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“Earth is… very interesting；” I murmured。 “It’s harder than any place I’ve been before。”
“Harder than the place with the frozen air and the claw beasts？” he asked。
“In its own way； yes。” How could I explain that the Mists Planet only came at you from the outside—it
was much more difficult to be attacked from within。
Attacked；Melanie scoffed。
I yawned。I wasn’t actually thinking of you； I told her。I was thinking of these unstable emotions；
always betraying me。 But you did attack me。 Pushing your memories on me that way。
I learned my lesson；she assured me dryly。 I could feel how intensely aware she was of the hand in mine。
There was an emotion slowly building in her that I didn’t recognize。 Something on the edge of anger； with
a hint of desire and a portion of despair。
Jealousy；she enlightened me。
Jeb yawned again。 “I’m being downright rude； I guess。 You must be bushed—walking all over today
and then me keepin’ you up half the night talking。 Ought to be a better host。 C’mon； Jamie； let’s go and
let Wanda get some sleep。”
I was exhausted。 It felt as if it had been a very long day； and； from Jeb’s words； perhaps that wasn’t in
my imagination。
“Okay； Uncle Jeb。” Jamie jumped lightly to his feet and then offered his hand to the old man。
“Thanks； kid。” Jeb groaned as he got up。 “And thanks to you； too；” he added in my direction。 “Most
interesting conversation I’ve had in… well； probably forever。 Rest your voice up； Wanda； because my
curiosity is a powerful thing。 Ah； there he is！ ’Bout time。”
Only then did I hear the sound of approaching footsteps。 Automatically； I shrank against the wall and
scooted farther back into the cave…room； and then felt more exposed because the moonlight was brighter
inside。
I was surprised that this was the first person to turn in for the night； the corridor appeared to house
many。
“Sorry； Jeb。 I got to talking with Sharon； and then I sort of dozed off。”
were empty。
“We didn’t even notice； Doc；” Jeb said。 “We were having the time of our lives here。 Someday you’ll
have to get her to tell you some of her stories—great stuff。 Not tonight； though。 She’s got to be pretty
worn out； I’d bet。 We’ll see you in the morning。”
The doctor was spreading a mat out in front of the cave entrance； just as Jared had。
“Keep an eye on this；” Jeb said； laying the gun beside the mat。
“Are you okay； Wanda？” Jamie asked。 “You’re shaking。”
I hadn’t realized it； but my whole body was quivering。 I didn’t answer him—my throat felt swollen shut。
“Now； now；” Jeb said in a soothing voice。 “I asked Doc if he minded taking a shift。 You don’t need to
worry about anything。 Doc’s an honorable man。”
The doctor smiled a sleepy smile。 “I’m not going to hurt you… Wanda； is it？ I promise。 I’ll just keep
watch while you sleep。”
I bit my lip； and the quivering didn’t stop。
Jeb seemed to think everything was settled； though。 “Night； Wanda。 Night； Doc；” he said as he started
back down the hall。
Jamie hesitated； looking at me with a worried expression。 “Doc’s okay；” he promised in a whisper。
“C’mon； boy； it’s late！”
Jamie hurried off after Jeb。
I watched the doctor when they were gone； waiting for some change。 Doc’s relaxed expression didn’t
waver； though； and he didn’t touch the gun。 He stretched his long frame out on the mat； his calves and
feet hanging off the end。 Lying down； he looked much smaller； he was so rail thin。
“Good night；” he murmured drowsily。
Of course I didn’t answer。 I watched him in the dull moonlight； timing the rise and fall of his chest by the
sound of the pulse thudding in my ears。 His breathing slowed and got deeper； and then he began to
quietly snore。
It could have been an act； but even if it was； there wasn’t much I could do about it。 Silently； I crept
deeper into the room； till I felt the edge of the mattress against my back。 I’d promised myself that I would
not disturb this place； but it probably wouldn’t hurt anything if I just curled up on the foot of the bed。 The
floor was rough and so hard。
The sound of the doctor’s soft snoring was forting； even if it was put on to calm me； at least I knew
exactly where he was in the darkness。
Live or die； I figured I might as well go ahead and sleep。 I was dog tired； as Melanie would say。 I let my
There was a low shuffling sound—it was inside the room with me。 My eyes popped open； and I could
see a shadow between the moonlit ceiling and me。 Outside； the doctor’s snores continued uninterrupted。
CHAPTER 23
Confessed
The shadow was huge and misshapen。 It loomed over me； top…heavy； swinging closer to my face。
I think I meant to scream； but the sound got trapped in my throat； and all that came out was a breathless
squeak。
“Shh； it’s just me；” Jamie whispered。 Something bulky and roundish rolled from his shoulders and
plopped softly to the floor。 When it was gone I could see his true； lithe shadow against the moonlight。
I caught a few gasps of air； my hand clutching at my throat。
“Sorry；” he whispered； sitting down on the edge of the mattress。 “I guess that was pretty stupid。 I was
trying not to wake Doc—I didn’t even think how I would scare you。 You okay？” He patted my ankle；
which was the part of me closest to him。
“Sure；” I huffed； still breathless。
“Sorry；” he muttered again。
“What are you doing here； Jamie？ Shouldn’t you be asleep？”
“That’s why I’m here。 Uncle Jeb was snoring like you wouldn’t believe。 I couldn’t stand it anymore。”
His answer didn’t make sense to me。 “Don’t you usually sleep with Jeb？”
Jamie yawned and bent to untie the bulky bedroll he’d dropped to the floor。 “No； I usually sleep with
Jared。 He doesn’t snore。 But you know that。”
I did。
“Why don’t you sleep in Jared’s room； then？ Are you afraid to sleep alone？” I wouldn’t have blamed
him for that。 It seemed like I was constantly terrified here。
“Afraid；” he grumbled； offended。 “No。 Thisis Jared’s room。 And mine。”
“What？” I gasped。 “Jeb put me in Jared’s room？”
I couldn’t believe it。 Jared would kill me。 No； he would kill Jeb first； andthen he would kill me。
“It’s my room； too。 And I told Jeb you could have it。”
“Jared will be furious；” I whispered。
“I’m not a kid； Wanda。 I can take care of myself。”
Obviously； arguing was only going to make him more stubborn。 “At least take the bed；” I said；
surrendering。 “I’ll sleep on the floor。 It’s your room。”
“That’s not right。 You’re the guest。”
I snorted quietly。 “Ha。 No； the bed is yours。”
“No way。” He lay down on the mat； folding his arms tightly across his chest。
Again； I saw that arguing was the wrong approach to take with Jamie。 Well； this one I could rectify as
soon as he was asleep。 Jamie slept so deeply it was almost a a。 Melanie could carry him anywhere
once he was out。
“You can use my pillow；” he told me； patting the one next to the side where he lay。 “You don’t need to
scrunch up at the bottom there。”
I sighed but crawled to the top of the bed。
“That’s right；” he said approvingly。 “Now； could you throw me Jared’s？”
I hesitated； about to reach for the pillow under my head； he jumped up； leaned over me； and snatched
the other pillow。 I sighed again。
We lay in silence for a while； listening to the low whistle of the doctor’s breathing。
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter； processtext/abclit。html
。
“It won’t keep you up；” I agreed。
“You tired？”
“Yeah。”
“Oh。”
I waited for him to say something more； but he was quiet。
“Was there something you wanted？” I asked。
He didn’t answer right away； but I could feel him struggling； so I waited。
“If I asked you something； would you tell me the truth？”
It was my turn to hesitate。 “I don’t know everything；” I hedged。
“You would know this。 When we were walking… me and Jeb… he was telling me some things。 Things
he thought； but I don’t know if he’s right。”
Melanie was su