First Words—August 24, 2018—Mack ‘n’ Me: The Wolves of Alpha 9

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Work on Mack ‘n’ Me: The Wolves of Alpha 9, the fifth book in the Mack ‘n’ Me ‘n’ Odyssey series, continues. I laid down another 3,000 words today, and left Cutter and Mack in the usual depth of trouble. Here are the first of those 3,000 words. Apparently, Cutter’s table manners leave a bit to be desired: 
 
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Watching What You Eat

 

Surely your Delight told you about long-range psi?
I wanted to answer that, but I couldn’t remember if she had, or not. Not that it mattered. Long range psi, huh? How long a range?
Some of us can speak between starships.
I wondered how much distance was between the starships, and if that needed special focus, but the spiders weren’t forthcoming. Before I could chase that down via their implants, a trolley bearing a large soup tureen was pushed through the kitchen doors, and wheeled over to stop beside Barangail. I watched as they served his lordship first, and then watched as they served Mack next.
I was served last, but I didn’t mind; it gave me a chance to check the contents of the tureen before anyone ate—Mack specifically. I stood up as it drew to a halt beside me, and swiped my finger horizontally through the contents of the bowl, checking for an invisible barrier. When I found none, I swiped it the other way, pleasantly surprised to find nothing.
I couldn’t smell any glorrin in the steam rising from the tureen, either.
“The chef made enough for his lordship’s household; we were told to offer it as an alternative,” the steward told me, and I couldn’t work out if he was offended, or disgusted.
Across the table, Mack covered his eyes with one hand.

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Would you like to read more? 

The first three books and two short stories in the Mack ‘n’ Me ‘n’ Odyssey series: Mack ‘n’ Me: Origins, The Depredides Dance, Mack ‘n’ Me: Blaedergil’s Host, Mack ‘n’ Me: Arach and Cloud Door, are also available. The fourth book, Mack ‘n’ Me: The Transporter’s Favour will release shortly.


Location: Canberra ACT 2601, Australia

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