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“What the—I mean, as that, man?” Edilio demanded

“Ask Astrid,” Sam snapped

Astrid handed Little Pete his Gaently to his feet She kept her eyes down, unwilling to lare “I don’t knohat it is It’s sohtmare, maybe” There was a distinct note of desperation to her voice

“The doll, the thing, whatever it was,” Sah

ting back Like it was trying to come to life”

“Yes,” Astrid whispered

Edilio was the only other person who knew Little Pete’s history It had been Edilio who had retrieved the videotape from the power plant that showed the mo Little Pete, there with his father, had reacted by creating the FAYZ

Edilio asked the question that was on Sa Little Pete?” Edilio asked, “Man, who or what has the power to take on Little Pete?”

“We don’t talk about this with anyone else,” Sam said firmly “Someone asks you about it, you just say it must have been some kind of…”

“Some kind of what?” Edilio asked

“Optical illusion,” Astrid supplied

“Yeah, that’ll work,” Edilio said sarcastically Then he shrugged “Kids got other things to worry about Hungry people don’t waste much time on questions”

If others learned of Little Pete’s guilt…and his power…he would never be safe Caine would do anything it took to capture if not kill the strange little boy

“Edilio, put everyone on one bus Take a couple of your guys and start driving down residential streets Go door to door Round up as many kids as you can Pack the bus, then take them to pick some melons or whatever”

Edilio looked dubious but said, “Okay, Mr Mayor”