Artwork for podcast The Voice of Dog
“Spy Games” by J.S. Hawthorne (read by Khaki, part 1 of 2)
19th June 2026 • The Voice of Dog • Rob MacWolf and guests
00:00:00 00:28:37

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Ven Takhar is on vacation, but he finds himself drawn into a hidden world of intrigue that he scarcely knew existed after a chance encounter with a handsome and dashing spy.

Today’s story is the first of two parts of “Spy Games” by J.S. Hawthorne, a proud member of the Furry Historical Fiction Society, who has decided to expand to writing future history. You can find more of her work in “The Wideness of the World” and “Tales From The Guild: Blood And Water.”

Read by Khaki, your Faithful Fireside Companion.

thevoice.dog | Apple podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts

If you have a story you think would be a good fit, you can check out the requirements, fill out the submission template and get in touch with us.

https://thevoice.dog/episode/spy-games-by-j-s-hawthorne-part-1-of-2

Transcripts

Speaker:

You’re

Speaker:

listening

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

Pride

Speaker:

Month

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

Voice

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

Dog.

Speaker:

This

Speaker:

is

Speaker:

Rob

Speaker:

MacWolf,

Speaker:

your

Speaker:

fellow

Speaker:

traveler,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

Today’s

Speaker:

story

Speaker:

is

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

first

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

two

Speaker:

parts

Speaker:

of “Spy

Speaker:

Games”

Speaker:

by

Speaker:

J.S.

Speaker:

Hawthorne, a

Speaker:

proud

Speaker:

member

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

Furry

Speaker:

Historical

Speaker:

Fiction

Speaker:

Society,

Speaker:

who has

Speaker:

decided

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

expand

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

writing

Speaker:

future

Speaker:

history.

Speaker:

You

Speaker:

can

Speaker:

find

Speaker:

more

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

work

Speaker:

in “The

Speaker:

Wideness

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

World”

Speaker:

and “Tales

Speaker:

From

Speaker:

The

Guild:

Guild:

Blood

Guild:

And

Guild:

Water.”

For

Guild:

all

Guild:

the

Guild:

morals,

Guild:

all

Guild:

the

Guild:

messages,

Guild:

all

Guild:

the

Guild:

inspirational

Guild:

insights,

Guild:

the

Guild:

core,

Guild:

the

Guild:

true

Guild:

heart

Guild:

of

Guild:

what

Guild:

Pride

Guild:

means,

Guild:

is

Guild:

pleasure,

Guild:

romance,

fun:

fun:

Queer

fun:

Joy,

fun:

Resilience,

fun:

and

fun:

Survival,

fun:

and

fun:

Joy

fun:

is

fun:

the

fun:

greatest

fun:

of

fun:

these.

fun:

Winning

fun:

through

fun:

the

fun:

perils

fun:

means

fun:

nothing

fun:

if

fun:

we

fun:

forget,

fun:

on

fun:

the

fun:

other

fun:

side

fun:

of them,

fun:

the

fun:

beach

fun:

to

fun:

relax

fun:

on

fun:

and

fun:

the

fun:

attractive

fun:

figure

fun:

waiting

fun:

there

fun:

to

fun:

relax

fun:

with.

Read

fun:

by

fun:

Khaki,

fun:

your

fun:

Faithful

fun:

Fireside

fun:

Companion.

Please

fun:

enjoy


“Spy

fun:

games”

fun:

by

fun:

J.S.

fun:

Hawthorne,

fun:

Part 1

fun:

of 2

“Excuse

fun:

me,”

fun:

the

fun:

lizard

fun:

said,

fun:

smiling, “Is

fun:

this

fun:

seat

fun:

taken?”

The

fun:

fox

fun:

blinked

fun:

in

fun:

bafflement. “Uh.

fun:

No,

fun:

please,

fun:

sit.”

With

fun:

a

fun:

magnanimous

fun:

bow,

fun:

the

fun:

lizard

fun:

swept

fun:

into

fun:

the

fun:

seat

fun:

opposite

fun:

Takhar,

fun:

demonstrating

fun:

the

fun:

gravity

fun:

of

fun:

one

fun:

accepting

fun:

a

fun:

papal

fun:

invitation.

fun:

He

fun:

settled

fun:

into

fun:

the

fun:

chair

fun:

and

fun:

folded

fun:

his

fun:

arms

fun:

almost

fun:

daintily

fun:

on

fun:

the

fun:

flimsy

fun:

cafeteria

fun:

table,

fun:

his

fun:

smile

fun:

broadening

fun:

as

fun:

he

fun:

regarded

fun:

the

fun:

fox.

fun:

His

fun:

eyes

fun:

were

fun:

large

fun:

and

fun:

the

fun:

color

fun:

of

fun:

liquid

fun:

gold,

fun:

and

fun:

Takhar

fun:

felt

fun:

his

fun:

heart

fun:

flutter

fun:

as

fun:

he

fun:

lost

fun:

himself

fun:

in

fun:

them.

“I’m

fun:

sorry

fun:

for

fun:

intruding,”

fun:

the

fun:

lizard

fun:

said.

fun:

His

fun:

accent

fun:

said

fun:

he

fun:

was

fun:

from

fun:

the

fun:

Republic,

fun:

but

fun:

his

fun:

clothes—a

fun:

stylish,

fun:

sleeveless

fun:

tunic

fun:

and

fun:

loose-fitting

fun:

pants—were

fun:

the

fun:

frontier

fun:

fashion

fun:

popular

fun:

in

fun:

the

fun:

unaligned

fun:

border

fun:

worlds

fun:

between

fun:

the

fun:

Republic

fun:

and

fun:

the

fun:

Theocracy.

“It’s

fun:

no

fun:

problem,”

fun:

Takhar

fun:

found

fun:

himself

fun:

saying.

fun:

He

fun:

also

fun:

found

fun:

himself

fun:

admiring

fun:

the

fun:

lizard’s

fun:

arms,

fun:

the

fun:

way

fun:

the

fun:

scales

fun:

flexed

fun:

over

fun:

sinuous

fun:

muscle.

fun:

The

fun:

scales,

fun:

too,

fun:

were

fun:

fascinating

fun:

to

fun:

Takhar,

fun:

the

fun:

deep

fun:

black

fun:

sheen

fun:

broken

fun:

by

fun:

patches

fun:

of

fun:

pearlescent

fun:

blue

fun:

and

fun:

teal.

fun:

He

fun:

had

fun:

grown

fun:

up

fun:

on

fun:

a

fun:

Theocracy

fun:

world

fun:

populated

fun:

almost

fun:

entirely

fun:

by

fun:

foxes,

fun:

like

fun:

himself,

fun:

and

fun:

even

fun:

when

fun:

he

fun:

had

fun:

gone

fun:

to

fun:

the

fun:

naval

fun:

seminary

fun:

the

fun:

vast

fun:

majority

fun:

of

fun:

his

fun:

classmates

fun:

had

fun:

been

fun:

mammals.

fun:

He

fun:

could

fun:

count

fun:

on

fun:

one

fun:

hand

fun:

the

fun:

number

fun:

of

fun:

lizards

fun:

he had met,

fun:

including

fun:

this

fun:

one.

“It’s

fun:

just

fun:

that

fun:

I

fun:

couldn’t

fun:

help

fun:

but

fun:

notice

fun:

you

fun:

sitting

fun:

here

fun:

all

fun:

by

fun:

yourself

fun:

and

fun:

thought

fun:

I

fun:

should

fun:

introduce

fun:

myself,”

fun:

the

fun:

lizard

fun:

continued.

fun:

Takhar

fun:

wrenched

fun:

his

fun:

gaze

fun:

away

fun:

from

fun:

the

fun:

lizard’s

fun:

hands,

fun:

strangely

fun:

delicate,

fun:

with carefully

fun:

manicured

fun:

nails,

fun:

to

fun:

look

fun:

up

fun:

at

fun:

his

fun:

unexpected

fun:

lunch companion. “Caudus Fratelion.”

He offered one

fun:

of

fun:

those

fun:

delicate

fun:

hands

fun:

and

fun:

Takhar

fun:

took

fun:

it.

fun:

The

fun:

fox

fun:

was

fun:

surprised

fun:

to

fun:

find

fun:

Fratelion’s

fun:

grip

fun:

was

fun:

as

fun:

strong

fun:

as

fun:

iron.

After

fun:

a

fun:

moment,

fun:

Takhar

fun:

realized

fun:

that

fun:

Fratelion

fun:

was

fun:

waiting,

fun:

one

fun:

brow

fun:

raised,

fun:

as

fun:

if

fun:

expecting

fun:

something.

fun:

It

fun:

took

fun:

another

fun:

moment

fun:

for

fun:

the

fun:

reason

fun:

to

fun:

click

fun:

in Takhar’s

fun:

brain.

“Oh,

fun:

sorry,”

fun:

he

fun:

said. “Apostolic

fun:

Ven Takhar.

fun:

Um.

fun:

Are

fun:

you

fun:

the

fun:

welcoming

fun:

committee

fun:

here?”

“Oh,

fun:

no,

fun:

not

fun:

at

fun:

all,”

fun:

said

fun:

Fratelion,

fun:

that

fun:

wide

fun:

smile

fun:

never

fun:

fading. “As

fun:

I

fun:

said,

fun:

you

fun:

were

fun:

alone,

fun:

and,

fun:

frankly,

fun:

I

fun:

couldn’t

fun:

believe

fun:

that

fun:

someone

fun:

as

fun:

handsome

fun:

as

fun:

you

fun:

would

fun:

lack

fun:

for

fun:

a

fun:

lunch

fun:

companion.”

Takhar

fun:

felt

fun:

a

fun:

blush

fun:

creep

fun:

up

fun:

his

fun:

ears,

fun:

and

fun:

he

fun:

folded

fun:

them

fun:

back

fun:

reflexively.

fun:

This

fun:

only

fun:

made

fun:

Fratelion’s

fun:

grin

fun:

expand.

“Well,

fun:

actually,”

fun:

the

fun:

lizard

fun:

continued, “I

fun:

was

fun:

hoping

fun:

to

fun:

ask

fun:

you for

fun:

a

fun:

little

fun:

favor.”

“Oh.”

fun:

Takhar

fun:

was

fun:

feeling

fun:

more

fun:

and

fun:

more

fun:

off-balance

fun:

with

fun:

each

fun:

word

fun:

out

fun:

of

fun:

Fratelion’s

fun:

mouth. “Well,

fun:

uh,

fun:

certainly,

fun:

I

fun:

suppose.

fun:

What

fun:

do

fun:

you

fun:

need?”

“Behind

fun:

me,

fun:

do

fun:

you

fun:

see

fun:

the

fun:

cervine

fun:

gentleman

fun:

in

fun:

the

fun:

grey

fun:

suit?

fun:

No,

fun:

no,

fun:

don’t

fun:

look

fun:

at

fun:

him,

fun:

keep

fun:

looking

fun:

at

fun:

me.”

“It’s

fun:

difficult

fun:

to

fun:

see

fun:

something

fun:

without

fun:

looking

fun:

at

fun:

it,

fun:

Mr.

fun:

Fratelion,”

fun:

Takhar

fun:

said,

fun:

though

fun:

he

fun:

kept

fun:

his

fun:

gaze

fun:

on

fun:

the

fun:

lizard.

fun:

It

fun:

wasn’t

fun:

hard.

fun:

Takhar

fun:

had to admit

fun:

that

fun:

Fratelion

fun:

was simply

fun:

gorgeous.

“Just

fun:

Caudus,

fun:

my

fun:

dear

fun:

Ven,

fun:

and

fun:

if

fun:

you

fun:

look

fun:

at

fun:

him,

fun:

then

fun:

I

fun:

won’t

fun:

have

fun:

the

fun:

chance

fun:

to

fun:

take

fun:

in

fun:

your

fun:

beautiful

fun:

eyes.

fun:

They’re

fun:

such

fun:

a

fun:

lovely

fun:

shade,

fun:

like

fun:

a

fun:

sunset.”

It

fun:

was

fun:

lucky

fun:

that

fun:

Takhar’s

fun:

fur

fun:

was

fun:

orange,

fun:

to

fun:

mask

fun:

the

fun:

blush heating

fun:

his

fun:

cheeks.

“I

fun:

wouldn’t

fun:

want

fun:

to

fun:

deprive

fun:

you,”

fun:

Takhar

fun:

managed,

fun:

doing

fun:

his

fun:

best

fun:

to

fun:

match

fun:

Fratelion’s

fun:

suave

fun:

manner.

fun:

He

fun:

was

fun:

not

fun:

sure

fun:

he

fun:

succeeded. “But

fun:

yes,

fun:

I

fun:

see

fun:

him.

fun:

Ex-boyfriend?”

“Sadly,

fun:

no.

fun:

In

fun:

fact,

fun:

he’s

fun:

a

fun:

member

fun:

of

fun:

the

fun:

security

fun:

force

fun:

here

fun:

and

fun:

he

fun:

has

fun:

the

fun:

very

fun:

peculiar

fun:

notion

fun:

that

fun:

I

fun:

may

fun:

have

fun:

accessed

fun:

some

fun:

highly

fun:

sensitive

fun:

information

fun:

stored

fun:

on

fun:

the

fun:

station

fun:

computers.”

That

fun:

made

fun:

Takhar

fun:

raise

fun:

an

fun:

eyebrow. “And

fun:

why

fun:

would

fun:

he

fun:

have

fun:

that

fun:

impression?”

Fratelion

fun:

spread

fun:

his

fun:

arms, “Who can

fun:

say?

fun:

Nevertheless,

fun:

my

fun:

credit,

fun:

as

fun:

they

fun:

say,

fun:

has

fun:

suddenly

fun:

become

fun:

much

fun:

less

fun:

valuable.

fun:

I

fun:

should

fun:

be

fun:

very

fun:

much

fun:

thankful

fun:

if

fun:

you

fun:

could

fun:

go

fun:

and

fun:

engage

fun:

him

fun:

in

fun:

a

fun:

brief

fun:

conversation,

fun:

just

fun:

a

fun:

few

fun:

minutes.”

“I

fun:

see.

fun:

And

fun:

what

fun:

should

fun:

I

fun:

talk

fun:

to

fun:

him

fun:

about?”

“Why,

fun:

anything

fun:

you

fun:

like.

fun:

You

fun:

could

fun:

even

fun:

tell

fun:

him

fun:

you

fun:

saw

fun:

a

fun:

suspicious

fun:

lizard

fun:

running

fun:

around

fun:

playing

fun:

with the

fun:

computers,

fun:

that

fun:

should

fun:

occupy

fun:

his

fun:

attention.”

“It

fun:

seems

fun:

an

fun:

awful

fun:

big

fun:

ask

fun:

for

fun:

someone

fun:

you

fun:

just

fun:

met.

fun:

What

fun:

if

fun:

I

fun:

turn

fun:

you

fun:

in?”

“My dear Ven,”

fun:

Fratelion

fun:

said,

fun:

in

fun:

tones

fun:

of

fun:

shock

fun:

and

fun:

outrage, “I

fun:

thought

fun:

you

fun:

doctors

fun:

had

fun:

a

fun:

natural

fun:

protective

fun:

instinct

fun:

towards

fun:

all

fun:

others.

fun:

Aren’t

fun:

you

fun:

sworn

fun:

to

fun:

protect

fun:

and

fun:

heal

fun:

any

fun:

who

fun:

need

fun:

it?”

“How

fun:

did

fun:

you

fun:

know

fun:

I

fun:

was a—”

fun:

But

fun:

Fratelion

fun:

was

fun:

already

fun:

reaching

fun:

forward

fun:

to

fun:

touch

fun:

the

fun:

rank

fun:

insignia

fun:

on

fun:

Takhar’s collar.

fun:

A

fun:

single

fun:

spark

fun:

of

fun:

the

fun:

Sacred

fun:

Flame,

fun:

but

fun:

colored

fun:

green

fun:

instead

fun:

of

fun:

the

fun:

more

fun:

usual

fun:

red,

fun:

indicated

fun:

both

fun:

his

fun:

low rank

fun:

and also

fun:

his

fun:

medical

fun:

training. “Alright.

fun:

But

fun:

I

fun:

don’t

fun:

think

fun:

my

fun:

oath

fun:

applies

fun:

to

fun:

abetting

fun:

criminals

fun:

make

fun:

their

fun:

getaway.”

“Did

fun:

I

fun:

mention

fun:

how

fun:

very

fun:

thankful

fun:

I

fun:

would

fun:

be

fun:

for

fun:

your

fun:

help?”

Takhar

fun:

meant

fun:

to

fun:

ask

fun:

how

fun:

the

fun:

lizard’s

fun:

thanks

fun:

would

fun:

help

fun:

him

fun:

if

fun:

he

fun:

got

fun:

arrested,

fun:

but

fun:

the

fun:

moment

fun:

he

fun:

opened

fun:

his

fun:

mouth,

fun:

Fratelion

fun:

traced

fun:

the

fun:

tip

fun:

of

fun:

one

fun:

claw

fun:

along

fun:

the

fun:

edge

fun:

of

fun:

Takhar’s

fun:

jaw.

fun:

It

fun:

sent

fun:

a

fun:

jolt

fun:

of

fun:

electricity

fun:

through

fun:

Takhar’s

fun:

body.

fun:

His

fun:

knees

fun:

turned

fun:

to

fun:

jelly

fun:

and

fun:

his

fun:

question

fun:

came

fun:

out

fun:

as

fun:

a

fun:

soft

fun:

squeak

fun:

instead

fun:

of

fun:

words.

“Very

fun:

thankful,”

fun:

Fratelion

fun:

repeated,

fun:

leaning

fun:

across

fun:

the

fun:

table.

fun:

Their muzzles

fun:

were

fun:

only

fun:

a

fun:

few

fun:

inches

fun:

apart,

fun:

and

fun:

Takhar

fun:

could

fun:

make

fun:

out

fun:

the

fun:

lizard’s scent

fun:

among

fun:

all

fun:

the

fun:

others

fun:

pervading

fun:

the

fun:

half-full

fun:

cafeteria.

fun:

Fratelion

fun:

smelled

fun:

good,

fun:

like

fun:

vanilla

fun:

and

fun:

coconut.

A

fun:

thousand

fun:

possibilities

fun:

of

fun:

what

fun:

form

fun:

Fratelion’s

fun:

thanks

fun:

could

fun:

take flashed

fun:

through

fun:

Takhar’s

fun:

mind

fun:

faster

fun:

than

fun:

he

fun:

could

fun:

blink,

fun:

and

fun:

before

fun:

his

fun:

brain

fun:

could

fun:

stop

fun:

him,

fun:

he

fun:

had

fun:

risen

fun:

from

fun:

his

fun:

chair

fun:

and

fun:

was

fun:

striding

fun:

through

fun:

the

fun:

crowd

fun:

towards

fun:

the

fun:

deer

fun:

in

fun:

the

fun:

grey

fun:

suit.

The

fun:

deer

fun:

saw

fun:

him

fun:

coming,

fun:

and

fun:

slipped

fun:

one

fun:

hand

fun:

down

fun:

to

fun:

a

fun:

hidden

fun:

holster

fun:

under

fun:

his

fun:

suit

fun:

jacket.

fun:

It

fun:

was

fun:

a

fun:

subtle

fun:

motion,

fun:

one that

fun:

Takhar

fun:

would

fun:

likely

fun:

have

fun:

missed

fun:

if

fun:

he

fun:

hadn’t

fun:

been

fun:

half-expecting

fun:

it.

fun:

The

fun:

fox

fun:

forced

fun:

himself

fun:

not

fun:

to

fun:

look

fun:

back

fun:

to

fun:

see

fun:

what

fun:

Fratelion

fun:

was

fun:

doing.

Closer,

fun:

the

fun:

deer

fun:

was

fun:

impressively

fun:

tall,

fun:

towering

fun:

over

fun:

Takhar

fun:

even

fun:

as

fun:

he

fun:

slouched

fun:

against

fun:

a

fun:

wall.

fun:

He

fun:

was

fun:

broader

fun:

than

fun:

the

fun:

fox,

fun:

too,

fun:

an

fun:

extra

fun:

bulkhead

fun:

with

fun:

horns.

fun:

Takhar

fun:

caught

fun:

the

fun:

tell-tale

fun:

glow

fun:

of

fun:

a

fun:

prosthetic

fun:

eye

fun:

and

fun:

could

fun:

smell

fun:

the

fun:

lubricating

fun:

oil

fun:

of

fun:

the

fun:

deer’s

fun:

replacement

fun:

limbs

fun:

at

fun:

five

fun:

meters

fun:

away.

fun:

There

fun:

must

fun:

have

fun:

been

fun:

several

fun:

for

fun:

the

fun:

scent

fun:

to

fun:

be so strong.

“Uh,”

fun:

said Takhar

fun:

as

fun:

he

fun:

drew

fun:

near,

fun:

realizing

fun:

for

fun:

the

fun:

first

fun:

time

fun:

that

fun:

he

fun:

had

fun:

absolutely

fun:

no

fun:

idea

fun:

what

fun:

to

fun:

do

fun:

or

fun:

say,

fun:

or

fun:

what

fun:

Fratelion

fun:

was

fun:

expecting

fun:

of

fun:

him. “Hi?”

“Move

fun:

along,

fun:

citizen,”

fun:

the

fun:

deer

fun:

growled,

fun:

tugging

fun:

his

fun:

jacket

fun:

back

fun:

to

fun:

flash

fun:

both

fun:

a

fun:

station

fun:

security

fun:

badge

fun:

and

fun:

the

fun:

butt

fun:

of

fun:

pulse

fun:

revolver.

fun:

It

fun:

was

fun:

an

fun:

ugly,

fun:

dangerous

fun:

weapon,

fun:

delivering

fun:

a

fun:

grenade’s

fun:

worth

fun:

of

fun:

energy

fun:

to

fun:

whatever

fun:

it

fun:

hit.

fun:

Its

fun:

only

fun:

saving

fun:

grace

fun:

was

fun:

that

fun:

the

fun:

discharge

fun:

was

fun:

mostly

fun:

electrical—devastating

fun:

to

fun:

anything

fun:

with

fun:

a

fun:

heartbeat

fun:

but

fun:

likely

fun:

only

fun:

to

fun:

dent,

fun:

not

fun:

puncture,

fun:

the

fun:

heavy

fun:

bulkheads

fun:

that

fun:

protected

fun:

the

fun:

ship’s

fun:

occupants

fun:

from

fun:

cold

fun:

void.

“Ah,”

fun:

Takhar

fun:

said,

fun:

feeling

fun:

foolish.

fun:

The

fun:

deer

fun:

raised

fun:

an

fun:

eyebrow

fun:

in

fun:

a

fun:

way

fun:

that, Takhar,

fun:

suspected,

fun:

typically

fun:

sent

fun:

most

fun:

people

fun:

fleeing. “Well,

fun:

yes,

fun:

but

fun:

you

fun:

see,

fun:

I

fun:

was

fun:

just

fun:

approached

fun:

by

fun:

a

fun:

strange

fun:

lizard

fun:

who

fun:

claimed

fun:

to

fun:

have

fun:

stolen

fun:

information.”

The

fun:

deer

fun:

shot

fun:

upright,

fun:

full

fun:

attention

fun:

on

fun:

Takhar.

fun:

The

fun:

fox

fun:

noticed,

fun:

with

fun:

not

fun:

a

fun:

little

fun:

apprehension,

fun:

that

fun:

the

fun:

deer’s

fun:

hand

fun:

was

fun:

hovering

fun:

close

fun:

to

fun:

his

fun:

gun.

“A

fun:

lizard

fun:

with

fun:

blue

fun:

markings?

fun:

Where

fun:

did

fun:

he

fun:

go?”

fun:

the

fun:

deer

fun:

asked.

“Oh,

fun:

well,”

fun:

Takhar

fun:

said,

fun:

turning

fun:

around

fun:

to

fun:

scan

fun:

the

fun:

crowd.

fun:

Fratelion

fun:

was

fun:

nowhere

fun:

to

fun:

be

fun:

seen. “I’m

fun:

not

fun:

totally

fun:

sure,

fun:

actually.

fun:

I

fun:

think

fun:

he

fun:

said

fun:

something

fun:

about

fun:

stealing

fun:

a

fun:

shuttle,

fun:

and

fun:

suggested

fun:

I

fun:

could

fun:

help

fun:

him

fun:

get

fun:

into

fun:

the

fun:

lower

fun:

bays.”

fun:

Takhar

fun:

would

fun:

feel

fun:

sweat

fun:

rolling

fun:

down along

fun:

his

fun:

spine. “When

fun:

I

fun:

didn’t

fun:

seem

fun:

interested,

fun:

he

fun:

took

fun:

off

fun:

that

fun:

way.”

fun:

He

fun:

pointed

fun:

vaguely

fun:

in

fun:

a

fun:

random

fun:

direction,

fun:

between

fun:

two

fun:

of

fun:

the

fun:

exits

fun:

to

fun:

the

fun:

cafeteria.

The

fun:

deer

fun:

touched

fun:

something

fun:

at

fun:

his

fun:

lapel,

fun:

probably,

fun:

Takhar

fun:

thought,

fun:

activating

fun:

a

fun:

comm,

fun:

and

fun:

murmured, “This is

fun:

Nephritium,

fun:

suspect

fun:

spotted,

fun:

heading

fun:

down

fun:

to

fun:

the

fun:

lower

fun:

shuttle

fun:

bays.

fun:

In

fun:

pursuit,

fun:

requesting

fun:

back-up.”

fun:

Then

fun:

he

fun:

reached

fun:

out

fun:

to

fun:

pat

fun:

Takhar

fun:

awkwardly

fun:

on

fun:

the

fun:

shoulder. “You’ve done

fun:

the

fun:

station

fun:

a

fun:

great

fun:

service

fun:

today,

fun:

citizen.

fun:

Please

fun:

remain

fun:

here

fun:

until

fun:

an

fun:

officer

fun:

can

fun:

take

fun:

your

fun:

statement.”

And

fun:

then

fun:

the

fun:

guard

fun:

was

fun:

rushing

fun:

past

fun:

confused

fun:

diners

fun:

and

fun:

shoppers,

fun:

cursing

fun:

out

fun:

anyone

fun:

who

fun:

got

fun:

in

fun:

his

fun:

way.

fun:

Takhar

fun:

watched

fun:

with

fun:

amazement,

fun:

certain

fun:

that

fun:

the

fun:

deer

fun:

would

fun:

realize

fun:

the

fun:

flimsy

fun:

web

fun:

of

fun:

lies

fun:

the

fun:

fox

fun:

had

fun:

spun

fun:

and

fun:

come

fun:

back

fun:

to

fun:

arrest

fun:

him,

fun:

until

fun:

the

fun:

deer

fun:

vanished

fun:

down

fun:

a

fun:

tunnel

fun:

nowhere

fun:

near

fun:

where

fun:

Takhar

fun:

had

fun:

pointed.

“Bright

fun:

flame,”

fun:

Takhar

fun:

muttered

fun:

under

fun:

his

fun:

breath. “What

fun:

a

fun:

rube.”

fun:

And

fun:

then

fun:

Takhar

fun:

thought

fun:

it

fun:

might

fun:

be

fun:

better

fun:

not

fun:

to

fun:

wait

fun:

to

fun:

give

fun:

a

fun:

statement.

fun:

He

fun:

slipped

fun:

into

fun:

the

fun:

crowd,

fun:

wondering

fun:

if,

fun:

perhaps,

fun:

it

fun:

might

fun:

be

fun:

better

fun:

to

fun:

finish

fun:

his

fun:

vacation

fun:

somewhere

fun:

else

fun:

entirely.

It

fun:

took

fun:

Takhar

fun:

most

fun:

of

fun:

the

fun:

morning

fun:

to

fun:

change

fun:

his

fun:

vacation

fun:

plans.

fun:

He

fun:

could

fun:

not

fun:

simply

fun:

return

fun:

to

fun:

his

fun:

post—his

fun:

ship,

fun:

the

fun:

ISS

fun:

Crimson

fun:

Light,

fun:

was

fun:

not

fun:

due

fun:

back

fun:

in

fun:

this

fun:

area

fun:

for

fun:

several

fun:

days,

fun:

and

fun:

he

fun:

just

fun:

could

fun:

not

fun:

afford

fun:

to

fun:

charter

fun:

a

fun:

ship

fun:

to

fun:

take

fun:

him

fun:

to

fun:

it.

fun:

On

fun:

top

fun:

of

fun:

that,

fun:

in

fun:

what

fun:

must

fun:

be

fun:

the

fun:

universe’s

fun:

most

fun:

immediate

fun:

case

fun:

of

fun:

reaping

fun:

what

fun:

you

fun:

sow,

fun:

most

fun:

flights

fun:

leaving

fun:

the

fun:

station

fun:

for

fun:

the

fun:

next

fun:

two

fun:

days

fun:

had

fun:

been

fun:

cancelled

fun:

due

fun:

to

fun:

unspecified

fun:

shuttle

fun:

problems.

fun:

His

fun:

only

fun:

option

fun:

for

fun:

an

fun:

immediate

fun:

escape

fun:

was

fun:

a

fun:

shuttle

fun:

to

fun:

the

fun:

resort

fun:

planet

fun:

of

fun:

Vedan,

fun:

a

fun:

few

fun:

parsecs

fun:

away.

fun:

There

fun:

had

fun:

been

fun:

exactly

fun:

one

fun:

seat

fun:

left

fun:

on

fun:

the

fun:

flight,

fun:

and

fun:

the

fun:

tickets

fun:

had

fun:

been

fun:

prohibitively

fun:

expensive,

fun:

but

fun:

at

fun:

least

fun:

the

fun:

ship

fun:

was

fun:

leaving

fun:

that

fun:

afternoon,

fun:

and

fun:

he

fun:

found

fun:

an

fun:

excellent

fun:

deal

fun:

on

fun:

a

fun:

hotel.

It

fun:

took

fun:

almost

fun:

as

fun:

long

fun:

to

fun:

clear

fun:

his

fun:

change

fun:

of

fun:

plans

fun:

with

fun:

his

fun:

commanding

fun:

bishop,

fun:

and

fun:

he

fun:

ultimately

fun:

had

fun:

to

fun:

agree

fun:

to

fun:

shortening

fun:

his

fun:

leave

fun:

by

fun:

two

fun:

days

fun:

to

fun:

accommodate

fun:

the

fun:

Crimson

fun:

Light’s

fun:

itinerary.

fun:

That

fun:

was

fun:

not

fun:

as

fun:

bad

fun:

as

fun:

trying

fun:

to

fun:

explain

fun:

to

fun:

the

fun:

stern-faced

fun:

bishop

fun:

why

fun:

he

fun:

was

fun:

relocating

fun:

without

fun:

admitting

fun:

to

fun:

helping

fun:

a

fun:

thief.

After

fun:

he

fun:

packed

fun:

his

fun:

meager

fun:

belongings

fun:

in

fun:

his

fun:

ancient,

fun:

ratty

fun:

rucksack,

fun:

there

fun:

was

fun:

just

fun:

enough

fun:

time

fun:

to

fun:

visit

fun:

the

fun:

station’s shopping

fun:

district

fun:

and

fun:

pick

fun:

up

fun:

a

fun:

bathing

fun:

suit

fun:

before

fun:

boarding

fun:

the

fun:

shuttle.

Boarding

fun:

was

fun:

surprisingly

fun:

painless.

fun:

Security

fun:

seemed

fun:

far

fun:

laxer

fun:

than

fun:

Takhar

fun:

would

fun:

have

fun:

assumed

fun:

for

fun:

a

fun:

station

fun:

on

fun:

lockdown.

fun:

The

fun:

guard

fun:

barely

fun:

glanced

fun:

at

fun:

him

fun:

after

fun:

processing

fun:

his

fun:

ticket

fun:

and

fun:

before

fun:

waving

fun:

him

fun:

through

fun:

the

fun:

weapons

fun:

scanner.

The

fun:

interior

fun:

of

fun:

the

fun:

shuttle

fun:

was

fun:

quiet,

fun:

the

fun:

lights

fun:

dim.

fun:

More

fun:

than

fun:

half

fun:

the

fun:

seats

fun:

were

fun:

empty,

fun:

even

fun:

accounting

fun:

for

fun:

the

fun:

people

fun:

who

fun:

had

fun:

been

fun:

behind

fun:

Takhar

fun:

in

fun:

line.

fun:

He

fun:

settled

fun:

into

fun:

his

fun:

seat

fun:

about

fun:

halfway

fun:

down

fun:

the

fun:

cabin,

fun:

reclined

fun:

the

fun:

back

fun:

and

fun:

closed

fun:

his

fun:

eyes

fun:

to

fun:

await

fun:

take off.

“Now,

fun:

my

fun:

dear

fun:

Ven,

fun:

I

fun:

hope

fun:

you’re

fun:

not

fun:

planning

fun:

on

fun:

sleeping

fun:

all

fun:

the

fun:

way

fun:

to

fun:

Vedan,”

fun:

came

fun:

a

fun:

familiar

fun:

voice.

fun:

Takhar

fun:

opened

fun:

his

fun:

eyes

fun:

to

fun:

see

fun:

Fratelion

fun:

already

fun:

settling

fun:

himself

fun:

into

fun:

the

fun:

aisle

fun:

seat

fun:

next

fun:

to

fun:

Takhar. “I

fun:

was

fun:

rather

fun:

hoping

fun:

for

fun:

some

fun:

stimulating

fun:

conversation.

fun:

It’s

fun:

a

fun:

long

fun:

ride there,

fun:

after

fun:

all.”

Takhar

fun:

stared

fun:

dumbfounded

fun:

as

fun:

Fratelion

fun:

grinned

fun:

brightly

fun:

down

fun:

at

fun:

him.

“Is

fun:

it

fun:

alright

fun:

if

fun:

I

fun:

move

fun:

your

fun:

bag?”

fun:

the

fun:

lizard

fun:

continued,

fun:

shuffling

fun:

the

fun:

stowed

fun:

cargo

fun:

around

fun:

in

fun:

the

fun:

overhead

fun:

bin.

fun:

Takhar

fun:

could

fun:

only

fun:

nod. “Fantastic.

fun:

You

fun:

know,

fun:

I

fun:

am

fun:

excited

fun:

for

fun:

this

fun:

trip—it

fun:

has

fun:

been

fun:

a

fun:

while

fun:

since

fun:

I

fun:

had

fun:

the

fun:

opportunity

fun:

to

fun:

just

fun:

sit

fun:

and

fun:

bask

fun:

on

fun:

a

fun:

warm

fun:

beach.

fun:

The

fun:

arcades

fun:

here

fun:

are

fun:

fine,

fun:

but

fun:

really

fun:

you

fun:

just

fun:

can’t

fun:

beat

fun:

a

fun:

real

fun:

sandy

fun:

beach.”

Fratelion

fun:

dropped

fun:

into

fun:

the seat

fun:

next

fun:

to

fun:

Takhar.

fun:

The

fun:

shuttle

fun:

was

fun:

tight,

fun:

even

fun:

mostly

fun:

empty,

fun:

and

fun:

the

fun:

fox

fun:

and

fun:

lizard

fun:

were

fun:

nearly

fun:

touching.

fun:

It

fun:

was

fun:

not

fun:

uncomfortable,

fun:

some

fun:

dim

fun:

analytical

fun:

part

fun:

of

fun:

Takhar’s

fun:

brain

fun:

noticed.

fun:

Fratelion

fun:

continued

fun:

to

fun:

talk,

fun:

expositing

fun:

on

fun:

the

fun:

various

fun:

relaxation

fun:

spots

fun:

he

fun:

intended

fun:

to

fun:

visit

fun:

and

fun:

their

fun:

many

fun:

benefits—all

fun:

of

fun:

which,

fun:

that

fun:

same

fun:

analytical

fun:

part

fun:

noted,

fun:

seemed

fun:

to

fun:

be

fun:

quite

fun:

close

fun:

to

fun:

Takhar’s

fun:

hotel—until

fun:

the

fun:

fox

fun:

fell

fun:

into

fun:

a

fun:

very

fun:

relaxed

fun:

sleep.

Takhar

fun:

woke

fun:

with

fun:

a

fun:

start

fun:

when

fun:

a

fun:

tremble

fun:

rattled

fun:

through

fun:

the

fun:

shuttle,

fun:

and

fun:

it

fun:

took

fun:

his

fun:

sleep-fogged

fun:

mind

fun:

a

fun:

moment

fun:

to

fun:

recognize

fun:

it

fun:

as

fun:

the

fun:

landing

fun:

thrusters

fun:

activating

fun:

in a

fun:

planet’s

fun:

atmosphere.

fun:

Most

fun:

of

fun:

the

fun:

rest

fun:

of

fun:

the

fun:

shuttle

fun:

occupants

fun:

were

fun:

already

fun:

up

fun:

and

fun:

gathering

fun:

their

fun:

belongings.

Takhar

fun:

grabbed

fun:

his

fun:

bag

fun:

from

fun:

the

fun:

corner

fun:

of

fun:

the

fun:

bin

fun:

that

fun:

Fratelion

fun:

had

fun:

crammed

fun:

it

fun:

into,

fun:

and

fun:

slung

fun:

it

fun:

over

fun:

his

fun:

shoulder,

fun:

joining

fun:

the

fun:

queue

fun:

at

fun:

the

fun:

shuttle’s

fun:

doors.

fun:

Through

fun:

the blast

fun:

windows,

fun:

he

fun:

could

fun:

see

fun:

the

fun:

white-sand

fun:

coastline

fun:

of

fun:

Vedan’s

fun:

Kavra

fun:

province,

fun:

and

fun:

the

fun:

towering

fun:

resort

fun:

he

fun:

had

fun:

booked.

fun:

Disembarkation

fun:

took

fun:

only

fun:

a

fun:

few

fun:

minutes,

fun:

during

fun:

which

fun:

Takhar

fun:

kept

fun:

craning

fun:

his

fun:

head

fun:

around

fun:

to

fun:

look

fun:

for

fun:

Fratelion.

fun:

The

fun:

lizard

fun:

was

fun:

nowhere

fun:

to

fun:

be

fun:

found.

Feeling

fun:

slightly

fun:

put

fun:

out,

fun:

though

fun:

he

fun:

could

fun:

not

fun:

say

fun:

why,

fun:

Takhar

fun:

took

fun:

the

fun:

wooden

fun:

boardwalk

fun:

over

fun:

the

fun:

shimmering

fun:

beach

fun:

to

fun:

the

fun:

resort.

fun:

It

fun:

was

fun:

a

fun:

gorgeous

fun:

day

fun:

out,

fun:

sunny

fun:

and

fun:

warm

fun:

with

fun:

just

fun:

enough

fun:

breeze

fun:

to

fun:

riffle

fun:

his

fun:

fur

fun:

and

fun:

make

fun:

the

fun:

heat

fun:

bearable,

fun:

though

fun:

the

fun:

fox

fun:

couldn’t

fun:

help

fun:

but

fun:

think

fun:

that

fun:

the

fun:

walk

fun:

would

fun:

be

fun:

more

fun:

pleasant

fun:

out

fun:

of

fun:

his

fun:

stifling

fun:

uniform

fun:

and

fun:

perhaps

fun:

with

fun:

a

fun:

handsome

fun:

man’s

fun:

arm

fun:

to

fun:

hang

fun:

off

fun:

of.

When

fun:

he

fun:

arrived,

fun:

Takhar

fun:

found

fun:

that

fun:

there

fun:

had

fun:

been

fun:

some

fun:

error

fun:

and

fun:

his

fun:

room

fun:

had

fun:

been

fun:

double

fun:

booked.

fun:

The

fun:

concierge,

fun:

a

fun:

pangolin

fun:

strangely

fun:

copacetic

fun:

about

fun:

the

fun:

problem,

fun:

offered

fun:

to

fun:

upgrade

fun:

Takhar

fun:

to a

fun:

suite

fun:

for

fun:

free

fun:

as

fun:

compensation.

All

fun:

in

fun:

all,

fun:

it

fun:

took

fun:

Takhar

fun:

about

fun:

an

fun:

hour

fun:

to

fun:

check

fun:

in,

fun:

drop

fun:

off

fun:

his

fun:

bag,

fun:

and

fun:

change

fun:

into

fun:

his

fun:

swim

fun:

trunks.

fun:

He

fun:

decided

fun:

to

fun:

eschew

fun:

the

fun:

crowded

fun:

main

fun:

beach

fun:

in

fun:

favor

fun:

of

fun:

the

fun:

resort’s

fun:

private

fun:

inlet

fun:

beach.

fun:

It

fun:

was

fun:

not

fun:

as

fun:

close

fun:

as

fun:

the

fun:

boardwalk,

fun:

and

fun:

the

fun:

water’s

fun:

edge

fun:

was

fun:

pebblier

fun:

than

fun:

the

fun:

main

fun:

beach,

fun:

but

fun:

there

fun:

were

fun:

plenty

fun:

of

fun:

empty

fun:

lounge

fun:

chairs

fun:

to

fun:

lay

fun:

out

fun:

on

fun:

and

fun:

allow

fun:

the

fun:

gentle

fun:

sun

fun:

to

fun:

slowly

fun:

bleach

fun:

his

fun:

orange

fun:

fur.

fun:

He

fun:

had

fun:

brought

fun:

a

fun:

book

fun:

but he

fun:

quickly

fun:

abandoned

fun:

it

fun:

in

fun:

favor

fun:

of

fun:

the

fun:

simple

fun:

pleasure

fun:

of

fun:

half-dozing

fun:

beneath

fun:

the

fun:

alien

fun:

sky,

fun:

so

fun:

different

fun:

from

fun:

the

fun:

harsh

fun:

world

fun:

on

fun:

which

fun:

he

fun:

had

fun:

been

fun:

born.

fun:

He

fun:

was

fun:

just

fun:

beginning

fun:

to

fun:

get

fun:

comfortably

fun:

sleepy

fun:

when

fun:

someone

fun:

flipped

fun:

his

fun:

chair

fun:

out

fun:

from

fun:

under

fun:

him,

fun:

sending

fun:

him

fun:

sprawling

fun:

to

fun:

the

fun:

pebbly

fun:

sand.

Takhar

fun:

was

fun:

up

fun:

in

fun:

a

fun:

second,

fun:

wiping

fun:

his

fun:

muzzle

fun:

clean,

fun:

bright

fun:

eyes

fun:

scanning

fun:

for

fun:

his

fun:

assailant.

fun:

They

fun:

were

fun:

not

fun:

attempting

fun:

to

fun:

hide.

fun:

A

fun:

smug

fun:

looking

fun:

skunk,

fun:

no

fun:

more

fun:

than

fun:

a

fun:

few

fun:

centimeters

fun:

taller

fun:

than

fun:

Takhar,

fun:

was

fun:

wiping

fun:

her

fun:

hands

fun:

clean

fun:

while

fun:

flanked

fun:

by

fun:

two

fun:

much

fun:

larger

fun:

guards,

fun:

a

fun:

wolf

fun:

and a

fun:

zebra.

fun:

All

fun:

three

fun:

of

fun:

them

fun:

sneered

fun:

as

fun:

Takhar

fun:

raised

fun:

his

fun:

fists.

“Where

fun:

is

fun:

he?”

fun:

the

fun:

skunk

fun:

asked,

fun:

in

fun:

a

fun:

nasal

fun:

accent

fun:

that

fun:

Takhar

fun:

could

fun:

not

fun:

place.

“Where is

fun:

who?”

fun:

he

fun:

asked,

fun:

honestly

fun:

baffled.

fun:

The

fun:

zebra

fun:

stepped

fun:

in,

fun:

faster

fun:

than

fun:

Takhar

fun:

could

fun:

react,

fun:

and

fun:

slammed a

fun:

meaty

fun:

fist

fun:

into

fun:

his

fun:

ribs.

fun:

They

fun:

held,

fun:

but

fun:

just

fun:

barely,

fun:

and

fun:

Takhar was sent

fun:

sprawling

fun:

once

fun:

again.

“You

fun:

gotta

fun:

aim

fun:

for

fun:

the

fun:

gut,”

fun:

the

fun:

wolf

fun:

told

fun:

the

fun:

zebra

fun:

as Takhar

fun:

struggled

fun:

to

fun:

his

fun:

feet.

“I

fun:

don’t

fun:

know

fun:

what

fun:

you’re after,” Takhar

fun:

wheezed,

fun:

eyeing

fun:

the

fun:

trio

fun:

warily

fun:

as he

fun:

scuttled

fun:

backwards. “I’m

fun:

just

fun:

here

fun:

on

fun:

vacation.”

“Don’t

fun:

lie,”

fun:

the

fun:

skunk

fun:

snapped. “You’ll

fun:

tell

fun:

us

fun:

where

fun:

that

fun:

double-crossing

fun:

piece

fun:

of

fun:

desik is,

fun:

or

fun:

I’ll let

fun:

my

fun:

friends

fun:

here

fun:

work

fun:

out

fun:

some

fun:

aggression.”

“We

fun:

saw

fun:

you

fun:

with

fun:

him

fun:

on

fun:

the

fun:

plane,”

fun:

the

fun:

zebra

fun:

said,

fun:

massaging

fun:

his

fun:

fist

fun:

and

fun:

eyeing

fun:

Takhar’s

fun:

stomach. “We

fun:

know

fun:

you’re working together.”

“Fratelion?” Takhar asked. “I don’t know

fun:

where

fun:

he

fun:

is.

fun:

He had

fun:

gotten

fun:

off

fun:

the

fun:

shuttle

fun:

while

fun:

I

fun:

was

fun:

asleep.”

The

fun:

wolf

fun:

took

fun:

a

fun:

step

fun:

forward,

fun:

but

fun:

the

fun:

skunk

fun:

stopped

fun:

him. “If

fun:

we

fun:

find

fun:

out

fun:

you’re

fun:

lying,”

fun:

she

fun:

said, “you’ll

fun:

regret

fun:

it.

fun:

And

fun:

if

fun:

you

fun:

see

fun:

him,

fun:

you’ll let

fun:

us

fun:

know.”

“How

fun:

could

fun:

I,

fun:

I

fun:

don’t

fun:

know

fun:

who

fun:

you

fun:

are,”

fun:

said

fun:

Takhar,

fun:

more

fun:

out

fun:

of

fun:

frustration

fun:

than

fun:

anything

fun:

else.

“Don’t

fun:

worry,”

fun:

said

fun:

the

fun:

wolf,

fun:

as

fun:

the

fun:

other

fun:

two

fun:

turned

fun:

to

fun:

walk

fun:

away, “We’ll

fun:

be

fun:

in

fun:

touch.”

fun:

He

fun:

gave

fun:

Takhar a

fun:

nasty

fun:

wink,

fun:

then

fun:

followed

fun:

unhurriedly

fun:

after

fun:

his

fun:

compatriots.

Takhar

fun:

watched

fun:

as

fun:

they

fun:

ambled

fun:

out

fun:

of

fun:

the

fun:

private

fun:

beach

fun:

and

fun:

onto

fun:

the

fun:

boardwalk,

fun:

then

fun:

he

fun:

righted

fun:

his

fun:

chair

fun:

and

fun:

sat

fun:

down

fun:

heavily.

fun:

It

fun:

was,

fun:

all

fun:

in

fun:

all,

fun:

turning

fun:

out

fun:

to

fun:

be

fun:

a

fun:

pretty

fun:

wretched

fun:

vacation.

fun:

After

fun:

a

fun:

moment’s

fun:

consideration,

fun:

he

fun:

gathered

fun:

his

fun:

things,

fun:

thoroughly

fun:

covered

fun:

in

fun:

sand

fun:

and

fun:

pebbles,

fun:

and

fun:

trudged

fun:

back

fun:

to

fun:

the

fun:

boardwalk,

fun:

keeping

fun:

a

fun:

suspicious

fun:

eye

fun:

peeled

fun:

for

fun:

the

fun:

skunk

fun:

and

fun:

her

fun:

companions.

Takhar

fun:

opted

fun:

not

fun:

to

fun:

return

fun:

to

fun:

his

fun:

hotel

fun:

immediately.

fun:

That

fun:

was

fun:

the

fun:

direction

fun:

the

fun:

trio

fun:

had

fun:

taken,

fun:

and

fun:

he

fun:

had

fun:

no

fun:

desire

fun:

to

fun:

find

fun:

or

fun:

be

fun:

found

fun:

by

fun:

them

fun:

once

fun:

again.

fun:

He

fun:

stalked

fun:

north,

fun:

instead,

fun:

following

fun:

the

fun:

broad

fun:

wooden

fun:

walkway

fun:

past

fun:

tourist

fun:

shops

fun:

and

fun:

restaurants

fun:

on

fun:

one

fun:

side,

fun:

and

fun:

a

fun:

glimmering

fun:

platinum

fun:

beach

fun:

on

fun:

the

fun:

other.

fun:

It

fun:

would

fun:

have

fun:

been

fun:

a

fun:

pleasant

fun:

walk

fun:

but

fun:

for

fun:

the

fun:

bruise

fun:

over

fun:

his

fun:

ribs

fun:

and

fun:

slowly

fun:

growing

fun:

headache

fun:

radiating

fun:

out

fun:

from

fun:

his

fun:

temples.

A loud

fun:

rumble

fun:

from his

fun:

stomach

fun:

briefly

fun:

caused

fun:

his

fun:

various

fun:

complaints

fun:

to

fun:

fade

fun:

in

fun:

favor

fun:

of

fun:

the

fun:

more

fun:

immediate

fun:

problem

fun:

of a

fun:

lunch.

fun:

Lacking

fun:

the

fun:

wherewithal

fun:

to

fun:

spend

fun:

any

fun:

serious

fun:

time

fun:

in

fun:

consideration

fun:

of

fun:

where

fun:

to

fun:

eat,

fun:

he

fun:

hooked

fun:

into

fun:

the

fun:

first

fun:

restaurant

fun:

he

fun:

saw

fun:

that

fun:

lacked a

fun:

line

fun:

out the door. An ursine waiter led him to a

fun:

rickety

fun:

table

fun:

against

fun:

the

fun:

large

fun:

window

fun:

overlooking

fun:

the

fun:

boardwalk,

fun:

shoved

fun:

a

fun:

menu

fun:

into

fun:

his

fun:

hand,

fun:

and

fun:

vanished

fun:

into

fun:

the

fun:

crowd.

A

fun:

mildly

fun:

alcoholic

fun:

drink,

fun:

made

fun:

from

fun:

some

fun:

local

fun:

variant

fun:

of

fun:

the

fun:

universal

fun:

citrus,

fun:

went

fun:

a

fun:

long

fun:

way

fun:

to

fun:

soothing

fun:

his

fun:

aches,

fun:

and

fun:

a

fun:

pleasant,

fun:

if

fun:

not

fun:

particularly

fun:

adventurous,

fun:

sandwich

fun:

helped

fun:

to

fun:

rally

fun:

his

fun:

spirits.

fun:

Service

fun:

at

fun:

the

fun:

restaurant

fun:

was

fun:

slow,

fun:

but

fun:

that

fun:

suited Takhar

fun:

just

fun:

fine.

fun:

He

fun:

was

fun:

happy

fun:

to

fun:

lounge

fun:

and

fun:

watch

fun:

the

fun:

crowd

fun:

go

fun:

by

fun:

on

fun:

the

fun:

other

fun:

side

fun:

of

fun:

the

fun:

window,

fun:

reflecting

fun:

on

fun:

his

fun:

day.

“It’s

fun:

that

fun:

lizard’s

fun:

fault,”

fun:

he

fun:

muttered

fun:

to

fun:

himself,

fun:

taking

fun:

another

fun:

sip

fun:

of

fun:

his

fun:

drink.

fun:

He

fun:

closed

fun:

his

fun:

eyes

fun:

to

fun:

savor

fun:

its

fun:

taste

fun:

and

fun:

smell.

fun:

Fruity,

fun:

acidic

fun:

but

fun:

still

fun:

sweet,

fun:

with

fun:

a

fun:

brightness

fun:

he

fun:

associated

fun:

with

fun:

limes

fun:

but

fun:

could

fun:

not

fun:

otherwise

fun:

articulate,

fun:

the

fun:

flavor

fun:

danced

fun:

across

fun:

his

fun:

tastebuds,

fun:

the

fun:

aroma

fun:

tickling

fun:

his

fun:

sensitive

fun:

nose.

fun:

There

fun:

was

fun:

something

fun:

else

fun:

there,

fun:

something

fun:

almost

fun:

like

fun:

vanilla.

fun:

He

fun:

sniffed at

fun:

the

fun:

glass

fun:

again,

fun:

but

fun:

the

fun:

almost

fun:

confectionary

fun:

scent

fun:

wasn’t

fun:

coming

fun:

from

fun:

that.

Takhar

fun:

opened

fun:

his

fun:

eyes

fun:

to

fun:

find

fun:

Fratelion

fun:

grinning

fun:

at

fun:

him

fun:

from

fun:

less

fun:

than

fun:

a

fun:

meter

fun:

away.

“Bright

fun:

flame!”

fun:

the

fun:

fox

fun:

shouted,

fun:

nearly

fun:

falling

fun:

out

fun:

of

fun:

his

fun:

chair.

fun:

He felt

fun:

as

fun:

though

fun:

every

fun:

eye

fun:

in

fun:

the

fun:

restaurant

fun:

was

fun:

turning

fun:

towards

fun:

him.

“My

fun:

fault,

fun:

my

fun:

fault!”

fun:

the

fun:

lizard

fun:

waved

fun:

the

fun:

crowd

fun:

away

fun:

until

fun:

they

fun:

lost

fun:

interest,

fun:

then

fun:

settled

fun:

into

fun:

the

fun:

seat

fun:

across

fun:

from

fun:

Takhar. “My

fun:

dear

fun:

Ven,

fun:

I’m

fun:

so

fun:

sorry,

fun:

I

fun:

didn’t

fun:

mean

fun:

to

fun:

startle

fun:

you.

fun:

I

fun:

saw

fun:

you

fun:

in

fun:

the

fun:

window

fun:

and

fun:

thought

fun:

I’d

fun:

see

fun:

how

fun:

your

fun:

vacation

fun:

was

fun:

coming

fun:

along.”

“Terribly,

fun:

thanks

fun:

to

fun:

you.”

The

fun:

lizard

fun:

looks

fun:

affronted. “Why,

fun:

whatever

fun:

did

fun:

I

fun:

do?”

Takhar,

fun:

in

fun:

short,

fun:

concise

fun:

sentences,

fun:

and

fun:

with

fun:

a

fun:

liberal

fun:

sprinkling

fun:

of

fun:

swearing,

fun:

told

fun:

Fratelion

fun:

exactly

fun:

how

fun:

badly

fun:

his

fun:

vacation

fun:

was

fun:

going.

fun:

By

fun:

the

fun:

end

fun:

of

fun:

the

fun:

story,

fun:

the

fun:

near-omnipresent

fun:

grin

fun:

was

fun:

wiped,

fun:

to

fun:

Takhar’s

fun:

great

fun:

satisfaction,

fun:

off of

fun:

the

fun:

lizard’s

fun:

black

fun:

and teal

fun:

muzzle.

“Tavesh ik’Kohn,” Fratelion growled. Takhar nearly

fun:

missed

fun:

it,

fun:

but

fun:

the

fun:

lizard’s scales

fun:

turned,

fun:

for

fun:

the

fun:

merest

fun:

instant,

fun:

from

fun:

black

fun:

to

fun:

an

fun:

angry

fun:

purple

fun:

color. “I

fun:

should

fun:

have

fun:

expected her.”

“Ik’Kohn?” Takhar asked. “That’s not a

fun:

Republic name,

fun:

is

fun:

it?”

Fratelion

fun:

shook

fun:

his head. “No,

fun:

you’ll

fun:

only

fun:

find

fun:

names

fun:

like

fun:

that

fun:

on

fun:

a

fun:

couple

fun:

of

fun:

worlds,

fun:

all

fun:

of

fun:

which

fun:

belong

fun:

to

fun:

the

fun:

Confederacy

fun:

of

fun:

Nine

fun:

Stars.”

fun:

He

fun:

snorted. “As

fun:

stuck

fun:

up

fun:

and

fun:

arrogant

fun:

as

fun:

it

fun:

sounds,

fun:

I’m

fun:

afraid.

fun:

It

fun:

is

fun:

little

fun:

more

fun:

than

fun:

a

fun:

loose

fun:

affiliation

fun:

of

fun:

pirates

fun:

and

fun:

thieves,

fun:

and

fun:

ik’Kohn

fun:

is

fun:

one

fun:

of

fun:

their

fun:

worst.”

fun:

The

fun:

lizard

fun:

leaned

fun:

back

fun:

in

fun:

his

fun:

seat,

fun:

a

fun:

faraway

fun:

look

fun:

crossing

fun:

over

fun:

his

fun:

face. “Ven, I’m

fun:

afraid

fun:

I

fun:

must

fun:

apologize.”

Takhar

fun:

found

fun:

Fratelion’s

fun:

unexpected

fun:

seriousness

fun:

unnerving.

fun:

He

fun:

kept

fun:

silent,

fun:

letting

fun:

the

fun:

reptile

fun:

gather

fun:

his

fun:

thoughts.

“I

fun:

did

fun:

a

fun:

very

fun:

impulsive

fun:

thing,”

fun:

Fratelion

fun:

said

fun:

at

fun:

length, “and

fun:

I’m

fun:

afraid

fun:

it’s

fun:

put

fun:

you

fun:

in

fun:

much

fun:

more

fun:

serious

fun:

danger

fun:

than

fun:

I

fun:

could

fun:

have

fun:

anticipated.

fun:

I

fun:

should

fun:

not

fun:

have

fun:

involved

fun:

you.”

Takhar

fun:

tried

fun:

but

fun:

failed

fun:

to

fun:

maintain

fun:

his

fun:

righteous

fun:

anger

fun:

at

fun:

Fratelion.

fun:

He

fun:

reached

fun:

over

fun:

and

fun:

placed

fun:

a

fun:

warm

fun:

paw

fun:

on

fun:

the

fun:

lizard’s

fun:

forearm,

fun:

giving

fun:

it

fun:

a

fun:

gentle,

fun:

reassuring

fun:

squeeze.

“You

fun:

had

fun:

no

fun:

way

fun:

of

fun:

knowing,”

fun:

Takhar

fun:

said,

fun:

smiling

fun:

faintly. “What

fun:

are

fun:

the

fun:

chances

fun:

we

fun:

would

fun:

be

fun:

going

fun:

to

fun:

the

fun:

same

fun:

place,

fun:

let

fun:

alone be

fun:

on

fun:

the

fun:

same

fun:

shuttle.”

Fratelion

fun:

smiled

fun:

back,

fun:

just as

fun:

faint,

fun:

and

fun:

Takhar

fun:

started

fun:

to

fun:

ask

fun:

what

fun:

they

fun:

could

fun:

do,

fun:

together,

fun:

to

fun:

resolve

fun:

the

fun:

situation,

fun:

when

fun:

he

fun:

realized

fun:

that

fun:

the

fun:

lizard

fun:

was

fun:

refusing

fun:

to

fun:

look

fun:

him

fun:

in

fun:

the

fun:

eyes.

“Wait,”

fun:

he

fun:

said. “Did

fun:

you

fun:

know

fun:

I

fun:

was

fun:

coming

fun:

here?”

“Well,

fun:

uh,”

fun:

Fratelion

fun:

cleared

fun:

his throat. “Not

fun:

exactly.”

Takhar

fun:

pulled

fun:

his

fun:

hand

fun:

back,

fun:

feeling

fun:

that

fun:

righteous

fun:

anger

fun:

rise in

fun:

him

fun:

like

fun:

a

fun:

flame.

“I...

fun:

might...

fun:

have

fun:

had

fun:

a

fun:

little

fun:

something

fun:

to

fun:

do

fun:

with

fun:

your

fun:

options.”

“What

fun:

did

fun:

you

fun:

do?”

Fratelion

fun:

cleared his

fun:

throat

fun:

again. “There

fun:

exists

fun:

a

fun:

slim

fun:

possibility

fun:

that

fun:

I

fun:

might

fun:

have

fun:

created

fun:

a

fun:

small

fun:

emergency

fun:

that

fun:

necessitated

fun:

rerouting

fun:

most

fun:

of

fun:

the

fun:

shuttles

fun:

from

fun:

the

fun:

station,

fun:

which

fun:

led

fun:

to

fun:

a

fun:

few

fun:

slight

fun:

delays

fun:

and

fun:

some,

fun:

well,

fun:

last

fun:

minute

fun:

scheduling

fun:

problems,

fun:

and, ahem,

fun:

I

fun:

thought,

fun:

perhaps,

fun:

you

fun:

might

fun:

be

fun:

interested

fun:

in

fun:

a

fun:

hasty

fun:

escape

fun:

from,

fun:

let’s

fun:

face

fun:

it,

fun:

a

fun:

truly

fun:

dreary

fun:

vacation

fun:

spot,

fun:

so

fun:

it

fun:

really

fun:

wasn’t

fun:

difficult

fun:

to

fun:

make

fun:

Vedan

fun:

the

fun:

end

fun:

of

fun:

the

fun:

path

fun:

of

fun:

least

fun:

resistance.”

fun:

To

fun:

Takhar’s

fun:

amazement,

fun:

the

fun:

lizard’s scales

fun:

were

fun:

starting

fun:

to

fun:

turn to

fun:

a

fun:

faint

fun:

lavender

fun:

color

fun:

in

fun:

some

fun:

kind

fun:

of

fun:

full-body

fun:

blush.

“You...” Takhar

fun:

started,

fun:

then

fun:

stopped

fun:

and

fun:

shook

fun:

his

fun:

head. “Ashes

fun:

and

fun:

void,

fun:

what

fun:

sort

fun:

of

fun:

emergency

fun:

makes

fun:

an

fun:

entire

fun:

space

fun:

station

fun:

cancel

fun:

a

fun:

day’s

fun:

worth

fun:

of

fun:

shuttle

fun:

flights.”

“Ah,

fun:

well.

fun:

I

fun:

can’t

fun:

get

fun:

into the

fun:

details,

fun:

of

fun:

course,

fun:

but

fun:

it

fun:

did

fun:

involve

fun:

a

fun:

rather

fun:

sensitive

fun:

piece

fun:

of

fun:

experimental

fun:

FTL

fun:

technology

fun:

going

fun:

missing

fun:

unexpectedly.”

“You

fun:

stole,”

fun:

Takhar

fun:

started,

fun:

then,

fun:

looking

fun:

around

fun:

the

fun:

crowded

fun:

shop,

fun:

lowered

fun:

his

fun:

voice

fun:

and

fun:

leaned

fun:

forward

fun:

across

fun:

the

fun:

table,

fun:

until

fun:

his

fun:

muzzle

fun:

was

fun:

only

fun:

a

fun:

few

fun:

centimeters

fun:

from

fun:

Fratelion, “You

fun:

stole

fun:

classified

fun:

technology

fun:

just

fun:

to

fun:

get

fun:

me

fun:

to

fun:

move

fun:

my

fun:

vacation

fun:

here?”

“Oh,

fun:

don’t

fun:

be

fun:

silly,

fun:

my dear Ven,”

fun:

the

fun:

lizard

fun:

said,

fun:

warming

fun:

to

fun:

Takhar’s

fun:

interest. “I

fun:

was

fun:

on

fun:

the

fun:

station

fun:

with

fun:

you,

fun:

remember?

fun:

I

fun:

didn’t

fun:

steal

fun:

a

fun:

thing.”

“You...

fun:

okay.

fun:

Ah.

fun:

We’re

fun:

going

fun:

to

fun:

unpack

fun:

that later.”

Fratelion

fun:

cocked

fun:

his

fun:

head to the

fun:

side

fun:

roguishly. “So

fun:

I

fun:

can

fun:

count

fun:

on

fun:

a

fun:

second

fun:

date?”

“We

fun:

haven’t

fun:

had

fun:

a

fun:

first

fun:

date

fun:

yet!”

“My

fun:

dear

fun:

Ven,

fun:

we’re

fun:

sitting

fun:

here

fun:

having

fun:

lunch

fun:

in

fun:

this

fun:

lovely

fun:

cafe,

fun:

getting

fun:

to

fun:

know

fun:

one

fun:

another.

fun:

That

fun:

sounds

fun:

like

fun:

a

fun:

date

fun:

to

fun:

me.”

Takhar

fun:

stared

fun:

into Fratelion’s

fun:

beautiful

fun:

golden

fun:

eyes

fun:

for

fun:

a

fun:

long

fun:

while

fun:

and

fun:

then,

fun:

helplessly,

fun:

he

fun:

began

fun:

to

fun:

laugh.

After

fun:

lunch

fun:

was

fun:

finished,

fun:

without

fun:

another

fun:

word

fun:

said

fun:

about

fun:

Fratelion’s

fun:

clandestine

fun:

activities,

fun:

Takhar

fun:

accepted

fun:

the

fun:

lizard’s

fun:

invitation

fun:

for

fun:

a

fun:

walk

fun:

along

fun:

the

fun:

beach.

fun:

It

fun:

was,

fun:

Takhar

fun:

had

fun:

to

fun:

admit

fun:

to

fun:

himself,

fun:

pleasant

fun:

simply

fun:

to

fun:

stroll,

fun:

arm in arm,

fun:

along

fun:

the

fun:

warm

fun:

sandy

fun:

beach,

fun:

listening

fun:

to

fun:

the

fun:

lizard

fun:

chatter

fun:

about

fun:

nothing

fun:

in

fun:

particular, his

fun:

words

fun:

punctuated

fun:

by

fun:

the

fun:

crash

fun:

of

fun:

the

fun:

surf.

fun:

They

fun:

wandered,

fun:

Fratelion

fun:

talking

fun:

and

fun:

Takhar

fun:

listening,

fun:

until

fun:

the

fun:

sun

fun:

was

fun:

touching

fun:

the

fun:

far

fun:

horizon.

They

fun:

had

fun:

gone

fun:

several

fun:

miles,

fun:

and

fun:

even

fun:

used

fun:

to

fun:

a

fun:

military

fun:

regimen, Takhar

fun:

was

fun:

starting

fun:

to

fun:

feel

fun:

all

fun:

of

fun:

the

fun:

exercise.

fun:

He

fun:

tugged

fun:

Fratelion

fun:

over

fun:

to

fun:

a

fun:

private

fun:

rock

fun:

formation

fun:

facing

fun:

a

fun:

tiny,

fun:

marshy

fun:

bay.

fun:

The

fun:

lizard

fun:

seemed

fun:

surprised at

fun:

the

fun:

sudden

fun:

course

fun:

correction,

fun:

but

fun:

followed

fun:

and

fun:

sat

fun:

next

fun:

to

fun:

the

fun:

fox.

fun:

In

fun:

silence,

fun:

they

fun:

watched

fun:

the

fun:

sun

fun:

creep

fun:

ever

fun:

lower.

“Good

fun:

day?”

fun:

Fratelion

fun:

asked,

fun:

as

fun:

the

fun:

stars

fun:

began

fun:

to

fun:

glimmer

fun:

into

fun:

view

fun:

above

fun:

them.

“Mm,” said Takhar. “Well,

fun:

except

fun:

for

fun:

the

fun:

assault

fun:

and

fun:

threats.”

“Ah,

fun:

but

fun:

what’s

fun:

life

fun:

without

fun:

a

fun:

little

fun:

danger?”

fun:

That

fun:

drew a

fun:

small

fun:

chuckle

fun:

from

fun:

Takhar. “But,

fun:

ah,

fun:

I

fun:

am

fun:

sorry

fun:

about

fun:

that.

fun:

It

fun:

really

fun:

wasn’t

fun:

my

fun:

intention.”

“If

fun:

I

fun:

thought

fun:

you

fun:

intended

fun:

for

fun:

me

fun:

to

fun:

get

fun:

attacked,

fun:

I

fun:

probably

fun:

wouldn’t

fun:

have

fun:

spent

fun:

my

fun:

afternoon

fun:

with

fun:

you,”

fun:

he

fun:

pointed

fun:

out.

fun:

He

fun:

shifted

fun:

on

fun:

the

fun:

rock

fun:

until

fun:

he

fun:

was

fun:

resting

fun:

with

fun:

his

fun:

back

fun:

against

fun:

the

fun:

lizard.

fun:

Fratelion

fun:

was

fun:

no

fun:

longer

fun:

quite

fun:

so

fun:

cool

fun:

to

fun:

the

fun:

touch—the

fun:

long

fun:

walk

fun:

in

fun:

the

fun:

warm

fun:

sunshine

fun:

seemed

fun:

to

fun:

have

fun:

heated

fun:

him

fun:

up.

fun:

As

fun:

the

fun:

nighttime

fun:

chill

fun:

began

fun:

to

fun:

settle

fun:

in,

fun:

it

fun:

was

fun:

a

fun:

comforting

fun:

warmth.

“In

fun:

that

fun:

case,

fun:

may

fun:

I

fun:

take

fun:

you

fun:

out

fun:

to

fun:

dinner?”

“You’re

fun:

not

fun:

sick

fun:

of

fun:

me

fun:

yet?”

“I

fun:

think,

fun:

my

fun:

dear

fun:

Ven,

fun:

that

fun:

I

fun:

could

fun:

spend

fun:

a

fun:

hundred

fun:

days

fun:

just

fun:

like

fun:

this

fun:

one

fun:

without

fun:

getting

fun:

bored.

fun:

If

fun:

you’d

fun:

like,

fun:

I

fun:

know an

fun:

excellent

fun:

seafood

fun:

restaurant

fun:

just

fun:

around

fun:

the

fun:

corner

fun:

from

fun:

the

fun:

hotel.”

“I

fun:

could...

fun:

wait,

fun:

how

fun:

do

fun:

you

fun:

know

fun:

what

fun:

hotel

fun:

I’m

fun:

staying

fun:

at?”

“Ah...”

fun:

The

fun:

lizard’s scales

fun:

were

fun:

starting

fun:

to

fun:

turn

fun:

magenta

fun:

again.

“You

fun:

rigged

fun:

my

fun:

hotel,

fun:

too?”

“Rigged

fun:

is

fun:

such

fun:

a...

fun:

an

fun:

indelicate

fun:

word.”

Takhar

fun:

straightened,

fun:

pulling

fun:

away

fun:

from

fun:

the

fun:

lizard,

fun:

his

fun:

hackles

fun:

raising.

“Now,

fun:

Ven...”

“You

fun:

manipulated

fun:

me!”

fun:

the

fun:

fox

fun:

growled. “And

fun:

I

fun:

gave

fun:

you

fun:

a

fun:

pass

fun:

for

fun:

it,

fun:

but

fun:

this

fun:

is

fun:

too

fun:

far.

fun:

Is

fun:

there

fun:

any

fun:

part

fun:

of

fun:

this

fun:

vacation

fun:

you

fun:

didn’t

fun:

choose

fun:

for

fun:

me?”

“That’s

fun:

not...

fun:

I

fun:

mean...”

fun:

the

fun:

lizard

fun:

was

fun:

truly

fun:

flustered,

fun:

unable

fun:

to

fun:

meet

fun:

Takhar’s

fun:

furious

fun:

glare,

fun:

and

fun:

stumbling

fun:

over

fun:

his

fun:

words. “I-I

fun:

didn’t

fun:

mean

fun:

any

fun:

harm...”

“You

fun:

had

fun:

no

fun:

right,”

fun:

Takhar

fun:

said.

fun:

In

fun:

a

fun:

fury,

fun:

he

fun:

stood

fun:

up,

fun:

backing

fun:

away

fun:

from

fun:

the

fun:

lizard.

fun:

He

fun:

was

fun:

aware

fun:

that

fun:

he

fun:

was

fun:

causing

fun:

a

fun:

scene,

fun:

but

fun:

he

fun:

cared

fun:

very

fun:

little. “You

fun:

don’t

fun:

get

fun:

to

fun:

dictate

fun:

my

fun:

life

fun:

to

fun:

me.

fun:

By

fun:

the

fun:

fire

fun:

and

fun:

ash,

fun:

we

fun:

met

fun:

yesterday.”

fun:

The

fun:

anger

fun:

choked

fun:

his

fun:

thoughts

fun:

and

fun:

his

fun:

words,

fun:

and

fun:

he

fun:

found

fun:

he

fun:

had

fun:

nothing

fun:

more

fun:

to

fun:

say

fun:

to

fun:

Fratelion.

fun:

Turning

fun:

on

fun:

his

fun:

heel,

fun:

he

fun:

walked

fun:

away

fun:

from

fun:

the

fun:

beach

fun:

and

fun:

the

fun:

lizard

fun:

and

fun:

the

fun:

pleasant

fun:

evening.




This

fun:

was

fun:

the

fun:

first

fun:

of

fun:

two

fun:

parts

fun:

of “Spy

fun:

Games”

fun:

by

fun:

J.S.

fun:

Hawthorne,

fun:

read for you

fun:

by

fun:

Khaki,

fun:

your

fun:

Faithful

fun:

Fireside

fun:

Companion.

fun:

Tune

fun:

in

fun:

next

fun:

time

fun:

to

fun:

find

fun:

out

fun:

how

fun:

Fratelion

fun:

tries

fun:

to

fun:

repair

fun:

the

fun:

damage

fun:

he’s

fun:

caused.

As

fun:

always,

fun:

you

fun:

can

fun:

find

fun:

more

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