He raises his eyebrows like,“Beats me.”
“So we’re stuck here,” Penny says.
“I could give you a ride,” the Normal offers.
“Are you kidding me!” she snaps back.
“How do you know”—Baz is glaring at him—“what you think you know about us? About magic?”
Shepard smiles. (I wouldn’t be smiling in this situation.) “People have told me. Other magic-Speakers.”
“Pfft,” Penny says. “Because you chased them into the wilderness and cornered them?”
“Because I asked,” he says. “And because they knew I didn’t mean any harm.” He turns back to Baz. “I’ve never met a vampire.”
“I hope your luck holds,” Baz replies.
The Normal is standing near his truck, with the door open. He pushes up his glasses. “I could help you guys—”
“You’re the reason we need help!” Penny shouts.
“How?” I ask. “How could you help us?”
He steps towards me. “You’re lost. You clearly don’t know anything about America—half your spells don’t work, and you drove right into a Quiet Zone. I don’t know where you’re going, but I could be your guide, your Sacagawea.”
Penny folds her arms. “So we can invade America and steal it from you?”
“Oh, shit, is that what you have planned?”
“Yeah,” Baz scoffs, “we’re off to a flying start.”
The Normal isn’t giving up. “Are you hunting vampires? Is that your mission?”
“No!” Penny says.
“We’re on holiday,” I say. “Vacation.”
He pushes up his glasses again. “You came toNebraska? On vacation?”
“We’re just passing through,” Baz says. “Listen, Shepard… could my magickal friends and I have a moment?”
While Shepard is saying, “Sure,” Baz grabs my arm and Penny’s, and pulls us back towards the ring of cars. (Someone has builtStonehengeout ofcars.This is the best thing I’ve everseen.)
“We should take his help,” Baz says.
“Don’t be mental, Baz.”
“We’re stuck here, Bunce.”
“Yeah, because ofhim.”
“So we take his help,” Baz goes on, “then we hit him with a memory spell. He has everything to lose here: We outnumber him, and our magic will come back as soon as we get to a town.”
“What if he has a gun?” I ask.
“I’ll sit behind him and break his neck if I have to.”
I frown at Baz—“Do you know how to break someone’s neck? I should show you before we get in the car—”
