Page 35 of Captured on Film
But that didn’t stop him from protesting. “I call thisundignified.”
“It’s alongwalk, gimpy. Calm your ego and enjoy theride.”
He did quiet down. Briefly. “You’re not even straining.”
“Would you prefer I was inconvenienced?”
“How strongareyou?” Josheb asked.
“Stronger than a dainty fellow like you.”
Oh, Josheb wouldn’t like that. He’d always been aboveaverage in height, strength, and athleticism. And he’d gone straight fromsports to survival training to thrill seeking. All physically demanding. All apoint of pride.
But Josheb didn’t bristle. “Give menumbers. How muchcan you bench press?”
“No idea.”
“How can younotknow?”
Hesper laughed. “Why would I go drawing attention to myselfby showing off at a gym.”
“Because youcan?”
Andor lengthened his stride. Caleb suspected that Mister Bigwasn’t used to the noise and was distancing himself. He could sympathize. MaybeHesper could, too. She was letting him get away.
Even Nessie hung back, dogging Hesper’s steps, keepingJosheb in sight.
For a while, Caleb searched for landmarks. Maybe if he couldplot their position on his internal map, he could … what? Escape? His chanceswere slim if not none, and time was getting away from them. If they were stillhere when snow struck, they’d be stranded until spring.
“I don’t know what you expect me to do,” Caleb said softly.
Andor eyed him briefly, grunted, and … patted his back.
“You should know, I don’t like bugs.” This was pointless, buthe needed to be heard. “Most figments scare me on some level. And you’re thebiggest one of all.”
A baffled gaze. A worried frown.
Caleb knew the words weren’t getting through, so he triedfor the right tone, the right expression. Could he get the gist across?
“Some are cute. I’ll grant you that. I don’t mind them somuch. Or the ones who leave me alone. But your bees, your bumbers, they cameafter me, and they clung to me. I’m not hurt, but it felt like an attack. Idon’t want to go through that again.”
Andor grumbled, adjusted his hold, and gave Caleb his hand.
More specifically, he was giving Caleb access to his ring.
Whether it was just to get him to shut up or because hethought this was what Caleb was trying to ask for, he was glad for the chanceto study the stone in daylight.
A roughhewn crystal had been set into a wide metal bandetched with dozens of tiny symbols. While they didn’t shine, the stone gavethat impression. Was it actually glowing? No, it had to be a trick of the light,which seemed to collect within. The stone was clear. Or nearly so. Angling hishead to one side, Caleb located a blush of pink near its center, like a frozen flowerpetal.
He touched it. Or it touched him. It was difficult to saywhich.
And the veil was swept aside. He could hear the stars. Notsingingper se, but chattering and laughing, as if they were swappingtales somewhere in the wings. No one voice stood out, and Caleb couldn’tunderstand a word of it. But the tones were pleasant, and eavesdropping gavehim something to do while Andor covered several more miles.
“Put me with him,” ordered Josheb. “There’s room.”
Caleb perched atop the bumber nest, with its riddling ofholes. Silent now, and somehow colder.
“Barely,” protested Hesper.
