TO GOD FOR KEEPING the door open, for showing me a life I never thought possible; my sweet new wife too for showing me a life I never thought possible, for patience and for reading all those drafts—this book is better because you help me; once again to Dyan for her dreams, her belief, for the passion, the struggle; Tim, for the cracking of the whip; Mr. Fickling, who trustingly watched on; Nille “the Swedish Translator,” and to all those who toiled to turn Book One into other tongues; to all those publishers about this tiny globe of ours that have taken on MBT; Celia for making editing a joy and for rescuing me from my own heavy hand; Patricia for her quiet maturity and support and for knowing what to do; Helen, who keeps it all organized; also to my parents once more, my new ones too—Graeme and Kerry, and the Sweet Hamers, for reading this second stage in its early, ugly moments and loving it still; Sue Ellen for all that Latin; Graeme Rickerby—master of catchphrases and song—for slogg-porridge, Joey DeVivra and enjoying all the nuances of our difficult, wondrous language; James White, who wrote a book well before I ever did, made Sydney possible and showed the way—may you write again, sir; and Murray Whiteford, for card games and all the time spent at your house. Thanks too to the regular dwellers and commenters at www.monsterbloodtattoo.blogspot.com. : Femina, Koallaku, Random Missfitt, MadBomber, Winter, Midwishin, Andre, Shayne de Comyn Esquire, Coz, Giant Fan, Dan S. Tong, Shyane, John, Kathryn, Daisy__Girl, Oriana, Jimmy Trinket, Steve, Sirk, Erin, Mark, John, Sookie, Arty Bel, Joaquin Rosada Martel, Markus, Inez, Troubardier, Ninjanna, sme0149, Samosin, Baraholka, Ravinn, Joyous Santina, Dozer911, Vahlaeity, Charlotte, Evil1I, Okyoureacab, Longinvs, Suspicious Hat, Bard, MooseGuy, Rosiegirl, Coinks, Dustin and to all those anonny mouses too. To Joshua Kipitza, for your cruorpunxis—keep creating, sir. To my time in Kansas, without which there would be no lamplighters.