Once again, Fen waited. Once again, Ransom said nothing more and returned to steering.
Irritated, Fen said, “And I suppose your power is making enigmatic pronouncements without elaboration?”
Merlin laughed. Pete grinned. Roland smiled.
“You got it,” said Carter.
“His power is knowing things.” Natalie’s voice had a distinct edge to it, and she bristled protectively. “If he says something, it’s so. And if he doesn’t say something, it’s because he doesn’t know.”
Ransom laid a hand on Natalie’s shoulder. The harsh angles of his face softened as he touched a bright blue lock of her rainbow hair. To Fen, he said, “I know Sugar’s a magical animal of some kind. But I don’t know what he can do. You’ll find out. I didn’t know what mine could do right away, either.”
“You have a magical sugar glider too?” Fen asked.
He shook his head. “Natalie and I have a pair of teleporting huskies.”
“I have a cactus cat,” Pete volunteered. His voice softened with fondness. “He’s a flying green cat who can shoot cactus spines at people.”
“I have a bugbear!” Merlin said with pride.
“And we’re all thankful you left him at home,” said Carter. With mild alarm, he glanced around. “He is at home, right? He’s not waiting for you on shore like a sailor’s wife in a ballad, only blue and hairy instead of fair and comely?”
“No,” Merlin said. “He’s home. Roland thought he wouldn’t fit on the boat.”
That reminded Fen that Roland was the only person who hadn’t mentioned his shift form, so she asked, “What do you turn into, Roland?”
Before he could reply, Precious let out a shriek and Sugar gave a frantic chitter. His little claws dug into her chest as he scrambled out of her blouse and launched himself into the air. Precious was already aloft.
“Wise creatures,” said a strange man’s voice.
Carter flung himself on top of Fen, squashing her to the rather wet bottom of the boat. For the second time in about an hour, she could see nothing because he’d used his own body as a shield to protect her from danger.
I love him,she thought.Even if it’s too soon. Even if he doesn’t love me back. I love him.
She had no time to think over or second-guess her realization, because the man spoke again. His voice was loud and somewhat pompous. “Stop that. Both of you, sit up at once.”
“Why, so you can shoot us?” Carter demanded. His voice was muffled, and she could feel his chest moving against her back as he spoke.
“I have no intention of doing anything so wasteful,” replied the strange man. “And in case it’s escaped your notice, your associates are unable to assist you. They will be witnesses, nothing more.”
In fact, she had heard nothing from anyone but Carter and the unknown man, and had felt nothing but Carter’s body atop hers since the first moment the man had spoken. What was everyone else doing?
“Merlin?” Fen whispered. “Roland?”
There was no reply.
Carter gave a muttered exclamation of annoyance and disgust.
“What?” Fen whispered.
In an ordinary speaking tone, he said, “I was trying to get Merlin’s gun—he’s the closest—but it’s turned to stone.”
Fen, uncertain that she’d heard him correctly, said, “It’s what?”
Carter moved off her and sat up. She rolled over and blinked up at him. He held up a gun made of shiny black rock. Everyone else on the boat was absolutely still in the positions she’d last seen them in, as if they were playing freeze tag.
For a moment she was utterly baffled, and then it came to her. “Is this the wizard-scientists?”
“Correct,” said the male voice. “Sit up and witness.”
