Gone (Gone #1)(106)

"Mother Mary's going to have the prees make centerpieces"

"Listen.Albert.. "

Albert raised a hand, cutting Sam off. "I know. I mean, I know we may have some great big fight before that. And I heard you have your fifteenth coming up. All kinds of bad stuff may happen. But, Sam—"

This time, Sam cut him off. "Albert? Get moving on planning the big meal"

"Yeah?"

"Yeah. Ii will give people something to look forward to."

Albert left, and Sam fought down a yawn. He noticed Astrid deep in conversation with three of the Coates kids. Astrid had been through all kinds of horror, he thought, but somehow, even with her blouse filthy, her blond hair hanging lank and greasy, her face smudged, she looked beautiful.

When he raised his gaze he could see across the plaza, across the buildings at the far end, dear out to the ocean, the too-placid ocean.

Birthday. Thanksgiving. Poof And a showdown with Caine. Not to mention just daily life if they somehow all survived. Not to mention finding a way to escape or end the FAYZ. And all he wanted to do was take Astrid's hand and lead her down to the beach, stretch a blanket out on the hot sand, lie down beside her, and sleep for about a month.

"Right after the big Thanksgiving dinner" Sam promised himself."Right after pie"





THIRTY-SEVEN


79 HOURS, 00 MINUTES

COOKIE ROLLED OVE R and stood up. His legs were still weak and shaky. He had to hold himself up by leaning on the table.

Bui he steadied himself with the arm that had been utterly shattered.

Dahra Baidoo was there, anc Elwood, both staring like they were witnessing a miracle.

"I suppose they are," Lana saic to herself. "It doesn't hurt," Cookie said.

He laughed. It was an incredulous, disbelieving sound. He rotated his arm, all the way forward, all the way up. He squeezed his fingers into a fist.

"It doesn't hurt"

"Okay, I never thought I'd see that," Elwood said, shaking his head slowly.

Tears came to Cookie's bloodshot eyes. He whispered to himself, "It doesn't hurt. It doesn't hurt at all."

Me took a tentative step. Then another. He had lost a lot of weight. He was pale, and more than pale, almost green. He was shaky, a bear walking on its hind legs and about to topple over. He looked like what he was: a kid who'd taken a round trip to helk

"Thank you/' he whispered to Lana. "Thank you.** "It's not my doing" Lana said. °lYs just ... I don't know what it is."

She was tired* Healing Cookie had taken a longtime. She'd been in the hospital since eight o'clock that morning, having been awakened by Cookie's cries of agony.

His injury was even worse than her own broken arm had been. It had taken her more than six hours, and now whatever benefit she'd gained from deeping in the park was wasted, and she was weary again. Outside, she was pretty sure the sun was shining, but all she wanted now was a bed.

"It's a thing I can do" Lana said, fighting a yawn and stretching to get the kinks out of ha back. "Just a ... a thing"

Cookie nodded. Then he did something no one expected. He got down on his knees before a shocked Dahra.

"You took care of me."

Dahra shrugged and looked mightily uncomfortable. "It's okay. Cookie."

"No." He took her hand awkwardly and leaned his forehead into her. "Anything you ever want. Anything. Anytime. Ever" Tears choked his voice."Anything"

Dahra pulled him back to his feet. He had been as big and as heavy as Ore. He was still big enough to tower over Dahra.

"You need lo start eating" she said.

"Yeah, eat," Cookie said. "Then what do I do?"

Dahra looked a little exasperated. She said,"I don't know, Cookie."

Lana had an idea. "Go find Sam. There's a fight coming."

"I can fight" Cookie confirmed. "As soon as I get some food down and* you know, kind of get my strength back."

"McDonald's is open" Dahra said. "Try the French toast-burger, It's better than it sounds"

Cookie left. Dahra said, "Lam, I know its mostly about Cookie, but I tee! like you saved my lite, too. I've been losing my mind taking care of him"

Lana was uncomfortable with gratitude. She always had been, even in small things. Now the idea that people were thanking her for performing near-miracles, that was preposterous. She said,"Do you know any place I could sleep? Like, in a bed?"

Elwood guided her and Patrick to his house. It was half a mile from the plaza and Lana was practically sleepwalking by the time they reached it-

"Come on in," Elwood said."fcu want something to eat?"

Lana shook her head. "Just a place to... that couch"

"You could use one of the bedrooms upstairs."

Lana was already facedown on the couch. And a split second later, she was asleep.

Night had fallen by the time she woke. It took a while to figure out where she was.

Elwood had thoughtfully fed Patrick. There was a clean-licked plate on the kitchen tile. Patrick was curled up before a gas fireplace, though there was no fire.

Lana was ravenously hungry. She searched the kitchen, feeling like a burglar. The refrigerator had been emptied of everything but lemon juice, soy sauce, a carton of very expired half-and-half, and some very, very old lettuce.