Blood Red Road

Whaddya think yer doin? I says. Runnin of like that. Sneakin of like a … like a … no g’bye, no see you later, no nuthin. Jest … gone.

He frowns. I’m comin back, he says.

I go stil . I stare at him. What? I says.

I’m comin back, he says. But I got some business to take care of first.

Business, I says. What kinda business? I thought you was a thief.

Oh! Charmin! I never said that. There’s … a couple of things I got a do. An Ike’s got somebody waitin fer him. She’s bin waitin a long time.

She needs to know what happened.

You mean Mol y, I says.

You know about her.

Ike told me.

But after I see her, I’l be comin back. That’s the plan.

Because … because I saved yer life, I says. Three … no, two times. From the re an then from the hel wurm. An yer the one that said it, when you save somebody’s life two times—

It’s cal ed the rule of three, he says, not the rule of two. I should know, I made it up.

I knew it!

Look, he says. Two times, three times … this ain’t about obligation. That ain’t why I’m comin back.

It ain’t?

No. It’s about you. You. He takes a couple of steps towards me.

Yer in my blood, Saba, he says. Yer in my head. Yer in my breath, yer in my bones … gawd help me, yer everywhere. You have bin since the first moment I set eyes on you.

My heart turns over. I don’t dare breathe. The heartstone’s burnin into my skin.

I seem to remember, he says, that first time we met, you said … what was it you said to me?

I said that … you ain’t my type, I says.

Would that stil be … yer opinion?

I look at Jack. At his strange silver eyes that go from moonlight to granite in a instant, at his crooked nose, his top lip with the lit le dip in it. An I says, That would … not … stil be my … opinion.

He gives me his lopsided smile. C’mere, he says.

No, I says. You c’mere.

He steps in close. He smel s of sage, summer skies an somethin that’s jest him. Jest Jack. Now what? he says.

Now, I says, you kiss me.

He wraps his arms around me an hauls me up tight aginst him. He kisses my lips, my eyes, my face, my lips. An I kiss him. I breathe him in like he’s air. Drink him in like he’s water.

At last he pul s away, holds me at arm’s length. I got a go, he says.

You could go later, I says. We could go together when—

No, he says. I got a go now. He starts to walk backwards while he talks. He’s lookin at me al the time.

But how’l you find me? I says. We won’t be here. You don’t even know where we’re goin.

Yer headed out west, he says, to the Big Water. They say the air smel s like honey. He swings hisself onto his horse.

Wait. Take this. I run over to him, fumblin fer the heartstone. He leans down. I put it over his head, around his neck.

It … it’l help you to find me, I says.

It … it’l help you to find me, I says.

I don’t need no stone to nd you, he says. I’d nd you anywhere. He kisses me agin. Til I’m dizzy. Til my legs go weak. Then, See you, he says.

He tips his hat, wheels his horse around an trots away. As he goes, he starts to sing.

Oh I’ve roved an I’ve rambled all o’er the wide world

And kisses a-plenty I’ve tasted

But it’s her wine-sweet lips that I’m still dreaming of

O hard-hearted Annie, cruel Annie my love.

Saba! It’s Lugh’s shout. Him an Emmi and Tommo ride to meet me.

Are y’okay? says Lugh.

I nod.

Didn’t you ask him to stay? says Emmi.

He had somewhere he needed to be, I says.

I swing myself onto Hermes’ back. Nero flaps over to ride on my shoulder.

Are we ever gonna see him agin? says Emmi.

One day, I says.

One day soon, says Tommo.

I hope so, I says.

We turn our horses’ heads to the west.

Oh! I nearly fergot! Emmi pul s Lugh’s slingshot from her pocket an hands it to him. I bin keepin it fer you, she says.

He reaches over an ruf s her hair. Thanks. I’l teach you how to use it.

You don’t need to, I says. She’s a good shot.

Wel , whaddya know? says Lugh. Guess I’l hafta find somethin else to teach you, Em.

Or maybe I’l teach you somethin, says Emmi. You dunno everythin. You jest think you do.

Lugh shakes his head. I de nitely bin away too long, he says. I can see you need takin in hand, Emmi. Talkin to yer elders an bet ers that way …

I drop back a bit. I listen while they chat er on an Lugh makes us laugh. He always does.

We’re together agin.

Lugh goes first, always first, an I fol ow on behind.

An that’s fine.

That’s right.

That’s how it’s meant to be.

Lugh turns around. Smiles.

Hey, he says, what’re you doin back there? I ain’t got a clue where we’re goin. Git on up here an lead the way.

So I do.