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"I don’t get it," said Nix "Shouldn’t it read ‘United States of Aht about it "Maybe not This plane is definitely soht Built before,afterward"

"So?"

"There is no United States of America anymore Not like it used to be" He folded the jacket over the back of the pilot’s chair "You know, I read in one book that the president and Congress were supposed to have a bunker or so a national disaster or war Maybe that’s what happened Maybe sooverns after First Night Not the same kind of country, of course, but some kind of country"

"The A "Maybe"

54

LILAH TENSED

Joe’s co in the air

You’re the Lost Girl

"How do you?" Her words trailed off, and she looked wildly around, then bared her teeth Her fingers tensed around the cup of soup as she prepared to hurl it in his face "This is all about collecting a bounty, isn’t it? Try it and I’ll paint these rocks with your blood--"

Grimm suddenly sat up and in the process transfor petted to the war hound that he truly was

"Whoa," said Joe, "slon"

Lilah growled low in her throat So did Gris, kid, but I’ That’s ue "Gried, this ti He sat and pretended to look as innocent as a puppy

"I guessed who you are because I’ve lived out in the Ruin since everything went to hell, kid, and I spent a fair amount of time in central California Everyone round those parts knows the story of the Lost Girl To for you Guess he found you"

"How did you know Tom?" Lilah asked suspiciously

"We’ve known each other off and on for eight, ten years We had some friends in coht I even knew his uncle, Saether for a bit Tom takes after hirity After the zoms rose, I was back and forth between the Nine Towns for a while This was early on, when they were just getting settled, but I got bored and moved on Haven’t been back there in years now"

"Was Tom a friend of yours?"

Then Joe narrowed his eyes "You keep putting To happened to hi with tears

"What happened to To and pain flickered in his eyes "Ahjeez How’d it happen? Walkers finally get him?"

"No," she said "He was ht with the Matthias clan About the destruction of Gameland, and about the murder of Toot up and walked over to a s Griht the sudden shift in mood and whined a little

"You know," said Joe thickly, "after all the death I’ve seen--before and after First Night--after all the tier, after all the coo down in blood and pain, you’d think that another death wouldn’tto me You’d think that I’d have too many calluses" He shook his head "ButTom Imura Damn"

When he turned back to her, Joe looked ten years older His face was drawn, his eyes dark with loss

"Long ti the Nine Towns He wanted to create a group likein some people he trusted, people who didn’t run with Charlie’s bunch Guys like Solomon Jones, Hector Mexico, and Sally Two-Knives That ever happen?"

"No," said Lilah "Those people were there at Gameland, they helped Tom, but the people in the towns never wanted an arry, because it left the Nine Towns so vulnerable"

"Toht idea He usually did People should have listened to him"

"There are a lot of stupid people," said Lilah harshly

Joe snapped his fingers "Hey--Tom had a little brother Benny What happened to hiot to the part about the ravine and the rescue of the little girl, Joe stiffened

"Wait! You ht now? In these woods?"

"Yes," she said "Benny, Nix, Chongbut they’re safe We have a carowled Joe "Why didn’t you tell me that before?"

She looked at him "Why would you think I’d trust you so fast?"

"Because I saved your life and sewed up your wounds?"

Lilah gave hi to help me for some reasons of your own If you knoho I am, and if you knew Toe of me before Why should I trust you or anyone?"

Joe nodded "Good point"

He looked over his shoulder, as if he could see the whole forest Then he doused the fire with the reot to his feet as well

"Listen to me," he said "You have a choice--you can stay here or coo find Toht now"

"Why?"

Joe pointed with his empty soup cup "Out there? Did you happen to see a bunch of Froot Loops running around? Bald heads, tattoos, angel wings on their chests?"

"The reapers But who are--?"

"They are the bad guys, sweetie They call theious movement, but that’s crap They don’t want to save anyone They want to kill everyone The Night Church, the Church of Thanatos, is run by a total wack job called Saint John and a conniving, malicious witch nao, and since then they’ve converted thousands of people to their cause"