collar had a greenish hue, as if it had fused to his skin. There was a large bolt sticking out the side of the collar like an antenna. Titus guessed, correctly, that the bolt went entirely through the collar and into the man's neck.

“So, what's the plan, dude?” the man asked again. Titus felt his stomach turn. Apparently, the first thing you lose when you die is the ability to smell.

“We'll talk politely with him to see what he knows,” Titus said hastily, a bit embarrassed they had been caught spying unsuccessfully.

The man nodded as if he was still in on the clandestine action. “Most excellent, dude. Let's go,” he said, crawling over the root in front of them on all fours, more like a lizard than a man.

Tess and Jenna watched Titus...

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