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"Sih "Except for that last part"

"And the first," I said

Emma stepped close toThink you can handle that hollow?"

I wasn’t sure True, I’d been able to make it perfor it to heel like a puppy and leading it all the way back to Benthareat deal ofskills My confidence, too, was at an all-tied onable to do it

"Of course I can handle it," I took too long to say "When can we go?"

Benthaered on

"You can leave as soon as you’re ready," Benthauide"

"We shouldn’t wait," Sharon said "Once the locals have had their fun with that hollow, I reckon they’ll kill it"

Emma picked at the front of her poufy dress "In that case, I think we should change"

"Naturally," said Bentha our errand He returned a minute later with thick-soled boots and modern work pants and jackets: black, waterproof, and with a bit of stretch to thee and then met in a hallway, just Eh and shapeless, they h not in a bad way), but she didn’t grumble--she just tied back her hair, snapped her head to attention, and salutedfor duty"

"Purdiest soldier I ever did see," I said, drawling out a terrible John Wayne impression

There was a direct correlation between how nervous I was and how ht noas practically quaking,acid all over my insides "You really think we can do this?" I said

"I do," she said

"You never doubt, ever?"

Emma shook her head "Doubt is the pinprick in the life raft"

She stepped close and we hugged I could feel her trehtly She wasn’t bulletproof I knew then thata hole in hers, and Eether It was the life raft

I’d coard her faith in me as somewhat reckless She seeers andsome inner weakness to block my ability Part of ht The only way to find out for sure was to approach the next holloith an unshakable belief that I could master it