The Orchard of Hope by Amy Neftzger Read Free Book Online Page B

”
    “Yes, ” he answered. “ And I appear much taller to them
also. ”
    “But
they ’ re not
usually dangerous? ” Kelsey asked again for clarification. It seemed odd that
they could follow so closely and yet not attack. She wanted to be
prepared for any potential confrontations.
    “Not usually,
but they can get out of hand with their desire to be near me.
They ’ ve
occasionally trampled one another, but they ’ ve never been able to hurt me.
More often they ’ ve hurt themselves or one another. Often
they ’ re so
starstruck that they become timid around me. ”
    “What do we do? ”
    “Ignore them
for now. They usually go away if I don ’ t pay attention to
them. ”
    The more she
reasoned through the situation, the more Kelsey thought the group
appeared foolish, but she didn ’ t say anything. Roland had
experience with them, and she knew he was right about trying to
ignore them. She took one more look at the group of reapers,
catching a glance at a few of their faces and noticing that they
had darkened the area around their eyes with black makeup so that
they somewhat resembled raccoons. Their lips were also painted
black, and the effect made the white of their cheeks appear
bloodless. Kelsey thought they looked ridiculous and briefly
wondered why they had so much time to follow Death when they should
be focusing on living their lives. She decided it would be
pointless to try to understand them, so she turned away and back to
the task at hand.
    “They do seem
harmless for now, ” she said.
    “Speak for
yourself, ” Maggie replied. Kelsey had forgotten that Maggie
couldn ’ t hear
anything that Roland had said, so she took a moment to relay his
explanation and assurance that it was simply a group of misguided
admirers.
    “That ’ s
how they see your invisible friend? ” Maggie asked as she gestured
towards the group. Kelsey wanted to reply that at least they saw
Roland, but thought it better to leave that point
alone.
    “Yes. People
see Roland differently based on their perception. ”
    “Do you see him
the same way as those people down there ? ”
    “No. ”
    “What does he
look like? What do you see? ”
    “A fox. ”
    “A silver fox? ”
    “A red one.
He ’ s very
elegant looking with fine fur. ” Roland smiled as Kelsey described
him.
    “Does the king
see him as a fox, too? ” Maggie ’ s question startled Kelsey. She
had taken it for granted that the king saw Roland the same way that
she did, and it had never occurred to her to ask the king what
image he saw when he looked at Roland. Kelsey turned to Roland for
an answer.
    “Does he? ” she asked him. He nodded in
response. Kelsey turned to Maggie and responded to her
question. “ Yes,
the king sees him as a fox also. ”
    “And does he
walk on two legs or four? ”
    Kelsey was getting tired of the
questions. It seemed silly to be explaining what was standing right
in front of them, but she tried to remain patient. After all, she
was talking with Maggie as Roland had requested earlier. This was a
conversation.
    “He walks on
two legs, but he ’ s carrying a wooden staff that he sometimes brings on
journeys. He ’ s
about the same height as me and wearing a cloak, a hat with a
plume, and sunglasses. He always wears sunglasses when
he ’ s out in
public because a lot of people go crazy or freak out when they look
directly into the eyes of Death. I ’ ve seen them do
it. ”
    “But he
doesn ’ t bother
you, and you can look into his eyes without fear. ” Maggie spoke in a
reflective manner as she tried to
understand the traveling companion that she
couldn ’ t
see.
    “I ’ m a hunter and a soldier. Death
doesn ’ t scare me. ” Kelsey explained. “ Besides,
we ’ re
friends. ”
    Maggie turned to
look at an area to Kelsey ’ s right.
    “Mr. Roland, It ’ s very nice to meet
you. ” She spoke
loudly and slowly, as if to a deaf or mentally impaired individual.
Roland let out something that resembled a chuckle. It