Page 85 of Snake-Eater
“I ... yes, I listen to you all the time, buthow...?”
DJ Raven beamed. “I love radio,” they said happily. “You talk and people miles away can hear your voice.”
“Of courseyou’dlike that,” muttered Ocotillo. “You never shut up.”
“Focus,” said Hawk, sounding less like the incarnation of a thousand birds of prey and more like a harried grade school teacher. “Raven’s point is fair, Snake-Eater.”
“Her kinswoman knew,” said Snake-Eater. “If she did not pass down that knowledge, the fault lies with her, not me.”
Horrifyingly, the spirits seemed to find this a fair argument. Selena dug her hands into Copper’s ruff, trying not to burst into tears.
“Seems like a lot of work for a lady that doesn’t want you,” DJ Raven murmured. “Clearly you ought to have brought more snakes.”
A ripple of laughter went up at that. Snake-Eater flushed an ugly color, streaks of red and blue smearing across his temples.
“Will any ofyouspeak against me?” he sneered. “Will you really put yourself out for a human who broke faith with me? Not even one of the first people, whose voice might be worth listening to, but an interloper?”
“I always forget how obnoxious you are,” DJ Raven said.
Hawk sat back. “Snake-Eater’s question is fair. Does anyone actually wish to defend this human and her friends?”
“I will,” said Yellow Dog.
“You’d defendeveryhuman if you could,” said Ocotillo.
“Still counts.”
Snake-Eater folded his arms and looked down on Yellow Dog with clear contempt. “Youcan hardly stop me.”
“Not without help, I suppose.” Yellow Dog glanced around the circle. “Anyone?”
Selena’s heart, already in her toes, seemed to sink into bedrock. When Father Aguirre had spoken of getting the aid of the spirits, this wasn’t what she’d expected. Not knowing the rules and then asking strangers for help were two of her worst nightmares rolled into one.
“Please?” she said. Her voice came out as a dry croak. “Please, I just want my friends back.”
Silence, except for the crackle of fire. Snake-Eater’s smile grew slow and wide.
Then:
“I do not love humans,” hissed Old Man Rattlesnake, climbing to his feet with sinuous grace, “but I love Snake-Eater even less.”
“ButIloveyou,” said Snake-Eater, with malicious pleasure. “Your children taste so sweet.” Old Man Rattlesnake spat on the ground.
“His creature injured one of my sons,” said a man wearing familiar green stripes.
Selena knew that she shouldn’t interrupt, but she couldn’t help herself. “Is he okay? Will he be?”
The striped god looked at her thoughtfully, though she could not see his eyes. “Our roots are strong,” he said, which she hoped meantyes.
“You’re ridiculous,” said Ocotillo. “Humans are only good for destroying our roots.Istand with Snake-Eater.”
“What would the saguaros say?” asked the striped god.
“This child is no kin of theirs,” snapped Ocotillo.
No one else spoke for a long moment. The fire crackled.Not enough,Selena thought.They aren’t enough.She felt intense gratitude toward all three, even the rattlesnake god, but it was not going to be enough.
“Imight.” DJ Raven examined their nails. “If you want one of my fans, get your own show.”
