A World Without Heroes - Brandon Mull [63]
The old woman gave Jason the key to the trunk and told him he could stow his belongings there. Then she took Rachel next door. After the old woman finished, Jason entered Rachel’s room. She sat on her hammock, legs dangling, rocking gently.
“Do you think our hostess left us with the only keys to our trunks?” Rachel asked.
Jason frowned. “Good point.”
“Let’s never leave our belongings unattended.”
“Really? I was thinking we might hit the local cineplex, see what’s playing.”
Rachel folded her arms. “I know it isn’t your fault, but I didn’t like how I was treated in the tavern. People acted like I didn’t exist.”
“You did a good job rolling with it,” Jason said. “We have to blend in.”
“I know,” Rachel said. “But it makes it hard for me to help. I knew Kerny wanted to overcharge us. Didn’t you notice how the waitress went straight to him after you tipped her, and how extra friendly he became?”
“Sort of,” Jason said vaguely, embarrassed at having missed the signals. “I just thought it might be nice to have a roof over our heads. Who knows when we’ll get another chance to sleep indoors?”
Rachel scowled thoughtfully. “We were probably safer alone in the woods. Everyone seems too interested in us. Have you noticed the eyes on us since we walked into town?”
“Yes.”
“That weirdo Ned was the only person with the guts to say what everyone else was thinking. People don’t travel around here. We’ve drawn a lot of attention.”
Jason scratched his forehead. “Should we leave?”
“I don’t think so,” Rachel said. “If we take off before tomorrow, it will just make us look more suspicious. But we should be on guard.”
“I hear you,” Jason said. “We’ll lay low, stay in our rooms. Do you think they have HBO?”
“Only in the fitness center,” Rachel replied.
“I’m a little tired,” Jason said. “Might be a decent time to sneak a nap.”
“I think I have you figured out,” Rachel said. “When in doubt, sleep.”
“No fair,” Jason complained. “Aren’t you tired too? We’ve been hiking for days and staying up half the night on watch.”
“I’ve been too keyed up to sleep well since I got here,” Rachel said. “It might feel good to rest behind locked doors.”
“Okay, I’ll be in my room.”
“Just a second. Quick question. Do you think you’re the hero the Giddy Nine were trying to summon?”
Jason paused, pondering the story Tark had shared. It had been the music of the Giddy Nine that had caused him to topple into the hippo tank. Could he possibly be the hero they were hoping to call? After all, he had already begun a quest to destroy Maldor.
“If I was the hero they were looking for, those musicians were crazier than anyone ever realized.”
“It is quite a coincidence,” Rachel said softly. “Galloran seemed to think we were the people the oracle wanted.”
Jason shrugged. “Just in case, I’ll try not to die.”
“Probably smart.”
On returning to his room, Jason locked the flimsy door and tried out the hammock. Lying back comfortably, swaying gently, he closed his eyes. How could he be the hero they wanted? What had he ever done? Pitch a few shutouts? Get good grades? What about Rachel? The lady working with the Giddy Nine had apparently called her to Lyrian as well.
Could the fate of an entire world really depend on them? Did either of them stand a chance of succeeding? Galloran seemed to have faith in them. Could they possibly live up to his expectations?
The hammock was seductively comfortable. Content to rest for the moment, Jason let his worries melt away.
Somebody was knocking on the door. Jason realized he had dozed. He hadn’t slept long. It was still bright outside. Did Rachel need him? Or did his hostess have a question? The soft knock was repeated. He tipped clumsily out of the hammock and opened the door.
It was Ned. “Hi, blue eyes,” the tall man said, stepping