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Nothing could not bring himself to laugh。 He caught Wallace's hand and took the cross away。 〃I'm sorry； Grandfather；〃 he said。 〃That doesn't work on all of us。〃
〃Then it's lucky that the Lord told me to carry other protection；〃 said Wallace。 In one jerky movement he whipped a small pistol from the waistband of his trousers and aimed it at Nothing's forehead。
〃Bless you； my grandson；〃 he said。 〃When you look upon the face of God； you will thank me。〃
Nothing was never sure how long he stood there staring down the round black barrel of the gun； wondering whether he would see the flash of fire or hear the explosion before the bullet smashed into his face。 The brain or the heart； Christian had told him。 He had time to think of all he had found； all he was about to lose； all the miles he would not travel。
A mist seemed to surround Wallace's head； suffusing his face with dim light。 Nothing saw Wallace's finger tightening on the trigger： actually saw that。
Then something was plummeting toward them。 Nothing saw the large dark shape hit Wallace dead…on； saw Wallace's body jerk forward and his arm fly up。 The shot went wild。 Brick splintered far overhead。
Zillah crouched atop Wallace's prone form。 He must have launched himself from the second…story window； but he was not even breathing hard。 The other man's body had stopped his fall。
Wallace lay on the pavement in the shards of glass。 He groped weakly for the pistol。 Zillah stamped on Wallace's hand； and Nothing heard a sound like strands of raw spaghetti breaking。 Wallace screamed once； a shrill； despairing sound。 Then he began to mumble softly。 Nothing realized he was praying。 Did he still think his God was going to pull him out of this one？
〃Some fine messes you get yourself into；〃 said Zillah。 〃What if I hadn't seen you from up there？〃 His eyes gleamed； his lips were purple with fury。 'You little fool〃…the pointed tip of his shoe met Wallace's cheekbone； black blood sprayed…〃do you think you're too smart to die？ Do you think I can always watch out for you？〃
Zillah knelt above Wallace； pulled Wallace's head up by a handful of bloodied gray hair； and smashed Wallace's face into the pavement。 The sound made Nothing think of eggs being dropped onto broken glass。 Gore began to pool beneath Wallace's head。 〃I won't lose you now； Nothing。〃 Zillah rolled Wallace over and began to slap him across the face； over and over； glaring up at Nothing。 〃Don't you know〃…slap…〃I love you？〃 Slap。 〃I LOVE YOU。〃 Slap。
Zillah's long nails dug into the loose flesh of Wallace's face。 He wrenched Wallace's head back； exposing his throat。 Incredibly； Wallace was still praying：〃 。。。the flesh of the Son；〃 Nothing heard him mumble。
For a moment Zillah seemed ready to sink his fingernails into the old man's throat。 But he only ground Wallace's face down again； then leaped off him and came for Nothing。 He grabbed Nothing by the front of his coat； nearly choking him。 With his other hand he cupped Nothing's chin。 The gesture was almost tender； except that Zillah dug his long nails into the flesh of Nothing's cheeks。 Zillah was hurting him on purpose。 Nothing felt a clear； icy fury begin to rise within him。
〃Get your hands off me；〃 he said。
Zillah's eyes flared brighter。 〃What？〃
〃I said get them off me。〃 Nothing shoved Zillah's hand away from his face and twisted out of Zillah's grasp。 They faced each other in the darkening alley。 Nothing's heart beat painfully fast； but he was pleased to realize he wasn't trembling。 〃I'm sorry I get myself into stupid messes； okay？ I haven't been doing this very long。 I don't know what's right and what's wrong。 Nobody except Christian ever tells me anything。〃 With each word he grew angrier。 〃You don't treat me like your son…you treat me like I'm half sex slave and half lapdog。 When I'm good； you pat me on the head； and when I fuck up you yell at me and hurt me。 But you never explain anything to me。 What kind of a father are you； anyway？〃
Nothing gasped for breath。 He could see only two bright green spots on the darkness。 〃All I have to say is this；〃 he continued。 〃Don't ever hurt me again。 I love you。 I want to stay with you。 But don't you hurt me。 I'm not Molochai or Twig。 I won't take it。 I'm sick of it。〃
Zillah stared at him。 Slowly the blaze in his eyes died down； they became cool； appraising。 〃Wait here；〃 he said。
Then Zillah did an odd thing。 He knelt beside Wallace again and yanked Wallace's trouser legs up past his ankles。 When Zillah reached into the purple silk lining of his jacket； Nothing knew what he was going to do。 He wanted to look away； instead； he watched helplessly as Zillah unfolded his pearl…handled razor and carefully sliced through the back of each ankle。 He drew the blade through the old man's threadbare socks； through the thin skin； through the big tendon as if it were butter。 Nothing saw the razor falter as it grated on bone。 Wallace was now beyond sound； only a long shudder ran through his body。
〃Wait here；〃 Zillah said again。 Nothing half…expected him to skitter up the brick wall and climb back through the window。 But Zillah just walked to the mouth of the alley； glanced over his shoulder at Nothing； and turned toward the staircase that led up to the room。
Nothing could not look at Wallace now。 He stared at the ground； at the broken glass and the pile of garbage。 Something gleamed near his foot。 The crucifix。 Nothing looked at it for a long moment； then picked it up and thrust it deep into his pocket。 Zillah wouldn't like him keeping it。 Too bad。
In a few minutes Zillah came back down with Molochai and Twig。 They had left Christian sleeping； they said。 They could tell him about Wallace later。 It would be a surprise。 Nothing suspected they were just greedy。
Wallace was already bleeding from several places。 The wounds in his ankles pumped with his heartbeat。 Molochai and Twig latched onto them。 Nothing imagined that the big veins of the legs must be like soda straws。
Zillah picked up one of Wallace's limp hands； the one he had stomped。 The palm was smeared with blood where it had been crushed against the broken glass and rough brick。 Zillah opened his razor again。 He slid it smoothly in； and the flesh of the palm parted cleanly。 A sheet of thin blood mixed with saliva ran down Zillah's chin as he began to suck at the wound。
Nothing's stomach growled。
He crawled forward and knelt beside Wallace。 His grandfather's cheek rested on a broken bottle。 His eyes were open； still aware； brimming with rage and pain。 At least I can end the pain for you； Nothing thought。 He put his mouth against the slow pulse of Wallace's throat。 The skin there was dry and soft； it felt very old。 He choked back a sob and sank in his new filed teeth。
His grandfather's blood was bitter。
But he and his family drank every drop。
Chapter 28
Late that night Ghost opened his eyes and blinked up at an unfamiliar ceiling。 There were no dead leaves up there； no painted stars。 There were only shifting patches of moonlight like a white and silver sea。
For a moment he felt the floating giddiness that always came when he woke in a strange be