Mara marched at the head of the Fairy Tale Parade and was flanked by All the Kings Men. A tiara sat on her head to mark her rank as today’s Queen of the Storybook Forest. Cinderella, Snow White, Belle, Mulan, and Ariel walked behind her in resplendent gowns of the finest silks. The Old Woman in the Shoe followed with all her children – the children having been selected from visiting guests and given the honor to march in the parade. Little Bo Peep followed next with a troupe of dancers in sheep costumes. The dancers performed intricate choreographed acrobatics to the music of the Pied Piper and the drums of Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves following behind them. Prince Charming and Aladdin followed behind the Forty Thieves next. Aladdin ran over to where Jack stood watching the parade and held up a plastic crown. The actor must have had a microphone on, as his voice was clearly heard over the crowd. “Today’s Storybook Forest Prince, Prince Jack!” shouted Aladdin. The crowd roared and clapped their approval as Aladdin placed the crown on Jack’s head. Aladdin took Jack by the arm and pulled him out to march with the fairy tale princes. Jack spent the rest of the parade smiling and waving at guests. Near the end of the parade as it moved through a gate to an ‘employee only’ section where parents began picking up their children, Jack slipped away from the pickup area and darted into a side alley. He tossed the plastic crown into a rubbish bin between two buildings with a pretty green fence around the bin so guests didn’t have to look at the unpleasant trash. The walkway was mostly clear of guests, being that they all had gone to see the parade, and now they’d be watching the fireworks as soon as it got a little darker. After the fireworks, there wouldn’t be anyone left in the park. Everyone would head to hotels inside the main library building, or heading home. He walked briskly, but not fast enough to draw attention. A few times he had to hide from the park employees rounding up guests and moving them towards the front of the park. At the north end of the park set back slightly from the main walkway was a sign posted on a barrier across the road - North Road, Employees only. He slipped under the barrier and started running; he needed to be off the property while the lizard men were pre-occupied with the fireworks, and ensuring all the guests left the park. The trees grew thicker and the path narrowed. He felt guilty for abandoning Mara, but it was for the best. The Director was a good guy, he wouldn’t send her back to Planet 3 to die in a war she didn’t understand. He would give her political asylum. She would be happy living in the park, and there were even some fairy tales about tigers she could star in. The park would be lucky to have her. He heard a boom and looked back. The fireworks had started. Mara would be concerned she hadn’t found him yet at the place they were going to meet. He probably only had a few more minutes before she’d sound the alarm. He had to be off the property before then. He tried to will himself into a state of molecular acceleration, but he was too tired, too fatigued, and his mind too fuzzy. It had been getting worse all day. When was the last time he’d slept? Three days ago, four? The trees ended abruptly, not a slow thinning of the trees, but a neat border that separated the library property from the desert beyond as if someone had cut away a perfect wedge of cake. A small shed stood to the side of the path with a sign above the door that read: Emergency Water. Jack pushed the door open and peeked inside before entering. There was a dusty pallet of water in the center of the shed, a few discarded backpacks, random clothing that was mostly useless, and some empty bottles thrown on the ground. The place wasn’t a serious emergency shelter, it was the kind of place the park would put out so they could deny responsibility if someone were to wander out into the desert without adequate water. He grabbed one of the discarded backpacks, a child’s backpack with a picture of a dinosaur on the back, but it would suffice. He stuffed as many water bottles inside the backpack as would fit, then packed the book General Cluth had given him on top and swung it onto his back. His A.I.’s alarm didn’t go off, Aya had stopped working several hours after arriving at the library, something about the stopping of time prevented computers from working inside the library, but his own internal sense of being watched alerted him. Jack spun around and found a tiger standing in the doorway, its eyes blazing with anger. The tiger growled and stalked into the shed. Jack put his hands out in front of him. “Now hold on, Mara, I had….” Mara pounced and didn’t hold back. She slammed into his chest, and in Jack’s weakened state, her weight drove him back and to the ground against the stack of water bottles. She lowered her face to within an inch of his, bared her teeth… and licked his face. “That was a good game,” said Mara. “It was fun, but I can track you anywhere. You have to hide better next time. Let’s do it again.” Jack squinted and looked into her eyes. She was too innocent and trusting to understand he had abandoned her. The last thread of his heart broke and he threw his arms around her in a big hug. “I love you, silly tiger,” said Jack. “I love you too, Jack,” replied Mara, then narrowed her eyes slightly. “You said you wanted me, it would be terrible if you ever tried to take that back, I might have to eat you.” Jack’s breath froze. She was innocent, but not stupid. Jack smiled weakly. “I’d never do that,” said Jack. “I didn’t think so.” Mara gave him another lick across the face. Jack wiggled out from under her and sat up. She was still wearing her tiara, it was clipped to her fur. “Do you want to keep that on, I can unclip it for you.” Jack reached out to unclip the plastic tiara. Mara pulled her head back. “Of course I want to keep it, I’m a queen. Where’s your crown?” “I… umm… I must have dropped it,” said Jack. Mara turned around and went back out the door of the shed while Jack got up and straightened his backpack. Mara came back through the door a moment later carrying Jack’s plastic crown in her mouth. Jack’s eyes widened as she dropped it in front of him. Mara sat down and stared at him with eyes sparkling either with anger, or mirth, he couldn’t tell which. Jack bent down and retrieved the crown, and put it back on his head. Mara stood and walked out the door singing to herself. "They can be taught. If you’re patient. Like a tiger, spinning in the park."