The Kill Society (Sandman Slim)(58)

I don’t need to read micro-expressions to see that Frederickson, Billy, and Barbora are with Johnny on this. Gisco seems all right. Hell, I think he’s the only one having a good time. I’m not sure about Wanuri and, especially, Daja.

Vehuel looks at the dirty pocket where I put the golden knife.

“I take it that you intend to keep Simiel’s dagger?”

“That’s exactly what I intend.”

“Be careful,” she says. “Some angels won’t appreciate you having it.”

“You mean a dirty Abomination?”

“I mean someone who, until very recently, was as much our enemy as the rebellious angels.”

“But now you and me are on the same side, so relax.”

“Angels aren’t exactly kick-back-and-relax types. But you know that,” says Alice.

She looks at Vehuel.

“I’ll talk to him.”

“I don’t need a talking-to,” I say.

“You sure do, dummy,” says Alice.

The Magistrate says, “I think that we should end our meeting for now. As Daja said, the havoc will be getting restless. If our angel guests will join us outside, I will address the camp and tell them the wonderful news that you will lead us to our next stop on the crusade.”

“What are we supposed to say about him,” says Daja, giving me the evil eye.

“Nothing. He remains Mr. Pitts for now. A lost soul crazy enough and lucky enough to trick an angel into destroying itself.”

The Magistrate leads Vehuel outside. Alice goes next and I follow her.

Traven claps me on the back and nods to Alice before going back to his camper to write everything down. Always the record keeper.

Daja shoots me a look as she goes past. Johnny spits by my feet. Barbora and Billy don’t look at me. Gisco says something to Alice and she says something back that makes him smile.

“Great. Now that you have your wings, you can understand languages, too.”

“Yep. Every one ever spoken.”

“Show-off.”

“Jealous.”

Doris comes out and pats me on the cheek.

“I knew you were a good boy.”

Wanuri stops in front of us. She looks at Alice.

“So, you’re an angel.”

“That’s how I got the wings.”

Wanuri hooks a thumb at me.

“You knew him from before. Back on Earth.”

“We used to sleep in the same bed. Getting to know him was inevitable.”

“Your boyfriend? You’re a brave woman. Fifty times a day some of us have plotted his tragic demise.”

“Trust me, I know how you feel.”

I look at them both.

“You know I’m standing right here, right?”

Wanuri says, “I suppose if an old love comes all the way to Hell to fight for someone, that person must have some redeeming qualities.”

“No I don’t.”

“Yes he does. He just can’t control what comes out of his mouth,” says Alice.

“But he really tried to open Hell for us?”

“He really did.”

“All right,” Wanuri says. “I hereby declare you not entirely useless.”

“Does that mean you’re not going to shoot me in the back?”

“We’ll see. Can’t speak for Johnny, though. He’s mean when he gets like this.”

“I got that impression.”

“Take care, Mr. and Mrs. Pitts,” says Wanuri, heading back to center camp.

Before I can say anything, Alice pulls me down to sit on the steps of the motor home.

“I’m sorry you’re really dead,” she says.

“Me too. Now I know what all these poor saps feel like. When I was alive and in Hell, I always thought I’d find a way home. Later, when I had the Room of Thirteen Doors, I didn’t think about real damnation much at all. Was Heaven hard, too?”

“At first. I missed you. I missed our friends. I missed burritos and sashimi. But I got used to it. There’s a lot to do and a lot of very interesting, very nice people.”

“It sounds horrible.”

“It really isn’t. How’s that girl of yours? Candy?”

“Candy. I don’t know how she is. I wasn’t exactly rational when you were killed and I wasn’t even there. Candy saw me get murdered, so I have a feeling she’s not in good shape.”

“I’m so sorry.”

“She killed the guy who stuck me, though. I keep hoping I run into him down here. That would be fun.”

“See? That’s exactly the kind of thinking that gets you in trouble. Focus. One war at a time. You have forever to find him. Or forgive him. That’s an option, too, you know.”

“If you’re recruiting for Heaven, I’ll pass. Tell me about your wings.”

“You know how it is in Heaven these days.”

“I’m dead. I don’t get the newsletter anymore.”

“But you can guess. Anyway, a lot of angels went all Lex Luthor. A lot on our side have been killed. When I found out that they were letting souls take some of their places, I said why not? I even have an angel name now: Penemue.”

“I’ll stick with Alice.”