Ana and Din Mysteries, #3
A Trade of Blood
by Robert Jackson Bennett
Contents
Chapter 30
Overview
Din experiences a paralyzing, song-laced dream that mirrors reported web conditioning, realizing the fungus has taken hold in him. He wakes in Tauri’s room and confirms infection with an orange test strip. This revelation escalates the stakes and ties the murders’ conditioning method directly to Din’s body.
Summary
After an unusually deep, transformative sleep beside Tauri, Din finds himself standing in what seems to be his Green Drover chamber. A beautiful, wordless song rises from the street, and the tavern is eerily silent. When Din tries to move to the window, he cannot; his legs are immobilized despite standing.
The room flickers like a projection as Din’s memories stir. He recalls Castus Armenta’s account of a mesmerizing song and Tauri’s earlier explanation of conditioned nocturnal behaviors. Din concludes he has been conditioned not to move, which implies the fungus in him is awake. The chamber dims to shadow as this realization takes hold, and a familiar, protective scent triggers a jolt of recognition.
Din snaps awake in Tauri’s quarters at the Orbiis office, heart racing. He urgently asks Tauri for testing paper. Tauri retrieves a green wheel of strips, and Din moistens one.
The strip turns bright orange. Din and Tauri register the result in terse shock: Din is infected and conditioned, confirming the web’s presence and methods have reached him.
Who Appears
- DinNarrator; experiences a paralyzing, song-filled dream, recognizes web conditioning, wakes, and confirms infection with an orange test.
- TauriCompanion and Orbiis contact; awakens to Din’s alarm, provides testing paper, witnesses Din’s positive orange result.