“I’d ask you all over to my place,” Deem said, “but it’s 4 a.m. and my mom would freak out, especially if she saw you, Roy.”
“We’ll go to my place,” Winn said. “You can all get cleaned up.”
◊
Winn placed a large bowl of scrambled eggs on the cable spindle table. Dawn had arrived and there was enough light to see your way around. Steven sat in one of the wire chairs next to the table, sipping coffee.
“I’m so hungry my belly thinks my throat’s been cut,” Roy said as he spooned some of the eggs onto one of the plates Winn had brought. Then he leaned back in his chair and shoveled a spoonful into his mouth.
Deem and Eliza each took some, and passed the bowl to Steven. He declined, not feeling very hungry.
“Well, now that you’re all settled and cleaned up and fed and all that,” Winn said, “I’m going to shower, not that there’ll be any hot water left I expect.”
“Not that a cold shower wouldn’t do him some good,” Deem said under her breath to Eliza.
“I heard that!” Winn said. “There’s plenty of room in the shower if you want to join me.”
“No there’s not!” Deem said. “That shower is the smallest I’ve ever used. You couldn’t fit another person in there if you tried.”
“That’s where you’re wrong,” Winn said, smiling. “I’ve done it many times!”
Deem turned back to Eliza. “He’s such a pig,” she said, spooning more eggs from the bowl onto her plate.
Winn disappeared into the trailer.
“He made us eggs, though,” Eliza said. “That was nice of him.”
“Because I told him to,” Deem said. “Normal hospitality doesn’t come natural to him.”
“You’ve been very kind to us while we were here, Deem,” Steven said. “We’re very grateful.”
“And I owe you my life,” Eliza said, “for saving me in there. It really had a hold on me!”
“Think nothing of it,” Deem said. Although she’d only known Eliza for a day, she decided she liked her a great deal. “You’d have done the same for me.”
“I like to think I would have,” Eliza said. “I’m not so sure I’m as handy with a hatchet as you! The next time you’re in Northern California, I expect you to stop by my place and say hello.”
“That would be fun!” Deem said, genuinely turned on by the idea. “Are you all heading home now?”
“Yes,” Steven said. “I want to get back to Jason, make sure he’s OK.”
“He seemed like a nice guy,” Deem said, “though I didn’t really get to know him.”
“Please come visit us in Seattle sometime,” Steven said, thinking he wouldn’t mind seeing Deem and Jason hook up. “We’ll take care of you if you do.”
Deem smiled. “I wouldn’t mind seeing Seattle,” she said. “The green and the rain – a nice change from here.”
“Eliza, do you want to fly back from Vegas?” Steven asked. “Or we could go up I-5 and take you home.”
“I’ll ride with you guys,” she said. “Are you thinking of leaving soon?”
“As soon as Deem can take us back to our car,” Steven said.
“It’ll be hard to fit all four of us in my truck,” Deem said. “Why don’t I drive you back, Steven, and you can bring your car back here to pick them up. It’s on your way out.”
“Sounds like a plan,” Steven said.
“A plan I like,” Roy said, pouring himself a refill. “Winn’s coffee is terrific, the best I’ve had since we left Seattle. I’ll just rest here and have a few more cups if you don’t mind.”
They heard Winn let out a whoop from inside his trailer as he took his cold shower. They laughed.
“What’s his story?” Eliza asked Deem.
“His mother raised him,” Deem said. “He was a total fuck up in school, from what I hear. He got serious about the gift when she died. I know he’s got several friends, all downwinders, who he works with. He was the St. Thomas expert; now I suppose that’s all gone. We’ll have to go out there tomorrow night and see if it shows up or not. I expect it won’t. He’ll have to find another topic to become an expert on.”
“And how about you?” Eliza asked. “What keeps you occupied?”
“Mines, mostly,” Deem said. “Someone’s always in trouble in a mine, and people call me. People aren’t smart in mines, they do stupid things. Some of Winn’s friends know me, and we trade favors.”
“Things seem so different down here,” Eliza said. “So unpredictable.”
“We’re used to it,” Deem said. “I can see why you’d think that.”
“I wonder if you came up to Seattle and worked with us for a while,” Steven said, “if you’d find it dull and boring compared to here.”
“If your ghosts don’t turn into zombighosts,” Deem said, “I think I’d like that a lot.”
“Don’t let him paint you a picture of tranquility,” Roy said. “We’ve encountered some nasty ones up there. Ghosts are bad no matter where you go.”
“I can agree with that!” Winn said, emerging from the trailer clad only in a towel, loosely wrapped around his waist. He was holding an EM gun, but everyone was looking at his chest, which was muscular and firm. His abs trailed down to the top of the towel. Eliza blushed.
“Put something on, for god’s sake,” Deem said.
“Here, Roy,” Winn said, his smile wide and his hand extended to Roy. “Take it. It’s yours.”
Roy took the EM gun from Winn’s hand and smiled back. “Well, thank you!” he said, examining it. “Do you think it will work on my ghosts in Seattle?”
“Only one way to find out!” Winn said, smiling and pouring himself a mug of coffee. Then he plopped into a white plastic chair with the others.
“You’re really not going to get dressed?” Deem said, pissed.
“It’s the desert,” Winn said. “Why can’t I air dry?”
“Because there’s people around,” Deem said. “You’re embarrassing Eliza.”
“Oh,” Eliza said, smiling, “I’m fine, really.”
“See?” Winn said. “She’s fine!” He shot a smile at Eliza and Eliza smiled back.
“We owe you, Winn,” Steven said. “If there’s ever anything we can do for you, just call us.”
“You heading out?” he asked.
“I’m going with Deem to get my car from her house,” Steven said. “Then I’ll come back to pick up Roy and Eliza.”
“Well, at least Roy and Eliza and I can chat for a while more,” Winn said, scooping up the remainder of the eggs.
“Do you think we should do anything about Michael’s car?” Roy asked. “Sitting out there at Devil’s Throat?”
“People leave their cars parked there while exploring the caves,” Deem said. “It won’t raise suspicion for a day or two.”
“I’ll take care of it later today,” Winn said. “I got a buddy with a tow truck.”
“Alright” Deem said. She turned to Steven. “You ready?”
“Yes,” Steven replied, “let’s go.”
◊
“I meant what I said about Seattle,” Steven said as they rode back to Mesquite. “You’re welcome anytime. I have an extra room.”
“I might take you up on it,” Deem said. “Is it a long drive?”
“You can do it in a day,” Steven said, “if you start at 6 a.m. you’ll get there by midnight.”
“Thanks for the offer,” she said. “If things lighten up around here I may take you up on it.”
“Are things busy?” Steven asked.
“All the time,” Deem said. “Something always pops up. I try to have a normal social life, but it seems like I’m always busy helping somebody out of a jam.”
“Well,” Steven said, “we’re incredibly grateful for what you’ve done for us here. We wouldn’t have made it without you. Who knows what would have happened to Jason.”
“Oh, I was happy to help,” she said. “You’ve been great, and Roy is so sweet
. And he’s tough. I almost thought he was a goner in the mine when we went for the topaz. But he pulled through.”
Steven made a mental note to ask Roy more about the mine on their ride back to Seattle. Roy’s original telling of it hadn’t included much danger on his part, so Steven suspected he was whitewashing things a little.
“Yeah, he’s a tough old guy,” Steven said. “Thanks for looking out for him.”
“Oh, no problem,” Deem said as she pulled into the driveway at her house. “I’d do anything for Roy.”
“Can I ask you for a favor?” Steven asked.
“Sure,” Deem said. “What is it?”
“Can you find a way to mark that hidden entrance in Devil’s Throat?” he asked. “Mark it somehow, in the River, so no gifted exploring the cave makes the mistake of going in there? I don’t know how you’d mark it, but there needs to be some kind of warning that wouldn’t draw the attention of normal people. I hate leaving, thinking others might stumble across the mess we made.”
“Sure,” Deem said. “I was going to do something along those lines anyway. Odds are, if someone found it, I’d be the one who got the call to help. It’s a good proactive move.”
She’s got her shit together, Steven thought.
“Thanks!” Deem said.
◊
They said their goodbyes to Winn an hour later. He’d changed into a button down shirt and jeans. Steven noticed Winn hugged Eliza longer than normal – or was it the other way around? – and then when Winn hugged him, it seemed longer than normal, too. Maybe he’s just a hugger, Steven thought. An equal opportunity hugger.
Roy reached for the handle on Steven’s car door and pulled his hand back quickly. “Christ!” he complained. “The sun’s barely up, and it’s already hotter than two rabbits screwin’ in a wool sack!”
“Get in the car,” Steven said, “so we can go.”
After they reached the interstate, Steven turned to Eliza, who was sitting in the front seat with him. “We’ll have you back home by the end of the day,” he said. Roy was stretched out in the back seat, asleep.
“You wanted to tell them both about Eximere,” Eliza said, “didn’t you?”
“You’re always so perceptive,” Steven said. “Yes, I did, but I thought better of it. We agreed we’d only share it with others if we all voted. Right now Eximere is kind of special, something just the three of us are privy to. I’m reticent to change that.”
“Are you going to tell Jason?” Eliza asked.
“I guess at some point we’ll have to,” Steven said.
“You don’t sound very enthusiastic about it.”
“I guess I’m not sure about Jason yet,” Steven said. “I think Roy and I should work with him for a while, and see how things go.”
“I think that’s wise,” Eliza said. “Wait to tell him until you’re sure.”
“If I asked for a vote on it today,” Steven said, “how would you vote?”
“I’d say no. I want to hear from both you and Roy that you’re one-hundred percent sure it’s the right thing to do, and you’re nowhere near that yet.”
She’s right, Steven thought. We’ll just have to see how things go.
“Would you vote to let Winn or Deem know?” Steven asked.
“No,” Eliza said, “though I think they’re both great people. I think there has to be a compelling reason to tell someone, not just because they’re nice, or gifted. The more people know about it, the sooner we’ll lose it. People will talk, they always do.”
She’s right about that, too, Steven thought.
They continued to talk, Eliza helping to keep Steven awake and alert, making sure he didn’t drive off the road. They stopped frequently for coffee, Roy sleeping though each stop.
They traded places after Bakersfield, with Roy driving and Steven in the back. He tried to sleep but couldn’t. The drone of the car would lull him a bit, but then he’d awaken when he heard Roy or Eliza say something in the front seat.
“Oh, look,” he heard Eliza say. Steven sat up in the back seat. Up ahead, on the right, was a hitchhiker on the side of the road.
The car began to slow. “Don’t stop,” Steven said.
“It’s not me,” Roy said. “The car is stalling.” Roy moved the car to the side of the freeway just past the hitchhiker and turned on the flashers. Steven turned around to look out the back window. The hitchhiker was walking towards the car. As he approached, Steven knew he’d seen him before, somewhere. He began to fill with dread.
Cars whizzed by them at eighty miles an hour. When a truck went by, it caused the car to shake. The hitchhiker opened the back car door and slid in next to Steven.
“Hello,” the hitchhiker said, turning to look at him.
I’ve heard that voice before, Steven thought, though he couldn’t place the man’s face. Steven turned to look at Roy and Eliza, and saw that their heads were lowered as though they’d fallen asleep.
Aka Manah, Steven thought.
“This’ll be a short visit,” the man said.
“What have you done to them?” Steven asked.
“They’ll be back, as soon as I’m gone,” the man said. “I came to see you, at your home. You weren’t there.”
“I had to leave,” Steven said. “I’ve been in Vegas.”
“I find it suspicious,” the man said, his hand sliding back and forth over his knee, “that the first day after we strike our deal, you disappear somewhere I can’t find you.”
“My son was in trouble,” Steven said. “It just happened to be in the downwind area. That wasn’t my doing.”
The man seemed to consider this. “And you’re on your way home, now?”
“After we drop her off,” Steven said. “She lives on the way.”
“Good,” the man said. “We can finish the conversation when you get home. I have some things for you. I do hope you intend to honor your end of our arrangement.”
“I do,” Steven said. “But if my family or friends are at risk, you can be sure that will take precedent over my searching for your objects.”
“I’ll remember that,” the man said. “I’ll make sure their risks coincide with my desires.” Steven heard Roy and Eliza exhale heavily, then begin to gasp.
“Leave them alone,” Steven said. “That isn’t the way to motivate me.”
The man smiled. Eliza and Roy gasped more loudly, struggling for air. He could see Eliza’s skin start to turn blue.
“I told you I’ll do it,” Steven said. “After I get back to Seattle, you can give me your list and I’ll start looking.”
“Right away,” the man said, “not after some other trip or excursion?”
“Yes, right away,” Steven said.
Roy and Eliza stopped gasping and Steven could see their bodies begin to draw in normal breaths.
“Good,” the man said.
“Don’t you forget your end of the deal,” Steven said. “Torturing my friends like this doesn’t seem much like the protection you promised.”
“It’s not going to be my fault if your father suddenly stops breathing in the middle of the night,” the man said. “He’s old. Old people do that.”
“If anything happens to them,” Steven said, “I’ll make sure all the objects I know of are destroyed. You’ll never see them.”
“Alright,” the man said. “We’ve both threatened each other, so that’s that. You understand that I’m serious, don’t you? That was my point.”
“I get your point,” Steven said.
“I’ll see you in Seattle,” the man said, and opened the car door. He stepped around the back of the car and was gone.
Roy raised his head and shook it slightly. Eliza was coming to as well.
“Maybe I shouldn’t be driving,” Roy said. “I think I fell asleep.”
“Me too,” Eliza said. “I guess staying up all night is taking its toll on me.”
“Let’s change places,” Steven said. “I’ll drive. I’ve had so much cof
fee, I can’t sleep anyway.”
Roy took the passenger seat while Eliza took the back.
“I’m not sure we’re going anywhere,” Roy said. “The car just died in the middle of the road! I was lucky to pull it off the freeway before it stopped.”
Steven turned the key in the ignition and the car roared to life.
“Well,” Roy said, “we’d better have that checked out at some point. I’d hate to be stuck out here in the desert.”
Steven eased the car back onto the freeway and they continued North.
◊
“You’re letting other things enter your mind,” Steven said to Jason, who was seated in a chair in Steven’s living room, his eyes closed.
“I can’t help it, they just come in,” Jason said. “This is harder than what Michael showed me.”
“Michael didn’t really show you how to trance,” Steven said. “He took you to some other state, so you could stay in St. Thomas. You didn’t have control the way you do now. You can’t stop focusing on the goal until the trance has fully formed. You can’t think about the trance, whether or not it’s happening – you’ll know when it’s done, and then you can stop. But you have to stick with the goal, the original thought, until it all forms around you. Try again.”
Jason closed his eyes. Steven and Roy dropped into the River to observe Jason attempting to trance. They saw the outline of the trance begin to form around Jason, then it dissipated.
“Here,” Roy said, standing up and removing his blindfold from his pocket. “Try this.” He wrapped the blindfold around Jason’s head and sat back down. “Start over.”
Jason attempted the trance again. This time he went further, the trance nearly completing. Then it dissolved again.
“Nearly there,” Steven said. “I think the blindfold helped.”
Jason took the blindfold off. “I’m exhausted,” he said, handing it back to Roy.
“You’ve only been at it for an hour!” Roy said. “I thought you wanted to learn this.”
“I think if I took a break and tried again after a while, I’d be able to do it,” Jason said.
“Fine, that’s your homework for tonight,” Steven said.
Devil's Throat (The River Book 6) Page 16
