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Noould beco everything on Bug’s story A story of a ical island It was insane, of course But when reality was hopeless, fantasy became more and more necessary

"How ?" Caine asked

"Not far Stop worrying"

"You stop worrying," Caine h open fields Nothing but depressions in the dirt where he stepped Caine was all-too-visible Broad daylight Across a dusty, plowed field under a bright, hot sun Bug said no one was in these fields Bug said these fields had nothing growing and that none of Sam’s people knew about the farmhouse, which was practically unnoticeable, off a dirt road and looked abandoned

Caine’s first question had been, "Then how do you know about the tio you said to keep an eye on Zil"

"So how does Zil know about this farmhouse?"

The voice above the iuys used to know these kids Back in the day"

Caine’s next question: "Do they have food there?"

"Yeah Soirl, the sister Emily? She’s some kind of freak, I think I don’t knohat she does, I ain’t seen her do anything freaky, but her brother is scared of her So is Zil, kind of, only he doesn’t show it"

"Great," Caine muttered He noted that Zil was a kid ouldn’t let himself show fear Maybe useful

Caine shaded his eyes with his hand and scanned around, looking for telltale dust plu said the Perdido Beach people were low on gas, too, but still drove when they needed to

He was confident that he could take on and defeat any one freak froroup With the sole exception of Saether? Or even that little preppy nitwit Taylor and a few of Edilio’s soldiers?

But right now the real proble this distance-- his obbly His eyes sooodPanda Panda energy flowing froh his blood

The farht out in the open A long way from the road, yes, but Caine couldn’t believe Sam’s people had never found it and searched it for food

Very strange

"No closer," a youngand Caine froze

"Who are you? What do you want?"

Caine couldn’t see anyone through the dirty screen

Bug answered, "We’re just--"