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I don’t like the look of it；she insisted。
The road was just a sallow line through the scrub； defined only by its smoother texture and lack of
vegetation。 Ancient tire tracks made a double depression； centered in the single lane。
When it goes the wrong way； we’ll leave it。I was already walking down the middle of the tracks。It’s
easier than weaving through the creosote and watching out for cholla。
She didn’t answer； but her unease made me feel a little paranoid。 I kept up my search for the next
formation—a perfectM； two matching volcanic points—but I also watched the desert around me more
carefully than before。
Because I was paying extra attention； I noticed the gray smudge in the distance long before I could make
out what it was。 I wondered if my eyes were playing tricks on me and blinked against the dust that
clouded them。 The color seemed wrong for a rock； and the shape too solid for a tree。 I squinted into the
brightness； making guesses。
Then I blinked again； and the smudge suddenly jumped into a structured shape； closer than I’d been
thinking。 It was some kind of house or building； small and weathered to a dull gray。
Melanie’s spike of panic had me dancing off the narrow lane and into the dubious cover of the barren
brush。
Hold on；I told her。I’m sure it’s abandoned。
How do you know？She was holding back so hard that I had to concentrate on my feet before I could
move them forward。
Who would live out here？ We souls live for society。I heard the bitter edge to my explanation and
knew it was because of where I now stood—physically and metaphorically in the middle of nowhere。
Melanie had no patience for my personal crisis—she wanted me to get far away from that building as
fast as possible。 Her thoughts yanked and twisted at mine； pulling me out of my introspection。
Calm down；I ordered； trying to focus my thoughts； to separate them from hers。If there is anything
that actually lives here； it would be human。 Trust me on this； there is no such thing as a hermit
among souls。 Maybe your Uncle Jeb —
She rejected that thought harshly。No one could survive out in the open like this。 Your kind would
have searched any habitation thoroughly。 Whoever lived here ran or became one of you。 Uncle
Jeb would have a better hiding place。
And if whoever lived here became one of us；I assured her；then they left this place。 Only a human
would live this way。… I trailed off； suddenly afraid； too。
What？She reacted strongly to my fright； freezing us in place。 She scanned my thoughts； looking for
something I’d seen to upset me。
But I’d seen nothing new。Melanie； what if there are humans out here—not Uncle Jeb and Jared
and Jamie？ What if someone elsefound us？
She absorbed the idea slowly； thinking it through。You’re right。 They’d kill us immediately。 Of course。
I tried to swallow； to wash the taste of terror from my dry mouth。
There won’t be anyone else。 How could there be？she reasoned。Your kind are far too thorough。
Only someone already in hiding would have had a chance。 So let’s go check it out—you’re sure
there are none of you； and I’m sure there are none of me。 Maybe we can find something helpful；
something we can use as a weapon。
I shuddered at her thoughts of sharp knives and long metal tools that could be turned into clubs。No
weapons。
Ugh。 How did such spineless creaturesbeatus？
Stealth and superior numbers。 Any one of you； even your young； is a hundred times as dangerous
as one of us。 But you’re like one termite in an anthill。 There are millions of us； all working
together in perfect harmony toward our goal。
Again； as I described the unity； I felt the dragging sense of panic and disorientation。 Who was I？
We kept to the creosote as we approached the little structure。 It looked to be a house； just a small
shack beside the road； with no hint at all of any other purpose。 The reason for its location here was a
mystery—this spot had nothing to offer but emptiness and heat。
There was no sign of recent habitation。 The door frame gaped； doorless； and only a few shards of glass
I was able to contain my anxiety as I walked hesitantly to the vacant door frame； we must be just as
alone here as we had been all day and all yesterday。
The shade the dark entry promised drew me forward； trumping my fears with its appeal。 I still listened
intently； but my feet moved ahead with swift； sure steps。 I darted through the doorway； moving quickly to
one side so as to have a wall at my back。 This was instinctual； a product of Melanie’s scavenging days。 I
stood frozen there； unnerved by my blindness； waiting for my eyes to adjust。
The little shack was empty； as we’d known it would be。 There were no more signs of occupation inside
than out。 A broken table slanted down from its two good legs in the middle of the room； with one rusted
metal chair beside it。 Patches of concrete showed through big holes in the worn； grimy carpet。 A
kitchenette lined the wall with a rusted sink； a row of cabinets—some doorless—and a waist…high
refrigerator that hung open； revealing its moldy black insides。 A couch frame sat against the far wall； all
the cushions gone。 Still mounted above the couch； only a little crooked； was a framed print of dogs
playing poker。
Homey；Melanie thought； relieved enough to be sarcastic。It’s got more decor than your apartment。
I was already moving for the sink。
Dream on；Melanie added helpfully。
Of course it would be wasteful to have water running to this secluded place； the souls managed details
like that better than to leave such an anomaly behind。 I still had to twist the ancient knobs。 One broke off
in my hand； rusted through。
I turned to the cupboards next； kneeling on the nasty carpet to peek carefully inside。 I leaned away as I
opened the door； afraid I might be disturbing one of the venomous desert animals in its lair。
The first was empty； backless； so that I could see the wooden slats of the outside wall。 The next had no
door； but there was a stack of antique newspapers inside； covered with dust。 I pulled one out； curious；
shaking the dirt to the dirtier floor； and read the date。
From human times；I noted。 Not that I needed a date to tell me that。
“Man Burns Three…Year…Old Daughter to Death；” the headline screamed at me； acpanied by a
picture of an angelic blond child。 This wasn’t the front page。 The horror detailed here was not so hideous
as to rate priority coverage。 Beneath this was the face of a man wanted for the murders of his wife and
two children two years before the print date； the story was about a possible sighting of the man in
Mexico。 Two people killed and three injured in a drunk…driving accident。 A fraud and murder
investigation into the alleged suicide of a prominent local banker。 A suppressed confession setting an
admitted child molester free。 House pets found slaughtered in a trash bin。
I cringed； shoving the paper away from me； back into the dark cupboard。
Those were the exceptions； not the norm；Melanie thought quietly； trying to keep the fresh horror of
my reac