thirty-two

SO HOW LONG YOU BEEN ADVENTURING?”

Michael came out of his daze and returned to the conversation in progress. Will and Otis had come that morning bearing more gifts, more snacks that would rot the teeth of the strongest jaw, but Michael’s stomach was in no position to argue. They sat in the dirt in front of the dugout entrance. Otis spent his time chasing shadows in the dying underbrush.

“For a while, I guess.”

“You live out in these woods?”

“No, not really.”

“Where you from?”

“Coldwater. Was. Am.”

“Why’d you leave?”

“Well, you could say that it was time I got out. Go adventuring.”

“You going back?”

“I haven’t decided yet. I guess I’m still thinking about it. There’s nothing good going to come from me going back.”

“Can I tell you something?” Will asked.

“Sure.”

“I always like going home. Don’t tell my mom that, but I’m always ready to head back. Otis, now he could stay out here forever, but me, I always feel a sense of relief when I get home.”

“Nothing wrong with that. The world is a scary place.”

“You got that right.”

“You’re a wise boy, Will.”

“Thanks.”

They sat quietly again. The conversation had flowed back and forth between silence and idle talk. Michael’s thoughts drifted to the events of his capture, his mind analyzing every detail, trying to identify faces in the dark haze of a drug-fueled memory. There were seven of them that night at Gilly’s. Each one staring at him as the room spun into darkness. Each one silently watching as the poison coursed through his veins.

The two men on the road he knew. James and Kyle. They had been faces in his world but not part of it. Kyle was younger by several years. He would see him in Coldwater whenever he dared to venture into town, and he recalled his boyhood face from the school yard all those years ago. His thoughts of James were similar. Loud, large, cocky. They were all superficial caricatures he’d created. He knew no one in Coldwater intimately.

The wind blew and the rustling of dead leaves filled the silence. The clearing of dead plants was creeping ever wider by the hour. A perfect dead radius around the cave.

Michael knew that he could not stay here long. Soon the creeping would spread up the ridge and expose his hideout. Then there would be no reason to stay in the cramped quarters. This dying would follow him as it always did and he would have to move on. But move on where?

He was enjoying these odd get-togethers with Will and Otis. Even the dog had seemed to come around and tolerate his existence. Not entirely, but he would at least sit across from him and not growl.

He looked over at Will and watched him throw another piece of candy into his mouth. The boy caught his gaze and smiled back, his teeth covered in chocolate. Then Michael saw it.

From the boy’s left nostril, a small bead of blood started to run down toward his lip in a slow serpentine crawl. It pooled slightly and then ran into the boy’s mouth. The salty taste surprised the boy, and he wiped his nose with his sleeve. The sight of blood on his cuff startled him.

“Uh-oh!” Will exclaimed.

Michael stood up, an icy shock filling his limbs. The thought that he was slowly poisoning Will convicted him to the quick. “I think it’s time you got going now.”

“Just a bloody nose.”

“No. You need to leave.”

The boy’s face twisted in a look of confusion. “But I just got out here,” he said.

“Will! Go!”

“But . . . but . . .” Will’s voice was a mix of surprise and hurt. The blood running from his nose added to the portrait of confusion and gore.

“Will. It’s for your own good. Please!”

Otis returned from the brush, alert. He started barking at Michael.

“Okay, okay. Sorry.”

“There’s nothing to be sorry for, Will. You just need to get home. You need to get that taken care of.”

“It’s no big deal, I’ve had bloody noses before.”

Not like this, he hadn’t. Desperation clawed at Michael. “Just trust me . . . please.”

“Okay.” The boy swiped his nose, packed up his bag, and called for the dog, who ran up to him and seemed eager to push him up the ridge. Will stopped at the top and turned back, the look of childlike eagerness stabbed Michael’s heart. “See you later?”

Michael nodded a disingenuous assent and watched the boy climb up to the path and disappear over the hill. He pushed aside his roiling emotions and went into the dugout to gather up his things.

It was time to go.