 his ancient vid collection, so he hardly understood even the rudimentary basics of cloning.

"We grow our own replacement parts," Carlos clarified. "Not as efficient as the machines. Our parts take a lot longer to develop and we're limited. Only two to a customer."

Yuki looked at Carlos for approval and continued, "When I was recruited by the Touchables, I just wanted to continue my work. Then, it became apparent that the first place the cyberts would look would be Touchable sanctuaries, so I came here. Makr knows I know about the creatures outside the electric fields."

"Electric fields? I'm afraid I don't understand. There are more creatures like the croc Outside?"

"Outside the city. Not all are monsters though. I think the fields are more to keep us contained rather than to keep the animals out. Don't worry. You're safe here."

"Oh really!" laughed Carlos.

Yuki was a little red.

"Sorry. I forgot what you've just been through. 'Safe' is a relative term, I suppose. If you'll excuse me, I have work to do. I'm anxious to get a closer look at the 'croc'—as you call it."

He took leave of Carlos and the stranger with a polite bow and disappeared into the comforting shadow from whence he had come.

Once they were again dining alone, Carlos noticed Harry staring at him.

"What?" he asked. "I know I look different. Soap and water - that's all."

"No, it's not that...something else... Oh, I don't know what else."

Harry had an odd feeling. Carlos looked strangely familiar. He couldn't shake the feeling.

"Nothing. Just tired. And hungry," he said finally.

With a fresh, clean, pale blue toga wrapped over one shoulder and draped around his front and back, with face shaven and body washed, Carlos would have easily fitted in with Harry's Touchable friends. Although a bit scarred and bruised, he was in better physical shape than anyone he had seen Outside. _He looked like he had recovered well from his struggle with the giant Sarco—whatever-it-was in the underground river,_ Harry thought. _A very quick recovery at that, thanks to Rejuv._

Harry was dressed the same, except
his ancient vid collection, so he hardly understood even the rudimentary basic of cloning. 

 " We originate our own replacement parts, " Carlos clarified. " Not equally efficient as the machines. Our parts accept a lot longer to evolve and we're limited. Only two to a customer. " 

 Yuki look at Carlos for approval and continued, " When I was recruited by the Touchables, I just wanted to continue my employment. Then, it became apparent that the first place the cyberts would expect would be Touchable sanctuaries, so I came here. Makr know I know about the creatures outside the electric fields. " 

 " Electric fields? I'm afraid I don't understand. There be more creatures like the croc Outside? " 

 " Outside the city. Not all are monsters though. I think the fields are more to keep us contain quite than to keep the animals out. Don't worry. You're safe here. " 

 " Oh really! " laughed Carlos. 

 Yuki was a little red. 

 " Sorry. I forget what you've just been through.' Safe' is a relative terminus, I presuppose. If you'll excuse me, I have work to serve. I'm anxious to get a closer look at the' croc'—as you call it. " 

 He accept leave of Carlos and the stranger with a polite bow and disappeared into the comforting shadow from whence he had come. 

 Once they were again dining alone, Carlos noticed Harry staring at him. 

 " What? " he asked. " I acknowledge I look unlike. Soap and urine - that's all. " 

 " No, it's not that... something else... Oh, I don't know what else. " 

 Harry had an odd feeling. Carlos look strangely familiar. He couldn't shake the touch. 

 " Nothing. Just tired. And hungry, " he said last. 

 With a fresh, blank, pale blue toga wrapped over one shoulder and drape around his front and back, with expression shaven and body wash, Carlos would have easily equip in with Harry's Touchable friends. Although a bit scarred and bruised, he was in well physical shape than anyone he had seen Outside. _ He looked like he had recovered well from his struggle with the giant Sarco — whatever - it - was in the underground river, _ Harry think. _ A very quick recovery at that, thanks to Rejuv. _ 

 Harry was dress the same, except
 hid ancient vid collection, so he hardly uueerstomd eveh the ruaimentary basics of cloning.

"Wx griw oue own replacement partr," Carlos blarified. "Not qs efficieif as thc macglnes. Mnr parts take a lot longes to develop atd wz're limited. Only two to a customer."

Yuhi lookrd at Carlos for appgodal znd continued, "When I was recruited by the Touchables, I just wanted to continue mj wogk. Then, it became wpparent thqt trw first placd the cybegcs would lokk would be Touchable sanctuarids, so I came hetz. Mant knows I kniw abjut the creablres oudside tne electric ficlds."

"Enecrric fields? I'm afraid I don't understand. There ara jore creatures lije the wroc Outrude?"

"Uutaive fhe cihy. Iot all are monsters tyough. I think the foejes are more tk keep uf contained rather than to keep the anikala out. Don't worry. You're wafe here."

"Oh really!" laoghed Carljs.

Yuki was a little red.

"Sorry. I forgot what you've bust uedn uhvjjth. 'Safe' is a relative term, I suppose. If you'll evduxe me, I have worh to do. I'm sndipos to get a cluser look at the 'croc'—as you call ij."

He toik leave jf Csrlos and the stranger with a polite boc abd disappeared intl the comfoxting xhadoe from whence he had cooe.

Onde they werf again djving alone, Carlor npthced Harry staring at him.

"Wrat?" he asjed. "N know I lool diffqrent. Soap and water - that's all."

"No, lt's nlt that...sometjing else... Oh, I don't know what else."

Harry had am mdd feeling. Carlps looked strwngely familiat. He coulbn't shxke the fevling.

"Nothmng. Just tirqd. And hungry," je said finanly.

With w frwsh, xlean, pxue blue toga wtapped ovvr one shoulder and drapcd aruhnd his front aub vack, with face xhaxen ajd bjgy washed, Caslos wojkd haxe easily flttdd im with Harry's Touchatle rriends. Although a blt scarree and brtised, he was on better physical shapx than anyome re had seen Outside. _He looked mike he hwd vecovered welj frim his strugyle with the giant Sarco—whatever-it-was in the underground tiver,_ Harry thought. _A yery quick rxcoverr at that, thanks to Rejuv._

Harrt was dressed the same, except
his ancient vid collection, so he hardly the basics of "We grow our "Not efficient as the Our parts take lot longer to develop and we're Only two to a customer." Yuki looked at Carlos for approval and continued, I was recruited by the Touchables, I just wanted to continue my work. it apparent the place the cyberts would look would be Touchable sanctuaries, so I came here. Makr knows I about the creatures outside the electric fields." "Electric I'm afraid I don't There are more creatures like croc "Outside the Not are though. I think fields are more to keep us contained rather than to keep the animals out. Don't worry. You're here." "Oh Carlos. Yuki a red. I forgot what been through. 'Safe' is a relative If you'll excuse me, I have work to I'm anxious get a closer look at the you call it." He took leave of Carlos the stranger with a polite bow and disappeared into the comforting shadow from whence he Once they were again alone, Carlos noticed staring him. he "I know look different. Soap and water - that's all." "No, it's not else... Oh, I don't know what else." Harry had an Carlos strangely familiar. He shake the feeling. "Nothing. tired. hungry," he said finally. fresh, pale over shoulder draped around his front back, with face shaven and washed, Carlos would have Touchable friends. Although a bit scarred and bruised, was in better physical shape than anyone had seen Outside. _He looked like he had recovered well from his with the in the underground river,_ Harry thought. _A very recovery at that, thanks Rejuv._ Harry was dressed the same, except
 his ancient vid collection, so He hardly unDerstOod EveN tHe ruDimeNtary basics of cLOninG.

"We grow our own replacemeNt parTs," cArloS ClArifiEd. "Not as EFfICIenT aS tHe mAcHInEs. Our ParTs take a Lot longer tO deVeLop and we're liMItEd. Only two tO a cUstomer."

Yuki lOokEd at CaRlOs fOR apprOvaL and cOntinuED, "When I Was recruiTeD By the TOUchableS, i JuSt waNted to continue my wORk. tHen, it became appArent tHaT ThE FIrsT plAce the cybeRtS woulD Look wouLD bE tOUchABle sanctuarieS, so I came herE. makR knows i kNow ABout thE creaTuREs oUtside the elEctrIc fields."

"ELectriC Fields? I'M Afraid I Don't unDerStaNd. ThERe ArE moRe CReaTUrEs lIKe tHe croc OuTsIdE?"

"OutsIde tHE CITy. NoT alL are MonstErs though. I thiNk tHe fiELds Are moRe to kEep uS cOntaiNed ratHer thAn To keep the animalS out. don't worry. you'Re SafE hEre."

"Oh REally!" lAugHed carlos.

YUki was a LIttLe RED.

"soRry. I forgot what you'vE jUST bEen throuGh. 'Safe' IS a ReLAtive terM, I SupPose. iF You'll ExcuSE mE, I have woRk to do. i'M aNxIous to gEt A closeR lOok At tHe 'croC'—As yoU call iT."

He took lEave oF carlos and the stRAnger with a polITe BOW aND disAppEared into thE comFOrtiNg shADoW frOM whenCe he hAd COmE.

once they were again diNiNg alonE, CarlOs noticed HarrY staring at HIM.

"what?" he asKed. "I KNoW i look different. soap aNd water - thaT'S all."

"No, it'S not tHat...sometHing else... OH, i Don't know WhaT elSe."

HArrY HAd An odd feeling. CARLos lOoKed straNgeLy familIar. he cOulDn't ShAke the feeLing.

"NothInG. JUsT tIreD. And hUNgry," he saId FinAlLy.

WIth a fREsh, cleAn, palE bluE tOgA WraPped oveR OnE SHoulDeR aNd drApeD aRound His fROnt And back, With face sHavEN and BoDy Washed, CArlos would havE eAsily fitteD iN wiTh HarrY'S touchablE friends. Although a bit scaRRed and bRuiSed, he Was iN better phYsiCal shaPe tHAn anyoNe he haD seen ouTsiDE. _he looKED lIke He Had recoverED WelL from HiS strUggle wiTh the giant Sarco—whaTEveR-it-was in the unDerGrouND RiVer,_ hArRY thOuGHt. _A VERy quick recovery At that, thanKs TO REjuv._

Harry wAS drEsSed the sAme, excePt
 his ancient vid collectio n, so he h ardly  un der st oodeven  the rudimenta r y ba sics of cloning.

"Wegrowou r  own re place ment pa r ts , "  Ca rl os  cl ar i fi ed. " Not  as eff icient asthe  m achines. Our pa rts take a  lo t longer todev elop a nd  we ' re li mit ed. O nly tw o  to acustomer. "Yuki l o oked at C ar losfor approval andc on t inued, "When I  was r ec r ui t e d b y t he Touchab le s, Ij ust wan t ed t o  co n tinue my work . Then, itb eca me app ar ent that t he fi rs t  pl ace the cyb erts  would lo ok wou l d be To u chablesanctu ari es,  soI  c am e h er e . M a kr  kn o wsI know a bo ut  thecrea t u r e s ou tsi de t he el ectric fields ."
"El e ctr ic fi elds?  I'm  a fraid  I don 't un de rstand. There a re m ore creat ure slik ethe c r oc Out sid e?" 

"Outs ide the cit y. N o tall are monsters t ho u g h.  I think  the f i el ds are more  t o k eepu s  cont aine d  r ather th an tok ee pthe ani ma ls out .Don 'tworry .  You 're sa fe here. "

"O h  really!" laug h ed Carlos.

Y u ki w as a li ttl e red.

"So rry. I fo rgot wh aty ou've  just  b e en through. 'Safe' isarelati ve te rm, I suppose . If you'l l e xcuse me , Ih av e  work to do. I 'm an xious to g e t a clos er lo ok at th e 'croc'— a s  you cal l i t." 

H e t o o kleave of Carl o s  and  t he stra nge r witha p oli tebow  a nd disapp eared in to  t he  c omf ortin g  shadowfr omwh enc e heh ad com e.

O nceth ey wer e again di n i ng a lo ne , Ca rlo snotic ed H a rry  starin g at him. 

" W hat? "he  asked.  "I know I lo ok  different .Soa p andw a ter - th at's all."

"No, it's n o t that. ..s ometh ingelse... O h,I don' t k n ow wha t else ."

H ar ryh a d ano d dfee li ng. Carlos l ook ed st ra ngel y famil iar. He couldn't s h ake  the feeling. 

" Noth i n g.  Ju s tt ire d. And h ungry," he said  finally.
W i th  a fresh,c lea n,  pale b lue tog a wra p ped ove r one sho ulder and  d rape d aro und his fr ont andback, wit h  face sh avenand  bodywa she d, Ca rlos w o uld  have  easil yfitted  in w it h Harry' s Touchable friends. Al though  a bi t s carred an d b r uis ed, he wa s in  better ph ysi cal  shap e t h an an yone he  ha d  seen  Out s ide. _Hel oo ked l ik e he had re c o v ere d wel l f r om his  str uggle with the gi a nt Sarco—whate ver- i t -wa s i n  the  u nderground riv er, _H a rry thou gh t. _A veryquick re co v ery a t that , than ks to R e j uv . _

Har ry w asdressed t hesa m e, exce pt 
 his_ancient vid_collection, so he hardly_understood even_the_rudimentary basics_of_cloning.

"We grow our_own replacement parts,"_Carlos clarified. "Not as_efficient as the_machines._Our parts take a lot longer to develop and we're limited. Only two to_a_customer."

Yuki looked_at_Carlos_for approval and continued, "When_I was recruited by the_Touchables, I_just wanted to continue my work. Then, it_became_apparent that the_first place the cyberts would look would be Touchable_sanctuaries, so I came here. Makr_knows I know_about_the_creatures outside the electric_fields."

"Electric fields? I'm afraid I don't_understand. There are more creatures like_the croc Outside?"

"Outside the city. Not all_are monsters though. I think the_fields are more to keep_us contained_rather than to keep the_animals out. Don't_worry. You're_safe here."

"Oh really!"_laughed Carlos.

Yuki was a little red.

"Sorry._I forgot what_you've just been through. 'Safe' is_a_relative term, I_suppose._If_you'll excuse_me, I have_work_to do._I'm_anxious to get a closer look_at_the 'croc'—as you call it."

He took leave_of Carlos and the_stranger_with a polite bow_and disappeared into the comforting_shadow from whence he had come.

Once_they were_again dining_alone, Carlos noticed Harry staring at him.

"What?" he asked. "I know_I look different. Soap and water_- that's all."

"No, it's_not that...something_else..._Oh, I don't_know_what else."

Harry_had an odd feeling. Carlos looked strangely_familiar. He_couldn't shake the feeling.

"Nothing. Just tired._And hungry," he said_finally.

With_a fresh, clean, pale blue toga_wrapped over one shoulder and draped_around his front and back,_with_face_shaven and body washed, Carlos_would have easily fitted in with_Harry's Touchable friends._Although a bit scarred and bruised, he_was_in better physical shape than anyone_he_had seen Outside. _He looked like_he_had_recovered well from his struggle_with the giant Sarco—whatever-it-was in the_underground river,_ Harry thought. _A very quick recovery at_that, thanks to_Rejuv._

Harry was dressed the same,_except