Page 124 of Tamiko and the Two Janitors
“As you’ve probably already figured out, squirrels mostlyuse saliva. This adaptation puts me in new and unfamiliar territory, but I trustmy source.”
“Which clan uses blood?”
“Dragons,” whispered Kip. “I learned some things from adragon. But we should talk it over another time, when you’re not part-tipsy andhalf-asleep.”
“Why?” asked Joe. “If it’s better, why not go ahead?”
Kip scooted backward and rubbed his hands together, almostwringing them. “The seals can hide you, but they can’t extend your life. Forthat, I have to find a safe way to tend you.”
Joe couldn’t understand Kip’s hesitation. Feeling like abroken record, he asked, “If that’s what we need, why not go ahead?”
“I made some mistakes.” He winced. “It’s like … I startedout following a recipe for cookies, only to decide midway through that I’drather have doughnuts.”
Joe looked down at his bare chest and belly, where the faintlines of fresh sigils still glowed.
Kip said, “I’ve warded you from head to toe and back again.”
“Right.”
“Which means if I want to tend you—which is absolutelynecessary—then I need to get past my own wards to touch your soul.”
“Okay …?” Joe frowned. “There has to be a way in. How elsewould a hungry squirrel access his stash?”
“Oh, there’s one or two.” Kip stared at his hands. “I shouldhave thought it through, but I was in a hurry.”
Joe nodded. “The wolves were coming. You didn’t have muchtime.”
“Right.” Kip took a deep breath and puffed out his cheeks.“The way things stand, you’re so excellently warded, even I can’t get in. Notwithout resorting to a longstanding Amaranthine tradition.”
Kip tapped his own lips, then touched the same finger toJoe’s lips.
Mouth to mouth? Surely there was another way. He’d saidways. Joe didn’t need long to work out the remaining option.
“I’d like to call it a design flaw, but I’ve heard enough ofthe old rhymes to know better.” Kip laughed weakly. “Way back when, before theIn-between was a twinkle in Glint Starmark’s eye, one of my ancestors must havebeen a frisky trickster who liked mixing power with pleasure.”
Joe cast about for anything to say. “Maybe we should stickto manly bloodshed for tonight.”
Kip tried for another laugh, which faded into a groan. “Giveme a little more time. I need to find out if I can overwrite my first sigilswith blood. Or if I need to work backwards and start over.”
“Should we stop, then?”
“Let me finish these,” Kip said. “It won’t take much longer,and I’ll rest a little easier.”
So they lapsed into silence, each lost in their own thoughtsas more sigils bloomed across Joe’s skin. Maybe this was more than they couldhandle alone. Then again, maybe he should be glad there was any chance at all.
Finally, Joe found the courage to admit, “I’d do anything tobe here for Tami.”
Kip’s jaw worked. “Even if it meant outing yourself as areaver?”
Dread washed over Joe, followed by a surge of panic. Hisbreath came in short gasps, every part of him rebelling at the very suggestionof exposure, of capture, of betrayal.
“Whoa, whoa, whoa.” Kip’s concern was written plain on hisface. “Okay. Not that. Anything but that.”
Several minutes of urgent pleas and promises restored Joe’scalm, but they did little to ease his embarrassment. He clasped his hands overhis face, sure he’d mucked up eight kinds of etiquette. “I have to stay.”
“I believe you.” Kip doused the light, but he lingered inthe dark. His tone was cautious. “Jiro, whatdidyou have in mind whenyou said you’d do anything?”
He didn’t want to say.
