The
wall of trees turned out to be only a few trees thick, immediately giving way
to a clearing. Headlights came on as soon as the Jeep's headlights touched the
panel truck that had been George's latest passion for the last two months. She
parked lined up with the front end of the truck, creating a pool of strong
light. Vincent climbed out of the driver's side. Jennifer slid out of the Jeep
and Puck let out a happy yelp and nearly pushed her out of the way as he
scrambled out of the driver's seat behind her. He dashed off into the woods,
heading for the Taco Bell.
"Power
of suggestion," Vincent said, gesturing at the fast food shop with a jerk
of his chin.
George
stepped out from the back of the truck, rubbing his hands, hunched over and
cast into enough shadow that Jennifer saw him for a moment in the classic mad
scientist pose. Especially with his stringy hair and slightly misshapen head.
Fortunately, he wasn't wearing a white lab coat. The battered old man gave a
hop-skip as he held out both hands, approaching her. She couldn't help
laughing, the macabre impression fading. This was the George they all knew and
loved, eager to play with a new gizmo and learn how it worked. She stepped back
to her Jeep, took the silver box from the compartment in the console, and
carefully handed it over. George went immediately still, just holding it flat
across both palms and studying it, his head tipped to one side.
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