Page 27 (1/2)

Mary took the book fro to teach us," she said, "and crucial knowledge at the right tiestured for Milos to sit, and so he did, stretching out comfortably on a plush sofa Mary sat across from him "Now, if you don't mind, I'd like to know a little bit about your travels"

"What would you like to know?"

"Your friend Moose mentioned that you had an encounter with Allie the Outcast I would very much like to know about it"

"Allie is of no concern," he told her "When I last saw her, she was on her way hooes ho on her mind Trust me, she is no threat"

Mary shifted her shoulders, the suggestion unnerving her "Did I say she was a threat?"

"No," adre And he is a threat, yes?"

Mary leaned forward, a little too interested "Did she say anything about hied "A bit Very little She had not seen him for years--since the day on the pier I understand you were there too"

"I hope you realize that the Ogrewhat?"

"Froht to justice!"

"And you," asked Milos, "are the judge?"

And then she quoted fros "In a lawless world, we low, and create justice by the convictions of our souls"

"So then, you are his judge"

"I have seen firsthand the acts of cruelty he's capable of," Mary said "He sent hundreds of helpless children into the light He'd send us all there if he had his way"

Milos found he could read her just as easily as one of her books At least when it care He tried not to smile as he spoke "Does he know you're in love with hilare, as if the question itself was an attack "I see you've been listening to sainst me Probably from Allie the Outcast"

Milos knew he had to play this very, very carefully "No, it was only a guess But believe me," he said earnestly, "I knohat it's like to love someone who has betrayed you And I kno hard it is to move on But in the end, we azes, and asn't spoken at thatelse that was

Mary was the first to break the gaze Her eyes drifted to the book sitting on the table beside her The engineering textbook She picked it up, and pondered it, rubbing her hand across the surface as if itthe services of skinjackers, for various missions Ie"

"In that case," said Milos, "I hope I can be of service"

It was long after dark when he left that night, after hours in Mary's company There was no question he was dazzled by her Mary was everything Milos iht be She had Jill's shrewdness, without the sociopathic streak She had Allie's high rity, without the naivety that kept Allie devoted to that miserable Mikey McGill Milos knew his weakness was that he fell in love too easily, which blinded hiirls he fell for-- but finally here was a girl worthy of his attention!

He had already softened her defenses, but truly winning her affections would require a different kind of dance than he was used to One where all his moves were clear, and his motives transparent She valued honesty and directness This he could deliver

Milos knew he had no choice but to win her over-- it was a matter of necessity for him now, because he had already fallen for her--and the only way to survive a force of nature such as Mary Hightoas towas ht Ah well, one can't have everything Besides, if Mary were a skinjacker, she wouldn't have any need for Milos, so perhaps it was better this way

And she did need him--she said so herself--but there were many levels of need Milos had had his heart broken one too many times This time would be different So Mary needed, as indispensable as air to the living As permanent as Everlost itself PART FOUR Way of the Chocolate Warrior In her most recent book, What You Don't Know Can Most Certainly Hurt You, Mary Hightorites:

"It would be untrue to say Everlost is entirely free fros, seeds of our own doorow That which was once insignificant can devour us There are cancers beyond those of our mortal bodies I consider the The Chocolate Ogre serves as a perfect exa than his, and whose affliction could be more unpleasant?"

Chapter 20 The Great Train Robbery