Chapter 41: The Last One

Etzli fell behind as Atee tore along the busy corridor like a hunter hot on the trail of some juicy prey.

Starlight's voice piped up in Etzli's mind.

--You're gonna lose her.

Etzli muttered, "I know."

Atee glanced back. "Pardon?"

Raising her voice, Etzli replied, "So we're going to catch a ghost?"

"Catch? Oh no, not at all." Staring back at Etzli, Atee didn't look where she was going. She didn't need to--everyone else carefully cleared out of her way. "I just want to speak with her. I have so many questions! Don't you?"

"Have questions for a ghost?" Etzli thought about it. "Well, I can tell you from experience..."

--Don't even think about calling me a ghost.

Hearing the sharpness in Starlight's voice, Etzli changed gears, asking Atee, "What about the ancestors? Couldn't you just ask them?"

Atee chortled. "The ancestors aren't ghosts, silly."

"They aren't?"

"Of course not! Ghosts are dead."

Etzli glanced at the ceiling. "Okay, agreed. But aren't ancestors dead too?"