Page 28
“You should be.”
“First you say I should, then you say I shouldn’t. Make up your mind.”
Drops of water slid down his jacket. Judging by the light stabbing through the holes in the roof, the sky was clear. No hint of moisture in the air. Suppose Derek’s intel was right. Suppose he did teleport. How would I keep him from disappearing?
The man spread his arms. I didn’t like the way he moved, either, light on his feet.
“What’s with the cute shoelace on your head?”
“What this?” He flicked the end of the cord with his finger.
“Yeah. Rambo called, he wants his bandana back.”
“This Rambo, he a friend of yours?”
“Who’s Rambo?” Julie asked.
If a cultural reference flies over a man’s head, does it make a sound if nobody else gets it? I had never managed to watch the whole movie—magic always interfered, but I had read the book. Maybe after the flare cut out and tech reasserted its dominance for a few weeks, I’d dig the minidisc out and watch the darn thing from start to finish.
The bowman took a step, and I pointed Slayer’s business end in his direction. “No closer.”
He took another baby step forward. “Sorry, my foot slipped.” Another step. “Sorry, just can’t keep the bloody buggers under control.”
“Next one will be your last.”
He rocked forward and I almost lunged.
“Uh-uh-uh.” He shook his head in mock disappointment. “I didn’t actually step, see.”
Julie snickered.
He raised his hand in a peaceful gesture. “You need to relax a bit, dove. Like Mouse over there. You trust me, don’t you, Mouse?”
“Nope!”
“Ahhh, I’m hurt. Nobody likes me.”
I knew he’d move a fraction of a breath before he started. Those eyes gave him away. He lunged, missed, and found Slayer’s tip at his back.
“Move, and I’ll cut your liver in half.”