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This keeps happening.
Pack up your troubles.
Smile, smile.
This keeps happening.
Smile.
“They’re playing our song,” the King of Crows said and smiled. “Come. Let’s dance.”
Purplish veins pulsed under
Evie’s pale skin. Something trying to be born.
No. No, I won’t let you. I won’t!
She tore at her skin as if she could pull out the sickness.
Evie screamed as the ground began to swallow her whole.
WIRELESS
The next morning, as the Diviners shared breakfast in the Olsons’ kitchen after their early chores, Evie shuffled in, pale and weak, and leaned against the doorjamb. “Am I dead?”
Mrs. Olson screamed and dropped the cup in her hand, which Jericho reached out and caught.
“Are we all dead?” Evie mumbled. She inhaled, breathed out. “Death smells like bacon.”
“Evil? Evil!” Theta was up and running, guiding her friend to a seat at the table just as Evie crumpled from exhaustion. Mrs. Olson hurried to bring Evie a tin mug of cool water.
“How’re you feeling?” Jericho asked, smiling at her.
With the morning sun on his face, he put Evie in mind of the Blake painting he’d shown her back at the museum. “Like I just lost a fight with Jack Johnson,” Evie managed. “How long have I…?”
“Three days,” Ling said.
“…eight hours and forty-two minutes,” Sam finished. Sam was there, kneeling beside her. How happy she was to see him. He looked as if he hadn’t slept in days.
Evie touched a hand to her side and doubled over. “That smarts.”
“So don’t touch it,” Ling said.
“What is this?” Evie noticed the bandage around her middle, the dressing Theta had made.
“Just some folk remedy,” Theta said. “Courtesy of the Proctor sisters, if you’re on the trolley.”
“Ah,” Evie said. “I am now.”
“We were worried sick about you, Baby Doll.” Sam held her hand. His was warm, and she was grateful for it just now.
“I had the strangest dreams,” Evie said. “But I can’t remember them now.”
They’d felt important, though. Like clues. Or warnings.
“Memphis healed you!” Isaiah said.
“Tried to, at least. I kept it from getting any worse, I s’pose.”
