Page 64 (1/2)

Leaving eight, and that was only if Eli actually hit anyone "We should save the bullets," she said, not knohy or for who Eli to shoot her She didn’t think she was that brave Besides, ould happen to Mina if she was dead?

"Then how?"

"The auger Extend the handle, and it’ll be plenty long If you hold s, I can stretch and use it to push us away"

"Oh boy, I hate this," Eli said, but he was starting to ease down to a crouch Ellie followed hi at her teeth every time the raft bobbled When she was flat on her tummy and turned around, he worked out the handle and passed her the auger "You knohat this reminds me of ?" he said "National Treasure You knohere Nicolas Cage and everybody else is trapped on this big square thing?"

"I never saw it" She worked her way toward the edge One of the dogssound at the same time the raft dipped and water leaked onto the ice in front of her face Oh boy, I hate this, too She felt the water under their block of ice heave as the raft bobbed A nasty vision floated through herso far that she slid, face-first, into the water She’d pull Eli along with her Then, one of two things would happen: either the raft flipped like a pancake, trapping all of therab an edge Most lakes, no er than ht So she’d drift left, under the raft, and droith her back jaainst the ice

She wanted to wait for that water to retreat, but those peopleeaters were still coh her hands and stretched, trying to hold the heavy blades steady Squir a few more inches, she sucked in between her teeth as the raft tipped another inch Water was beginning to creep toward her arms Maybe she should’ve let Eli do this; he was taller, only she wasn’t strong enough to hold him if he slipped

Shadows leaked over her hands Her eyes clicked up, and her pulse stuttered Nine of the people-eaters were nearly there In the lead, that boy with the machete leered and hacked the air with a blade coppery with Bella’s blood Not far behind the reen scarf trailing This tiirl looked so scared In fact, that kid looked like she was really, really dying to get closer

They’ll cut us up Paralyzed, she stared at her death stor over the ice It’ll hurt

"Don’t stop," Eli said, and gave the chain a yank "Co"

"Ifro on to almost nine pounds of steel at the very end of a sli her elbows, she braced the auger against her chest "Do they get off ?"

"What? Who?" "The guys in the er-shadows brushing her hair and arain as Eli redoubled his grip "The good guys always make it We’ll do it, too We’re Jayden’s Killer Es, reuys? So"

She waited a beat, the steady thu pace with the race of her pulse "Eli?" When he didn’t respond, she risked a look "E--"

His expression was one she knew Her Grandpa Jack had worn the sae the day the Army people came to tell the so fast her chest was about to explode "What is it?"

"Lena," Eli whispered, aghast Then, louder: "Lena?"