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"Yeah, how did that go?" asked Peter, stepping away and waving the air in front of his face a little He looked like he’d just bitten into a very sour lereat We tried to do it the nice way, but that didn’t work, so we just burned thein place a little "The roof … the roof … the roof is on fire …"

Fohi’s weak voice spoke up "We don’t need no water let the motherfucker burn …"

"Burn ed Fohi "Good one, man You’re not dead yet"

Yokci’s jaw clenched, the ry

I sed hard Is Rob serious?

"So what’s up, Fohi?" I asked "How are you feeling?" I walked over and sat down next to hi at Rob for direction Fohi’s eyes remained shut

"Like Rob said I ain’t dead yet But I kinda wish I was" He started coughing and then ently on his abdoonna be fine, though" Rob cleared his throat after it suddenly went husky

"He’s too much of a pain in the ass to die," added Yokci

"Dudes can’t live without me," said Fohi, his voice barely above a whisper "And the chicks … the chicks will give up all hope if I go"

I reached out and took his hand in oing to be fine, I know you are"

"Have you seenone eye open "I hear they’re pretty gnarly"

"Uh, no Not since before, when you first got here"

"He’s got three deep wounds," explained Yokci "He’s lost a lot of blood"

"I hear I’h, but it cah

"Chicks like scars," I said, barely able to o eat Please don’t die while I’one I’ll be back in a few"

"Is that an order?" he asked, his eyes closing but half his

"Yes, as a one Or when I get back for that matter I order you to live to annoy us another day Or year Or fifty years"

"Consider it done," he said, just before his face went slack and his mouth dropped open a little

I squeezed his hand and leaned forward sharply,in my chest "Fohi!"

He frowned "What?" His eyes opened halfway and squinted atat"Oh Sorry I thought …"

Rob laughed "You totally thought he was dead She thought you were dead, dude"

I breathed out a heavy sigh "Yeah, I totally did"

Fohi sain "Tricked ya Ha Now I know you likehis head, saying nothing, but his jaw muscles had sot close to Fohi’s face "I do like you And I need you here helping "

"‘Kay" He frowned and turned his face towards Rob "Oh, man What’s that s for ripping it and shaking it a little "Helpto die!"

I backed away "Eff you, Fohi I’et out of the alcove before I heard hi for a shower too before she kills so on"

Peter giggled all the way over to the buffet with ulp of tepid water when ht my eye I slowly lowered the bottle down to the nearby counter and walked towards the glass door, pickingsettlers Several of our newestout

"Who is that?" asked one of them

"Canners?" asked another, fear in her voice She backed away, tripping over soround "Oops, sorry!"

"Watch where you’re walking," gru with several others in a circle

"Those aren’t canners," I said, recognizing the tattoos and shaved head hairstyle of one of the guys standing there

Yokci came up to stand beside me "That’s Paci," he said "What’s up with that? What’s he doing here? And who are those other people?"

"I have no idea" We both ?" asked Peter froo let the the lock on the front door

"Take this," said Ronald, appearing at un into"I don’t need that These are friends of ours" I raised my head and looked him in the eye "Seriously They’re family"