Noah said . . .â
âMy mom said that compound moles were brainwashed, but I didnât think you were that stupid. Donât you go to some kind of fancy school?â
âYou really donât live in a compound?â I repeated. My mind whirled with all of the possibilities.
The boy sighed in exasperation. âI take back what I said about you being quick. I think I passedjudgment too soon. No, thereâs no compound around here. I would no more live underground than kiss Big Ugly over there.â He grinned and nodded toward the meadow, where the T. rex was still visible in the distance. Shawn bristled beside me.
âWho are you, anyway?â Shawn asked as he tucked the fragments of his useless gun into his pack.
âIâm Todd.â He held out his hand to Shawn, but Shawn just glared and made no move to shake it. Iâd never seen someone our age shake hands before. Iâd thought that form of greeting was reserved for compound officials and old men. I was apparently wrong about a lot of things. Todd shrugged and offered his hand to me. I shook it hesitantly. He was tall, with a stretched-out look like heâd grown a foot overnight. Despite his gangly appearance, he moved in a fluid, graceful way that I envied. His bright green eyes were set over a long nose that looked like itâd been broken on more than one occasion.
I heard a familiar chatter and watched in amazement as Herman trotted out of the trees and right up to Todd. The little creature sat back on its haunches, buzzing and chirping in its birdlike way. Todd chuckled and pulled a small strip of meat from a leather pouch on his belt, flipping it to the creature. Herman caught itmidair, making happy little clucks.
âYou know Herman?â I asked.
âHerman?â he snorted. âThis is Verde, and she knows me very well. I raised her from an egg.â
âThat thing almost got us killed,â Shawn fumed. He took a threatening step toward the creature, and I grabbed his arm to stop him. Todd yanked a large bow off his back and had an arrow on the string and pointed at Shawn almost instantaneously.
âTake another step. I dare you,â Todd growled. âVerde saved your life, although now Iâm thinking that wasnât one of her brighter moves.â
âSaved our lives?â I asked as I warily eyeballed the massive bow in Toddâs hand. How had I not noticed that thing? It was huge. It appeared to be made of a single carved bone, a dinosaur rib, maybe? Although it seemed more flexible than normal bone. The arrowhead was the size of my palm. I wondered if it could pierce dinosaur hide.
âI was on lookout and saw that stupid stunt you two pulled. Donât you know that you never, and I mean never, run through an open field? Lucky for you, I was feeling particularly charitable and sent Verde out to distract Big Ugly over there.â I glanced back toward the T. rex and shuddered.
âThank you, Verde,â I murmured. Verde peeked around Toddâs legs warily, her small beaklike nose sniffing in my direction.
Todd lowered his bow and glared at Shawn. âUnless you want some ventilation holes poked in your sorry hide, I wouldnât hurt her . . .â He stopped, cocking a questioning eyebrow at Shawn.
âShawn Reilly,â I filled in for him.
âDonât tell him anything about us,â Shawn said, frowning.
Todd slid the bow back onto his back. âActually, I would be delighted to hear what two compound moles are doing bumbling around my forest.â
âIt isnât your forest,â Shawn said.
âIf youâre not from a compound, then where are you from?â I asked, a protective hand over my compass.
âWhy should I tell you? How do I know you arenât one of that Noah guyâs lackeys?â
I laughed. I couldnât help myself. The idea was too absurd. âBecause the Noah doesnât hire twelve-year-olds to be
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