Downwinders: Blood Oath, Blood River Part 25

"It's completely dishonest!" Roy said. "But what's more important, saving yourself and your mom? Or maintaining integrity with some ghost buried out in the desert?"

"I suppose you're right."

"Of course I'm right."

"It just never occurred to me to lie."

"That's one of the things I like about you, Deem. Despite that potty mouth you've got, you're one of the most innocent and nave people I've ever met. People lie all the time to get what they want. I don't advocate it with humans, unless they're p.r.i.c.ks. But I do what I have to when ghosts are involved."

"I understand," Deem said. "It makes sense."

"Of course it makes sense."

"I guess I'll give that a try."

"Deem, listen to me. You be careful. Some ghosts get angry if they figure out you've lied to them. And down your way, angry ghosts are deadly."

"Oh, great."

"Not all ghosts. The stupid ones rarely figure it out. He sounds stupid."

"He is, kinda. But I can't tell if he's really stupid or just wrapped up in his pattern."

"Does he say the same things over and over again?"

"Yeah."

"You've got a good shot, then. Go for it."

"If he's going to be flesh for a moment, after drinking from the blood river, I really could give him the shot. It might make him feel better. And then he wouldn't think I was lying."

"That's up to you. You've just got to get him to say his brother's name during the process."

"Thanks, Roy. I was at my wit's end."

"Well, don't lose your wits! Stay sharp until it's all over. We want you and Winn to come up and visit, and that'll be hard to do if you get ripped up by some zombighost or what not."

"I will. Thanks again Roy. Bye."

"Goodbye."

She slipped her phone into her pocket and turned to Winn. "OK, let's head back to town. I think I know what to do."

Winn and Deem split up for the rest of the morning. Deem needed to round down a friend of hers who was allergic to bee stings and see if she could borrow one of her injection kits since they weren't available over the counter. She wanted to have the epinephrine in hand when she went back to talk to Evan. Winn said he had a few things to take care of, and that he would contact Awan for the exact location of the blood river. If the shot was enough to lure Evan to go with them, they wanted to go directly to the blood river and get it over with. They agreed to meet up just after lunch and go back out to the mining shack.

The friend Deem contacted worked at a uniform supply story in Mesquite. She hadn't seen Molly since graduating from high school, and they were only acquaintances, so Deem wasn't sure Molly would hand over her EpiPen just because Deem asked for it. So, Deem made up a story about a friend from out of town needing one to go camping with her, and that her old one had expired, and she was unable to get one locally for insurance reasons.

"They want almost five hundred dollars at Walgreens!" Deem said. "I remembered you were allergic and was wondering if you could help us out so we could go camping."

"Sure, I have one in the car," Molly said, standing behind the counter at the shop. "I have to pay about $50 for mine, can you pay me that?"

"Sure," Deem said. She fished out her wallet, hoping she had the cash on her. "Oh, it just occurred to me, if I take this one, what if you get stung?"

"No problem," Molly said. "I have another at home. I doubt I'll get stung between now and then."

"But if you did?" Deem said. "I'd feel horrible."

"I live five blocks down the road," Molly said. "My mom would have it here in two minutes. It won't happen."

"OK," Deem said, guilt was.h.i.+ng over her. Not only had she lied to Molly, now she felt she was putting her at risk.

Molly walked out from behind the counter. "Keep an eye on things, will you? I'm the only one running the store at the moment."

"Will do," Deem said. Molly stepped out from behind a gla.s.s case counter, and walked out of the store. Deem examined the items in the case. She was surprised to see colored handcuffs. They looked hard and soft at the same time.

Molly returned with the injection kit and handed it to Deem. Deem gave Molly the fifty dollars and opened the kit.

"Just for my own benefit," Deem said, "in case I need to use it on my friend, how does this work?"

"It's simple," Molly said, taking the EpiPen from Deem. "You remove this cap. Then you aim this end at the thigh. Don't hit an artery, you could kill them. Just go for the fles.h.i.+est part. Push it down hard and hold it for ten seconds. That's all there is to it."

"Have you ever had to use it?" Deem asked.

"Once," Molly said. "Thank G.o.d I had it. I thought I was going to suffocate." She handed it back to Deem.

"I was wondering," Deem said. "About these handcuffs in the case?"

"Oh, you saw those?" Molly asked. "Smith and Wesson."

"How much are they?" Deem asked. "The colored ones."

"Thirty plus tax," Molly said.

"I'll take one!" Deem said, surprising herself. She had no idea what she would do with a pair of handcuffs, but she enjoyed the thrill her impulse buy gave her.

Molly looked at her and smiled. "The pink ones?"

"Oh, G.o.d no," Deem said. She hated pink. "Let's go with the orange ones."

Molly opened the case and removed the handcuffs for Deem. She inspected them and said, "Ring me up!"

Evan? Deem said, within her trance, searching the empty mining shack. Evan? Are you here? It's me again.

Deem heard a faint sound that began to slowly grow louder the hornets. They were buzzing around her by the hundreds. She fought an impulse to run.

Evan? Evan? I have your shot! I have the EpiPen!

Evan's body materialized on the floor of the shack, lying face down, as she'd seen him before.

I can't breathe! He said, struggling for air. Give me the shot, quickly!

I can't give it to you here, Deem said. Come with me, and I'll give you the shot. Look, I've got it right here.

No, I can't breathe, Evan said, rolling over on the floor and looking at Deem. Once again Deem fought back the urge to recoil at Evan's swollen features.

You don't have a body, Deem said. There's nothing to stick the needle into. Come with me to a place where you can get your body back, and I'll give you the shot. Can you do that?

Evan sat up and looked at her. She extended the injection kit toward him, showing him that she had it.

You have the EpiPen! Evan said. Please give it to me. I can't breathe.

It won't work unless you come with me, Deem said. I'm going to go to a place north of here. Inside a cave. If you follow me there, I can give you the shot. Will you come?

Yes, Evan said. I need the shot.

I have the shot here in my hands, Deem said. Attach yourself to it so you can follow it. When we get to the cave, I'll give you the shot, and you'll be able to breathe.

Alright, Evan said.

It's a long ways, Deem said. A couple of hours. You won't lose me, will you? You'll follow me, so I can give you the shot?

I won't lose you, Evan said. I'll follow you. I'll follow the EpiPen.

Deem dropped out of the trance and stood, brus.h.i.+ng the dirt from her jeans as she walked with Winn back to the Jeep.

"It worked," she said. "Come on. I don't know how long he'll really follow us. I'll trance as you drive, and make sure he's still coming."

Winn took the old road to St. George, avoiding the gorge through Arizona. The old road was seldom used, and he felt it would give Deem and Evan less distractions. Once they reached Enterprise, Winn turned onto old road 219, and headed west into US Forest land.

"He still with us?" Winn asked, looking at Deem, who nodded.

About thirty miles outside of Enterprise, Winn saw Awan's car parked off the road. He stopped and rolled down his window. Awan walked over.

"You got the ghost?" Awan asked.

"Deem says yes," Winn said. "She's trancing to make sure he follows us. So far so good."

"The turnoff is just past my car," Awan said. "Why don't you follow me."

"Alright," Winn said. "Lead on."

Awan returned to his car and took the turnoff, going slowly down a dirt road. They continued for several minutes until Awan pulled into a small clearing and parked his car. Winn parked next to Awan, then went around to a.s.sist Deem as she exited the Jeep.

"Keep trancing," Winn said to Deem. "We don't want to lose him this close to the finish line."

Deem nodded and extended her hand. Winn took it and held onto her as Awan strapped lights onto their heads. "Follow me," he said.

Winn guided Deem behind Awan, who walked down a small incline and into a densely wooded area.

"It's not far," Awan said. "Watch your step."

Winn had his arm around Deem's shoulder and was holding one hand as they moved forward. Awan looked back frequently to make sure they were keeping up.

The air was colder here, at least twenty degrees colder than the hot desert they were used to. It was late afternoon, and flies and mosquitoes were abundant. Winn saw several land on Deem, and he tried to shoo them away without disturbing her trance.

"Here it is," Awan said as the trees ended a few feet from a steep rock rise. The cave entrance was thin and tall.

"Animals?" Winn asked.

"Not according to my friend," Awan said. "Still, we should look for droppings."

Awan walked into the cave opening. He turned sideways to enter.

"f.u.c.k," Winn whispered to himself. He thought he saw Deem smile.

"Come here," Awan said, his arms extending from the opening. "We go sideways for a while, then it opens up. Put Deem between us."

Winn led Deem to the opening and turned her sideways. Once Awan got a hold of her hand, he was able to guide her into the entrance. Winn made sure she stayed turned sideways as they s.h.i.+mmied through the opening.

"Oh G.o.d," Winn said, seeing the rock wall inches from his face.

"It's not far," Awan said. "Focus on Deem."

Winn felt his feet unable to remain forward as they walked, stepping over small rocks and boulders. He had to twist his feet right and left in order to get them to land correctly. It heightened his claustrophobia. His headlamp sc.r.a.ped against the rocks in front of him, twisting slightly on his head.

"Awan!" Winn called. "How much more?"

"Not much," Awan said.

"No, how much? Seriously? I gotta know."

"Maybe twenty feet. Take deep breaths."

Winn felt rocks jutting from the wall of the pa.s.sageway, rubbing against his back. It was slow going, making sure Deem was stable.

Once they emerged from the tight entryway, Winn stopped and bent over, his head between his legs. Awan walked over and placed his hand on his back. "It's over," Awan said. "Just breathe."

"We still have to go back out through that," Winn said. "So it's not over."

Deem lifted her head and looked around the room they were in. It was large, but there was no water.

"How much further?" Winn asked, raising back up and adjusting his headlamp.

"A ways," Awan said. "Through there." He pointed to an opening at the far end of the cavern.