Page 65 of Curse of the Wolf
“Or fancy hopping over some barbed wire,” Duncan said.
“That’s a tall fence tohop.”
The light we’d seen was inside the fenced compound, mounted on a cement wall visible beyond the gate.
“For those with our athletic aptitude,” Duncan said, “it shouldn’t be too difficult.”
I looked at him, and he raised a finger.
“Don’t mention fainting again,” he said. “It’s not going to happen.”
“That’s good because if you passed out with one leg over barbed wire, you might maim something important.”
“I’m glad you deem my body parts important, even the ones you haven’t had an opportunity to fully admire yet.”
“I’ve seen you naked a bunch of times.” I parked by the gate.
“That’s not the same as taking your time to lovingly admire something.Somebody parts need a close examination, ideally with an accompanying tactile experience.”
“For someone with a dire medical condition, you’ve had intimacy on your mind a lot.” After turning off the van, I handed him the keys.
“I’ve been lamenting that we never got a chance to engage in said intimacy.”
“I’ve lamented that too,” I admitted, smiling sadly at him.
“I suppose this wouldn’t be the place.”
“I doubt you can even…” I waved vaguely toward his lap. “In your condition.”
“Really, Luna. You’d be amazed at what I can do inanycondition.” Despite the words, he opened the door and stepped out. Maybe, even if he were able, he agreed that the driveway infront of the enemy’s compound wasn’t the appropriate place for intimate activities.
I joined him outside to peek through the gate.
Patches of snow dotted the ground, pine cones scattered in between, and a large cement-and-steel rectangle of a building rose up in the middle. It had no ground-floor windows, but rows of small glass squares lined what was likely the second story. Those windows hadn’t been designed to let one admire the mountain views. Rather, they were small enough to keep anyone from climbing through them. On one end of the building, a solid ground-floor door was made from metal with another keypad on the wall beside it. From our spot, we couldn’t see the other end.
Once before, Duncan had ripped a metal door off its hinges, but would he have the strength for that now?
A few floral scents wafted through the chill air, noticeable above the forest smells of pine, Douglas fir, and moss. There were other scents as well, but I struggled to identify them. Chemicals? Ingredients for potions? Who knew?
“It doesn’t look like anyone is home.” Duncan waved toward the grounds at the lack of automobiles visible. The way the building was built into the slope made it unlikely that any were parked behind it.
“You may not get any opportunities to prove yourself.”
“Alas.”
“Unless the medallion would be impressed by you flexing your great muscles and yanking that door open.”
“I have to imagine it would be, but I brought some grenades along, should my great muscles prove insufficient to the task.”
“Had time to shop at the military-surplus store, did you?”
“I believe we’ve both appreciated having a stockpile of explosives lately.”
“Is it a sign that my life has become strange that I’m quick to nod yes to that?”
“Verystrange.” Duncan opened the sliding door, climbed into his van, and grabbed a few items, tucking them into his pack.
I grabbed my own bag, then gripped the wrought-iron bars of the gate and tried to extend my senses toward the building, to tell if any magical items lay within. Yes, Ididsense magic but couldn’t tell if it was powerful enough to suggest artifacts. More likely, the building held numerous glowing mushrooms and other paranormal potion ingredients. Though I did get a sense of more magic underground. In a basement? The walls and ground were insulating and made it hard to tell what kind of magic might be down there.
