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.”When they returned to the car, Jack slid behind the wheel this time, shoving the seat back to accommodate his long legs.Snowbeard sat next to him, and the others climbed in back.“Snowbeard lives in an apartment over Jack’s garage,” Linda explained.“He’s kind of a part-time caretaker.He was Jack’s wizardry teacher, too.He’s been with Jack since he was a baby.”“If wizards don’t need to learn how to fight, what does a warrior need with a wizardry teacher?” Seph asked.“I guess you could say I’m kind of a mongrel,” Jack said, rolling his eyes.“A wizard with a warrior’s stone.Or a warrior with a wizard’s body.”Another long story, apparently.Jack and Ellen lived two doors apart on Jefferson, a brick street lined with tall shade trees and huge old homes set back on big, informal lawns.They dropped Ellen off first.The Subaru coasted to the curb, and Ellen climbed out and retrieved her sword from the trunk.A shadow detached itself from the darkness on the front porch of the house and came toward them.“Hey, Will,” Jack called.“Waiting up for Ellen?”“Hey, Jack.” Will leaned into the passenger window.“When I see Ellen charging out of the house with a big smile on her face, carrying her sword, I know it means trouble.” He was built like a football player, maybe a lineman.He had close-cropped dark hair and wore cutoffs and a tank top.“Aunt Linda!” Will had spotted her in the backseat.“I should’ve known.There must be sorcery afoot!”“Hi, Will,” Linda said.“This is Seph McCauley,” Linda went on, resting a hand on Seph’s shoulder.“He’s going to be staying at Jack’s this summer.” She said it as if it were a done deal.“Seph, this is Will Childers, a friend of Jack’s.I’m not really his aunt.Jack’s friends just call me that.Ellen moved in with him and his parents last year after Raven’s Ghyll.”Okay, Seph thought.Maybe that’s the way it is in small towns, everyone related to everyone else, living in each other’s houses.Maybe Trinity is just one big commune.He would try to relax and go with it.“Good to meet you, Seph,” Will was saying.“See you tomorrow, Jack.I’ll be by around seven.” Will and Ellen walked back toward the house.They drove past two more houses and pulled into a gravel driveway.Circling around to the back of a hulking Victorian house, they jolted to a stop in front of an old, detached garage.Jack shut off the ignition.Linda turned to Seph.“Jack’s mom—my sister—is Anaweir.She doesn’t know anything about this wizard and warrior business.Okay?”Seph nodded.“Got it.”Jack retrieved his sword from the trunk.Snowbeard said good night and slowly mounted a staircase to the second floor of the garage.A moment later, a light kindled in the upstairs window.Linda and Seph followed Jack up the wooden steps to the back door of the house, sliding between two overgrown hydrangea bushes.We must look pretty scary, Seph realized, suddenly self-conscious.Though his arm looked much better than it had, Jack was all muddy and grass stained, and Seph looked like he’d been on the losing side of a fight.His change of clothes was still in the BMW.A narrow back staircase ascended into darkness just inside the back door.Jack put his finger to his lips and disappeared up the steps, returning empty-handed and without the baldric.Then he called, “Mom! Are you presentable? I brought guests!”“I’m in the study,” a woman replied.“Is it anyone I know?”“Yes and no.” Linda and Seph followed Jack into the kitchen.It was huge, with a ceramic tile floor and a large farm-style dining table.Takeout containers crowded the counter next to the sink, unwashed dishes stacked next to them.A tall, strawberry-blond woman entered the room carrying a coffee mug.It was clear where Jack got his coloring.She wore faded blue jeans and sturdy, hippie sandals, a sweatshirt carrying the slogan BREAD AND ROSES.Hers was the kind of beauty that pretty turns into: fresh-scrubbed and straightforward.“Hi, Becka,” Linda said.“Linda! When did you get to town?” Becka embraced the enchanter, leaning down to deliver a quick, fierce hug.“How long can you stay?”Linda looked over at Seph.“I’m not sure.”“Why do I bother asking? That’s always your answer.” She turned to Jack.“Jack, where have you been? You know you have exams tomorrow.”“He was with me,” Linda said.“Sorry.”Becka finally noticed Seph, still hesitating in the kitchen doorway.“Oh!” she said, her hand flying to her mouth as she took in the evidence of his recent beating.Then she smiled and came toward him, extending her hands.“Hello.I’m Becka Downey.”“I’m Seph McCauley,” he said.“Pleased to meet you.” He extended his hand, and she took it in both of hers and held on to it for a minute.There was something reassuring about the gesture, as if she were already on his side.And blessedly, she did not ask questions.About his face, at least.“Have you eaten?” Becka looked over her shoulder at the debris on the counter.“Oh, yes, plenty,” Seph said, feeling awkward again.“Then I’ll get you something to drink, at least.I have some soda down cellar.”“I’ll go with you,” Linda offered.Both sisters disappeared down the stairs.“You might as well sit down,” Jack said wryly, pointing to the chairs gathered around the table.Seph sat.Jack pulled four glasses down out of the cabinet and filled them with ice, then carried them carefully to the table.He turned a chair around and straddled it, resting his arms on the back and gazing at Seph.There was an awkward silence.“Is it just you and your mom?” Seph asked.Jack nodded.“My dad lives in Boston.They’re divorced.I think when they bought the house they thought they’d be here forever.” He rubbed his chin.“Where are you from?”“Mostly Toronto,” Seph said automatically.“But I’ve moved around a lot.” He was suddenly very tired.“What are you, a junior?”Seph nodded.“Aunt Linda said your parents are dead?” “She did.” Seph ignored the implied question, which he couldn’t answer, anyway.But fortunately, just at that moment, Becka and Linda emerged from the cellar with bottles of old-fashioned root beer, glistening with condensation.They lined them up on the counter and opened them.As Becka set a soda in front of Seph, she smiled at him and rested a hand on his shoulder.Seph wondered what they’d been talking about downstairs.He didn’t have to wait long to find out.“Seph, Linda says you could use a place to stay this summer.Jack and I would love to have you here.It’ll give us an excuse to finish the wallpapering in the third-floor room.”Seph felt blood rush to his face.“Really, I—”Becka plowed on undeterred.“It’ll be great.We’ll get to see more of Linda, since I know she wants to spend some time with you.And Jack can introduce you to his friends.”Seph glanced at Jack, who probably knew better than to object [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]