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“Damn. I have a few patients who work there. Their health has taken a remarkable upturn in the last few years. They don’t even resent it.”
Hazor smiled. “I have had the food. It’s good. It’s like shredded henvor or zak fish and a bunch of slivered shredded vegetables fresh from the market. It is savoury and sweet, and if you are daring, you can get it spicy.”
“Interesting. What are the hours?”
“From what I gather, six in the morning until five in the afternoon. They take the seventh day off.”
“And they are working tomorrow?”
“Yes.”
“Excellent. I will investigate. I am always interested in a new place to take Dr. Avengil.”
Hazor looked and saw the genuine interest in the doctor’s face. He laughed. “Ask for extra akko. It will surprise you.”
He left and checked his com for a path to the pub. He wanted to check on Cloudy, and socializing with her family seemed a good start.
* * * *
Cloudy stepped into the pub, and there was a shout of welcome. She laughed, and her father led her to the table in the back, which was rapidly filling with items from the menu.
The server came by with a loaded tray and laughed. “Cloudy, you look like hell. Got a few Siloven eggs here. They are new. There was a lot of disgusting taste-testing, but we ended up with a decent egg that is biosafe.”
“Wow. That is quite the advertisement.”
“I know, right. The locals are going nuts for it.” Bess grinned.
Cloudy looked at Bess’s arms, and she saw the flame marks around her forearms. “Uh, cuz, I think you are going to get a call from the assessment centre.”
“Why?”
“Because despite your lovely lowland Vecchin markings, I can see the birthmarks on your arms, and I am betting that you have some on your thighs as well. Mine were lightning.”
“Uh-huh. Did they cook you today or something?”
“Little bit. Those markings are leftovers from some kind of alien bodyguard, you know, before biblical times. Heck, given our family lineage, they might have visited the Incas or Aztecs.”
Bess smiled. “Or Olmecs.”
“Them too. The assessors wanted to check on how Ra was doing, and apparently, some of them missed the clue that he was in Egypt.”
Bess paused as she set another dish on the table. “I am guessing that he has wings?”
“First-gen Hmrain all have wings.”
“Then, you really think he stayed in one place?”
Cloudy blinked as she grabbed a handful of fries. “Shit. I didn’t think of that. The fuckers can fly.”
Her mother tutted. “Language.”
“I just spent over an hour getting drained by one of them and proving that I am actually hiding a few things, including energy weapons.”
“Draining? Oh, dear. Have some juice.”
Her father chuckled. “She’s got a suitor. He’s determined, and the last time I saw him, he was on fire.”
Her mother was stroking her hair, and her hand froze. “Tall fellow, Hmrain eyes, some kind of white flame flickering around his head? Armoured bodysuit? Two buddies? Caused the pub to go quiet.”
