Evil Star

[Gatekeepers 02] - Evil Star suspiciously — but right now he was too hungry to care. He wolfed the food down, being careful not to look at it too closely. Whatever the meat was, it certainly wasn't lamb or beef. He tried not to think about the dog he had seen lying outside.
    When he had finished eating, Pedro produced a bat-tered metal jug of water and handed it to Matt to drink. It tasted warm and brackish and Matt wondered where it had come from. Did Poison Town have wells or water pumps? Did it even have electricity? There were all sorts of ques-tions he wanted to ask but there was no point until Sebastian returned. Pedro understood nothing.
    About ten minutes later, Sebastian came in, carrying a bundle of old clothes. From the moment he entered the room, it seemed to Matt that he was more alert, more ner-vous. He put the clothes down and lit another cigar, almost burning his fingers, and threw the match down.
    "I have been speaking to people," he said. "There is a great deal happening in Lima, and none of it is good. You must leave here very soon. You do not have a lot of time."
    "They're looking for me," Matt said.
    "The police are everywhere. They are asking questions and they are not being very polite. You understand? They have big sticks and they have tear gas. They are searching for an English boy. They say he is a terrorist and they are offering a large reward." He held up a hand before Matt could speak. "Only a few people saw you enter Poison Town, and they won't talk. We have no money. We have no possessions. Maybe that is why we value the things we do have . . .
    loyalty and friendship. Nobody will talk, but the police will still come here looking for you. They will tear the place apart. Maybe they're already on their way."

    Horowitz, Anthony - [Gatekeepers 02] - Evil Star
    "I have to find my friend," Matt said.
    "You're wasting your breath. I already told you: If Salamanda does have him, he could be anywhere. He could be in Lima. Or he could be floating facedown in the ocean. If you ask me, that is more likely."
    "What about this place you told me about? This farm-house or whatever you called it."
    "The Hacienda Salamanda. I do not believe you will find him there."
    "I still want to look."
    Sebastian thought for a minute. Then he nodded. "It doesn't matter to me where you go," he said. "The only important thing is that you do not stay here. And Pedro must go with you. I have already explained to him. He attacked three policemen, so now they are looking for him, too. They will kill him if they find him."
    "I'm sorry," Matt said. "This is my fault."
    "No. It's his fault. If he'd been smarter, he would have stolen your watch and your money without waking you up. I always said he made a lousy thief. But it's too late to worry about that now."
    Sebastian paused. "There is something else. Your appearance. We must change that."
    "What do you mean?"
    "A white boy in a white boy's clothes! It doesn't matter where you go in Peru, you'll be seen a mile away." Sebastian gestured at the bundle he had brought in. "Give me every-thing you're wearing."
    "What. . . ?"
    "Now!"

    Horowitz, Anthony - [Gatekeepers 02] - Evil Star Matt was too dazed to argue. He stripped off his jacket, his shirt, and his jeans and gave them to Sebastian. He had no doubt that they'd all turn up in some market the next day.
    But that wasn't enough. 'Your shoes and socks, too," Sebastian ordered.
    He slipped them off and stood in the middle of the room, dressed only in his boxers. Sebastian had produced a bottle and handed it to him. "Rub this in," he com-manded. 'Your arms, your legs, and especially your face. Pedro will do your shoulders and back."
    "What is it?"
    "It's a dye made from nuts. It will stain your skin for many weeks.
    We must also cut your hair." Sebastian took out a pair of scissors.
    Matt hesitated. “Your hair is nice," Sebastian said. "And it will look good at your funeral. But if you want to live, you must look like one of us. We don't have time to argue."
    A short while later, Matt stood wearing his new ward-robe. His hair had been cut in the shape of a pudding bowl, with a straight fringe above his eyes. His entire body was dark brown. There was no mirror in the room, so he had no idea what he fully looked like but he felt disgusting. His new jeans were stained, shapeless, and came to an abrupt halt high above his ankles, revealing his bare legs and feet. He'd been given a green Adidas T-shirt, full of holes, filthy,