Free Virginia Hamilton by Dustland: The Justice Cycle (Book Two) Page A

be sure how good he was; he just got better and better.
    The rocks up ahead were as real as any clump Thomas had seen anywhere. And yet he wasn’t certain if he had built them there by thinking he needed them, or if he’d suddenly really seen them through the murk where they’d always been.
    Well, does it matter? he asked himself. He was becoming at ease with Dustland’s eerie qualities.
    I’m not going to let this place spook me the way it has Justice. Getting into what is and isn’t so real will turn you clear around. If she keeps at it, she’ll never work her way out. Which suits me just fine! But definitely the word here is weird. Something sure is going down. Not so sweet, either.
    He was sure something strange was going on. And he surrounded the thought in a thick .and searing cold, a subterranean gloom of icewalls that nothing could penetrate.
    Mind shifting again, thinking: Oh, man. What is and what isn’t! But I have to admit, it’s the most exciting, oddest thing I’ve ever been into. If I can find out how it all works, I bet I could … take over! Wouldn’t that be something? But never let Justice know. Don’t look at things too closely yourself. It messes up your mind if you do. Don’t dare.
    The rocks loomed. Dust hanging in shrouds which curled and waved slowly across the windless land. Dust thicker, than ever.
    Levi commenced coughing. By the time they had reached the rocks, he was gasping for air. He leaned close to Thomas for protection.
    Thomas tasted grit. He wrapped his arms around his brother’s head and neck, covering him as best he could.
    Try breathing through the hood of your tunic like I’m doing, Thomas traced. Here, pull it up and around …
    What hood? gasping, Levi traced. You made up these clothes!
    Look, there’s something real about everything I make up here. You know there is. And wouldn’t it be —He broke off and started over. We’ll figure it out later. Now, just do what I tell you.
    Bowed down against the rocks, Levi held the hood to his mouth. It did seem to help. The dust had gotten so thick he had to keep his eyes shut tight.
    Good thing we don’t have to open our mouths to talk, Thomas traced.
    Levi broke in on him, etching thoughts in slivers: You’ll get through. I bet if anyone can survive this, it’ll be you.
    Stop being so dumb. Holding himself in against feeling.
    Tom-Tom? We aren’t here, are we? You said our bodies weren’t.
    Echoes in Thomas’ brain like gusts of wind. Sounds of Levi struggling to breathe. Wind sounds in a backward-and-forward flow, as if from the past, where their bodies waited, to the future.
    Better not think, Thomas traced.
    Lee’s dread spread out around them. He whined: Tom-Tom? My feet. Can’t you do something? Through caked dust, Levi’s feet oozed blood.
    Think I’m some healer? Thomas stormed. Well, I’m not. Irritated into being reminded of Justice, and Dorian, the healer.
    Wouldn’t mind having Dorian along, though, Thomas thought.
    The illusion of Lee he’d made for them had to be still working. Justice would think her favorite brother was still safe beside her. And Miacis would think so, too. If all went as Thomas planned, it would be the real Levi that Miacis brought back and not himself. Thomas grinned. He could hear Justice now, chewing out the dog.
    He sniffed the choking dust.
    Miacis!
    Ever alert, Thomas cut through the dust with his clairvoyance, sensing back along their trail. He used his finely tuned power with caution, fully expecting the animal to still be on their course but at a distance from them. It wasn’t long before he homed in on a life-form racing through.
    What shocked him was how close the beast had come. He could sense the sweat-drenched fur, muscles rippling and surging beneath.
    Tricked me! How’d she—? Must’ve missed a sense-post. Man!
    Miacis was closing in. He had to get away at once.
    Thomas had planned ahead, however. Not far behind, he had set up an illusion to slow Miacis down.