Part 18 (1/2)
Well, duh.
Okay, that was mean, but I hated how I still felt like I had something to prove to him. It seemed like the sting of abandonment would never wear off even though he was back in my life and acted like he wanted to be here.
Still, a little guilt was in order. ”And you couldn't call home? The rest of us have been worried about you. And we've been kind of busy, too. Surely you've heard.”
”I watched CNN when I was in Shanghai.” He gave me a look that was equal parts pride and concern. ”D.C. was a mess.”
”More than you would guess,” I said. ”You might want to check on your daughter.”
Now his eyes widened-and the expression went mostly to pride. ”What did she do this time?”
He was the only one of us who never freaked out over Mamie's power. ”Um, she went completely shaman-bada.s.s on us for a little while, but has been withdrawn ever since.” I paused, not ready to explain why Mamie walked out into a field of monsters, or what it did to her when Ann died. ”She's okay, though. Back home with Mom and Brent.”
”He's still watching over them?”
”Yes. He's taking that job very seriously.”
Now he looked really proud. I wondered what I'd have to do to earn that expression.
Oh, right. Save the world.
Holding back a snort, I asked, ”So what's your story? Where have you been?”
Dad c.o.c.ked his head to one side, a half-smile on his face. ”Finding the answer to all our questions.”
A thrill of fear and expectation shot through my limbs. ”The answers to all our questions, or just the big ones?”
”I love how you qualify everything.” His smile was genuine and I relaxed a little. ”How about most of our questions about China.”
”There you go, putting limitations on the infinite.” I meant it as a joke, though. ”What have you found?”
”Not what, but who. I found him, Matt.” Dad leaned forward, his elbows on his knees and his eyes gleaming with the excitement of a successful hunt. ”The one you've been looking for. The Chinese shaman.”
Tink said he was coming closer, but I'd hadn't expected to hear anything so fast. ”Where? Who?”
”His name is Xing Li. He lives in a village about seven hours' drive from here. He said he's been waiting to meet you for a while.”
The keen glance Dad gave me set my nerves on edge. ”For a while, huh? Well, that's not the first time someone's told me that.”
He laughed. ”Funny what you can get accustomed to. Anyway, how are you, really? You seem tired, son.”
Now it was my turn to laugh. ”Me? No. Globe-trotting monster hunters don't get tired, or didn't you know that?”
”Right now Mike would say something bracing or caution you to get enough rest, right?” Dad asked. ”He'd hear the sarcasm and know the truth.”
He understood my uncle well. ”Yes.”
”I'm not him.” He c.o.c.ked his head to the side. ”You're tired, but you can't stop, no matter what plat.i.tudes you hear. I get that. Maybe even better than Mike does. And what he doesn't understand is that you're my son. You won't stop until the job's done, no matter what it takes. It's not in your DNA.”
I stared at him. The words were terse, but there was an intensity in his voice that he rarely let seep through. ”Yeah, you're right. I won't stop.”
He nodded once, then said, ”I heard Ann's dead.”
By now I should be used the abrupt subject changes-the man's brain swerved faster than a normal human's-but this one caught me off guard. ”Yes, she died in front of me and Mamie.”
”How'd Mamie take it?”
”Hard,” I said. ”But, what, you aren't worried about how I took it?”
”You've seen too much for something like that to affect you for long,” he said. ”Mamie's more delicate.”
Delicate enough to take on a pack of flying monsters to save some kids-by herself. He still didn't know us very well. ”I think it was more that she blamed herself.”
As I explained what happened, he grew thoughtful. ”I wondered. That must be why no new attacks are popping up-because Ann stopped them. Sure there are issues all over, but they don't seem to be getting worse. Who knew she had a conscience?”
I shot him a wry smile. ”Maybe you beat one into her when you hit her over the head with that brick.”
”No.” His own smile had an edge I knew I'd never be able to match. ”I'm not n.o.ble enough to inspire that kind of reaction in anyone.”
”I know,” I said, as my good humor drained away. ”A n.o.ble guy would make sure his family knew he was safe on a.s.signment, or at least check in every once in a while.”
”Matt-”
”No, uh-uh.” I crossed my arms, glaring. ”When you came home, we thought things were going to be different. That you'd stay in touch. All you've done is make us realize things haven't changed that much.”
The miserable expression that crossed his face made me feel bad, but not bad enough to take it back. ”I'm sorry,” he said. ”I wasn't sure who'd be listening while Congress prepped for the hearings. I worried that if I called home, they'd find a way to use it against you.”
”So you couldn't let us know you were okay?”
He met my eye. ”I did let someone know. I guess she was too worried about you to mention it.”
I went very, very still. ”What?”
”Officer Archer?” Captain Johnson called. ”We have the colonel on the line. Can you report in?”
Dad stood, his expression torn. ”We'll talk later.”
Then he disappeared out the tent flap, but not before I noticed that the compa.s.s Mom had given him as a wedding gift was clutched in his right hand.
Chapter Twenty-Two.
”When do you think we can break camp?” Dad was asking Captain Johnson when I finally came outside. ”The colonel agrees that when we go see Xing Li we should take the whole team, in case there's a problem.”
Johnson looked around, frowning. ”Well, we don't know if there are more Pandas up here, but if we need to, we can leave tomorrow morning.
No. You have to leave now, Tink said, suddenly tense. Tonight.