
He stopped again, waiting for a reaction.

"And get that bloody bastard out of here!" Then, calmly, almost softly, "Now, please."

"You heard the captain." It was the first mutineer who hung back to offer an apology.

"Sorry, Cap'n. I guess we just lost it. It's weird now—just weird. We're all afraid. Those Cyber monkeys Inside and Outside used to fear us. What happened?"

"The entire world is about to change, like it or not, for better or worse. You've a right to be scared. Who knows if we'll survive the day?"

"You'll be in the front with us, won't you, Cap'n?"

"I'd have it no other way." Carlos started to give him a "how dare you look," but thought better of it. They all needed reassuring.

"Yessir. Thank you, sir."

The man's spirits were noticeably lifted by his superior's candor and resolve. Carlos grinned modestly and motioned for his man to take his leave.

Meanwhile, Carlos cursed himself for trusting those damn Touchables. _I know Harry. I know. Why didn't you come to me? I'd have told you of my plan to get you and all of us out of here. The final battle has begun, and you're in the middle of it. Well, it doesn't matter now. I guess we'll have to win this one without you...or die trying._

# CHAPTER FORTY-ONE

_"Why is there no E in Makr? Because I deem it so._ **\- Makr, the One and Only**

"What do you think, Dobbs? Think Carlos has it right? Is it time? Is it?"

"I don't know, Jefferson. Easy there. Keep the leg out of the sludge. That warm blood will draw plenty of attention from the truly bloodthirsty creatures. Watch it, Brooks! Turn around and watch what's ahead. You want a croc up your ass, or my boot?"

Dobbs covered the rear as the two carried Piggot's body through the sludge to a spot removed from the Nest. The three men trudged laboriously through a mile of floating tar and asphalt pieces. Dobbs noticed hardened pieces of tar and artificial rock floating in the sludge. It
He stopped again, waiting for a reaction. 

 " And get that bally asshole out of here! " Then, sedately, almost softly, " Now, please. " 

 " You learn the captain. " It was the first mutineer who hang back to propose an apology. 

 " Sorry, Cap'n. I think we just lost it. It's eldritch now — just weird. We're all afraid. Those Cyber tamper Inside and Outside used to fear us. What happened? " 

 " The entire world is about to switch, like it or not, for better or worse. You've a right to be frightened. Who knows if we'll survive the sidereal day? " 

 " You'll be in the front with us, won't you, Cap'n? " 

 " I'd experience it no other way. " Carlos started to give him a " how dare you look, " but think better of it. They all needed reassuring. 

 " Yessir. Thank you, sir. " 

 The man's spirits were perceptibly hoist by his superior's candor and resolve. Carlos grinned modestly and motioned for his man to take his leave. 

 Meanwhile, Carlos curse himself for trusting those damn Touchables. _ I know Harry. I sleep together. Why didn't you hail to me? I'd have told you of my plan to get you and all of us out of here. The concluding battle has begin, and you're in the middle of it. Well, it doesn't matter nowadays. I guess we'll have to win this one without you... or die trying. _ 

 # CHAPTER FORTY - ONE 

 _ " Why is there no E in Makr? Because I deem it then. _ * * \- Makr, the One and Only * * 

 " What do you think, Dobbs? Think Carlos has it correct? Is it clock time? Is it? " 

 " I don't know, Jefferson. Easy there. Keep the leg out of the sludge. That warm rake will draw plenty of attention from the in truth bloodthirsty creatures. Watch it, Brooks! Turn around and determine what's ahead. You want a croc up your ass, or my boot? " 

 Dobbs covered the rear as the two carry Piggot's body through the sludge to a topographic point removed from the Nest. The three man trudged laboriously through a nautical mile of floating tar and asphalt slice. Dobbs noticed harden pieces of mariner and artificial rock floating in the sludge. It

He dtopped again, waiting fov a reaction.

"And ywt thav bloodg bastara out of here!" Then, calmly, allowt sodtly, "Now, please."

"You heafd the caitain." It qas uhe first mutineec who huky baci to mhfer an apology.

"Xorry, Cap'n. I guess we juvt llst it. It's weird now—just weird. We're all aftald. Those Cyber monlqys Jnside and Outside used to fear us. What heppened?"

"The entite world is about to changf, line it or not, for bftter or wotae. Riu've a right to be scagzd. Who knowa if we'll survive the day?"

"You'll ce in the front wuth os, won't you, Rap'n?"

"I'd have it no other waf." Carlox started to glve hmm a "how dare you look," buv thought better of yt. They anl needed reassurint.

"Ywssir. Thatk yuy, skr."

Tge mzn's splrivs were notjceably lifred by his superior'x sqndor and resklve. Cwrjos grinned modestly and motioned for hps mzn to take his leave.

Meabwhile, Carlos cursed jimself fjr trusting those damn Touchables. _I know Harry. I nnow. Xhh dnen't yuy fome to me? I'd have told you of my plan to get goi snd all of us jut of here. Tje sinal battle fas beyhn, and you're in the liddle jf it. Well, it qoesm't matter now. I guess we'll yave to win nhis one without you...or die trying._

# CHAKTER FPRTY-ONE

_"Why is there no Z in Mzkr? Because I deem if so._ **\- Makr, the Ond akd Mnly**

"What do you think, Dobbf? Think Cerlos has it rignt? Is yt time? Is it?"

"I don't know, Jefferson. Easy tvere. Keep hhe leg out of the sludge. That xerm blood wilk graf plenty of abtention from tre truly bloodjhirsty cxeaturds. Watch in, Brooks! Vurn around wnd watch whad'd ahead. You xant a crjc up yoyr ass, uf my boot?"

Dobbs covered nht rear as rhe two carried Pingot's gody through thz wludge to a spoy rdmodef hrom eve Nest. The dhred mdm truaged laboriijsly through a mile of fnoatjng tar and asphaly iieces. Dovbs notised hardened lieces of tar and wrtifmcial cock fkoajing in the sludge. It
He stopped again, waiting for a reaction. that bastard out here!" Then, calmly, heard captain." It was first mutineer who back to offer an apology. "Sorry, I guess we just lost it. It's weird now—just weird. We're all afraid. Cyber monkeys Inside and Outside used to fear us. What happened?" "The entire is to like or not, for better or worse. You've a right to be scared. Who knows if we'll the day?" "You'll be in the front with won't you, Cap'n?" "I'd it no other way." Carlos to him a dare look," thought better of They all needed reassuring. "Yessir. Thank you, sir." The man's spirits were noticeably lifted by his superior's and resolve. modestly and for man take his leave. cursed himself for trusting those damn Harry. I know. Why didn't you come to I'd have you of my plan to get and all of us out of here. The battle has begun, and you're in the middle of it. Well, it doesn't matter now. we'll have to win one without you...or trying._ CHAPTER _"Why there no in Makr? Because I deem it so._ **\- Makr, the One Only** "What do you think, Dobbs? Think Carlos has it it Is it?" "I know, Jefferson. Easy there. the out of the sludge. blood draw from truly creatures. Watch it, Brooks! around and watch what's ahead. want a croc up Dobbs covered the rear as the two carried body through the sludge to a spot from the Nest. The three men trudged laboriously through a mile of tar and Dobbs noticed hardened pieces of tar and artificial floating in the sludge.

He stopped again, waiting for a Reaction.

"AnD get tHat BloOdY basTard Out of here!" Then, cALmly, Almost softly, "Now, please."

"YOu heaRd THe caPTaIn." It wAs the fiRSt MUTinEeR wHo hUnG BaCk to oFfeR an apolOgy.

"Sorry, CaP'n. I GuEss we just losT It. it's weird noW—juSt weird. We're aLl aFraid. THoSe CYBer moNkeYs InsIde and oUtside Used to feaR uS. what haPPened?"

"ThE ENtIre wOrld is about to chanGE, lIKe it or not, for beTter or WoRSe. yOU've A riGht to be scaReD. Who kNOws if we'LL sURVIve THe day?"

"You'll be iN the front wiTH us, Won't yoU, CAp'n?"

"i'D have iT no otHeR Way." carlos startEd to Give him a "hOw dare YOu look," bUT thoughT betteR of It. THey aLL nEeDed ReASsuRInG.

"YeSSir. thank you, SiR."

THe man'S spiRITS Were NotIceaBly liFted by his supeRioR's caNDor And reSolve. carlOs GrinnEd modeStly aNd Motioned for his mAn to Take his leAve.

meAnwHiLe, CarLOs cursEd hImsElf for tRusting THosE dAMN toUchables. _I know Harry. i kNOW. WHy didn't yOu come TO mE? I'D Have told YoU of My plAN To get You aND aLl of us ouT of herE. thE fInal batTlE has beGuN, anD yoU're in THe miDdle of It. Well, it Doesn'T Matter now. I guesS We'll have to win THiS ONe WIthoUt yOu...or die tryiNg._

# CHapTER fORTy-oNe

_"WhY Is theRe no E In mAkR? because I deem it so._ **\- MakR, tHe One aNd OnlY**

"What do you thiNk, Dobbs? ThiNK cArlos has It riGHt? iS it time? Is it?"

"I doN't knoW, Jefferson. eAsy there. keep tHe leg out Of the sludGE. that warm BloOd wIll DraW PLeNty of attentioN FRom tHe Truly blOodThirsty CreAtuRes. watCh It, Brooks! TUrn arounD aNd WaTcH whAt's ahEAd. You wanT a CroC uP yoUr ass, OR my booT?"

DobbS covErEd THe rEar as thE TwO CArriEd piGgot'S boDy ThrouGh thE SluDge to a sPot removeD frOM the neSt. the threE men trudged laBoRiously thrOuGh a Mile of FLOating taR and asphalt pieces. Dobbs nOTiced haRdeNed piEces Of tar and aRtiFicial RocK FloatiNg in thE sludGe. it

He stopped again, waiting  for a rea ction .
"An dgetthat  bloody bastar d  out  of here!" Then, calml y, al mo s t so f tl y, "N ow, ple a se . " 

" Yo uhea rd th e cap tai n." Itwas the fi rst  m utineer whoh un g back tooff er an apolog y.
"Sorr y,  Ca p 'n. I  gu ess w e just lost i t. It's w ei r d now— j ust wei r d .We'r e all afraid. Tho s eC yber monkeys I nsidean d  O u t sid e u sed to fea rus. W h at happ e ne d ? " 

" T he entire wor ld is about tochange ,lik e  it or  not,  f o r b etter or wo rse.  You've a  right to be s c ared. W ho kno wsifwe'l l  s ur viv et hed ay ?""Yo u'll bein  t he fr ontw i t h  us,  wo n'tyou,Cap'n?"

"I'd  ha ve i t  no  othe r way ." C ar los s tarted  to g iv e him a "how da re y ou look,"  bu ttho ug ht be t ter of  it . T hey all  needed rea ss u r i ng .

"Yessir. Thankyo u ,  s ir."

Th e man' s  s pi r its were  n oti ceab l y  lift ed b y  h is super ior'sc an do r and r es olve.Ca rlo s g rinne d  mod estlyand moti onedf or his man tot ake his leave . 
M e an w hile , C arlos curse d hi m self  for tr ust i ng th ose d am n  T o uchables. _I know H ar ry. Iknow.  Why didn't y ou come to m e ? I'd ha ve t o ld you of my plan  to g et you and all of u s out  of here . The fin a l  battlehas  be gun , a n d  y ou're in them i ddle  o f it. W ell , it do esn 'tmat ter  n ow. I gue ss we'll  h av eto  wi n thi s  one wit ho utyo u.. .or d i e tryi ng._
# C HA PT E R F ORTY-ON E 
_ " Whyis  t here  no  E  in M akr? Bec ause Ideem it s o._ **\-  M ak r, theOne and Only* *
"What doyo u t hink,D o bbs? Thi nk Carlos has it right? Is it t ime ? Isit?" 

"I don' t k now, J eff e rson.Easy t here.  K eep t he le g ou t o fthe sludge . Tha t war mbloo d willdraw plenty of att e nti on from the t rul y bl o o dt hir s ty cre at u res . Watch it, Brook s! Turn ar ou n dand watchw hat 's  ahead.  You wa nt ac roc upyour ass,  or my bo ot ?"
D o bbs  covered t he rearas the tw o  carr i ed  Pigg ot' s body  t hro ugh t he slu d geto aspot r em oved f rom t he  Nest. T he three men trudged la boriou sly t hro ugh a mil e o f  fl oating ta r an d asphaltpie ces . Dob bsn otice d ha r de ned piece s of tar and a r ti fic i a lrock floati n g inthe s lud g e. It

He stopped_again, waiting_for a reaction.

"And get_that bloody_bastard_out of_here!"_Then, calmly, almost_softly, "Now, please."

"You_heard the captain." It_was the first_mutineer_who hung back to offer an apology.

"Sorry, Cap'n. I guess we just lost it._It's_weird now—just_weird._We're_all afraid. Those Cyber monkeys_Inside and Outside used to_fear us._What happened?"

"The entire world is about to change,_like_it or not,_for better or worse. You've a right to be_scared. Who knows if we'll survive_the day?"

"You'll be_in_the_front with us, won't_you, Cap'n?"

"I'd have it no other_way." Carlos started to give him_a "how dare you look," but thought_better of it. They all needed_reassuring.

"Yessir. Thank you, sir."

The man's_spirits were_noticeably lifted by his superior's_candor and resolve._Carlos grinned_modestly and motioned_for his man to take his_leave.

Meanwhile, Carlos cursed_himself for trusting those damn Touchables.__I_know Harry. I_know._Why_didn't you_come to me?_I'd_have told_you_of my plan to get you_and_all of us out of here. The_final battle has begun,_and_you're in the middle_of it. Well, it doesn't_matter now. I guess we'll have_to win_this one_without you...or die trying._

# CHAPTER FORTY-ONE

_"Why is there no E in_Makr? Because I deem it so.__**\- Makr, the One_and Only**

"What_do_you think, Dobbs?_Think_Carlos has_it right? Is it time? Is it?"

"I_don't know,_Jefferson. Easy there. Keep the leg_out of the sludge._That_warm blood will draw plenty of_attention from the truly bloodthirsty creatures._Watch it, Brooks! Turn around_and_watch_what's ahead. You want a_croc up your ass, or my_boot?"

Dobbs covered the_rear as the two carried Piggot's body_through_the sludge to a spot removed_from_the Nest. The three men trudged_laboriously_through_a mile of floating tar_and asphalt pieces. Dobbs noticed hardened_pieces of tar and artificial rock floating in the_sludge. It