Page 71 of The Sea Witch's Son

“IswearIdon’ttknow.”Jumbled words fly out of Hao’s mouth as I bring the spider down to eye level, “ISWEARIDON’TKNOW...STOP!”

I pause, “Is there something you wanted to say?”

Ripping his face free of Gus’ grip, Hao looks at me with wild eyes.

“I-I saw someone once. At the drop-off location. It wasa man.”

“Describe him.”

“Tall. Blonde. Wore a black uniform.”

I shake my head solemnly, “That description fits half the population in Wolf Hollow. Open his mouth.”

“Wait!”

The shrill tone sends a thrill through me.

“Yes?”

“His uniform. It had a card stitched onto the breast pocket.”

Gus blinks, “Like a birthday card?”

“No.” Shaking his head like a rabid animal, Hao doesn’t take his eyes off the spider, “Like a card you use for poker.”

The creature shrivels in my hands. The poor thing seems just as frightened as dear Hao.

“That is useful information.” I give him a comforting smile, “Is there anything else you would like to tell me?”

“I-It won’t happen again.” He sucks in a lungful of remorseful air, “I have learned the error of my ways.”

“Oh, I know you have.” Leaning down, I notice the first spider hiding in the corner by his feet, “Which is why I have chosen to forgive you.”

“Really?”

“Really.” My lips ease into a smile, “Consider all forgiven in the next ten minutes.”

I drop the tarantula right on his face. Slamming the trunk shut for the second time tonight, I let Hao’s screams fill the ache inside my soul for a little while longer.

“Uh, Marlin.” Gus scratches his head nervously, “We didn’t get a name.”

“Yes, we did.”

He winces, “He told us the most basic information. For all we know, he could have been lying through his teeth.”

A heavy sigh escapes me, “Gus, what cards do you use to play poker?”

“I don’t play poker.”

“Of course you don’t. What cards do you use to playGo Fish?”

He frowns, “A normal deck of cards.”

“Exactly.”

A blank face stares back at me.

Honestly, sometimes I wonder whether recruiting Gus was a mistake.

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