who inhales when Ryzek exhales?” Akos stopped, grinding his teeth. It’s your own fault, he told himself. You’re the one who hinted at “unfinished business.” Somehow knowing that didn’t make it any easier. “I can get him out,” Jorek said. “Get him home, where they can fix whatever’s addled his brain.” He thought of the almost-escape again, of Eijeh’s broken voice asking him, “Why did this happen?” His sunken cheeks, his sallow skin. He was disappearing, day by day, season by season. Soon there wouldn’t be much left to rescue. “Okay.” It came out like a whisper, not how he meant it. “Okay?”
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