فصل 27

chapter-27 A proper send-off

In spite of Gervaso’s counsel, none of us slept much. Jack, Zeus, and I played Texas Hold’em until three in the morning. Five hours later we carried our bags up to the house. As we trudged up the hill with our packs slung over our shoulders, we could smell the wafting sweetness of bacon and syrup.

“Waffles,” Ostin said with religious fervor.

“A proper send-off,” I said.

“How far is Vegas from here, anyway?” Jack asked.

“I think it is about three hours,” I said.

“I can’t wait,” Ostin said. “I’ve been studying how to count cards. I’m going to bring down the house.” “You’re too young to gamble,” Jack said.

Ostin thought a moment, then said, “That’s okay. I’ll just tell some adult how to play.” * * *

We ate breakfast while others loaded our bags into the vans. We finished eating, then walked out front of the main house, where the cars were waiting. Pretty much everyone on the ranch came out to see us off. Peggy handed Ostin, McKenna, and me a piece of honeycomb from their previous day’s foraging. “The bees send their love,” she said.

My mother was pretty weepy, which didn’t surprise me, but it didn’t make things any easier. She held me for a long time. The truth was, I was feeling more sad than I let on. I wondered how she would handle it if I didn’t come back.

Still, my mother wasn’t as bad as Ostin’s mother, who, no surprise, was practically wailing. I think Ostin would have been super-embarrassed, except he was crying himself.

The others weren’t as bad. Zeus and Tessa showed no emotion whatsoever. It’s not that they had attachment disorder or anything. It’s just that, outside of the Electroclan, they lacked anyone to be attached to.

Taylor hadn’t come up for breakfast and only showed up with her parents a few minutes before we were to leave. Mrs. Ridley’s eyes were red and puffy, and Mr. Ridley looked sad but was walking for the first time even though he was leaning against a tall wooden walking stick.

Taylor climbed into the van I wasn’t in, which didn’t surprise me but still made me kind of mad. I wondered what was going through her head. I think it’s the first time I wished that I could have her power instead of mine.

Gervaso took roll call, then climbed into the passenger seat of the other van. “Adios!” he shouted out the window. The vans pulled out, kicking up gravel and dust as we left the ranch.

My mother blew me a kiss, then covered her eyes with her hands. I had to look away.