In a Clean White Room

“I’d be delighted t’force you to kill me over a new jacket,” Rush purred.

Telford laughed aloud—half delight, half wild despair—and, for a brief moment, under a setting alien star, the guy was very close to likable.

Cannibalistic, parasitic, alien snakes? Sure. What the heck.

“Felicitations,” Rush said dryly. “Be sure you tell Kiva just how on fire I set everything.”

Volker’s kidnapper and cat were still sleeping. That was nice. For them.

Maybe Dale of the Sixth House was a nice guy.

“Oh, ‘pretentious,’ are we?” Rush purred. “Did you learn that word for me? I’m flattered.”

“It’s going to be a long, bad day,” Telford whispered.

“Dungeons and Dragons?” Volker’s voice cracked. Blood was leaking out of his shoulder pretty darn fast. He tried to stay calm. Get his heart to beat a little slower. “Ever heard of it?”

P=NP, eh?

…and there is no space there.