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Turk looked down at the blood He seeely "That’s nothing much Just means we run this place now, Astrid No Saht hands?"

"Orc!" Astrid cried out She didn’t want to reveal the depths of her fear But she knehat Turk would do And she did not want to use the gun Not even now, not even for Petey

"What other tricks can the ’tard do?" Lance demanded "Float in the air, make rain What else?"

"Mutant retard Freaktard," one of the other kids said, and laughed tentatively like he wasn’t quite sure it was funny

"He doesn’t knohat he’s doing," Astrid said She was chilled now and beginning to shiver "He was just thirsty He has the sickness, the flu, and he was thirsty"

On the street below, other kids were co bowls and buckets They advanced ondering eyes, edging toward the rain curtain as it edged toward them

"The ’tard must be some kind of serious moof to do this," Lance said "Blow off the top of the house? Call up a rain cloud? That’s, like, at least three-bar powers there Maybe four"

"If you bother him, he may stop" The threat was a sudden inspiration and it worked Lance’s eyes narrowed even further and Turk was suddenly very still Drinkable water was ieniuses as Turk and Lance

Then Turk shook his head and said, "Nice try, Astrid But if the freaktard otta do is keep him thirsty and n the rainry?" Watcher asked

The rain beat on the carpet It was already pooling around their feet Shallow puddles in dirty carpet

Turkto take old Petard with us" He er boys "Grab hiun itself had made the decision Astrid aimed it at Turk

Despite the rain her mouth was dry as parcher was on the trigger, stroking the grooves, feeling it Her thumb was on the safety

She clicked it off

All she saas Turk’s face, and the v-sights of the pistol

"You aren’t going to pull that trigger, Astrid," Turk said

A sound froed He had an automatic rifle aimed at Turk "It’s over, Turk," Edilio said

Astrid dropped the pistol to her side She breathed a huge, shaky sigh of relief

"You going to let Astrid just own this freak?" Turk deht now!" Edilio yelled

The two younger kids looked to Turk for guidance

Lance was the one who moved He raised his own pistol and pointed it at Little Pete "Anyone shoots anyone, the ’tard takes one in the head"

"Man, you don’t want to do this," Edilio warned "Yeah? Well, listen up, Edilio: Albert’s dead"