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So here was the turnoff to Booker Mountain "Not wellharder

After traveling a an to realize he must have missed the turnoff He did a quick U-turn and drove back the way he’d coh the rain-smeared windshield

He rounded a curve and found the way blocked by a huge tree that lay at an angle across the road He slaravel The BMW caer door inches from the tree

Jason rested his head on the wheel, his heart thu in his chest A tree on the slope above must have lost hold in the saturated earth It must’ve just happened, since the way had been clearthe driver’s side door open, he clio forward, he’d have to get the tree off the road Wizardry was good forthe more fluid ethers like water, air, and flaiant trees

Jason yanked the backpack fro there that would help Kneeling on the soggy ground, he sorted through the er that would inflict a mortal wound (on a man, not a tree), talismans of protection that he was unsure how to use, an ath to the weary ( stone that blazed up oddly between his hands Like a warning

There was so unfaht There was a faintof a spider How did that get there?

He looked up just as the car exploded into flaulfed Propping up on his elbows, he stared in disbelief The car was a blazing inferno, hissing and spitting in the pouring rain

Oh, God, he thought Linda’s going to kill led to his feet, so struck hih to spin him half around He clutched at his shirtfront, but could find no wound orcold and numbness

"Damn!" someone said behind him "I hope that didn’t hit too close to the heart The idea is to i around to face the speaker It couldn’t be The blond, almost translucent hair, the pale blue eyes and colorless lips The lopsided, arrogant smile he hadn’t seen since the ill-fated conference at Second Sister

"Barber!"

The sreider "For a minute, I didn’t think you remembered me But, hey, the friendships wehere?"

"I followed you Of course I didn’t know you’d lead me to the crap hole of the universe" Barber flipped his hand, indicating their general surroundings

"What did you shoot er with an effect very much like spider venom Renders the victim immobile, but leaves the ations"

"What do you want?"

"To ask you soo someplace quiet where on’t be interrupted"

The paralysis was spreading Jason’s li difficult to push air through his lungs "Questions about what?" hehis co down here About what you stole froonheart We can start hat’s in your backpack" Barber extended his hand "Hand it over"

Backpack Jason’s body ish, but his mind was clear Barber knew Jason had left town He knew about the church He knew there was soer seized Jason "You want this?" he shouted hoarsely As he raised the backpack, he thrust his hand inside, closing it around the ath to the bearer Heforth its power and felt welco the pack over his shoulder, he reached up with the other hand and gripped the dyrne sefa that hung around his neck Speaking the familiar unnoticeable charm he’d learned fro in the sodden leaves, but was i down the hill, the backpack slaainst his shoulder Barber was a powerful wizard, outclassing Jason on his best day Unnoticeable or not, it wouldn’t be healthy to stay around

Barber was totally pissed He sent flaed downhill after hi "Idiot! Where the hell do you think you’re going? Give yourself up, or you’re going to lie on your back in the mud until you’re ripped apart and eaten alive by wild animals"

It was hard to understand with all the profanity ered on He had no intention of sub Being ripped apart by wild ani in comparison Besides, he’d been played for a fool, and he would not, could not let them win