”Alice took Lucinda in her arms, her new body still feeling weird, its movements willed rather than instinctual responses. Lucinda had the most beau...tiful hair, thought Alice, holding it in her fingertips, enjoying its luxurious glossy feel, acquainting herself with sensual touch again. “Look at the moon, little duck, look at the moon,” purred Alice. They stared through the open window together at the full moon in a darkness that seemed to be pulsating, where all the stars seemed to have. We had not fully discussed the intentions of the night but as the early hours wore on it became pretty clear. We had enough to drink to start talking a bit more freely. I had at one point gotten up to go into our computer den and Anthony came with me. While showing him my computer set up we fell into a talk about Emily. He complemented her several times and told me how lucky I was. He made a small joke about sharing and I happened to catch it. I told him that what she wants she gets. I didn't. He was hit with four high-velocity 9mm hollowpoints in the upper chest, took a stumbling step to the right and went down hard, smacking his face into the blacktop. He kicked a few times and lay still.The young driver froze, looking at us with an astonished expression that would have been funny under other circumstances. Then his head snapped around and he floored the gas, made a sharp right and nearly sideswiped a minivan as he slid into the street, heading west. I got the license number.Linda. It’s sad that she isn’t here to help.’ ‘So the baby isn’t coming tonight?’ asked Kokata. ‘It doesn’t look like it,’ said the termite-woman. ‘Please stay with us till dawn,’ begged Kokata. ‘Do I have a choice?’ Kokata averted his eyes. ‘I’m sorry,’ he said. ‘I wish I had the kind of man who would abduct a stranger to help me,’ said the termite-woman and sighed. ‘Don’t worry about it, sir spider. As long as you carry me back at dawn, we can remain friends about it.’ ‘I will,’ promised Kokata..