Part 21 (1/2)
”My scouts have reported more activity in enemy territory,” Arthur allowed.
Diana jerked around to stare at him. ”You have scouts?”
”Not the scary kind,” he rea.s.sured her. ”No shorts, no apples.”
”Good.”
”Where were you?” Austin demanded as Dean closed the front door.
”Where I told you I was going, playing ball with some friends. Just like I do every Sunday afternoon.” Tossing his glove onto the counter, he headed for the kitchen. ”The answering machine was on, and you were asleep.”
”Well, I woke up and I was hungry.”
”I left you a bowl of dry.” Something crunched underfoot and Dean noticed the kibble spread evenly over the floor. ”Which you obviously found. You think you could have caudled things up any more?”
”This is a big place,” Austin reminded him. ”But before you start looking, how about feeding me.”
Head to one side, hair falling attractively, Arthur studied the Keepers. ”If we have battle coming, which I'd be a fool to deny, why should I split my strength by helping you?”
”When we remove the anchor and close the segue,” Diana told him, peeling her bare thighs one at a time off the leather and scooting to the edge of the sofa, ”we'll be able to influence the other end of the mall. Our influence could save your b.u.t.ts.”
”Even though our influence would be totally subconscious,” Claire added.
Diana waved off the warning. ”And besides, you said it yourself, it's part of your original raisin of the day, you make one people out of a number of warring tribes and then you lead them out to face a common foe.”
”Raisin of the day?”
”I a.s.sume she means raison d'etre.”
”Hey, I'm trying to keep the French out of it. We don't need Arthur's baggage finally making it through customs.”
Arthur glanced around uneasily. ”Could that happen?”
”Keepers. Otherside.” Diana shrugged. ”Anything could happen.”
A siren shrieked out on the concourse.
In the heartbeat of silence that followed, Claire and Sam turned to stare at Diana.
”What? I didn't do it!”
On his feet and running full out between one moment and the next, Arthur charged past them, clearing Electronics in three long strides and disappearing between the racks of winter coats.
”You know that question about us being a catalyst?” Claire snarled, swinging her pack up onto one shoulder. ”This answer it?”
”Unfortunately!” Grabbing her own pack in both hands, Diana pounded after Arthur, Claire behind her, Sam taking the high road over the furniture to end up leading the way.
Chaos filled the concourse. Meat-minds, some wearing a fine dusting of ceramic cherub, lumbered after the more limber mall elves. Arthur leaped forward, shouting orders and using his sword like a baton to direct a reorganized defense. Claire and Diana rocked to a halt in the entrance to the store.
Sam skidded out into the battle, claws scrabbling for purchase against the slick tile floor. When a ma.s.sive foot slammed down in his path, he let his slide close the distance, b.u.mping up against an enormous instep, sinking claws deep into gnarled flesh. Finally able to control his momentum, he pushed off and raced back to Diana's side.