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"Is Jocko dancing?" he asked, continuing to spin

"That’s ballet"

"It’s just … a thing … Jocko does," he said, and pirouetted into the bedrooet very dizzy?"

"Sometimes … Jocko vomits"

"Well then, you better stop"

"No control"

Putting the bedding on the floor, in a corner, Erika said, "You mean you’re compelled to pirouette?"

The troll spun to a stop, ca his equilibriued "Everybody’s got problems"

"That’s very philosophical"

"Most worse than mine"

Erika was pretty sure there weren’t rotesque troll with three hairs on your tongue, penniless, living mostly in storm drains, with a compulsion to spin until you threw up But she aduy’s positive attitude

In the bathroom, Jocko helped her unload the cart and distribute the itehted with the supply of snack foods that she had brought

"Jocko likes salty, Jocko likes sweet, but never bring Jocko any hot sauce, like with jalapeńos, because itstuff out his ears"

"I’ll be sure to re you healthyyou don’t like besides hot sauce?"

"Jocko’s been living s and rats And hot sauce on corn chips that one tih for Jocko"

"This is very exciting, isn’t it?" Erika said

"What is?"

"Having a secret friend"

"Who does?"

"I do"

"What friend?"

"You"

"Oh Yes Jocko is excited"

Putting away the last of the towels, she said, "I’ll be back in the one to the Hands of Mercy, and then you can read to ood to eat?"

"No, that’s bath soap"

"Oh Is this good to eat?"

"That’s another bath soap"

"So it’s good to eat?"

"No Soap is never good to eat"

"Is this good to eat?"

"That’s also bath soap It’s a four-pack"

"Why soap, soap, soap, soap?"

"I brought extras of several things You’re going to be here awhile… Aren’t you?"

"As long as you say Jocko can"

"Good That’s very good"

"Now go away," said Jocko

"Oh, of course, youher into the living roo to return it to the kitchen in thethe door, she scoped the hallhich was deserted and quiet Glancing back at the troll, she said, "Don’t be afraid"

"You either"

"You’re safe"

"You too"

"Just lie low"

"Go away"

Stepping into the hall, Erika quietly pulled the door shut behind her

CHAPTER 37

THE INSTANT THE DOOR CLOSED, Jocko scampered into the bathroom Snatched up a bar of soap Tore the wrapper off Took a bite

Erika rong Soap looked delicious, and it was

She rong or … she lied

How sad she would lie She seemed so different from others So pretty So kind Such delicate nostrils But a liar

Aldom of lies

Jocko lied, too Told her he was Harker

True, he cae Harker’s memories But he wasn’t Harker

Jocko was Jocko, unique Jocko wanted what Jocko wanted Not what anybody else wanted

Only one way Jocko and Harker were alike Hated Victor Helios Hated hi Jocko wanted, Harker had wanted Victor Helios dead

Jocko was Jocko But he was also vengeance

Soap tasted better than rats Als But so chewy Not easy to s

Jocko put down the half-eaten bar Didn’t have ti Later