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(Scars do not appear to be cause of death –shock ... - Bad Request

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parchment. It had taken several queries and a few dead ends trying <strong>to</strong><br />

untangle the conflicting nest <strong>of</strong> directions the Hivers had given me...<br />

'southeastern section <strong>of</strong> the Hive' was a description that was next <strong>to</strong> useless.<br />

The man looked annoyed as I approached, interrupting his work. "What is it<br />

now? Can't you see I'm busy taking inven<strong>to</strong>ry? Go bother someone else."<br />

"Are you Ku'atraa?"<br />

He raised an eyebrow, "Well who wants t'know? If yer trying <strong>to</strong> worm your<br />

way out <strong>of</strong> owing me money I'll remind you that Thog the Collec<strong>to</strong>r has a<br />

two-for one special on kneecaps this week."<br />

"I was <strong>to</strong>ld <strong>to</strong> deliver this box <strong>to</strong> you."<br />

His eyes brightened, "Well, why didn't you say so in the first place? Let's see<br />

what you got for me. I'm sure it'll need <strong>to</strong> <strong>be</strong> inven<strong>to</strong>ried."<br />

"Mar <strong>to</strong>ld me <strong>to</strong> give this <strong>to</strong> you," I reached in<strong>to</strong> the rag-filled sack.<br />

As I held the box out for him <strong>to</strong> take, Ku'atraa's expression turned from one<br />

<strong>of</strong> interest <strong>to</strong> that <strong>of</strong> intense horror. The blood drained from his face, and his<br />

lips trembled as he stumbled back. "No! Please... get it away from me!"<br />

"I <strong>do</strong>n't understand... why are you afraid <strong>of</strong> this box?"<br />

"I said... g-get back! Death... evil... had <strong>to</strong> d-dupe Mar... couldn't take it any<br />

more. Please... take <strong>to</strong> Brasken... lives southwest... Hive... me... noooooo!"<br />

Apparently the sight <strong>of</strong> the box was just <strong>to</strong>o much for him as he ran<br />

screaming from the building.<br />

"Wait! What am I supposed... <strong>to</strong>... <strong>do</strong>... with..."<br />

I s<strong>to</strong>od there dumbfounded and holding the creaky wooden box in my<br />

hands.<br />

Annah looked up <strong>to</strong> me from the corner <strong>of</strong> her eye and gave her tail a little<br />

flick, "Idjit."<br />

~~~~~<br />

'Lives southwest' wasn't a very good description either, but I with a little<br />

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