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Two of Lenya’s girls, who I guessed from the painted designs on their arms were from Paris, used the Herder’s coats to make a bed for Levi in the back of the truck. “Gentle,” I said, as five of us lifted him in, two up on the truck and three below. He’d drift in and out of consciousness, and I was glad when he was out because when he woke, he was in pain.
I got in after Levi and lifted his head into my lap. Then, one by one, sixteen others climbed in and either squatted or stood along the sides. It was a heavy load, and I felt the truck crouch down on its rear wheels and heard the springs groan. But the cargo area had been designed to haul at least a dozen Atros to Gehenna, so with inches to spare, we all made it. There were rope bindings and metal shackles hanging from the slats, an
