Chapter94

BecauseitwaslateandIcouldn'tfindataxi,Keithquietlyhuggedmeandwalkeddownthedarkstreetwithoutsayingaword.IlookedathisfaceallthewayandnoticedthathisfacewasveryredbySalem.Therearealsorednessandsmallcracksinthecornerofforehead.Ithinkit'sprobablybecausehemissedthepoolandthenhithisheadontheedgeofthepool.I'mworried,butemotionalwordsanddeeds.Itstillpervadesmyheartandmakesmebreakthesilence.

"Release"

"Well,"

"Putmedown,I'llwalk,"Isaidclearlyagain.

Keithstopped,lookeddownatmeandrefused.

"No,I'lltakeGwentwithmeuntilIgettomydestination."

"Don'ttrytobenicetome,it'stoolatenow!"Iletoutacryandpickeditup.

KeithknowswhatImean.Whatdoesthismean?Ifitwasn't,itusedmeasanegotiatingtool,askingCiarontotellmemytrueidentitywithoutaskingmetovolunteer,andthenofferedCiaronhimselftoprotectme.It'ssocleverthatIdon'tunderstandmyideologicalsystem,orstupidthatIdon'tknow.

ButKeithdidnotletgo,andkeptstaringatmyface,andIknewhewouldlookatmewiththeeyesofapuppytostopmyanger,soIwrithedashardasIcouldandscreamedloudly.