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STARTLING STORIES
of this tribe. You may call me Calli.”
Mother Teacher—it sounded as if she were their leader. A matriarchal society, I thought. But I was to learn that it is a meri-tocracy—and Calli had the most merit.
“Two of our people were taken by the steelskulls six seasons ago,” Calli said. “Have you seen the taken ones? Their names are Brad and Thalia.”
“A man and woman…”
“Yes.”
“I haven’t seen them, but I heard what happened. The man was killed when he tried to escape. The woman…she refused to eat and got sick and…just gave up and died.”
Calli covered her face with her hands and moaned. The other Angelinos groaned and hissed and glared angrily about, as if look-ing for the steelskulls.
When Calli looked back at me again, her hands fisted, her eyes streaming tears,
