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“First,” I say, “we have to say goodbye ”

Shelby’s eyes drop to Marae’s body, still staring at the ceiling She nods silently

Shelby brings nets that ith the controls under the metal of the ship’s floors to easily carry heavy objects She snaps the box open It autoe, deep rectangle with a circuit board on the side to corav tube This transport has been used for some piece of rease I try to run my sleeve over it, but all I do is spread the dirt around I don’t want to treat Marae’s body like a piece of broken machinery to be throay, but I can’t bear the idea of prolonging her funeral arab some machinery towels to lay out on the transport

And then it’s time to move Marae

I lift her body by the shoulders; Shelby picks up her feet We have to bend Marae’s knees and curve her back so that she fits co her into the fetal position

Shelby’s slight body seems massive beside the shell of Marae’s I didn’t know life took up so much space Shelby bends down over Marae’s body, and it reer beasts fro flesh of carcasses

“I don’t kno to do this without you,” Shelby whispers to Marae “But I’ll try ”

And she doesn’t look like a scavenger anymore; she looks like an orphan

She bends swiftly, and I don’t know if she’s kissing Marae’s flaxen cheek or whispering in her ear, but either way, it’s not like Marae can feel it

The Shippers gather around as we pull the transport out For most of them, this is the first death they’ve seen When Eldest was in charge, death was a methodical, scheduled product of the Hospital

They stare at Marae’s body as I pass; I stare at the floor The hard lines of the rily with my hands

I force ht

I look directly ahead ofjaw to sho much this hurts

46

AMY