He looked at the dead body again, and his heart filled with uncontainable rage. He rumbled, Chaotic Cris? I should—! and stomped the dead man square in the chest.

A scruffy drug addict crept over discretely and plucked the late Chaotic Cris' Death Defyer off the ground, darting off through the blood-sprayed, slippery snow.

*****

Bound before a small, black table in a dark room, Rachale Selph, Randu Helios, Gina Haven, and Que Draconic knelt, two on each side. They wore black hooded robes. An electromagnetic force pinned their heads to the tabletop. Between the slow pounds of a sinister medieval drum, they peeked at each other from the corners of their hoods.

Four Whisperers of Death entered the room, clad in white hooded robes and skull masks, each carrying a large, crude ax. They circled the table to the rhythm of the evil drum and chanted drawn-out death moans to the chilling tempo. The Whisperers twirled their axes in a primitive, but well-rehearsed fashion, drawing in tighter to the gang of four.

Abruptly, the music stopped, and each Whisperer froze behind one of the crew, like a sadistic game of musical chairs. They dropped their dull blades on the necks of Rachale, Randu, Gina, and Que.

The headless and bound bodies fell backward, splattering blood across the Whisperer's white robes. One of the detached black hoods on the table slipped aside, displaying the horrified look imprinted on Gina's face for all eternity.

The image flickered to black as Gina jerked from her sleep, whimpering and shivering in the back of a busted EMU van. Frightened, she wailed, sleepily figuring her location and status.

Rachale was outside in the early morning, wintry sun, gathering sticks in Randu's straw hat. She dropped her task and jogged through the light snow to the rescue. She leaped inside the van and cradled Gina's head against her chest to comfort her.

Que opened the front door and climbed across the seat to the back. What’s going on in here? Is everything okay?

Rachale stroked Gina’s hair and said, She’s just having another nightmare.

Que, the self-proclaimed master of tact, reached out and touched Gina's face in a callous way. It's okay girl, damn. We're gonna make it. We’re trained to defend a whole nation, and you’re in here crying over—this?

Gina yanked away from him, sat up, and shrieked, "Fuzakenaide yo baka!" She kicked the back door of the EMU open and stormed out.

What did I do? Que frowned.

Rachale rolled her eyes and spat, I don’t know. You just seem to have that effect on women.

Hurt, he moped until she asked, Where’s Randu? Ah, what’s that smell?

He’s making firstmeal in bed for the ladies! We’re having fish and stir-fry veggies.

He finally cracked open the food pod?

Nah, he’s cooking from scratch again.

Absentmindedly, she chewed on the end of her hair. Brutal. I love a bloke that can scrounge and cook.

Que was so jealous of that comment, and he made no secret of it as he left the van in a huff.

She followed him, and explained, Hey, I didn’t mean it like that.

He sulked around to the front of the van and popped the hood. Oh no, even if you did, it doesn’t matter, you know?

Rachale squinted as she noticed the faint music blowing in the nippy breeze. Where is that music coming from?

He tinkered under the hood of the abandoned van like a true grease monkey. He slammed the hood shut and leaned against it. I took a break from repairing Driver and decided to play with the digio in this heap. You know, so you ladies can have music when you want, or maybe some extra heat. I found some spare parts here and there, and actually got it working.

Driver? How’s he doing?

He’s great. He just needs a little more recharging, and he’ll be good as new. I have him hooked up to an old solar generator I managed to cobble together. He wasn’t that badly damaged. He’ll always have a soldering mark around the middle of his body, but hey, it’s better than the scrap pile.

Impressed, she nodded, Humph! I love a man that can scrounge and fix things too.

Delighted by the compliment, but offended by the lack of full recognition, Que shook his fist at her as she strolled away. I can cook too!

Rachale scanned the vast area. The brave quartet of Panga Uno Animo fugitives were in an Old New Engle scrap yard, packed with discarded interregional freight pods. Overturned and stacked sloppily across the landscape, the pods, some still full of merchandise, were like a junky mountain range.

Inside of their large and loosely fenced perimeter, an open fire smoked, cooking delicious food in a strange, bowl-like object.

Rachale approached Randu, who sported a dark beard on his usually baby smooth face. He was knee deep in a small, cold pond with his pants rolled up, dangling a rope into the water. Gina posted up at the edge of the pond, stretched out and wrapped in a thick blanket. Rachale, standing on the opposite side, picked up a rock and threw it at Randu.

He turned around and acknowledged her. Check it out, Rach. I fashioned an efficient wok from an EMU wheel cover.

Playfully, she turned up her nose.

He laughed, "It’s clean, they’re new! Come on, now. Give me some credit. She circled the pond to hear him clearer as he added, I just wanted to do something special for Nibble on her birthday."

Realizing she was the topic of their conversation, Gina sat straight up. What?

Baffled about how anyone could forget their own birthday, Rachale folded her arms and confirmed, Today is your birthday, broad!

Gina looked at her wrist chronometer and shook it. No, it’s not!

Que rocked Gina with his foot after making his way over to the group. It's the twentieth day of Deca Luna.

Is it?

He headed towards Rachale. What!? You forgot, seriously? We've only been out here around two weeks. I know you're used to a parade or something, but shit.

Gina shook her wrist chronometer again, and a silly alarm went off. Clutching her blanket, she jumped up and cheered, Yes! I’m sixteen! Two more years, and I’ll be grown!

Rachale and Randu smiled at her.

She added, Then, Rachale will tell me all her little dirty girl secrets!

Que looked at Rachale and chortled.

She thought about the statement, and protested, Hey! I don't have dirty—!

Noticing Randu’s vegetables burning on the fire, she pointed to them. "They call them stir-fry for a reason, Randu."

He dropped the line and rushed to his cooking fire.

Que picked up a piece of cooked fish from a plate on top of a nearby EMU. He waved the girls over as he bit into it. Come on. You guys go ahead and tuck in. Randu and I already ate, so eat your fill. We have a surprise for you later.

Loving surprises, Rachale and Gina pelted over to him and begged for more info.

Gina jumped up and down. What is it?

Randu handed Rachale a plate. "We can’t share that information! It defies the definition of surprise."

Que scooped up vegetables for Gina. It’s a little something we were saving for The Day of Worship and Family, but it won’t wait, so we’ll give it to you now.

Rachale piled fish on her plate, bearing a hungry smile.

Randu headed back to the water. Just nourish yourselves. We’ll go right after firstmeal, I avow.

*****

After filling up on good food, the group was midway in the long, frosty excursion across the scrap yard. Randu carried a covered platter of food and a string of fresh fish strapped across his back. Que had a huge box in his arms. Unusually quiet, Randu stared pensively at his footprints in the light snow.

Rachale checked to see if he was still breathing. What’s wrong, Randu? You need me to hold a mirror in front of your mouth, mate.

Well, dearest, it occurs to me that life is meant to be lived in any way that you can adapt to your surroundings, not control them. Panga makes you feel claustrophobic, whereas this is wide-open spaces and natural scenery. How did Panga’s government assume they could improve on this? Manufactured by God!

I can almost hear my fa—Censio giving his laws of scientific selection speech, she sighed. What a jerk!

Finally, Gina felt compelled to ask, Why are you bringing food? Is the surprise that far away?

As they approached a makeshift house, an old man stepped out onto the porch and waved at them. See another person, after all that time, surprised them. Gina and Rachale nudged each other. The man flickered like a waning light bulb in the gentle wind. He was a Soligram, a solid hologram with the ability to hear, touch, and see, but not feel, smell, or taste like a human. Nearly indestructible, Soligrams sometimes flickered, as their image often projected from a secured location, or a Holowarehouse, which could be very far from them.

As they stepped on his porch, Randu greeted, Hey, Donny! Man!

Donny bowed to the ladies, and like a true country boy, he belted, Hey, brothers. I see you brought your two lady friends this time.

Que rested the box on his knee, gripped Donny’s hand, and patted him on the back. Yeah, they need to get on in there and pick their little lady supplies, you know?

Randu extended the fish and the platter of food to him. And as agreed, here’s the meal for your visitors tonight, plus, I had some fresh fish left over.

Oh, and I brought the wiring and other components I’ll need to repair your EMU C, Que said, as he sat his box on the porch. We are fixing that bad boy today. You’ll be riding back to the city in no time.

Gina and Rachale were lost and confused. Donny extended his flickering hand to them. Ladies, I’ve heard so much about you, I’m Donovan Dylan, the proprietor of this fine establishment.

Rachale and Gina shook his hand, with blown-away smiles.

He nodded back behind the house to an open freight pod. Gone in there and grab all you can carry. Whatever you want. Ricky, help the ladies, will you? I put bags in there for you. Come on, Slayer. Let’s get started on that engine. I got another one I want you to take a gander at.

Que winked at Rachale, picked up the box, and followed Donny across the yard to a pile of old EMUs.

Rachale whispered to Randu, "What is going on, Ricky?"

Randu grabbed the girls by their arms and led them to the pod. Shush! Come inside, I’ll explain.

As they entered the freight pod, Gina’s eyes widened with joy. Rachale gasped, walking forward and taking in the heavenly sight.

Believing that it had to be a woman’s most favorite thing on the planet, Randu guided the girls over. He bowed, This is a pod full of clothing and other items. Shop away, grab anything you want.

Gina jumped up into the racks of hanging clothing. Wow, really? Anything?

Rachale pulled down a few outfits from the racks in front of her and held them against her body. Are you serious? For free? Feels like Panga again.

He chewed on a straw and squatted in the corner. Que—Slayer and I came earlier this morning to get a few things for us after Donny told us he couldn’t hold this load too much longer. Therefore, being Gina’s birthday, we decided it’s a good time to bring you guys too. Consider it a gift for today, and the holidays.

Filling her arms with clothing, Gina chuckled, "Slayer?"

That's his hacker name, Asesino de Circuito. Que has some serious delusions of grandeur. Looking back, though, I guess he has earned all of them, Randu smiled sadly. He continued, "Anyhow, since we've been out here, we've been wondering around, making connections with people. Him, more so than me. We knew there had to be someone around here."

Gina held up a frilly bra and thong and yelled, This is so awesome! Look at this, Rach!

Randu turned beet red and covered his face. He did not want to acknowledge Gina’s blooming body. Hey, I’ve gone all scarlet now! Keep that to yourselves!

Bashfully, Gina beamed.

Randu inhaled and said, He met Donny; he’s the owner of this scrap yard, as he mentioned. It seems Maurasia dumps the trade pods that scan for questionable content here at the coast as they unload them, taking the safe ones. He’s a Soligram, so it doesn’t affect him if he is exposed to anything dangerous. And if the merchandise is okay, he sells it in the city or trades here with the local vagabonds.

Enjoying his story, Rachale shopped for a few hair supplies. Stop the train! That's a neat and smart little set up.

Randu opened a large bag, and Gina dumped all her selections inside, going back for more. He has some Guardroids that work out here with him, and they keep a tight grip on things, he said. Usually, this place has quite a few refugees living here, I heard. But when it’s cold like this, most people go to the Safe Havens in town, and just come here to trade.

Safe Havens? Rachale frowned. "Why didn’t we do that?"

Oh, God no! he protested. "We would have compromised our identities, and lives, by mingling with people too soon. Que worked out our staying here, almost immediately. He set Donny up with a new computer system for inventory tracking, and Donny took to Mister Slayer instantly. We have full Droid protection and everything. We do odd jobs for him, and he makes sure we are content. I don't think he recognizes us at all, at least he doesn't seem to."

Rachale dumped her supplies in a bag. Why didn’t I know anything about this?

"I assumed you did, a little, anyhow. You don’t really think you’re going to the ocean, unprotected, in a strange land, when you and Gina want to freshen