Tricked

around my jish that weren’t there before. I could see which homes had been blessed well and which ones hadn’t. And whenever I did ceremonies after that, I could kinda see what I was doing, see everyone’s spirit and how the songs and the sandpaintings could change them, bring them into harmony with the Holy People, and unite the spirit world with the physical. And sometimes I’d run into people who had colors around them too. People like you. People like that lady with the death goddess inside. «
    » How about Mr. Benally? « Granuaile said.
    Frank squinted at her. » Well … yeah. Him too. « He looked at me. » You know who he really is, don’t you? «
    » I think so, « I said. » He— «
    » Wait, « Frank said, holding up a hand. » Don’t say any names. That’s important. «
    I didn’t understand, but I wasn’t going to argue with him. If he thought it was important, far be it for me to gainsay him.
    » I think he’s one of the First People, « I said, hoping that wasn’t stepping over any lines.
    » Yep. I think so too. Problem is figuring out which one. They’re capable of trickin’ a fella pretty good. Let’s say no more about it. «
    I shrugged. He seemed to have a pretty good idea it was Coyote, so I wasn’t going to force the issue.
    » You’ll be all right for a while? « I asked.
    » Aw, sure. Where you goin’? «
    » Gotta walk the dog. « Oberon’s tail swished energetically through the air at this announcement. » Might head north. «
    Frank looked at me sharply. » You be careful. «
    I nodded acknowledgment at him and called Oberon, who’d been quietly watching all this time. » Ready to do a little bit of hunting, buddy? «
    › Sure! Hunting for what? ‹
    I switched to mental communication. Skinwalkers. Let’s see where they went. If they’re hiding in a cave, maybe I can get Colorado to collapse the entrance and solve our problem for us .
    › Okay, but I need a drink first. ‹
    » All right, let’s go, « I said. Granuaile joined us as we walked down to the car. We stepped softly around Darren’s body. Oberon whined once, then put his nose down to the ground.
    › They came this way. They used the road. That burnt-rubber scent is easy to follow. ‹ We paused at Granuaile’s car and poured some bottled water into one of those collapsible dog bowls. We also took the opportunity to fill our tanks with some beef jerky and crackers. Then we took an extra couple of water bottles each for the trip ahead.
    › Ready, ‹ Oberon announced. He trotted back to the base of the hill, snuffled around a little bit, then turned north. › Footprints here, strong smell, occasional blood drops too from that one you speared. This is going to be simple. ‹
    I expect it will get harder soon .
    » What’s the plan if we find them, sensei? « Granuaile asked. We broke into an easy jog to keep up with Oberon.
    » Depends on the situation, « I replied. » I’d prefer to call in an air strike, but unfortunately that’s not a viable option. Don’t worry, I’m not planning on poking them awake and suggesting a duel. Whatever we do, it will be from a safe distance and completely cold-blooded. «
    The trail ended on a small knoll three miles away. My improvised javelin was there, stained with blood, and there were plenty of tracks and smells for us to decipher. I wouldn’t be able to smell any of it while in human form.
    » Fair warning: I’m getting naked, « I said to Granuaile as I unslung Moralltach and stripped off my shirt. » I need to shift and find out what Oberon’s smelling. «
    Granuaile made no reply, but she let out a wolf whistle when I shucked off my jeans. I shifted quickly to my hound form so she wouldn’t see me blush.
    I sneezed immediately, as I often did when I changed to a hound. The potent sense of smell that comes with the form is far more jarring than suddenly walking on all fours. What hit me first was the burnt-rubber scent Oberon had described, except there was something fouler mixed in. It was like placing your face next to the exhaust port of a city bus just when it accelerates from a stop; it was asphalt and rubber and oil and everything black and smelly in a single, lung-destroying cloud. But underneath this were other scents: the blood and sweat, fear and anger of two humans, two bobcats … and something else.
    › Atticus, you smell that? ‹ Oberon asked.
    › You mean the thing that kind of smells like chicken but not really? ‹
    › Yeah.