“Do you ever try to figure out what year it is?” Alex asked. “It’s 2113,” Zhan said. “No, he means Earth year, and it’s…2081, I think?” Nick said. “You’re both wrong. I mean…there’s gravel roads, the Lethior Motorcoach is like a souped-up model T, we’ve got electric lights and phones, but everything’s wired for holograms, …

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“So here’s what I don’t understand,” Rixie said. “Why did you take the bait?” “I was mad,” Liss said. “I wasn’t thinking of it from his perspective, I….” “No, no, no,” Rixie interrupted, smiling inscrutably. “Liss Peten. The White Shaar. You’ve been smuggling for years. You’re very good at what you do, and you haven’t …

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“So why are all of you here, anyhow?” Nest asked. “Narrative convenience,” Mak said, as he finished folding up some sheet music into a folder. “See you tomorrow, boss, and see you later, Nest.” “Huh?” “Mak, what are the lottery numbers for tomorrow night?” Alex asked. “Three of you have enough money, I think,” Mak …

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You’d never know it, but buddy, I’m a kind of poet, And I got a lot of things I like to say. –Harold Allen and Johnny Mercer, “One for My Baby (and One More for the Road)”   Tuesday is always a quiet night at the bar, no matter where in the universe you happen …

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