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He wasn’t sure which hole to peg thelanced at Zane as the others pulled ahead, narrowing his eyes at the ly, Zane’s eyes flickered up to meet his own and actually hold the rather than running his ain Earlthat needed to be said right then and there Partners, friends, adversaries… none of the pegs fit anywhere

DEUCE paused on the trail, watching Ty and Earlahead of hiht up with hi tired hi heavily on his walking stick He wiped at the back of his neck with his bandanna as Zane spoke again "I think next vacation I’h and nodded "I’ll go in half with you," he offered as they started ht off his bad leg as they lanced over his shoulder to check on them When he saw they’d fallen behind, he stopped and turned around to wait on the back at theot to his dad, a sht behind Ty caused hiround It sent sticks and leaves and dirt skyward, the blast echoing through the woods, and they all ducked and covered their heads

When Deuce looked up, Zane was already scra leaves and sticks off his shoulders and out of his hair Earl was standing, bent over with his hands on his knees and squinting at Ty

"Jesus Christ, boy," Earl said before he was forced to cough again

"Wasn’t me," Ty insisted as he shook his head to clear it

"What was it?" Zane asked as he crouched next to Ty

Ty blinked a few times and looked up at Zane Then he pointed upward "Sounded like a grenade," he said breathlessly

When Deuce looked up and off to the right, he could indeed see several grenades sitting precariously on the tree lihted nets The weights were perched on the thin branches, with the pins of the grenades attached to the trees, situated so that when you brushed one of the trees hard enough tothe grenade with it while the pin would stay in the tree

It was a hasty job, even Deuce could see that So that had probably just been doneI’ve ever seen," Deuce muttered as he peered up at them

"Great," Zane said under his breath "Concussion?" he asked Ty Ty shook his head and looked to Earl, but they both seeh to thee other than to knock Ty off his feet For once, Deuce was glad he was a slower hiker than they were

"Must have been a squirrel or sorunted as he let Zane help hi off his jacket

They hid themselves quickly as far from the trail as they dared Deuce flattened hi on his back beside him with his eyes closed Earl wasn’t far away, hidden amidst a thick patch of small trees Zane lay on Ty’s other side

They were silent as they waited A good ten renade dropped Ty flinched beside Deuce, his eyes still shut and his hands folded calmly over his chest After a third soon after, Zane spoke up quietly "They must knoe’re here No way do they keep those up there all the tiree slow and even Zane growled as another one exploded "Fuck We can’t stay here We’re pinned down"

"The thing is," Ty said conversationally, "they know it’s not safe because of the fucking squirrels or evil chipmunks or whatever the fuck they are So they’re not likely to co his eyes

"Not likely?" Deuce repeated

"But they knohere to find us whenever they’re ready," Zane said

"And we’ll knohere to find them," Ty countered as he finally opened his eyes He didn’t turn his head to look at Zane, though He didn’t move "If we e"

Zane didn’t answer, Deuce noticed; he sihtly where he lay on his belly, face settled against his forear as next Since neitherto do?" he asked

"I aain "And hope one of those things doesn’t fall on me"

Zane h

Deuce rolled his eyes "You’re both insane," he decided, speaking under his breath

Ty began to laugh softly Zane didn’t even look up from where his face was buried in his ar in jerky littlehis lip, trying not tohis lips together tightly, not wanting to laugh with therenade dropped, Ty snorted, unable to stop the laugh that followed Zane’s hand flashed out and srunt and quieted, but Deuce could feel hi beside him

"You kind of wonder what the squirrels think when they’re being blown through the air to the next tree," Ty posed, trying not to snicker as he spoke Zane sarenade," Ty recited sorrowfully Zane snorted and used both hands to cover the sound

"We’re all gonna die," Deuce decided with a quiet groan

After a few , Zane rolled up on his side and laid one hand on Ty’s chest "What if we threw stones or soain Deuce narrowed his eyes at him

"Yeah, Zane, let’s make them all fall at once," Ty responded, his voice full of sarcasm "That shouldn’t leave a crater," he muttered

"Youthe others?" Zane prodded

"Never bring stones to a grenade fight," Ty advised sagely

"I’m serious," Zane whispered

Ty turned his head to look at Zane warily "I’d have to get closer," he finally decided with a sigh "It’s not the aiht in the woods Trees are too dense"