im emerging into the swamp. at night all blood is black. its the eve of the third king tide of the year. cloak engaged, sneaking over the walls. echoes in the palace corridors. heart rate sensor pinging. whats at stake? emerging from the vestibule into the terrarium. tocsins droning, tectonic plates shifting, explosions rolling. my neck and wrist are wet. evac point reached. fanboat above the minefield with the smuggler. on the old kamchatka line the wind reminds me. i dive in.