I smiled. If he could make wisecracks, I figured he was all right. Then I remembered that Kerry Harker didn’t joke.
“I didn’t mean to make it sound likeIharrowed Hell.” I felt I owed him an apology for that. “I didn’t want his attention drawn to you anymore than it already was, so I wasn’t going to point out that it was reallyyouwho—”
“Doesn’t matter.” He ground the heel of one hand into his chest. “Sonof awhore, that hurts!”
“I doubt there’s anything I can do.” I shoved a hand through my hair. “I wish I could, and I wish I knew a way to free you of the taint. Did you know that the others have been researching it? Chance said Chessie told him that they’ve been looking into absolution and Sin Eaters, and he had to explain to her why neither of those would work.”
“She’s a fool. They all are.” He shifted a little and a grimace twisted his face.
“They care about you,” I corrected, “enough to want to help you with something other nephs find revolting. You should treasure that. But, yes, they don’t understand possession taint is almost impossible to dissolve. I figure only a blessing will do it.”
“No archangel is ever gonna blessme.”
“You may be surprised one day. I know the taint blinds you to it, but your strength comes from an indomitable will. Not everyone has that within them, Kerry, and to find it in someone who had been possessed? That’s an amazing thing.”
He lay there, still and silent with his eyes closed, and worry bit me harder. Had the malakim done more harm than stir up the taint that the peris had already disturbed?
“Rome?” he muttered at last.
“Yeah?”
“I ain’t dying.” His eyes opened and met mine. “So stop the sentimental crap and help me up. We need to find out what’s going on and where the others are.”
Grinning, I held out my hand.
“Well, it looks like you boys survived just fine.”
48. A Delicate Situation
Rome
“Mr. Snyder?!” From Kerry’s tone, I guessed he found this as surreal as I did. “What are you doing here?”
“Wanted to check on you. The divs are attacking everywhere.”
The old man shuffled into the room. His light brown eyes darted around as he took in the damage.
“How’d you get out of the Sanctuary during a lockdown?” I asked.
“I wasn’t in it, but that’s a story for later.” Mr. Snyder stuck his hands in his pockets. “Well, come on. Grab your gear. I want to get you somewhere safe.”
“I ain’t going back to the Sanctuary and you can’t make me!” Kerry snarled.
“I’m not planning to go back myself. At least, not anytime soon.” Mr. Snyder shrugged. “Best we get moving. Quick as you can.”
“How do we know we can trust you? If it was just me and Rome, it wouldn’t be an issue, but we have others with us. People who are vulnerable.”
“Hank and Gina told me you were here. You trust them, right? Call the outpost and have an Examiner sent here if you want, or have your friend John Morgen meet us somewhere. He can tell if I’m lying.”
Kerry and I looked at each other. I knew what he was thinking. We were out of options for safe places, and wecouldask Josef for an Examiner or send for John. If it was a ploy to deceive us, it wasn’t a good one.
The next thing I knew, Kerry flicked his eyes on and was looking the man over.
Smart move. Even if it isn’t as effective as a messenger’s skill, he can probably pick up at least a general sense if something’s wrong.
“Well, I don’t see anything dark like I did when Travis was enthralled, and I don’t smell anything, either.” He blinked his eyes off and stared at Mr. Snyder for several tense moments. “All right. We’ll trust you for now, but if you betray us, I will kill you and take my time doing it.”
Kerry laced his voice with a little power, which made my heart stutter and it wasn’t even directed at me. Mr. Snyder looked like he might have a stroke.
