Page 29 (1/2)

"Ew!" shouted several voices in the crowd, sounding both delighted and disgusted at the sae sundae"

The girl and her friends didn't wait for spoons to be ripped--they devoured it with their hands

"So," said Isaiah, "the Chocolate Ogre isn't a monsterhe's a thief"

Nick didn't deny it He had thought long and hard about what itworld, but he ultihed the needs of the living "Ever hear of Robin Hood?" he said to the crowd, as much as to Isaiah

"Sure--he robbed froave to the poor"

"Well," said Nick, "the living are rich, whether they know it or not The way I see it, we deserve a small share of the world that was stolen froreed, but he didn't disagree, either

"Okay," said Nick "Who's next?"

Almost every hand went up, with shouts of "Me! Me! Me!"

Nick turned to Isaiah "Get me a list of ten reasonable requests, and we'll see e can do"

Nick counted on Isaiah to weed out the needy froreedy, and Nick wasn't disappointed

"About half of theht the list of requests to the parlor car He glanced at Kudzu, who had busied hiht--poison for a living dog, but not a probleht canine

"I orried that ht happen," Nick said "What did you tell theht out of their lives wouldn't be right"

"I only done it once," Zin told hi at Nick a little sheepishly "Kudzu here was bein' beaten by his owner Had to save him fro his na for a belly rub Isaiah obliged "Beatin' a dog! You shoulda ripped his owner's heart clear out while you were at it"

"I did!" said Zin Then she waffled "Well, I al atchin' Couldn't let him see that, could I?"

Kudzu purred like a kitten as Isaiah rubbed his belly "Sure is one funny-lookin' pooch" Then he stood up and handed Nick the list "Here you go--ten reasonable requests Let's see what the girl can do"

The requests that Isaiah passed along were all well-chosen, and although it took souitar for two kids who hadn't played since the day they each crossed over The sixth Harry Potter book, which, for some reason, was the only one that never crossed into Everlost A Bible--which often did cross--but the request was for one in Portugese Zin ripped an art set for a girl who had brushes, but no paint, a big sixty-four box of Crayolas for the younger kids, and a pair of glasses for a kid whose eyesight was as bad in Everlost as it was in life The re requests were for desperately needed sports equip any more food orders, but as it turned out, Isaiah had his reasons

Once all ten requests had been fulfilled, Isaiah called Nick in for a privateIsaiah's quarters were co storefront in Underground Atlanta He lived no better than any of the kids in his care, although he did have a bit more room There was a bed that was probably just for show, since hts--especially leaders--didn't sleep There was a Fore leather sofa probably fro round-backed chairs that looked like soht have owned Nick made a mental note to have Zin rip Isaiah a respectable furniture set

Nick sat on the sofa, figuring it would be the least likely to be left with permanent chocolate stains, and Isaiah sat across frorandma chairs

"I've let you have your fun," Isaiah said "Noant to knohat you want froift and a bribe He could only hope that he was still on the right side of that line "I would have ripped all those things for your Afterlights, without getting anything in return," he told Isaiah "But you're right--there are a couple of things I'd like to ask you for"

"You can ask," said Isaiah, "but it doesn't ive"

Nick cleared his throat so that his speech lost that thick chocolatey tone "First I need inforhts in other towns and cities in the South I need nuhts are like--are they friends or enemies? Are they easy to deal with, or should they be avoided? You know-- that kind of thing"

"Fine," said Isaiah "I'll tell you what I know about the South" The chair creaked as Isaiah leaned back in it "But that's not all you want, is it?"

Nick took a moment This one wouldn't be as easy He tried to sit up as straight as he could in the low-slung sofa, and looked Isaiah in the eye

"I'd like fifty of your Afterlights"

Isaiah's expression becaed "They're not for sale," he growled

"No--that's not what I htower is a threat to all of us, and I can guarantee you that she's building an ar you for fifty volunteers Only those ant to go--I don't want to force anyone"

Isaiah took his time to think about it "I don't like it," he said "I don't like it one bitbut I do get the feeling that living under the Sky Witch would be a whole lot worse"