Everland(27)

“And that is why we call him Gabs,” Pete says through the side of his mouth.

The boy peers at me with obsidian-colored eyes hidden beneath overgrown, jet-black hair. He waits for my response, an eager, wide-eyed expression spanning his face. Immediately, I like Gabs, and from the crooked smile on Mikey’s face, I can tell he likes him, too.

“Well, I don’t know about that. I …” My gaze catches the hint of disappointment in Gabs. When I glance back at Mikey, he’s fidgeting with the arm of his teddy bear. Because he was only five when the war started, hardly old enough for primary school, I realize he doesn’t know how to make friends. He pulls his bear in tighter before he speaks.

“She tells great stories,” Mikey says shyly, but a frown forms. “Well, she used to when she was just my sister and not my mum.”

Confused, I glance down at Mikey. “Mikey, I’m not your …”

Gabs wraps his arms around my waist. “Oh! You’re a mother? Will you be my mother, too? I’ve missed my own mum so much.”

I look at Pete, surprised. He gives me a lopsided smile and shrugs.

Mikey tugs at my shirt. “Are you really his mother now, too? That would make him my brother. I’ve always wanted a brother.”

Gabs peers at me and I search for words, but they jumble with my conflicted thoughts. Overwhelmed, I look to Pete for help. He approaches, wiggling an eyebrow at me. Wrapping both arms around my neck, he presses his warm face against mine.

“I could use a mum as well,” he says, planting a wet kiss on my cheek.

“Eww, gross!” I say as I wipe the remnants of his slobbery kiss off with the sleeve of my coat. The warmth of his lips on my face brings a rush of heat to my cheeks. I jab an elbow into his ribs, giving him a disgusted look, and try not to let him see the blush I feel growing hot on my skin.

Pete chuckles. “Well, there you have it. I think this calls for a celebration. Gabs, tell Stock to pull the brew and pop from storage. Take Mikey with you to help carry the tins,” Pete says.

“Got it!” Gabs says, wrapping a thin arm around my brother’s shoulder. “Come on, Mikey. You’re really going to like Stock. He’s tall and skinny, sort of like the Jolly Green Giant, but he’s not so green. He’s more of a chocolaty color if you ask me. Speaking of chocolate, are you hungry? I’m starving. I’ll take you to meet Sous the Chef, which is spelled S-O-U-S. Not Sue like the girl’s name.”

Gabs grips Mikey by the hand, but my brother pulls from the boy.

“Well, what’s wrong?” Gabs asks. “You’re not scared, are you?”

My brother shrugs and peers at me with an uneasy glance.

“There’s nothing to be scared of. Here, you can play with this.” Gabs pulls out a rusty soup can from the pocket of his oversize coat and hands it to my brother. Gold wire spirals from the top, giving it the impression of having hair. Arms and legs made of clock scraps are bolted onto the tin. An antique key protrudes from the back of the can.

Mikey shrinks behind me.

“It’s okay. It’s Clink the Robotock. Watch this,” Gabs says, twisting the key. He sets the can on the ground and it hobbles on clumsy legs. “Pete made it for me.”

Mikey hands his bear to Gabs before picking up the toy and twisting the key. He smiles when the arms and legs swivel.

“A teddy bear!” Gabs exclaims. “You’re so lucky. I left mine in my bedroom when the house got all smoky.”

“You can borrow it,” Mikey says. His voice is timid.

Gabs pats my brother’s back. “Really? Wow, thanks! Come on. I’ll show you around the Lost City first.” The boys walk off with Gabs still chatting, the brown bear tucked under his arm.

“Well, well,” Pete says, watching them disappear into the crowd of kids. “Someone who actually likes to hear Gabs talk. There’s always a first time for everything.”

“You made him a toy?” I ask, surprised.

Pete stares into my eyes and smiles. “We may have been robbed of our childhoods, but they still have theirs. This here and now is their childhood. It isn’t much, but it’s better than nothing.”

My heart swells with a mixture of emotions for this boy. In just a short time I have regarded him with fear, anger, curiosity, wonder, gratitude, respect, and now something new: affection? My cheeks flush with embarrassment at the thought.

“What about Joanna? When are we going after her?” I ask, changing the subject.

“We’ll leave once we gather supplies, but first I have to convince our rescue team.”

Pete points to a crowd of boys near the statue. Jack stands bare-chested, his fists raised in front of him. Scout spits on the ground and mirrors his stance. A crowd of kids exchanges small trinkets, as if placing bets. Pickpocket leans against the base of the statue, his arms folded in front of him as he shakes his head.

“Convince them?” I ask, cringing as I watch Jack’s fist connect with his competition’s cheek. Scout takes the punch with hardly a flinch.

“It’ll take a lot to persuade them,” he says, scratching his head. “We don’t do rescues.”

“Not even for a Lost Kid?” I ask, shocked that they would abandon one of their own.

“Once those pirates have you, you don’t come back. We can’t risk the lives of other children for one careless child,” Pete says. “We have strict rules about venturing into Everland. If you go, we won’t come after you. That’s why we pick the fastest runners, the most agile of the Lost Boys to be Scavengers. The bottom line is, once you leave the Lost City, your neck is on the line, and we’re not coming to save you. If you can’t handle Everland and what lies beyond it, you don’t belong there. Joanna will be our first rescue.”