Read Online Helens-of-Troy by Janine McCaw - Free Book Online Page B

know you?” Ellie
asked.
    “Maybe. I know you. That’s all that’s
important. Sonnez les matines, sonnez les matines, din dan don.
Isn’t that how it goes?”
    “ Who are you?” Ellie asked.
“Why did you bring me here to the little swamp on the
prairie?”
    He smirked. “Don’t worry. You’re not in
any immediate danger.” He pointed down the road. “Though I can’t
say the same about her.” “She’s got a big problem.”
    Ellie could see a figure running
towards them with incredible speed. “Somebody ought to sign that
person to endorse running shoes,” she quipped.
    “I’d get out of his way,” the cowboy
suggested, “unless you want to draw attention to yourself before
you have a plan.” The Shadowman grabbed the back of her T-shirt
collar and drew her towards himself.
    “Watch it buddy. Do that again and I’ll
drop kick you in your shadow-crotch,” she said, yanking herself
free. “I don’t need a plan. I need an alarm clock.”
    “Quiet. Don’t let him hear
you.”
    “He? I thought you said she was in
danger. If you can’t tell the difference, let me educate you. Never
mind. Forget I said that.”
    “Stay inside the bridge, Ellie. Don’t
let him see you.” The Shadowman pulled her away from the wooden
archway.
    “Do you mind?" Ellie commented,
bringing her fingers to her nose. “It stinks in here. Like skunk
cabbage. It makes me want to puke.”
    The runner was now approaching the
creek. He had a blanket around him hiding his face and he was
carrying something bulky in his arms. Something hidden, that was
emitting a horrible cry.
    “What the hell is that?” Ellie
gasped.
    “Do something,” the Shadowman said,
distancing himself from Ellie and the apparition. “You’re the only
one who can. The problem is also yours.”
    “What’s my problem?” Ellie asked.
“Other than my REM stage lasting way too long.” She turned towards
the Shadowman but he had vanished. “Great. Thanks a lot for your
support. Am I supposed to solve the mystery or am I supposed to
hide? I am so confused.” She turned to leave, trying to remember
the direction she had come from.
    The figure was now at the end of the
bridge staring at her, his eyes poking out from a hole between the
blanket layers.
    So much for hiding, Ellie
realized.
    “What’s the matter?” she taunted.
“Didn’t the other little kids in the neighborhood want to play with
you? You’re supposed to say ‘ollie-ollie-oxen-free’ before you come
to find me. Now turn around and count to one hundred.”
    He hissed at her.
    “You have GOT to be kidding,” she
laughed. “I’m sorry, dream from hell or not, nobody hisses anymore.
Speak in tongues or something if you’re just trying to be
scary.”
    He slowly removed the blanket from
around his head. His long dark hair hung in sweaty strands over an
unusually angular face. He had high cheekbones—model type
cheekbones—that framed his long and slender nose
magnificently.
    “Okay,” Ellie said cautiously,
fascinated by his appearance. His features reminded her somewhat of
an afghan hound. He didn’t look much older than she was.
“Apparently you and I were meant to be. Acquaintances anyway. So…
do you want to tell me what are you hiding under that blanket of
yours? Or do you really want to play ‘I’ll show you mine?’ Because
as you can see, I haven’t got anything to counter with.” She held
her empty arms up and waved her hands in the air.
“Nada.”
    His feet shuffled uncomfortably. He
lowered his head and turned to peer at the water momentarily. As
his body moved, parts of the blanket draping his body became
loosened.
    Ellie could see a tiny patch of blue
gingham poking out from beneath the bundle he was holding in his
arms. It moved in the opposite direction of the twist of his torso,
as if trying to get away.
    She took a step closer to
him.
    He growled.
    “Now, that’s just rude.” she
said.
    “Go away,” he urged.
    “Look, I don’t want to hurt you,”