10
Scout hugged Shadow close and stepped out onto that scarlet carpet. Her feet sunk into its lush depth. She could only imagine what it would feel like to walk barefoot across such softness. Even through the soles of her canvas shoes, it was like a delightful massage.
Geeta followed close behind and to the left of Scout, her hands ready on the grappler no one had asked her to leave behind. Emilie had a little trouble convincing Gert to step out onto that strange floor, to walk between two masses of strangers, more people than Gert was used to since she was quite a young puppy living alone on the streets of one of the domed cities. But she trusted Emilie nearly as much as she trusted Scout and finally allowed herself to be led through the double doors.
The crowd had been murmuring among
