I knew the moment the steering on my car went funny that I was done for. It was Christmas Eve and in a moment of extreme foolishness, I’d gone out for a drive.

I know what you are thinking. “Silly fool” and worse. It was Christmas and I wanted to be myself for a few hours at least.

By myself, I mean Joanne rather than my given name of John.

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Chapter 35
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Bucht followed Dock through the disheveled streets into the Talos district. Nervaeus was last seen in the area.

“What’s the plan?” Bucht asked.

Dock said, “Adamast shouldn’t be far behind us. If we spot Nervaeus, we slow him down if necessary, but wait for her to launch an all-out assault. I’ll scan for any weaknesses, and heal minor injuries, as usual.”

“Works for me. I think we should have packed some water.”

“There should be plenty around this part of town for you to play with.”

“Uhh, okay,” Linnea agreed, not without grave misgivings. She felt that she’d already opened Pandora’s Box. Now, she found that the box was full of smaller boxes, all of them belonging to Pandora, and each one more portentious and potentially dangerous than the one before.