Ember Gods

Chapter 6

"Ow!" Matt said, tripping over a chair near Aldo's front door.

The inside of the place was dark and dingy. Jacob choked on a bunch of dust, waving it away from his face. He turned to the Makalo. "Who are you?"

"I'm Jaegar, Akeno's younger brother."

Jacob nodded. "Can you light up your finger like he can?"

"Of course—just not as bright. Akeno's has always been the brightest."

Blue light shone across the walls and sparse furnishings. Aldo wasn't there, so the group tip-toed into the adjoining room. The sound of snoring came from a lump in the bed, and the boys stood in the doorway, watching the old man sleep.

Jacob frowned. "Maybe we should check outside—figure out how much time we have before the army comes."

He returned to the front room, Jaegar following. They stepped to a window, and Jacob used his shirt to clear enough of the grime to see out. There wasn't anything or anyone visible.

"How did we find out the Dusts are coming, anyway?"

Jaegar shook his head. "Don't know."

Jacob looked at Jaegar. "Can you use a tree to see what living things are there?"

The Makalo nodded. "I'll go do that now."

Jacob and Matt watched from the porch as Jaegar dashed to a nearby fruit tree, touched the bark, then ran back.

"Three Molgs and a ton of Dusts. No Sindons. They're still far away, so we probably have ten minutes before they get here."

"We'll be long gone by then," Jacob said. He pointed to a dirty burlap bag on the table. "How about you grab whatever you think Aldo will want with him in the village while Matt and I go get him?"

Jaegar snatched the bag off the table, and Jacob and Matt stepped into the other room.

"Who's going to wake him up?" Jacob asked. "You?"

"No way, man," Matt whispered, not crossing the threshold. "You've met him before—you do it."

Jacob grimaced, then stepped to the bed and shook Aldo's shoulder. Nothing happened. He shook it again, a little more forcefully. Still no response.

"Uh . . . did he just die?" Matt asked from the doorway.

Jacob leaned over Aldo. "No, he's breathing. Maybe he's a heavy sleeper?"

"Amberly's a heavy sleeper, but she still wakes up when you shake her."

"I know. Okay, you try."

Matt joined Jacob and grabbed Aldo's left arm, trying to pull him out of bed. Aldo grumbled something, jerking away from Matt, and curling up in a tight ball. He kept snoring loudly.

"This is ridiculous," Matt said.

"Aldo!" Jacob said loudly.

The man didn't do anything.

Jacob raised his voice to a yell. "There's an army coming to your cabin! You need to wake up!"

Aldo mumbled in his sleep and turned over.

Jacob and Matt met eyes. "What About Bob style?" Matt asked, referring to the movie.

Jacob nodded. He put his knee on the edge of the bed, using his other leg for support, and grabbed the bed frame while Matt put his hands on Aldo's shoulder. On the count of three, they began yelling Aldo's name while shaking him and his bed.