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"Don't dick around with me, boy. You get bitten by anything? Like maybe a wolf?" |
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Okay, don't lose it, Cyrus cautioned himself. This old man knows something. |
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Cyrus turned around to check on Kyna. She was still deep in negotiations with Mabuto Junior, her hands swooping through the air like canaries as she made her point. Cyrus turned back and lowered his voice. |
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"We were hiking in Utah. That's where it attacked us." |
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"A wolf?" Kazie asked. Cyrus nodded. "Was the woman bitten?" Kazie shifted his eyes to Kyna. |
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"Not too bad. A lot of blood, but it hardly left a scratch." |
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"You didn't think that strange? All that blood and no wound?" |
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"Well, yeah," Cyrus admitted. "Both the ranger and the doctor mentioned it." |
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Kazie nodded again. His know-it-all attitude was beginning to get on Cyrus's nerves. |
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"Been having any strange dreams? Maybe doing some strange things?" |
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"Look, Mr. Mabuto, why don't we skip the dance and get right to the meat of the matter? What's going on?" |
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Kazie smiled without a trace of humor. "Get to the meat? You a comedian, boy?" |
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When Cyrus first sat down he had been pretty sure the old man was stoned out of his mind. Now he wasn't so sure. |
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The office door opened and Kyna and Mabuto Junior came out. |
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Kazie glanced at Kyna and whispered to Cyrus, "Come back tonight by yo'self." |
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Cyrus thought it over. "It'll have to be late." |
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Kazie's smile would have put the Cheshire cat to shame. |
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