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their boredom. These guys went for fantastically high prices. A bunch already sold off-world too.” She shook her head, including Jeanne in her bafflement about what the rich would do.
    “Sold them?” Jeanne asked, shocked. “Like slaves? That’s illegal. Bor Narga hasn’t had slavery in centuries. It was one of the first laws.”
    “Exactly. DNAmo broke the most basic laws of Bor Narga. Women on the ruling council knew, but they looked the other way, because of course some of them were enjoying these Shareem on the quiet. Highborn women, I swear, are the biggest hypocrites. But a couple weeks ago, one of the Shareem escaped, and DNAmo had to admit he’d broken free. They couldn’t control him, they said. He’s dangerous and they don’t know exactly what he’ll do.”
    “Shit,” Jeanne said. Was Eland this escaped Shareem? He’d certainly been fleeing and hiding. But then, if all Shareem were to be terminated, why wouldn’t he hide?
    “That one, they think, already made it off-planet,” the patroller went on. “But when DNAmo was raided, a bunch of others escaped. We have some rounded up, but the rest scattered. They’re really smart, they say, and they could be anywhere.” The patroller’s tone became serious again. “They tie up women and force them to have sex, and they don’t think it’s wrong. That’s what DNAmo bred into them. So if you see one, do not approach. Call for a patroller immediately. All right?”
    “Right,” Jeanne said fervently. “That’s good to know.”
    “Thanks for being so cooperative. Makes it easier on me. I know a lot of people don’t like patrollers, but we’re just trying to do our frigging jobs.”
    “No problem. I’ll keep my eyes peeled.”
    “Good. See you, Jeanne.”
    Jeanne nodded, and the patroller went out the door into the warm night. Jeanne locked up behind her, sank down on the couch, and put her head into her hands.
    The patroller’s grim description of crazy men, built by monomaniacal scientists to bind women and take them against their will was very different from what she’d seen in Eland.
    The man was walking sex, that was true. Everything he did, every word he uttered was seductive. Even begging for water had been sensual.
    Though Eland had dared Jeanne to watch him, to show him herself, to be with him, at no time last night had he slammed her down and helped himself. His kisses, his touch, while strong, had been gentle. He’d been asking her every second to give in to him, but not forcing her. Mastering her but not with brutality.
    He’d known how to erase every bit of his DNA from her apartment before leaving. Was that what they’d been programmed to do? So that their highborn clients wouldn’t get caught with forbidden Shareem?
    Or maybe the patroller’s handheld simply didn’t know how to pick up Shareem DNA. If they were the products of many different people, maybe their DNA was different.
    But Eland had indicated that he was all Bor Nargan. Every bit of him taken from Bor Nargan citizens. So the handheld must be able to discover traces.
    Jeanne sighed and lowered her hands. One thing was certain—she had to find Eland before the patrollers did.
    She’d help him get to safety, off-planet if she could. Despite what the patroller had said, she knew Eland wasn’t dangerous. She’d worked at the docks a while now, and had encountered dangerous men. Eland wasn’t like them at all— he was the victim here. Jeanne would help him any way she could.
    But first, she had to find him.
    Jeanne stood up, washed her face, had a quick bite of a protein bar, and went back into the hot night.

Chapter Six
     
    Rees proved to be good at lifting food and drink when no one was looking, and he an Eland shared the meager portions in the stairs. They slept during the heat of the day and used nighttime to explore .
    Rees was tireless. He and Eland walked through miles of tunnels, swarming up and down stairs, exploring every level, Rees flashing his