Runaway 1/4

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On Monday, little Anica ran away.

Patrice objected strongly, but Anica had long since learned the words that made Patrice do things. So Anica said &quot;Come with me or I'll die,&quot; and Patrice came.

Anica's parents noticed she was missing in the early morning. A stack of clothes and a backpack were all they found in the little girl's room. They called the usual authorities and made the usual pleas. Little Anica's parents were rather wealthy, and the police came quickly when they called.

&quot;I'm sure Patrice is with her,&quot; said Anica's father. &quot;Patrice is a good one, and smart.&quot; He said it over and over—&quot;She's a good one. She's a good one&quot;—until it became unnerving to the crowd of officers that now filled the room. Anica's mother quietly shushed him with a pat of her hand.

&quot;She certainly is,&quot; said Anica's mother. &quot;Top of the line. And I'm quite certain they're both safe.&quot; But her eyes were not certain.

—

&quot;Let's be pirates,&quot; said Anica, calling to Patrice over her shoulder. &quot;We're sailing the solar winds out past mars.&quot;

&quot;I think we should go home,&quot; said Patrice. &quot;Your parents will be worried.&quot;

&quot;We'll hide in the asteroid belt while the Organized Navy hunts us. But we'll be clever and they won't find us. I'll be the captain and the navigator and the radio man. You can work the engines and keep the decks clean. What's your name going to be?&quot;

&quot;My name is Patrice,&quot; said Patrice.

&quot;No, use your imagination,&quot; said Anica.

Patrice thought for a long moment, and then said: &quot;My name is Scully McBonesington, first mate of the good ship Anica.&quot;

&quot;Yaaaaay!&quot; shouted Anica. She ran across the top of a narrow hill by the edge of the forest. It was a natural forest, quite rare even in those days. It had different kinds of trees all jumbled together, instead of nice even rows of oak or pine. It was even rumored to have animals in the deeper parts. The forest was quite expensive to keep up, but as I have said; Anica's parents were also quite wealthy. The forest made Anica squeal with delight when they first showed it to her.

&quot;Anica, it's very important that you listen to me, or your parents will be angry and punish us. We must return home.&quot;

&quot;We're pirates,&quot; said Anica. &quot;The currents of space are our home, and no one can punish us if they can't catch us. Quick, into the asteroids!&quot; And she ran headlong into the woods.

Patrice followed, She was not built for forests and hills, and bits of grass and leaves were already creeping into her joints. She moved with a careful slowness. One would be forgiven for saying that she looked calm and unhurried as she followed the child, for her face was impassive. But she was very worried indeed.