Dead Set by Richard Kadrey Page A

following his instructions. She already felt calmer, and in a couple of minutes the breathing slowed her heartbeat and she was no longer gulping air. When she could talk again, she said, “Where did they all come from?”
    Valentine shrugged. “From the mountains, I think. Did you bring the carnival?”
    Zoe looked over her shoulder at the bright inviting lights on the rides. “I guess so,” she said. “I was just at a park like that. I must have dreamed the rides here.”
    â€œYou went to an amusement park?”
    Zoe nodded. “Yeah. Dad was there.”
    Valentine looked at her for a moment, like he was carefully considering his words. It wasn’t the reaction Zoe had been expecting. “You saw Father? Where?”
    â€œThis crazy town called Iphigene. That’s what I wanted to tell you tonight, but the snakes spooked me.”
    â€œDon’t worry about them. They’re scary, but not poisonous.”
    â€œThat doesn’t help much,” said Zoe, embarrassed at how small her voice sounded.
    Valentine pulled her to her feet, grabbed a handful of almonds that had fallen from the tree, and dropped them over the sides. The snakes ignored them. He leaned over the railing, hawked up something in his throat, and spit over the edge. There was no reaction from below. The snakes were too busy striking at swarms of fireflies that swirled out of the nearby grove.
    â€œSee?” Valentine said. “They’re not too bright.”
    Zoe remained unconvinced, but nodded at Valentine.
    â€œTell me about Iphigene,” he said. He tried to make the request sound spontaneous, but Zoe could hear tension in his voice. “How do you even know about the place?”
    â€œI told you. I was there. It’s where the dead go and wait before they go on to wherever.”
    â€œHow did you get there?”
    â€œBy bus!” Zoe said, laughing, happy to reveal the craziest part of her trip. But Valentine didn’t smile back. He looked concerned.
    â€œEmmett sent me,” Zoe said. “With this old machine. An Animagraph.”
    Valentine kicked a few more almonds down onto the snakes. “Did Emmett ask you for anything?”
    She didn’t say anything. She didn’t want to be yelled at twice in one night, and she especially didn’t want to be yelled at by Valentine. Why couldn’t someone just be happy for her?
    â€œYou said before that he didn’t ask for anything, but I don’t know if you were telling me the truth. People like Emmett, they always ask for something.”
    â€œHow do you know?”
    â€œI see a lot up here.” Valentine nodded to the telescope propped against the tree.
    Zoe looked out at the spinning carousel. “I gave him a tooth.”
    Valentine whirled around. “You gave him one of your teeth?” Valentine said, fear or anger edging into his voice.
    â€œNo!” said Zoe. “I gave him a tooth. Not my tooth.” It felt like everyone was after her tonight.
    Very quietly, Valentine said, “What do you think he wanted with one of your teeth?”
    â€œI don’t know. He’s a lonely old weirdo who bribes girls for souvenirs. He probably beats off to them when he goes home.”
    â€œI wouldn’t be so worried if that’s all it was.”
    â€œWhat do you mean?”
    â€œI mean there’s only one reason someone like Emmett would want a tooth from someone like you. That’s to gain power over you.”
    â€œWhat kind of power?”
    â€œI don’t know exactly,” said Valentine. He crossed his arms and frowned. “The point is that anyone who asks you for something like that isn’t your friend. Emmett is dangerous and he wants a lot more from you than a tooth.”
    â€œBut he sent me to see Dad. He’s going to let me take Dad’s spirit home tomorrow.”
    â€œAnd what does he want for that?”
    Zoe bit the inside of her cheek.