Table of Contents
Prelude
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Interlude
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Interlude
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Interlude
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Interlude
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Interlude
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Interlude
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
The Clan Chronicles:
Stratification
REAP THE WILD WIND (#1)
RIDERS OF THE STORM (#2)
RIFT IN THE SKY (#3)
The Trade Pact Universe:
A THOUSAND WORDS FOR STRANGER (#1)
TIES OF POWER (#2)
TO TRADE THE STARS (#3)
Species Imperative:
SURVIVAL (#1)
MIGRATION (#2)
REGENERATION (#3)
Web Shifters:
BEHOLDER’S EYE (#1)
CHANGING VISION (#2)
HIDDEN IN SIGHT (#3)
IN THE COMPANY OF OTHERS
Copyright © 2009 by Julie E. Czerneda.
All Rights Reserved.
DAW Book Collectors No. 1480.
DAW Books are distributed by Penguin Group (USA) Inc.
eISBN : 978-1-101-13317-0
All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.
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To Luis Royo
There are moments in life you remember with such clarity, merely closing your eyes brings them rushing back. The moment I laid eyes on Luis Royo’s art for the first time is like that for me.
I’m sitting in a small room at the back of our house, the only spot with sun at three on a wintry afternoon. It’s not the cold draft down my neck that makes me shiver as I gaze at the envelope in my hand. My editor’s forewarned me. This is the cover art for my first novel.
Forewarned. The cover can’t be changed. I can make minor changes to the final draft of
Roger stands beside me. Our kids are in school. I take a deep breath. “All I want,” I assure him, “is not to have a bimbo in a zipped-open spacesuit.” I’m brave. No, not really, but I intend to be professional.
My hands shake as I rip the tab. Inside the envelope is a single piece of paper. I grasp a corner carefully, close my eyes, and pull out the print. Then I look.
I see.
Tears well up so quickly the image blurs. I hand the print to Roger, grab for tissues, look again.
It’s a masterpiece. There’d been a lilt in Sheila’s voice, and now I know why. Suit my story? It’s better than any dream. To think, an artist of such surpassing skill has seen
I love writing, but that was the moment I first understood the joy of being read. To have another mind be inspired by my words. To have another mind and hands produce something so wonderful from them. I remain in awe.
Thank you, Luis, for that moment and for every one since. As I begin each new story I look forward more than I can say to seeing your vision of it. Each time I do, I happily admit, there are tears of joy.
Acknowledgments
Lucky thirteen! It’s a popular number in our family, being my Poppa’s birthday. Even better, he now lives close by, so my breaks while writing this book included our frequent Timmies’ Runs. Our thanks to all who’ve sent stamps and encouragement this past year. As Poppa would say, you’re the best. (And Yum!)
Among those who helped us the most this year are the wonderful folks at DAW. I appreciate all you did (and suffered!) to publish this book in a timely fashion, and make it beautiful too, I might add. Sheila, I will never forget your phone call during the second period of the Leafs/Canucks game. You’d finished
