Page 64 of The Vanishing Place
“You didn’t answer my question,” she said.
“No,” he replied, serious. “I don’t work for social services.”
“Why are you here, then?” Effie raised an eyebrow. “Cos I reckon the whole back-to-nature thing’s total bullshit.”
Something changed in Asher’s face, like he had an itch under his skin, and he swallowed. Then he set the pliers on the ground.
“My sister,” he said. “She went missing when she was fifteen.” He looked down, his voice quiet. “I doubt she’s alive, but…”
Effie’s skin tingled, her body suddenly cold, and she pulled her sleeves over her hands. “Are you looking for her?”
“I’ll always be looking for her.”
“What happened?” Effie frowned. “Why’d she go missing?”
“Someone took her.”
“Oh.” She didn’t know what to say. “I’m sorry.”
“Effie!”
Her heart pulsed at the distant yell of her name.
“Effie!”
It was Dad, shouting for her.
“Effie.” His voice was heavy. “Are you coming fishing or not?”
“Yes,” she shouted as she shot up. “Yes. I’m just—”
Then Dad appeared, emerging from the side of the hut.
“Go get your stuff,” he said. “I’m leaving in five minutes.”
“Sure.”
Then he turned away, leaving a black hole.
Asher looked at her like he wanted to say something—about Dad—but he thought better of it.
“Please,” Effie whispered. “Dad…he just has bad days sometimes.”
Asher stayed silent. Which was worse. He just looked at her—pitying her—with his stupid judging face. His stupid didn’t-know-nothing eyes.
It made Effie angry.
“Do you wish your eyes weren’t all creepy like that?” she said, irritated.
“God willed it that way.”
“You don’t actually believe in all that crap?”
“I do.”
“Well, your god must be a bit of an arsehole.”
Asher didn’t say anything, and Effie turned and hurried after her dad.
