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Lacey looked off into the sun to reood about it But then I tripped over ood this tihtly as if sorab her at that very moment and take her away "But what if it’s a trick? What if it’s a lie? What if the light’s bad--or what if it’s fake and there’s nothing there at all? What then?"

Allie grabbed Lacey and held her close, trying to co you’re not sure of yourself? "I don’t knohat’s in the light," Allie said "Only the people who get there know for sureBut I do know this: Everyone who has ever lived has gone down the tunnel, and everyone who ever will live will go there too So you’re in good co," Lacey pointed out "What about the souls who sink?"

"They’ll get there eventually, even if eventuallytio into the light He didn’t go anywhere at all What about him?"

Allie closed her eyes She never liked Squirrel, but he didn’t deserve to be extinguished "Well," Allie said, "that’s the exception that proves the rule"

She held Lacey for a o, Lacey seemed comforted More than comforted, she was calmed She was ready

"Will you hold one?" Lacey asked

"Of course I will"

They stood with Allie holding her hand, then Lacey held out her other hand, and Allie placed the coin in the middle of her palm

"It’s warm," Lacey said

Allie smiled "Make a wish"

Lacey closed her palht, and in an instant they were both bathed in bright light co tunnel Lacey looked into the light, letting go of Allie’s hand, and she gasped "It ca down the tunnel into a blinding eternity

Jill, who had seen the whole thing, gave Allie slow applause "Very touching," Jill said "I may have to skinjack someone just so I can hurl"

CHAPTER 35

Dark Cufulthe desert is a tie"

This was Mary’s decree as theyaway from roads and other hints of civilization It was, she decided, the best way to steer clear of the scar wraith The path they cut took thean to pick up stray Afterlights that had scattered after the Neons had attacked the train The collective afterglow of her arhts for miles in all directions, and when her scattered flock realized that it was Mary, they ca Not all of them found their way back, but their numbers increased every day

Mary soon announced that her vapor of Afterlights had grown so large, they could now consider theed cumulus It was more than appropriate, because her cuather strength as it pushed ever forward--and this tiht they needed to sleep

They numbered more than five hundred by the time their relentless march reached Odessa, Texas

Only now did Mary allow her children a rest from their travels There was an old sports arena in Odessa that had been torn dohen the new coliseum was built The old arena was now the most substantial deadspot that the shts under Mary’s wing now, it was a perfect-size space for a temporary respite, and an effective center of operations for her new skinjackers’ firstout what that mission should be

As it turned out, Moose was very helpful in this regard While Moose had never been accused of being a genius, he was actually a whole lot shly motivated by his loss than by his presence He was very clever when it caathered inforence about Odessa and what sorts of ht be accomplished there by a motivated team of skinjackers

Mary turned the arena’s press box into her center of operations From here she could look out over the whole arena, and keep an eye on all her children There was a fine basketball court below, and a few basketballs had even crossed with the arena when it was iahts played, an to spread out into the stands, finding their own particular patterns of behavior Mary watched the repetitive ga root in this unfamiliar environment It was all about habit, Mary knew It was all about consistency For this reason Mary was not at all surprised when Jackin’ Jill showed up in Odessa She knew Jill was a creature of habit too

"Of course you’re still one of us, Jill," Mary said, giving Jill a elcoive you"

Jill nodded but said nothing because she knew if she did, it would be a bitter accusation Marytried to send Jix down She wished she could announce to Mary that the trick had failed, and that Jix hadn’t sunk, just to see the look on Mary’s face It would almost be worth the fallout

Mary took Jill’s silence for embarrassment at her eet the past," Mary told her "After all, I do owe you a debt of gratitude I won’t easily forget that you were the one who first began reaping souls!"

Jill couldn’tshe was proud of Jill had done it for her own selfish reasons, of course, to secure her own position--first, within Pugsy Capone’s corrupt inner circle of Chicago hoodlums, and then, once Mary took over, she reaped to keep herself within Mary’s inner circle Milos had accused Jill of enjoying reaping Well, he was right The stalking, the hunting, the adrenaline rush of a successful kill was as thrilling to her now as it had ever been But Jix, with the slightest caress of her spirit, had redirected those energies Jill was still ataste for violent er craved the spilling of human blood, for it was all too easy She was beyond that now; it was unworthy of her skills But taking down Miss Mary High-and-Mighty--now there was challenging prey!