“I’ll be back at the pond, if you need anything,” she said. She waved as she walked along the front of the house, and then vanished around the ...orner.Clint blew out a long, slow breath through pursed lips once she was out of sight. He needed something, but he wasn’t sure enough of his instincts to try for it. Access to the property was too advantageous to his quest for the rumored Boreal. He felt it was better safe than sorry.Of course, he knew he was going to be sorry he didn’t jump at. I’m from Uglich, so everyone calls me Tsarevich. I looked where the corporal was pointing and there was this civilian stepping out from behind a tree. I walked over to him, moving slowly. In Swarm territory everyone was armed – except us – and some of them could be twitchy. This guy seemed OK though.“Hello, I’m Dmitri,” I greeted him. He looked about fifty, with dirty clothes and a roughly trimmed beard. Thin as well. That was usual, any civilians left down there wouldn’t find much to eat. The. So he hadn’t a key to the flat, at least not any more, but he had got through the front door.She opened the door and stood back to let them in. They went through to the living room.“Thought we’d take Carl to the park while the weather is warm enough,” said Seth, smiling at Claire.“Fine,” said Susan. “Coffee before you go?”The agreed and Claire and she made the drinks while Seth played with the toddler.“He’s getting better with Carl,” said Claire, looking over her shoulder at Seth who was on the. A few moments later he could hear her walking quietly through the house. First the bathroom and then the other room. He checked his back pockets for the cuffs and smiled to himself as he felt them there. He couldn't believe that she had been so trusting and hadn't even asked to see the cash again. Finally he heard her at the bedroom door. His heartbeat increased to a million beats a minute again as he thought to himself, "this is really it. No turning back now." As she walked inside the room,.