It's all plastic and birth bags.It's all plastic and birth bags. But you're a little young to understand that." "Look, are you here to guide me or criticize me? What right do you have to take apart my motives piece by piece?" Pat half-smiled, half-laughed for a moment. "Hey, I walked the Hall when I was 11. They almost fought a war over me." It took Garth less than a second to realize who he was talking to. "You're that Patricia?" "Patrick, now, thank you," the Felinzi smiled. "I'm surprised you didn't figure it out quicker." "It's not like I've ever seen your picture since you walked." "True. Keershah and I sorta went underground after that. We just wanted to be left alone." Garth nodded. "Look, uhm, I didn't mean to kill the conversation or anything. We still need firewood. Do what you can to collect kindling, and I'll cut us a few slabs of wood from that fallen tree I passed up the trail a little." Pat pulled a small steel pommel from his bag. "Be right back. Garth collected what kindling and firewood he could from around the campsight, relieved that most of it was dry. As he came back, Pat was walking back with an armload of quartered logs. "These new biphase microwave knives are the best. Just aim and woosh! organic matter just falls apart." "Including people?" Garth asked. "It's programmed not to operate on recognized sentient tissue. I wonder if Katckins are in its memory, or is it just Pendorians?" He wielded the currently bladeless pommel in Garth's direction. Garth flinched. "Just kidding. I wouldn't use it on you. Besides, there's an easy override on it." "Why?" "Survival option. In case I ever meet a non-sentient Pamthreat. They're close enough that the sensor at the tip can't tell them apart." Garth nodded. Pat sat down on one of the logs he had picked up and started the fire. "What have you got to eat there?" Garth counted off the contents of his pack. Pat examined the contents of his own and scratched his chin. "Well, if you're willing to eat soup, we can combine the contents of our packs. I can cook something reasonable." He grinned. "Sorry, I've become something of a cooking fiend recently, and the idea of living on field rations doesn't warm my stomach very much. |