Half Lost Read Free Page B

and, let’s face it, being shot is never a good thing, but I don’t understand it. Why is Gabriel beckoning me toward someone who is going to shoot me? And then comes the worst question of all, the one I try not to think about. Is it Gabriel who shoots me? But I know he wouldn’t ever do that—I know he loves me—so that shows you how fucked up visions are. You start believing them instead of what you know.
    I arrive back in camp and drop down by the fire. I’m not sure why I’ve come back. I was going to run to the south and set traps for rabbits, but it’s only now I’m back at camp I remember that.
    â€œYou’ve been gone a long time. Were you lost?” Gabriel says, coming over to me.
    Him and his bloody passwords.
    I say, “You’ve got it wrong. You’re supposed to say, ‘You’ve been a way a long time,’ and I’ve only been away a few hours so the whole thing is stupid.”
    â€œI’m trying to keep to the spirit of it rather than word for word.”
    â€œIf I was a Hunter you’d be dead now anyway.”
    â€œAnd you’re doing your best to make that seem preferable.”
    I swear at him.
    He shuffles his feet, scuffing the dirt up a little. I get out the Fairborn and my sharpening stone and set to work.
    Gabriel crouches beside me and says, “Are you doing that for a reason?”
    â€œThought I’d take a look around. Check on stuff.”
    â€œI thought you were going to set rabbit traps today.”
    I look at him. “I’m feeling lucky. Might find some Hunters too.”
    I know I said I’d do rabbits today and check on the Hunters tomorrow but I’ve changed my mind. I want to get back to the Hunters and see if more have turned up.
    â€œWe need food. You said you’d do the traps.”
    â€œI’ll do them too.”
    â€œYes? Really? Or will you go off for days and leave me not knowing if you’re alive or dead?”
    I carry on with the knife.
    Gabriel reaches out to touch my arm. “Talk to me, Nathan. Please.”
    I stop sharpening the knife and turn to look him in the eyes. “I told you. I’ll do both.”
    Gabriel shakes his head at me. “Why won’t you tell me what’s going on?”
    â€œYou know what’s going on, Gabriel. I’m trying to find the witch that killed my father. Though somehow she’s disappeared. The good thing is that, in my search for her, I’m finding Hunters. There’s a lot of them around. It’s a big country but I’m finding them and killing them.”
    â€œDo you really think you can kill them all?”
    It’s a genuine question, but I think it’s more to test my sanity rather than my ability.
    I smile at him and try to look as mad as possible. “My father seemed to think I could.”
    Gabriel shakes his head and turns away from me, saying, “Sometimes I think you’ve got a death wish.”
    Sometimes I wonder that too, but it’s when I’m fighting that I’m absolutely sure I don’t. It’s then that I’m sure I’m desperate to stay alive.
    Gabriel continues. “You risk your life with each attack. They can kill you, Nathan.”
    â€œI go invisible. They don’t know I’m there until it’s too late.”
    â€œYou can still get hit. With bullets flying all over the place it’s a miracle that hasn’t happened. You nearly died from a Hunter bullet in Geneva. The poison nearly killed you. A wound—”
    â€œI’m careful. And I’m better than them. Lots better.”
    â€œThey can become invisible too. They can still—”
    â€œI told you I’m careful.”
    Gabriel frowns. “It’s not just about you. Your attacks bring more Hunters our way, lead them closer to us and to Greatorex, bringing more danger for everyone.”
    â€œGreatorex and her gang are training for that day, though as