He could’ve picked anywhere. Interesting that he picked a busy city. You said he liked the chaos? Her eyes went wide. Of course! Chaos will hide him from the other gods. And vice versa. She flapped her wings. He said someone is hiding from him?
I repeated everything Ms. Cab was saying, while pondering who Ah-Puch could have been referring to.
Hondo slugged me in the arm. He hadn’t stopped looking at me with a goofy smile since the big demigod reveal. “I knew there was something different about you!” he said.
“You did?”
Mr. O took off his hat and rubbed his bald head.
“When you were a baby,” Hondo said, “you used to do loco things like talk in full sentences before you were even a year old. And one time you touched your mom’s hot curling iron but didn’t get burned. Another time we found you crawling in the desert toward the volcano.” He ran his hand through his hair excitedly. “It makes sense now. You really are a freak.” His face got serious. “I mean, in a good way. So do you have any superpowers? I mean, beyond creeping on people’s minds?”
“Seeing in the dark, I guess….” I thought about the recent storms. They always came when I was scared or angry. Had I caused those? And what about that freak storm in LA? What had that been about? Did it have something to do with my dad making an appearance?
I hadn’t seen Hondo this excited since the last world wrestling championship three years ago, when he won a thousand bucks betting on Bone Crusher. It felt good to let it all out, to share all the weirdness of the last few days with him and Mr. Ortiz. If only Mom were here, maybe she could fill in the gaps. But I couldn’t let her get mixed up in this. Where was she, anyway? I hoped she was okay….
Hondo slung his arm over my shoulders. “So how do we take down this sonofa… er, I mean, this Stinking One?”
Ms. Cab set a wing in my hand. I’m sorry I failed you.
I let out a big breath. You tried, at least. Did… did you find out anything about Rosie?
She blinked her little chicken eyes and I could see the sadness there. I sent messages everywhere. If any of my friends see her, Zane, they’ll try and protect her.
My heart wedged itself into the big hole in my chest. Thanks, Ms. C. By the way, where did you put that gateway map? I asked, hoping she wouldn’t catch on to my plan.
In the bookcase, like always. Why?
I walked over and pulled out the scroll. I unrolled it in front of her, then took hold of her wing again. Show me how to use it.
Absolutely not! Ms. Cab said. Do you know what others would do to get their grubby hands on this map?
I knew we were running out of time. Ah-Puch had given me three moons, and if t
his map could get us to where I wanted to go, I needed to know how to read it.
“Mr. Ortiz?” I looked up at him.
“Yes?”
“Can you watch over Ms. Cab?”
A broad smile formed and his eyes danced. “¡Claro que sí!”
Ms. Cab shook her head vigorously. Zane Obispo! I don’t need a babysitter. I am a great Maya seer! And he’s just… just a pathetic human!
My mouth turned up. No offense, Ms. Cab, but um, you’re a chicken right now.
That silenced her for a few seconds.
At least take an eyeball!
For what?
So I can visit you in your dreams, and so I can keep an eye on that girl.
I seriously didn’t want Ms. Cab in my dreams. And I for sure didn’t want to carry around one of her eyeballs.
You’ll need my guidance! she screamed. I let go of her wing and put up a wall in my head so her words just spun into clucking.