Emily The Strange_ The Lost Days Part 28

ROUND 3: 3:.

My hand and Attikol's tied. We went into a challenge round. Being on the losing team, I got to a.s.sign the challenge. Attikol picked Embarra.s.sing Truth, and I asked him, "Isn't it true that you once wore women's under-pants on your head when no other hat was available?" He said no, but you could hardly hear him over the raucous laughter. Citing the 1886 Convention on Audience Laughter, Schneider ruled that I had led the hand, and I chose to stipulate: If we won, I would get to join the caravan. Clearly this came out of left field for Attikol, but he made a face like "Kids-who can understand them?" and we carried on.

ROUND 4: 4:.

Curls' hand led. He chose to take the pot of money. Attikol was obviously annoyed.

ROUND 5: 5:.

My hand led. I chose to stipulate: If we lost, I would get to join the caravan. Head-scratching all around. Attikol shrugged and said, "OK, kid, guess you've got your bases covered."

ROUND 6: 6:.

Raven's hand led. She chose to stipulate: If Attikol's side won, she and I would both join the caravan, and Attikol would win her heart-but they must never return to Blackrock again, because it would remind her too much of her pathetic existence before Attikol. Big smiles from Attikol.

ROUND 7: 7:.

Raven's hand led. She chose to stipulate: Due to her tender feelings for Attikol, if he failed her second challenge, she would lose so much respect for him that she must insist that he never return to Blackrock. Attikol put on a n.o.ble-concerned face, but I felt he was getting a little anxious. And we were now up by one hand.

ROUND 8: 8:.

Very close round, but Attikol managed to lead it, finally convincing Schneider that, considering our position in the lunar cycle, Rule 456.2.9 took clear precedence over Rule J78.43. He chose to request a 30-minute intermission for coffee. Schneider approved it. We took a break.

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Later Am worried at the way things are headed. Very worried.

"Keep an ear on Attikol," I whispered to Raven as she went behind the counter to make espresso. Attikol, meanwhile, seemed to be idly chatting with his crew, but in a minute or two I saw one of them, a tall guy in a vintage fedora, casually slip out the door.

I hunkered down next to Raven's stool and whispered to her.

ME:.

Raven, please tell me your ears are bionic.

Raven: .

My ears are bionic.

ME:.

I hope you're not just saying that. Did you hear what Attikol said to Vintage Fedora Guy?

R:.

He said, "Get Jakey."

SWEARWORD!! I had to intercept Vintage Fedora Guy somehow.

Yes. Somehow.

I stood up. umlaut was on the other side of the counter, waiting for his cappuccino and looking glum.

I was desperate.

ME:.

Hey, umlaut. How'd you like to do me a very small favor? I'll, uh, put in a good word for you with Raven.

uMLAUT: .

Want me to cheat or something? Tell you Attikol's cards? Not going to happen.

ME:.

Nothing like that. Just go keep that tall guy, the one in the vintage fedora, away from Jakey's trailer.

u: .

What's this all about?

ME:.

Oh...I...[Nuggets! Could not think of anything.] I...uh, this is kind of awkward...

u: .

Spit it out, kid.

[Frantically I thought, "What would Molly do?" And then I knew.]

ME:.

I just don't want Jakey to know...that...[Taking a deep breath. Feeling unspeakably dirty.] I have feelings for Curls. Because Jakey...cares about me, and...you know, he's so young, and so sensitive...I want to tell him myself...I don't want him to have to see it in someone else's mind. I know YOU understand. Right?

[Right. An extremely sappy look came over umlaut's face.]

u: .

Yeah, kid, I know. Love...hurts. It hurts! Look, don't worry about a thing. I'll take care of it.

And he hustled out without his cappuccino.

Fingers crossed (story of my life as I know it), I went back to the gaming table, trying to console myself that I hadn't exactly LIED. I mean, I DO have feelings for Curls. Feelings of annoyance and irritation, mainly, spiked with occasional pangs of pity.

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Later Coffee break has just ended. No sign of Jakey, umlaut, or Vintage Fedora Guy. Our game commenced.

ROUND 9: 9:.