The Leveller - Julia Durango Page 0,57

I train my sites on his legs.

As I pull the trigger, Wyn shoots up from the hammock, remote still in hand, and launches himself at Rico.

“No!” I yell, but it’s too late to stop my gun. It fires straight at them as they fall to the floor, locked together like wrestlers.

“Fy fæn,” I mutter, trying to make out the jumble of limbs on the platform. Which one did I shoot?

“Rappelling gun!” I shout, then use it to Tarzan my way over to them.

As I swing onto the platform, Rico Suave gets to his knees.

Oh God.

That means . . .

Wyn lies on the floor, one hand pressed to his heart.

“Wyn!” I yell, but he’s raising the remote at Rico. He doesn’t see me.

“Attack,” he cries, pressing a button, then slumps lifeless to the floor.

A huge screech vibrates from the trees. Rico and I both look up as a horde of monkeys starts skittering across the treetops toward us.

Rico doesn’t waste any time. In an impressive feat of gymnastics he hurtles himself back down the ladders. I take one glance at Wyn, but I know there’s nothing I can do for him right now. I have to catch Rico.

We race back down the main trail, only this time Rico’s the prey instead of Wyn. The monkeys and I chase after him, thrashing through the trees and brush. Several times I raise my laser gun and pull the trigger, but Rico is too fast, too evasive, for me to land a shot.

Rico Suave’s got skills.

When we emerge at the beach, the monkeys and I are still several paces behind him.

Rico picks up a last-minute burst of speed and heads for the water.

I can’t let him get there.

I tear off my goggles, throw down my gun, and take a flying leap. I grab for him, wrapping both hands around his ankle.

We fall to the ground.

Only we hit water.

No.

The darkness swallows me.

Not this. Not this again.

Rico struggles inside my grip, thrashing his leg to release my hold.

Don’t you dare let go, I order myself.

But I am seized with terror.

The darkness consumes me.

I can’t do it.

I can’t.

I let go of Rico’s leg and scramble to the surface.

UNCORRECTED E-PROOF—NOT FOR SALE

HarperCollins Publishers

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“I CAN’T BELIEVE I KILLED YOU,” I SAY AGAIN, RAKING MY FINGERS through my hair. “And then I let that rasshøl get away.” I am furious with myself.

We are back at the treehouse, but Wyn has made it morning, the sun big and bright on the horizon. After Wyn regenerated and came back to life, he wasted no time securing our defenses. First he directed our monkey friends to form a lookout around the island. Then he ordered Larry to swim the perimeter and guard us with his hoary tentacles.

Since then, we’d been filling each other in on the evening’s events.

“I keep telling you, it’s not your fault,” Wyn says from the hammock.

I shake my head. I don’t argue with him anymore, but it is my fault. No doubt about it.

Wyn almost had the guy last night, before I screwed things up. He’d noticed Rico spying on him while he was swimming. So he’d come up with a plan to lure him to the treehouse and trap him with the help of our monkey friends. All while I was safely sleeping.

Only instead of sleeping, I was sabotaging his efforts. Unintentionally, of course, but still . . . I shot him in the heart.

Brilliant.

And after all that, I didn’t even have the guts to hang on to Rico when I had him.

I pull on my hair. I haven’t helped Wyn at all. I’ve only hurt him.

I am the worst leveller ever.

I glance up at the hammock and watch Wyn drift back to sleep. He still hasn’t regained his full strength yet, and he is tired.

I’m tired, too, but there’s no way I’m going back to sleep. Last evening’s nightmare is too fresh in my mind, that familiar, whispery voice summoning me.

Nixy!

I shiver, remembering the breath on my neck.

Who was it? Who was calling me?

I hear it again.

Nixy!

All of a sudden, I know.

I know who it is.

It’s me. It’s my voice.

And I know what I need to do.

I have to swallow my fear.

I have to look under the bed.

For real this time.

“Are you sure you want to do this?” Wyn says, taking my hand.

I nod slowly as his brown eyes lock onto mine. “I’m sure.”

He squeezes my hand. “There’s nothing to be afraid of, I promise.”

I swallow and close my eyes. I’m not sure I’m ready for this,