Blood Red Road

still be … yer opinion?
    I look at Jack. At his strange silver eyes that go from moonlight to granite in a instant, at his crooked nose, his top lip with the little dip in it. An I says, That would … not … still be my … opinion.
    He gives me his lopsided smile. C’mere, he says.
    No, I says. You c’mere.
    He steps in close. He smells of sage, summer skies an somethin that’s jest him. Jest Jack. Now what? he says.
    Now, I says, you kiss me.
    He wraps his arms around me an hauls me up tight aginst him. He kisses my lips, my eyes, my face, my lips. An I kiss him. I breathe him in like he’s air. Drink him in like he’s water.
    At last he pulls away, holds me at arm’s length. I gotta go, he says.
    You could go later, I says. We could go together when—
    No, he says. I gotta go now. He starts to walk backwards while he talks. He’s lookin at me all the time.
    But how’ll you find me? I says. We won’t be here. You don’t even know where we’re goin.
    Yer headed out west, he says, to the Big Water. They say the air smells like honey. He swings hisself onto his horse.
    Wait. Take this. I run over to him, fumblin fer the heartstone. He leans down. I put it over his head, around his neck.
    It … it’ll help you to find me, I says.
    I don’t need no stone to find you, he says. I’d find you anywhere. He kisses me agin. Till I’m dizzy. Till my legs go weak. Then, See you, he says.
    He tips his hat, wheels his horse around an trots away. As he goes, he starts to sing.
Oh I’ve roved an I’ve rambled all o’er the wide world
And kisses a-plenty I’ve tasted
But it’s her wine-sweet lips that I’m still dreaming of
O hard-hearted Annie, cruel Annie my love .

    Saba! It’s Lugh’s shout. Him an Emmi and Tommo ride to meet me.
    Are y’okay? says Lugh.
    I nod.
    Didn’t you ask him to stay? says Emmi.
    He had somewhere he needed to be, I says.
    I swing myself onto Hermes’ back. Nero flaps over to ride on my shoulder.
    Are we ever gonna see him agin? says Emmi.
    One day, I says.
    One day soon, says Tommo.
    I hope so, I says.
    We turn our horses’ heads to the west.
    Oh! I nearly fergot! Emmi pulls Lugh’s slingshot from her pocket an hands it to him. I bin keepin it fer you, she says.
    He reaches over an ruffs her hair. Thanks. I’ll teach you how to use it.
    You don’t need to, I says. She’s a good shot.
    Well, whaddya know? says Lugh. Guess I’ll hafta find somethin else to teach you, Em.
    Or maybe I’ll teach you somethin, says Emmi. You dunno everythin. You jest think you do.
    Lugh shakes his head. I definitely bin away too long, he says. I can see you need takin in hand, Emmi. Talkin to yer elders an betters that way …
    I drop back a bit. I listen while they chatter on an Lugh makes us laugh. He always does.
    We’re together agin.
    Lugh goes first, always first, an I follow on behind .
    An that’s fine .
    That’s right .
    That’s how it’s meant to be .
    Lugh turns around. Smiles.
    Hey, he says, what’re you doin back there? I ain’t got a clue where we’re goin. Git on up here an lead the way.
    So I do.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
    This book would never have been written without Sophie McKenzie, Melanie Edge, Gaby Halberstam and Julie Mackenzie. To each of them, my ever grateful thanks.
    Thanks also to Julia Green, John McLay, Gill McLay, Lisa del Rosso and Roma Downey for their support and encouragement.
    Thanks to Gillie Russell and Marion Lloyd for their expert guidance.
    And special thanks to Elizabeth Hawkins, who showed the way.