Anwyn and Anthony engage in a week long experiment to see what it is like in the other person's shoes. Meanwhile Mark's wife Theresa gets herself in hot water when she shoots her mouth off.

By 407 the explorers of the African Coast had circumnavigated the continent, the Arabian Peninsula, and reached India. Westward exploration and colonists were moving into the New World. They did this by reallocating those being sent to Senegal, which had reached 3.8 million people. Racial bigotry in Senegal was greatly reduced as the younger populations became increasingly racially blended. The Clan Corvo had explored the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean establishing bases.

“Are you awake?” Mason asked. His voice seemed far away.

“Mason?”

“Todd?”

The bathroom faded from my sight, torn away like a discarded canvas, and was replaced by the pale white of a hospital room. I heard the whirring of machinery, and felt the pain of a needle in my arm. It wasn’t a proper hospital room – that much I could tell. At my feet I could see a blue curtain, the only shield between me and a bustling emergency room.

Mason was sitting beside the bed, he looked uncharacteristically concerned. He wouldn’t be so concerned if he knew the truth.

Chapter 15

We didn't get the chance to talk again until we were walking back to the RV after the after party. We said our usual goodbyes to Noah and his band friends and then allowed The Bleeding Heart Boys to get enough ahead of us so that they couldn't hear our conversation. I was orchestrating that manoeuvre, so Ellie and Sarah were waiting for me to start the talk.

“Ellie, I couldn't help but overhear you talking to Gabi about further feminisation surgery. Does she have issues with the way she looks?” I asked.