Themaoodrooted,gazeflickeringlikehewaswrestlingwithsomethieringinthedarkerersofhismind.

        Reyawatchedhim,notinghowtheheathadnearlysteamedhimalivefromthei.Shesmirkedinwardly.Hewasalreadyburningup,nearlysettingthathazmatsuitonfire.Nowayhecouldkeeppyiraintfer.

        "Whatareyousoafraidof?"shewhispered,hervoicesoftasadream."It''''''''snotlikeyou''''''''llloseapieceofyourself."

        Hedrewinaloh,chestheaving,asifsteelinghimselfforachoice.Then—withoutanotherword—heturnedandstrodeforthedoor.

        Reya''''''''sbrowfurrowed.Aflickerofdoubtscrapedatherposure.Hadshemiscalcuted?Noway.Washereallygoingtowalkaway?

        Butthedisappoididn''''''''tstlong.

        Hereturnedmomentster.

        Stillsealedihehazmatsuit—onlynow,ajaggedholehadbeencutcrudelyintothecrotch.Fromitjuttedanenged,purplishlength,slidstraining,framedgrotesquelybythesterilewhitefabric.

        Somethinggtoit.Notskin,notcloth,butathin,translutgstretchedtightovertheshaft,glisteninglikesomemanufacturedmembrane.

        Reya''''''''sgazesoit—andfroze.Hersmirkvanished.

        Awaveofrevulsionrippedthroughher.Herinstinctsrecoiledviolently.Thatthingwasn''''''''tbareflesh.Itwassealed,encased,blockedoff—theverypartsheofeedfromsmotheredinsideanartificialshell.

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