"You don't mean me any harm now," he says, redefining her words. It goes unsaid that that could always change. Any information she gets on him could, someday, be used against him if things get really bad. Alliances you can count on are few and far between.

And humanity is ugly. "Sometimes is often enough for me."

Howard rolls his eyes at Cassie's insistence on naming it. He holds his hand out, though, and lets the cow sniff it with those big damp nostrils. He uses his other hand to pet it. "Hello, Burger."