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caed nets tied to Everlost trees A Greensoul would see a candy bar, or a bucket of popcorn, or whatever else the McGill was able to use as bait, but the second the kid grabbed it, the trap sprung, and there the kid was caught until the McGill’s crew ca a rabbit

The McGill was pleased with the current state of his world Things were coirl Allie was no coincidence Forces in the universe were conspiring in his favor Whether they were forces of light or forces of darkness…well, that was yet to be deter after Allie’s unexpected arrival, the McGill went down to her quarters, and found her there, reading one of those blasted books by Mary Queen of Snots

When he entered, Allie casually glanced at him from her bed, then returned her attention to the book "Mary’s books are sooo annoying," she told the McGill

"You can’t tell the truth froht"

It was hard for him not to sn

The McGill tossed his head in a calculated gesture of disdain His greasy hair whipped around, and flung soainst the wall "You will teach e in her book, ignoring him "I don’t follow orders"

The McGill paused, not sure whether to spit worms at her, or treat her with uncharacteristic patience He chose patience "You will teach me how to skinjack now…please"

Allie put down the book and sat up "Well, as long as you used the ic word, sure, why not"

She did not appear disgusted in the least when she looked at him This was troublesome Everybody, even his own crew, found him utterly repulsive His power to repel was a matter of pride He made a mental note that he would have to coust her

What the McGill didn’t realize was that Allie was disgusted, but she was extre her emotions to herself when she wanted to

Allie had decided that the McGill already had enough power over her; she wasn’t willing to give him the satisfaction of nausea

"The art of skinjacking," Allie began; "lesson nu"

Allie hesitated She had truly painted herself into a corner here, because if there was ever a spirit that should not kno to skinjack, it was the McGill

She barely kne to do it herself, having only tried it once with the ferry pilot--but the McGill didn’t know that As far as he knew, she ‘was an expert As long as she acted like an expert, she could get aith just about anything

"Possessing the living is a very co," she said with authority

"First we must find…uh … a Vortex of Spirit"

"A Vortex of Spirit," repeated the McGill "I don’t knohat that is"

Neither did Allie, but that really didn’t matter

"Do you mean a place that’s already haunted?" the McGill asked

"Yes, that’s it"

"A place that’s haunted without explanation?"

"Exactly!"

The McGill stroked his swollen chin as he thought "I know a place like that A house in Long Island We went there in search of Afterlights to capture We didn’t find a single one, but the walls of the house kept telling us to get out"

"Okay," said Allie "Then that’s where our lessons will begin"

The McGill nodded "I will call for you e arrive"

Once he was gone, Allie let her revulsion out, shivering and squir herself further with Mary Hightower’s volume of misinformation She hoped that couched between Mary’s useless tips thereit

The McGill, being an arrogant creature, believed he could see through anyone as lying It was that arrogance that kept hi hi the deck, pleased with this nerinkle in his existence Around him, his crew did their busywork on deck There was little point to all the cleaning, the swabbing, and the polishing the crew did What was rusty noould always be rusty What was covered in sulphur dust would stay that way, no matter how much the crew tried to wipe it away The best they could do was to clear away the cookie crumbs the McGill often left behind Still, the McGill insisted that his ship be like a real ship his crew like a real crew, and cleaning is what crews did It was always the sas, and at the sahost ship Allie, however, was a break from the routine

He proudly strolled past his crew on their shoes--just to ree and ordered the ship turned around, heading back toward Long Island and the haunted house he had told Allie about Then he sat in his throne, reaching toward a tarnished brass spittoon that sat next to it The boas originally used for spitting tobacco, phlegs, but it served a different function here The McGill dug his claw in, and pulled out a fortune cookie--one of htoas not a fan of fortune cookies, and told her readers so Just thinking about it h What Mary didn’t tell her readers is that fortune cookies were plentiful in Everlost--not quite as plentiful as those faceless coins, but far more useful For once, Mary had done him a service If others stayed away from the cookies, it meant there were more for him!

The McGill crushed the fortune cookie in his fingers, hurling the cruulls, then he settled into his throne and read the small slip of paper that had been hidden in the cookie

Out of the water will come your salvation

Allie had come to him out of the water, hadn’t she? He leaned back, well satisfied with hi Island did, indeed, tell theet out