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of a little boy facing his priest. "'Sides. I don't think you're the type to eat a tough old man without no meat on his bones. If the man is good, he can control the wolf." |
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Cyrus stood and began pulling off his jacket and shirt. |
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"One more thing," Kazie said. "Who's after you?" |
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Cyrus stopped with his fingers on his belt buckle. "What do you mean?" |
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"Boy, you really gotta start listening. A Hungan set that wolf on you. It didn't just stroll out of nothing and you happened to be there. It was sent." |
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"I don't know any witch doctors. I'm a bodyguard." |
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Kazie got up and went to the workbench. He came back with a piece of paper and handed it to Cyrus. |
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"Put this in your pocket. It's the address of a woman that might be able to help. I talked to her this afternoon. Seems she was expecting you." |
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Cyrus looked at the address and then at the old man. "Who is she?" |
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"A mambo. A woman Hungan. She's not the most powerful I ever seen, but she's the best we got on this coast. She should be able to tell you something about the people dogging you." |
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Cyrus tucked the paper into his pocket. Then he removed his shoes and socks and stepped out of the jeans. He pushed his underwear to the floor, picked up his clothing and folded them neatly on the workbench. All the while, Kazie was watching like a hawk. |
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"I never thought about the clothes," the old man said. "You gotta take them off when you change, huh?" |
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"Unless you want them to end up as dust rags. Don't be scared, now." |
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Kazie shook his head. "Nothing you do gonna scare me." |
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Cyrus freed his mind and allowed his thoughts to drift back to the oddly-shaped mountain of his dreams, the cold moonlight, the woods, the she-wolf. The excited beating of his heart came as no surprise this timeit was welcome. His bones popped and his limbs stretched and the fur sprouted like grass. After a moment he looked down at Kazie from a new height. |
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