Vision in Silver(200)

            But some forms of earth native were much, much older. And there were good reasons why they should be left undisturbed.

            “Here.” Tess held out the sack of food. “Mostly human food, but a couple of cookies for Skippy.”

            “The sandwiches and pastries are better than the ones you had before,” Meg said, taking the sack.

            “So far, Nadine’s Bakery and Café has delivered what it promised.”

            “That’s good.”

            “Come on, Meg!” Sam called.

            “Arooeeooeeoo!”

            Meg looked toward HGR’s second-floor window, then hurried to open the office and get the noisy youngsters inside.

            When they were gone, Tess saw the gate to Henry’s yard open. The Grizzly tipped his head toward HGR’s back door, but he didn’t wait for her. She ran to the door. As she turned to close it, she noticed the black smoke rushing toward her. Three of the Sanguinati, followed by Blair and Elliot, also in a hurry.

            She held the door for them, then followed them up to the bookstore’s office to find how just how bad it was going to be.


* * *

            Simon raced up the stairs to HGR’s office. Just as well he was in human form; his forelegs wouldn’t have supported an attempt to mount the stairs at that speed.

            Vlad said nothing; just held out the phone. But Simon noticed the tremble in the vampire’s hand.

            “This is Simon Wolfgard.”

            It was not a voice meant to shape human words. It was not a voice that should have been heard over any device created by humans.

            Simon sank into the chair. “Yes, I’ll listen.” And he did. For several minutes, he listened and said nothing. Then, “Yes, I understand.” And he did.

            By the time he hung up, the office was full of the individuals who would carry some of this weight along with him: Erebus, Vlad, Nyx, and Stavros; Blair and Elliot; Henry and Tess. But at the end of what was said, one individual had been singled out, and she wasn’t in the room.

            The sweet blood has changed things. You have changed because of her. We are intrigued by the humans who have gathered around your Courtyard, so we will give you some time to decide how much human the terra indigene will keep.

            How much time was some time? And what, exactly, was he deciding to keep—the products humans made that the terra indigene found useful, or the pieces that, taken in total, made up the essential nature of humans? Was he supposed to decide if it was possible to have a human form of terra indigene? A century from now, would there be a Human and a human, like there was a Wolf and a wolf? What if there weren’t enough terra indigene who were willing to become that human?

            How much time was some time?

            “So,” Henry finally said. “The Elders have declared a breach of trust?”

            “Yes.” The consequences were going to roll through Thaisia like a terrible storm.

            “Have they decided on extinction?”

            Simon shivered. “Not yet.”

            Silence as the rest of them absorbed the words.

            “What are you going to tell Montgomery?” Vlad asked.

            “The truth.”





CHAPTER 54




Moonsday, Maius 28


As Monty reached the doorway of Captain Burke’s office, he heard an unfamiliar voice say, “Thanks for seeing me, especially at a difficult time. My condolences on the loss of one of your men.”