Page 26 of The Infinite Glade
Follower by follower.
City by city.
Continent by continent.
The world, Evolved, forever.
“Tell me the truth.” Ximena lifted Cian’s crossbow that she had grabbed in a fit of frustration and held it tight against Erros’ throat. It was way heavier than it looked but she worked to hold it steady. One flick of her wrist and the arrow would go straight through his neck to the other side. “Tell me!”
Cian stood slowly, defenseless. “Let him go, and we’ll leave you alone for good.”
“Ximena, hold on now . . .” Frypan walked back into view with Jackie and Isaac behind. “Now just wait a minute, they filled our bellies, and this is no way to treat someone who . . .”
“Who worked with Annie Kletter?” she asked Frypan.Why wasn’t he more upset at what they said?“They’re telling you that your whole life is a lie!” She thought Frypan of all people would empathize with her but he was just like Carlos. When people got older, they got too wise and set in their ways.
“Cian . . .” Erros whispered from behind Ximena’s aim of the crossbow. His pupils darted to the corner of his eyes.
“Look . . . Ximena, we know how you feel,” Cian pleaded, but knowing how she felt was near impossible. Adults in her Village always said things like that, but how could they know how she felt?
“Were you the only child born in your whole Village? No. Because you have a brother.” Ximena’s arm muscles burned with the weight of the weapon but she tightened her grip. “I was studied by the Villa my whole life. And Kletter killed one of my only friends when she shot my mom.” Saying it all together like that, her life really did sound more like a curse than a miracle.
“Kletter she . . . eh, stuff it. She murdered our mom, too.” Cian lowered his arms. Wilted right before her eyes. “We think. We can’t prove it, but we’re pretty sure. And we owe it to our mom, our whole family . . . to keep trying to finish what Kletter and the others started. Not for Kletter, hell no, but for all the sacrifices made.”
La familia,Ximena thought.
“Mi familia es mia fuerza y ??mi debilidad,” Cian said, as if he could read Ximena’s thoughts or sense her thoughts’ frequencies.
She lowered the crossbow. Her muscles unwound in tension. “My family is my strength and also my weakness . . .” she said reverently. Isaac stepped in and removed the weapon from her hand. She didn’t resist.
“There we go . . .” Isaac slowly handed the bow back to Cian.
“Flare me to hell!” Erros ducked away from Ximena and rubbed his neck. “Toss me a coltsfoot!” he shouted to Cian.
“Kletter was the worst. I get it,” Cian said before tossing something small over to his brother. “We’ll tell you whatever you want to know.” He leaned his crossbow against the tree behind him.
The truth.
Ximena just wanted the truth.
It’s all that ever mattered to Abuela, and Ximena needed to find the truth before she could return home to her family. Carlos would probably get back before Ximena and tell Abuela all the worst things that happened. But as long as Ximena traveled with the truth, she could go home again.
“The Cure . . .”She hated using that word, “I know it’s not what these people and the Godhead want everyone to believe it is. I know it’s not. Tell me what it’s really for.” She’d been so tense that she couldn’t feel her legs, but she wasn’t about to sit back down.
Erros snapped a curt answer. “It’s exactly what you think! A cure for people who need it!” He finally stopped rubbing his throat and lit something that looked like one of Annie Kletter’s herbal cigars.
“¡Mentira!” Ximena said.
“It’swhoit’s for . . .” Cian finally admitted. “It’swho the Cure is forthat you deserve to know . . . you all deserve to know.” He pointed a single finger past Ximena. Abuela always made sure Ximena never did things like point fingers;it was rude, she’d say.
“Especially you deserve it.” Ximena’s eyes followed Cian’s finger all the way to Frypan, who looked just as surprised as anyone else that Cian was pointing athim.
“Why me?” Frypan asked, his voice very hesitant to come out.
Cian nodded, somberly. “It’s your family, Mr. Frypan. It’s your family who needs the Cure . . .”
“Frypan?” Isaac had a terrible feeling, and it wasn’t just from his leg, shaking with pain.
“Butwe’reyour family . . .” Jackie whispered as she looked up at their beloved and cherished Old Man Frypan.
