Part 48 (2/2)
”And you!” I said brightly
The wolves wore earthy tones, the ladies in green, velvet-flocked tops (so Lia's mom had said), with satin trim and Chantilly lace The men, in russet-colored outfits, that made them look like woodland hunters Ballard's quadricep e ”We want you looking like a Wiccan,” said Cyno I had been te onebut I didn't know Cyno that well In any event, she seeuess I hadthere I couldn't go on ht There was no way
”Not to worry,” said Ballard ”I've brought ht I wondered if he would transform for menot into a olf but into the old Ballard ”Your chariot awaits,” he said
It was clean this tiiven the ape van a new paint job And he modified the interior Now there were side-by-side seats But we had to scrunch together ”You're really hot, Ballard,” I said
”Thank you!” he said
”No, your skin”
”Wolf, renition ”It helps when it gets freezing Though I' off heat That I' up ”To use your expression”
”I did want to ask you about that,” I said ”Not about your general good-lookingness, which is obvious Noit's about this rogue, who's out there”
Ballard's ape van backfired
”Who told you about that?” he said ”It's just No one's supposed to knowincluding you Look, sorry,” he said
He looked sheepishly down atthe top
”Do you think this vehicle fits you?” I asked
”I refuse to grow out of things Now tellout there? A rogue?”
”Is that an order, Your Headwolfshi+p, sir?” I asked in an unctuous tone
”It's not like that,” he said, ”I'ht We already encountered it once It's like it wants so”
”You're supposed to talk to ether,” I said, ”and you're keeping secretswhen you swore that ould be like this” I finger-thinged right in his face
”Don't do that Don't disregard hed
”No It's just you should see your face You look like an angry kitten It's kind've cute,” he said ”Although it is hard to be frightened of you, you know”
”I do knowand don't you? Coether”
”What?” he said
”What d'youhis voice It was like I was talking to myself ”The race, Ballard So don't tell me I'm a pushover We wouldn't even be here if I hadn't saved your life Res Don't say theh you know they can be cruel and harmful
Ballard repeated the orn phrase ”What do you mean?” But this time upset
”Do not tellthe race?” I said ”It's like I'm a lethal weapon I shouldn't be allowed to exist So don't tellhysteria ”I know perfectly ho I am, thank you very much” Which was a complete and utter lie
”Okay who are you?” said Ballard, playing along
I hissed
”You're a flat tire,” said Ballard
”Close I am Halsey Hear me roar” I cat-clawed the air The little ape van wobbled down the road Me, the terrible kitten
Ballard said, ”You're right I should have kept you informed I don't knohy I didn't”
”I do It's because you think you have to protectI need to come clean to you about, Ballard” Guilt swelled within me
”Wait you haven't been You have been,” he said accusatorially ”You've been keeping secrets Halsey Rook, Ballard”
”Do you like it? I was usingthe pot black or Whatever But I' of the baton, don't you think? Pretty soon we'll have secrets we don't tell them” He pointed to invisible parents My oere dead
I nodded my head ”It's on us now,” I said, ”whatever it is Which is why you should have toldto tell me, now Aren't you, Ballard?”
”Last time I checked,” he said
I slapped hi I could reach We were nearly to wherever ere headed, leaving Rome behind I felt like a sardine When suddenly he outbursted
”The Skarborough articleI knew it!” he said, slapping the steering wheel
”These little outbursts of yours should co label,” I said
”No, it's justshe doesn't listen And quiet I'm Il Gatto I won a race, so you have to do what I say”
”That's pretty reehthearted ”You stay in your head too much,” he said ”You're like your friend, that chick who lives down the hall”
”Who? Vittoria” I said
”Yeah You two should get outout Craft in common”
”Actually, I hate her, she's ain, but what else have you got, Ballard?”