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〃I don't know how many times I prayed that just once I could have a real birthday party with friends and family like everybody else in the world。〃
〃I don't think there's anything worse than being alone on your birthday。 Well； I guess I wasn't pletely alone。。。at least my friend Mr。 Widget was there to help me eat my birthday cake。〃
〃Who？〃
〃He was my cat。。。He's gone now。。。〃
〃Oh；〃 Marlene said softly； trying to understand。
Annie looked up into a pale yellow sky； wisps of lavender clouds。 〃Jeez； when did it get so dark？ I wonder where the others are。〃 The sun was already down now。 〃Thank goodness it won't be my birthday for much longer；〃 she sighed。
All at once the two women heard growling noises ing from the trees behind them。 They wrapped their arms around each other and waited for the worst。 The growling grew louder； and Annie began to scream； clutching at her friend； then Rand appeared out of the darkness with a big hi and a smile on his face。
〃Rand； you jerk！〃 Annie yelled。
He snorted and walked over to them。 〃All right； all right； calm down。 I should've known you'd be a nervous wreck by now。 But let's get going； we have to go meet the others。〃
〃But where's the Cyclone？〃 Marlene wanted to know； her arm still around Annie's shoulders。
Rand shook his head。 〃I'm afraid I can't offer you a ride。 It's too risky to use any of our mecha。 This whole area is crawling with Invid。〃
Marlene gasped。 Strange that she didn't feel their presence。
〃Scott and the others are holed up in the village；〃 Rand added after a moment。 〃There's no way we can get through。〃
〃That tears it。。。〃 said Annie。
Marlene gave her a reassuring hug。 〃I'm afraid it's going to be another birthday without a party； Annie。 We're sorry。〃
Rand made a scoffing sound。 〃I hate to tell you this； but we've got a lot more important things to worry about than Annie's birthday。 Now； e on。〃
He led them off through the woods to the edge of the hill overlooking town； trying to maintain that same hard look that wouldn't give away the surprise。 But he knew that the act must be killing her and began to wonder about the more sinister side of surprises。
〃That big house down there on the left；〃 he gestured。 〃We've gotta try and make a run for it。〃
〃It's so spooky…looking；〃 Annie said； burying her face in Marlene's breast。 〃I'm scared。〃
〃Are you sure Scott's down there？〃
〃Everybody's down there；〃 Rand told her。 〃At least； they were when I left
I hope nothing's happened。〃 He started off down the hill。 〃Follow me。〃
It was a simple brick affair with a large chimney； curved…top windows and doors； and two small dormers。 They hid together behind a tree at the edge of the walk。 Rand ran to the door and motioned for them to join him quietly but quickly。 Annie was making frightened sounds。
〃It's dark in here； so watch out；〃 he cautioned them as he opened the door。 〃Scott； I'm back；〃 he whispered into the darkness。 〃Where are you？〃
Annie was the last through the door； and by that time Marlene and Rand were gone。 She called out to them； quietly at first but with increasing panic in her voice。 〃What happened to everybody？〃 she asked pleadingly as she moved across the floor； unable to see her hand in front of her face。
〃Why does everybody always abandon me？〃
〃Annie； over here；〃 someone called out from somewhere。
〃Rook； is that you？〃 she answered； her voice a tremolo。
Suddenly there were flashes of light in the blackness； then a brightness she had to hide her eyes from。 But again someone called out to her： 〃Open your eyes； Annie。〃
And when she looked； she saw all her friends； gathered around a round table that had been set for seven； with plates and wine goblets and platters of food and a large birthday cake decorated with seventeen candles。 And everyone was wishing her happy birthday。
Lunk was standing over her with the cake in his hands。
〃Are you putting me on？〃 she asked them。
〃It's your favorite；〃 he told her。 〃Mint chocolate。〃
〃And look what I made for you；〃 Rook said； showing her a knitted scarf。
〃Happy birthday； Annie；〃 said Marlene。 〃At last。〃
Annie stared at everyone for a moment； found that she couldn't take it； and ran outdoors to weep； there she said thank you to the stars。
CHAPTER EIGHT
Dad didn't plan a career as a voyeur…at least； not consciously。 He just kept finding himself looking here when he should have been looking there； stumbling onto this when he should have been busying himself with that：。。 Until the incident at the baths。 But I sometimes wonder how mach Mom encouraged Dad's behavior。 I asked her about it once； and the only thing she would tell me was that Dad got what he had ing。 Then she grinned。
Maria Bartley…Rand； Flower of Life： Journey Beyond Protoculture
The cake； the sweets； and the gifts were only the start of the surprises Scott and the team had in store for Annie； but after a few sips of wine it turned out that Annie had some surprises of her own。
She was playing the celebrity host to their toasts and pliments now； using her wineglass as a prop microphone and modeling the pink chiffon dress Rook had given her。 Her hair was brushed and parted in the center； for once free of the funky E。T。 cap she was seldom seen without。
〃To the cutest little freedom fighter around；〃 Scott said from the table； lifting his glass。
〃Thank you； thank you； ladies and gentlemen；〃 Annie directed to her audience。 〃I would also like to thank my designer； Miss Rook Bartley； for this elegant gown。〃
Rook took in the cheers with a noticeable blush。 She hadn't done more than tailor the dress down to Annie's size。 And unfortunately； she had gone a little high on the hem； the dress made Annie look about six years old； but no one was pointing this out。 The yellow knee socks and brown pumps didn't； help any； but they had taken what they could from the sub city； with little thought given to coordinating an outfit。
〃Rook； I didn't know you were so。。。so domestic；〃 Scott said from across the room。
Rook saw the bemused look on his face but ignored it。 〃It looks great on you；〃 she told Annie； throwing the lieutenant a look out of the corner of her eye。
〃Thanks！ I feel like a beauty queen！〃 Annie tried a pirouette； giggling all the while； and almost lost her balance。
Cross…legged on the floor； Rand stifled a laugh。 〃One thing's for sure…you're no ballerina！〃
Annie looked at him and shook her head as though to clear it。 〃And now the moment you've all been waiting for；〃 she said like an emcee。 〃Approaching the judges' runway is our next contestant for the title of Miss Birthday Girl！〃
Lunk and the others caught on to the act and applauded。
Annie switched to a squeaky parody of her own voice。 〃Thank you；〃 she said into the wineglass。 〃My name's Annie。 I'm four…foot…seven with blue eyes； and I'm often plimented on my personality。〃 As she sauntered by Rand； she flashed some thigh and slipped him a wink。 〃And my legs aren't bad； either； big boy。〃
〃I'll say；〃 Rand enthused； knocking back another goblet of wine。
Annie cozied up to Lunk next。 〃Oh； I can't tell you how happy I am to be here！ It's just too thrilling for words！〃 She gave him a light peck on the cheek and m