The Thread That Binds the Bones (38 page)
Read The Thread That Binds the Bones Online
Authors: Nina Kiriki Hoffman,Richard Bober
“There’s things in my head that support what you say.”
“About what’s in your head, Tom.”
“Yes?”
“Is Peregrine there?”
“I don’t know. I haven’t found him yet, but I haven’t been awake long.”
“Are you tired?” Her voice was instantly soothing.
“No. I need to see Laura soon, though.”
“Of course. I’ll go get her. You look for Peregrine, all right?”
“Why?”
“His daughter is driving us crazy.”
When she was gone, Tom lay back down on soft floor and pulled the sheet up around him, closing his eyes. He realized he was tired after all. He focused all the energy he could dig up, and sent out a summons.—Peregrine?
For a long time he felt no response. He wondered if Peregrine was one of the Presences who had been swallowed in the vortex of the Unbinding. Then came a faint stirring in his bones.—Tom? Are you alive?
—Yes. Are you?
Peregrine’s laughter felt like the gentle skim of butterfly’s wings on skin.—Not really. Not for a long time.
—Peregrine, if I die, what happens to you?
—I don’t know. Just now I’m glad we don’t have to worry yet.
—I guess we almost did. I’ve been asleep two weeks. And watch this.
Tom opened his eyes and looked around, at blurs.
—Hmm, said Peregrine.—Maybe we can heal it. Or perhaps you need spectacles. At least we have some vision, which is surprising, since we have stared into the heart of Oblivion.
—Tom?
—Huh? he thought. It was a new voice in his head. For a moment he was afraid it might be Fayella.
—You awake now? Is it morning?
No. Not Fayella. He had heard that voice before, but not since the day he drove Laura to the Hollow in the cab.
—I think I’m awake.
He looked toward the opening in the orange egg and saw a head-shaped blur. A moment later it was coming closer, followed by a blur that had to be a body. He pulled the sheet up over his head.
—What are you doing? she asked, lying down beside him and tugging at the sheet.
—I don’t have any hair.
—Neither do I. It better not matter to you.
—It doesn’t, since I can’t see.
—That better be a joke.
She pulled the sheet down and put her arms around him. He hugged her tight, eyes closed, and wondered if he had finally found someone who wouldn’t leave him when he got too strange.
After a long moment, he figured he couldn’t get any stranger than he was right now, and here she was, her arms warm around him, her mind snuggled beside his, her scent wild and enticing and familiar. The last guardian of his heart put down its shield, and he let Laura all the way in.
She laughed against his chest.—Anyway, she thought,—hiding in a sheet won’t protect you from me. It’s impossible to escape this Family: I know. I’ve tried.
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