The Kill Society (Sandman Slim 9)
Page 63
“You’re a hero, you know. Everyone is talking about how you got the Magistrate out of the motel.”
“I seem to remember Daja being there. Isn’t she a hero, too?”
Cherry waves dismissively.
“Of course. She’s the toast of the town. But it was you everyone saw when you blew a hole in the fire line. Don’t deny it. I know magic when I see it.”
“So what? I have a cover story.”
“Yeah, Daja told everyone that, too. But even she doesn’t believe it. You want to stay incognito? You better come up with something better than the car and truck just happened to fall apart at the same time.”
“I’ll keep my head down awhile. If I fess up who I am, they’ll know me and Traven have been lying the whole time.”
“And me.”
“Yeah. You too.”
“Plus,” she says, “confessing to a lie that big will almost certainly confirm you’re our ghostly saboteur.”
“People still think that?”
“Enough that it matters.”
“Shit.”
I look past her at the camp.
I say, “You know how you can help? You’re the local swami. Tell them it’s all shit. You read my aura or something and I’m just another lost bastard who got lucky.”
She looks back at the camp, too.
“I already did. Some of them believe me. But you know how rumors are. Cool it with the magic and stay away from the trucks.”
“Good idea.”
“And don’t heal so fast. Look hurt. Limp around. You’re everyone’s favorite wounded puppy right now. Just go with it.”
“I’m not good at that.”
She pulls some potions from her pocket and hands them to me. I look them over, a little skeptical.
“What are those for?”
“Officially I’m over here to pray and spritz you with some healing potions.”
I push her hand away.
“Keep them. I’m sick of the Magistrate’s tent revival.”
Cherry stamps her foot.
“This is for both our benefits,” she says. “Besides, if you’re good I have some laudanum.”
I lower my head.
“You talked me
into it.”