Welcome to Stories from Among the Stars.

You're listening to The Book Eaters by Sunyi Dean, narrated by Katie Eric.

Chapter 28, Mike Terrace follows the firefly.

Twelve months ago.

Knight Terrace followed the firefly, which, like herself, was seeking the way out.

George MacDonald, the history of photogen in Nykteris. Seeking the Way Out. George MacDonald, the history of photogen and Nykterris.

Seeking out the Ravens cars proved to be a brutal education.

Tracking down one of their former drug suppliers was straightforward enough with the address Ramsey had given her.

She walked to their basement flat in the city, stinking of fumes and stagnant water.

Four men were inside, faces matching the description she'd been given. She had never before

spoken to humans who had dealt in drugs or other illicit trade, and assumed wrongly that

they'd be willing to talk or trade.

Instead, they saw her as an opportunity,

a woman alone, naive and uncertain, the perfect trafficking victim.

When they finished laughing at her requests, they tried to capture her.

Her first punch broke a man's neck. Her first kick crushed another man's ribs. The other two went down moments later under her frenzied, terrified

onslaught. She fled the premises, flustered by her accidental kills, and also furious that

they had even dared. Later, limping back through

gum-scabbed streets lined with faded brick buildings, it occurred to her that she should have

approached with more tact. Strange, grim-faced women turning up at illicit warehouses and demanding

addresses of secret clients wasn't anyone's

idea of diplomacy. She lacked experience in that regard. At least there was a whole list of other names

...