Read Online Apocalypsis 02 - Warpaint by Elle Casey - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Elle Casey
Ads: Link
like da chickens are good for making food only. Either eggs or meat, whatever you want. But smart birds, dey are not for making food. Just for getting food.”
I rolled by eyes. “Whatever.” I think his English was falling apart. It was the only explanation for this craziness, other than actual craziness which I was pretty sure he didn’t suffer from.
“I think what you’re saying makes sense, Bodo. But let’s face it - if we’re starving and there’s a smart bird standing there, I’m going to eat him. It’s all about survival.”
Bodo put his head down. “I know. It’s all about da survival. For some people.”
His last comment caught my attention. “What’s that supposed to mean … ‘for some people’?”
He shrugged. “Dat’s what I said. I mean dat.”
“Are you saying you don’t only care about survival?”
“Maybe.” He looked up at me in challenge.
It just pissed me off all over again. “Yeah, right . As if you’d stand there and die of starvation while a smart bird hopped all around you squawking. You’d grab that thing and wring its neck just like anyone else. And the only reason you’d say you wouldn’t is because you just haven’t been hungry enough.”
Peter blanched. “Um, Bryn? I’m pretty sure that’s the canner’s creed.”
“Shut up, Peter. That’s not what I’m saying. There’s a difference between the life of a human and the life of a dumb bird.”
Bodo stared at me for a few long seconds, before turning and walking away again. I watched his back disappear through the trees.
I sighed heavily in frustration. “What is wrong with that guy, anyway? See?” I threw my hands up and looked at Peter, practically demanding an explanation. “One minute he wants to be Mr. Bryn, and the next he wants me to starve and let a stupid bird live! I don’t get it!”
“Maybe he’s a bird lover? How am I supposed to know? Maybe it’s a German thing.”
“I don’t remember hearing or reading that Germans have a special affinity for birds.”
“Well, then, you don’t pay much attention in history class.”
I nodded, grudgingly. “That’s probably true. Why? What did I forget?”
“Their coat of arms is a giant, black bird.”
“Oh.” I thought about that for a second. “So what does that mean? They’re all freaky bird lovers?”
“No. I don’t know what it means. I was just saying …” He shrugged.
“Well, whatever. Bottom line is, he’s annoying, sneaking around, and defending birds probably just to argue with me.”
“And he’s hot, funny, and in love with you, too. Don’t forget those things.”
My face went red. “I’m not sure about that last part, but I agree with the other stuff.”
“So let’s just give him some space and wait and see what happens. He’s a good person, and I really do think he likes you a lot. I’m sure things will work out one way or another.”
“Maybe he used to like me, but I doubt he does anymore, now that I’ve insulted his bird fetish.”
Peter smiled. “He’s not going to stop liking you over one little argument. I don’t think he’s the type to just fall for someone and then hate them the next day. We don’t live in that kind of world anymore, anyway.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, when there were thousands of possible mates to choose from, it was like being a huge candy store with a billion types of sugary things to choose from. You could sample one of everything and not worry about whether you’d like it much or whatever, because there was always another jar of candy nearby. But now, there’s no candy store. There’s a single jawbreaker that you found in the gutter. And there are no more jawbreaker factories. No more candy stores. No more refined sugar. That one jawbreaker you found could be the only one you’ll ever have again. You aren’t going to just eat it and say goodbye.”
His analogy wasn’t perfect but I saw where he was going with it. “So I’m like a jawbreaker. A
I rolled by eyes. “Whatever.” I think his English was falling apart. It was the only explanation for this craziness, other than actual craziness which I was pretty sure he didn’t suffer from.
“I think what you’re saying makes sense, Bodo. But let’s face it - if we’re starving and there’s a smart bird standing there, I’m going to eat him. It’s all about survival.”
Bodo put his head down. “I know. It’s all about da survival. For some people.”
His last comment caught my attention. “What’s that supposed to mean … ‘for some people’?”
He shrugged. “Dat’s what I said. I mean dat.”
“Are you saying you don’t only care about survival?”
“Maybe.” He looked up at me in challenge.
It just pissed me off all over again. “Yeah, right . As if you’d stand there and die of starvation while a smart bird hopped all around you squawking. You’d grab that thing and wring its neck just like anyone else. And the only reason you’d say you wouldn’t is because you just haven’t been hungry enough.”
Peter blanched. “Um, Bryn? I’m pretty sure that’s the canner’s creed.”
“Shut up, Peter. That’s not what I’m saying. There’s a difference between the life of a human and the life of a dumb bird.”
Bodo stared at me for a few long seconds, before turning and walking away again. I watched his back disappear through the trees.
I sighed heavily in frustration. “What is wrong with that guy, anyway? See?” I threw my hands up and looked at Peter, practically demanding an explanation. “One minute he wants to be Mr. Bryn, and the next he wants me to starve and let a stupid bird live! I don’t get it!”
“Maybe he’s a bird lover? How am I supposed to know? Maybe it’s a German thing.”
“I don’t remember hearing or reading that Germans have a special affinity for birds.”
“Well, then, you don’t pay much attention in history class.”
I nodded, grudgingly. “That’s probably true. Why? What did I forget?”
“Their coat of arms is a giant, black bird.”
“Oh.” I thought about that for a second. “So what does that mean? They’re all freaky bird lovers?”
“No. I don’t know what it means. I was just saying …” He shrugged.
“Well, whatever. Bottom line is, he’s annoying, sneaking around, and defending birds probably just to argue with me.”
“And he’s hot, funny, and in love with you, too. Don’t forget those things.”
My face went red. “I’m not sure about that last part, but I agree with the other stuff.”
“So let’s just give him some space and wait and see what happens. He’s a good person, and I really do think he likes you a lot. I’m sure things will work out one way or another.”
“Maybe he used to like me, but I doubt he does anymore, now that I’ve insulted his bird fetish.”
Peter smiled. “He’s not going to stop liking you over one little argument. I don’t think he’s the type to just fall for someone and then hate them the next day. We don’t live in that kind of world anymore, anyway.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, when there were thousands of possible mates to choose from, it was like being a huge candy store with a billion types of sugary things to choose from. You could sample one of everything and not worry about whether you’d like it much or whatever, because there was always another jar of candy nearby. But now, there’s no candy store. There’s a single jawbreaker that you found in the gutter. And there are no more jawbreaker factories. No more candy stores. No more refined sugar. That one jawbreaker you found could be the only one you’ll ever have again. You aren’t going to just eat it and say goodbye.”
His analogy wasn’t perfect but I saw where he was going with it. “So I’m like a jawbreaker. A
Similar Books
