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Chainsaw proer Unimpressed, Calla snapped her teeth back at the raven

"Careful, chickadee," she told Chainsaw, her smile deadly "I bite, too Blue?"

This meant she wanted to use Blue’s invisible ability to hone her vision Blue rested one hand on Calla’s knee and used the other to keep Calla fro there with her eyes closed Chainsaas noaze on Ronan, a sharply structured s on her plum-painted lips "What have you done, snake?"

Ronan didn’t reply Silence was never a wrong answer

Calla stuffed the bird into Blue’s hands, who tried to placate her before returning her to Ronan

Calla said, "Here’s the deal Your mother was a dreah wo one? -- and now, she has no dreao back in a dream"

She did several elaborate procedures then, all of the They reminded Ronan a bit of the movement of the puzzle box in that they seeical, a little impossible It was hard to understand how she extracted an arled Difficult to see how she twisted that leg without falling to the floor

Ronan interrupted the silence "Cabeswater Cabeswater is a drea

"You don’t have to tell ht of all the times he had dreamt of Cabeswater’s old trees; how familiar it had felt to walk there; how the trees had known his naled in their roots, somehow, and they, in his veins "If Mom is in Cabeswater, she’ll wake up"

Calla stared at hiuess we really do have to get Cabeswater back, then"

Blue tilted her head so that Calla was slightly less upside down to her "Any ideas?"

"I’ave her a spin Calla laughed all the way around, a filthy, pleased sound She pointed to Ronan as he headed out the door "But he is Also, get rid of that mask It’s a nasty bit of work"

22

Last Will & Testament of Niall T Lynch Article 1 Preliminary Declarations I am married to Aurora Lynch and all references in this Will tochildren, named Declan T Lynch, Ronan N Lynch, and Matthew A Lynch All references in this Will to my "child" or "children" or "issue" include the above child or children, and any child or children hereafter born to or adopted by me All references to " we could all get together for the Fourth of July," Matthew said, peering up at Ronan; the late evening light made his curls cherubic At Ronan’s request, they’d met for dinner at the don park square It was a selfish act Both Declan and Ronan treated Matthew as their security blanket "The three of us For fireworks"

Ronan hunched above hie of the battered picnic table "No" Before his younger brother had a chance to say soestured to Matthew’s paper-wrapped tuna fish sandith his own "How’s your sandwich?"

"Oh, it’s good," Matthew said enthusiastically It was not olden, indiscriood I couldn’t believe when you called When I saw your phone number, I nearly shit myself! You could sell your phone, like, as new-in-box"

"Don’t fucking swear," Ronan said

Article 2

Specific Bequests and Devises

I give the sum of Twenty-Three Million Dollars (23,000,000) to a separate trust which shall provide for the perpetual care and maintenance of the property referred to as "the Barns" (see ite children This trust shall be executed by Declan T Lynch until all children have reached the age of eighteen

I give the sum of Three Million Dollars (3,000,000) to hteen

I give the sum of Three Million Dollars (3,000,000) to hteen

I give the sum of Three Million Dollars (3,000,000) to hteen

Ronan took one of Matthew’s potato chips and gave it to Chainsaho mutilated it on the table’s surface, more for the sound than the taste On the sidewalk, a lady pushing a baby carriage gave hi on top of the table or for looking disreputable while trafficking with carrion birds Ronan reflected her look back at her after adding a few rees of shittiness to it "Look, does Declan still have his panties in a twist over us going back to the Barns?"

Matthew, chewing fondly, waved at the child in the baby carriage It waved back He spoke through his mouthful "They always are His panties, I mean Twisted Over it And you Is it true we’ll lose our o back? Was Dad really as bad as Declan says?"

Article 7

Further Condition

Upon my death, none of my children shall trespass the physical boundaries of "the Barns," nor disturb any of the contents there, living or inert, or the assets dealt with in this Will shall be bequeathed instead to the New York-Roscommon Fund, apart from the Trust established for Aurora Lynch’s continued care

"What?" Ronan put his sandwich down Chainsaw angled in "What does he say about Dad?"

His younger brother shrugged "I dunno, just he was never there, or so You know Hey, Declan’s not that bad I don’t knohy you guys can’t get along"

Moht, but he couldn’t say it to Mattheho gazed up at hi eyes the baby h to restore his balance His illicit visit to the Barns, his realization about his mother, and Calla’s assessment of the situation had badly shaken him Suddenly, he was presented with a decision: whether or not to revive their mother If he could have his mother back, that would help, surely, even if she had to live in Cabeswater One parent was better than no parents Life was better than death Aas better than asleep