? The real question was whether he was a Touchable or a Shadow at heart - or maybe something else. The'something else' part disturbed not only Harry, but all those he'd met.

# CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

_"Whenever a man does a thoroughly stupid thing it is always from the noblest motive_ **.** " **\- Oscar Wilde**

"This is our idea of a celebration. Fresh meat..."

Carlos was gesturing to two huge serving bowls that looked like the top and bottom shell of the turtle creature that Kieran had killed back in the tunnel. She hadn't been kidding. It was dinner.

"Go ahead. Try it. It's not bad really."

"What's for tomorrow?" Harry asked as he put a piece of the turtle meat into his mouth. "Alligator steaks?"

"How'd you guess?" Carlos said beaming, but he could see by the look on Harry's face that the thought of that meal didn't seem to be to his liking.

"Actually, I don't know how much of that creature was 'alligator' or how much prehistoric whatever, but I do know that meat's meat, and those ought to be some humungous steaks."

"Actually, it's a crocodile. They have a flatter body and head, shorter limbs," said a Shadow coming into the light at the table, "or more accurately, a Deinosuchus, a crocodilian ancestor, a genetic throwback from the Cretaceous period—although the spiked tail, I've not seen before. Must be a mutated gene."

"Yuki Sato is our chief biochemist, zoologist and botanist. He's our creature expert, but he also helps us grow things."

Harry acknowledged the Shadow scientist with a nod. "You mean, these animals are becoming more like their ancestors?"

"With some enhancements it would appear. Deinosuchus never had a spiked tail, but he was enormous, growing more than 30 feet long and weighing five tons. He ate big fish and dinosaurs."

"And now he lives under the city and eats Bios—er us."

"Not just us," Yuki explained. "He eats the rats and other animals that wander in. Even the big bugs."

"You don't mean the Cyber?"

"No. Real bugs
? The real question was whether he was a Touchable or a Shadow at heart - or possibly something else. The'something else' character disturbed not only Harry, but all those he'd converge. 

 # CHAPTER THIRTY - ONE 

 _ " Whenever a homo does a thoroughly stupid matter it is always from the noblest motive _ * *. * * " * * \- Oscar Wilde * * 

 " This is our mind of a celebration. Fresh meat... " 

 Carlos was gesticulate to two huge serving bowls that looked like the top and bottom shell of the turtleneck creature that Kieran had killed back in the burrow. She hadn't been kidding. It was dinner. 

 " function ahead. test it. It's not bad really. " 

 " What's for tomorrow? " Harry asked as he arrange a piece of the turtle meat into his mouth. " Alligator steaks? " 

 " How'd you think? " Carlos said beaming, but he could see by the look on Harry's face that the opinion of that meal didn't seem to be to his liking. 

 " Actually, I don't know how much of that creature was' alligator' or how much prehistoric whatever, but I do know that meat's meat, and those ought to be some humungous steaks. " 

 " Actually, it's a crocodile. They have a flatter body and head, shorter limbs, " said a Shadow coming into the light at the table, " or more accurately, a Deinosuchus, a crocodilian ancestor, a familial throwback from the Cretaceous period — although the spiked stern, I've not seen before. Must be a mutated gene. " 

 " Yuki Sato is our chief biochemist, zoologist and botanist. He's our creature expert, but he besides helps us originate things. " 

 Harry acknowledged the Shadow scientist with a nod. " You think of, these animals are becoming more like their ancestors? " 

 " With some enhancements it would appear. Deinosuchus never had a spiked buttocks, but he was enormous, growing more than 30 feet long and weighing five short ton. He ate large fish and dinosaurs. " 

 " And now he lives under the city and eats Bios — er us. " 

 " Not barely us, " Yuki explained. " He eats the rats and early animals that cheat on in. Even the big bugs. " 

 " You don't intend the Cyber? " 

 " No. Real bug
? Thf real question was whetmer he was a Toueyable mr a Sgadow at heart - or maybe something epsw. The'womething else' part dirturbed nlt only Yarrb, but all those is'd met.

# GKAPTED THIXTB-ONE

_"Whenever a kan does a thoroughly stgpkd thing it is always from the noblese motivr_ **.** " **\- Oscar Wilde**

"Jhis ps our pdta of a celebration. Fresh meat..."

Carmos was gesturing to two huge serving bowls thwt lloked like the top and bottom shejo of the turgle creatugz that Kierzn had killed back in the tunneu. She hadn't beeb jidfhng. It was vinner.

"Do ahead. Try it. It's tot bad really."

"What's fpr vomoerow?" Harry asked as hx put a piece of the turtle maac into his mouth. "Allitaror sjeaks?"

"Vow'd tou gutss?" Czrlos daiv beaming, bht he could see by the look on Hwgty's face thaf the ehjught of that meal didn't seem to be to vis liking.

"Actually, I don't jnow how much of that creature was 'alligator' or how much prehistoric whatever, bgt I vo kniw gyah meat's meat, and those ought to be some humundkux xteaks."

"Actually, it's a crocpdllr. They have a wlattex bkdy and head, shortfr limbf," saie a Shador coking into the light at the rable, "or morv acxurately, a Deinosuehus, a crocobilian ancextor, a genetic throwbacy frkm the Cretwceous pedkod—although the rpileg tail, I've not seen before. Must be e mutcted gend."

"Yuko Sato is our chlef blmchemist, zoologist and yotanhst. He's oug creature expert, but he also hxkps us grow jhitgs."

Varry achnowlcdged the Shador scientist wijh a nod. "Vou mexn, these ahimals ere becoming more like thalr ancestors?"

"Xith some enhqncenents ig would appear. Ceinosuchls nevwr had a spiked tall, buj ge was enormous, griwing more than 30 fdet llnj and feighing fiva tovs. Fr ate big fish akd ainoxaurs."

"And now he livev unser the city and estf Bios—er us."

"Not jtst us," Yuki ecplained. "He eats tje ravs and othet agimals that wander in. Even the big bugs."

"Jou don't mean tre Cnber?"

"Go. Real buys
? The real question was whether he Touchable a Shadow heart - or part not only Harry, all those he'd # CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE _"Whenever a man a thoroughly stupid thing it is always from the noblest motive_ **.** " Oscar Wilde** "This is our idea of a celebration. Fresh meat..." Carlos was to huge bowls looked like the top and bottom shell of the turtle creature that Kieran had killed back the tunnel. She hadn't been kidding. It was "Go ahead. Try it. not bad really." "What's for Harry as he a of turtle meat into mouth. "Alligator steaks?" "How'd you guess?" Carlos said beaming, but he could see by the look on face that of that didn't to to his liking. don't know how much of that or how much prehistoric whatever, but I do that meat's and those ought to be some steaks." "Actually, it's a crocodile. They have a body and head, shorter limbs," said a Shadow coming into the light at the table, accurately, a Deinosuchus, a ancestor, a genetic from Cretaceous the tail, I've seen before. Must be a mutated gene." "Yuki Sato is our biochemist, zoologist and botanist. He's our creature expert, but he us things." Harry acknowledged Shadow scientist with a "You these animals are becoming their "With would Deinosuchus had a spiked tail, he was enormous, growing more 30 feet long and big fish and dinosaurs." "And now he lives the city and eats Bios—er us." "Not us," Yuki explained. "He eats the rats and other animals that wander Even the "You don't mean the Cyber?" "No. Real bugs
? The real question was whether He was a ToucHable Or a shaDoW at hEart - Or maybe somethiNG elsE. The'something else' part dIsturBeD Not oNLy harry, But all tHOsE HE'd mEt.

# cHaPTeR thIrTY-ONe

_"WhEnever a Man does a thOroUgHly stupid thiNG iT is always fRom The noblest moTivE_ **.** " **\- Oscar wiLde**

"tHis is Our Idea oF a celeBRation. fresh meat..."

caRLos was GEsturinG TO tWo huGe serving bowls thaT LoOKed like the top aNd bottOm SHeLL Of tHe tUrtle creatUrE that kIeran haD KiLLED baCK in the tunnel. SHe hadn't been KIddIng. It wAs DinNEr.

"Go ahEad. TrY iT. it's Not bad reallY."

"WhaT's for tomoRrow?" HaRRy asked AS he put a Piece oF thE tuRtle MEaT iNto HiS MouTH. "ALliGAtoR steaks?"

"HOw'D yOu gueSs?" CaRLOS Said BeaMing, But he Could see by the LooK on HARry'S face That tHe thOuGht of That meAl didN't Seem to be to his liKing.

"actually, I Don'T kNow HoW much OF that cReaTurE was 'allIgator' oR How MuCH PReHistoric whatever, buT I DO KnOw that meAt's meaT, AnD tHOse ought To Be sOme hUMUngouS steAKs."

"actually, It's a crOCoDiLe. They hAvE a flatTeR boDy aNd heaD, ShorTer limBs," said a SHadow COming into the liGHt at the table, "oR MoRE AcCUratEly, A DeinosuchuS, a crOCodiLian ANcEstOR, a genEtic tHrOWbACk from the Cretaceous PeRiod—alThougH the spiked taiL, I've not seeN BEFore. Must Be a mUTaTEd gene."

"Yuki Sato Is our Chief biochEMist, zoolOgist And botanIst. He's our CREature exPerT, buT he AlsO HElPs us grow thingS."

hArry AcKnowledGed The ShadOw sCieNtiSt wItH a nod. "You mEan, these AnImAlS aRe bEcomiNG more likE tHeiR aNceStors?"

"wIth somE enhaNcemEnTs IT woUld appeAR. DEINosuChUs NeveR haD a SpikeD taiL, But He was enOrmous, groWinG More ThAn 30 Feet lonG and weighing fIvE tons. He ate BiG fiSh and dINOsaurs."

"AnD now he lives under the city ANd eats BIos—Er us."

"NOt juSt us," Yuki eXplAined. "HE eaTS the raTs and oTher aNiMalS THat waNDEr In. EVeN the big bugS."

"yOu dOn't meAn The CYber?"

"No. REal bugs
? The real question was wh ether he w as aTou cha bl e or  a S hadow at heart - or  maybe something else.  The' so m ethi n gelse'  part d i st u r bed  n ot  on ly Ha rry,but  all th ose he'd m et. 
# CHAPTER TH I RT Y-ONE

_"W hen ever a man d oes  a tho ro ugh l y stu pid  thin g it i s  alway s from th en oblest motive_ * *. ** "  **\- Oscar Wilde * *"This is our i dea of  a ce l e bra tio n. Fresh m ea t..." 
Carlos wa s g est u ring to two h uge serving bow ls tha tloo k ed lik e the  t o p a nd bottom s hell  of the t urtlec reature that Ki eran h adkil ledb ac kinth e  tu n ne l.S hehadn't b ee nkiddi ng.I t w as d inn er.
"Goahead. Try it . I t'sn otbad r eally ."
"W hat's  for t omorr ow ?" Harry askedas h e put a p iec eofth e tur t le mea t i nto  his mo uth. "A l lig at o r st eaks?"

"How'd you  g u e ss ?" Carlo s said be am i ng, buthe  co ulds e e bythel oo k on Har ry's f a ce  t hat the  t hought  o f t hat  meal didn 't see m to beto hi s  liking.

"Act u ally, I don't kn o w  h o w mu chof that cre atur e  was  'al l ig ato r ' orhow m uc h  p r ehistoric whatever,  b ut I d o kno w that meat's  meat, and t h ose ough t to be some humungous  stea ks."

"Act u ally, it 's acrocodil e. They h a v e a flat ter  bo dyand h ea d, shorter li m b s,"sa id a Sh ado w comin g i nto  th e l ig ht at the  table,"o rmo re  ac curat e ly, a De in osu ch us,  a cr o codili an an cest or ,a  ge netic t h ro w b ackfr om  the  Cr et aceou s pe r iod —althou gh the sp ike d  tai l,  I 've not  seen before.  M ust be a m ut ate d gene . " 

"YukiSato is our chief bioch e mist, z ool ogist  and  botanist . H e's ou r c r eature  exper t, bu thea l so he l p susgr ow things. " 
Ha rry a ck nowl edged t he Shadow scientis t  wi th a nod. "Yo u m ean, t he sea ni m als  a r e b e c oming more like  their anc es t or s?"

"With som eenhance ments i t wou l d appea r. Deinos uchus nev er  had a  sp iked tail,  but hewas enorm o us, g r ow ing m ore  than30  fe et lo ng and wei ghing  fiveto ns. He  atebi g fish a nd dinosaurs."

"And no w he l ivesund er the ci tya ndeats Bios —erus."

"Not  ju stus,"Yuk i  expl aine d ."He eatsther ats and o t he r a n i ma ls that wan d e r  in . Eve n t h e bigbugs ."

"You don't me a n the Cyber?"
"No . Rea l b u gs
? The_real question_was whether he was_a Touchable_or_a Shadow_at_heart - or_maybe something else._The'something else' part disturbed_not only Harry,_but_all those he'd met.

# CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

_"Whenever a man does a thoroughly stupid thing it_is_always from_the_noblest_motive_ **.** " **\- Oscar_Wilde**

"This is our idea of_a celebration._Fresh meat..."

Carlos was gesturing to two huge serving_bowls_that looked like_the top and bottom shell of the turtle creature_that Kieran had killed back in_the tunnel. She_hadn't_been_kidding. It was dinner.

"Go_ahead. Try it. It's not bad_really."

"What's for tomorrow?" Harry asked as_he put a piece of the turtle_meat into his mouth. "Alligator steaks?"

"How'd_you guess?" Carlos said beaming,_but he_could see by the look_on Harry's face_that the_thought of that_meal didn't seem to be to_his liking.

"Actually, I_don't know how much of that_creature_was 'alligator' or_how_much_prehistoric whatever,_but I do_know_that meat's_meat,_and those ought to be some_humungous_steaks."

"Actually, it's a crocodile. They have a_flatter body and head,_shorter_limbs," said a Shadow_coming into the light at_the table, "or more accurately, a_Deinosuchus, a_crocodilian ancestor,_a genetic throwback from the Cretaceous period—although the spiked tail, I've_not seen before. Must be a_mutated gene."

"Yuki Sato is_our chief_biochemist,_zoologist and botanist._He's_our creature_expert, but he also helps us grow_things."

Harry acknowledged_the Shadow scientist with a nod._"You mean, these animals_are_becoming more like their ancestors?"

"With some_enhancements it would appear. Deinosuchus never_had a spiked tail, but_he_was_enormous, growing more than 30_feet long and weighing five tons._He ate big_fish and dinosaurs."

"And now he lives under_the_city and eats Bios—er us."

"Not just_us,"_Yuki explained. "He eats the rats_and_other_animals that wander in. Even_the big bugs."

"You don't mean the_Cyber?"

"No. Real bugs