Gatefather Read Online Free Page B

Gatefather
Book: Gatefather Read Online Free
Author: Orson Scott Card
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moral values on Danny. He’s trying to overcome it, but he was raised in one of the Families, and to them, stealing from drowthers isn’t really stealing. It’s like snacking.”
    â€œAh,” said Xena. Snacking she understood.
    â€œSo Danny’s living in hell right now,” said Hal, “and we can’t do anything at all to help him. We just have to pretend that everything’s normal? Doesn’t sound very loyal to me.”
    â€œJust until I can talk it over with the others,” said Stone.
    â€œWhat others?” demanded Pat.
    â€œThe others,” said Stone. “Marion and Leslie. Veevee.”
    Pat waited.
    â€œOh, I see,” said Stone. “No, not Hermia. That treacherous little … not her. And not Danny’s family. The last thing we want anyone to know is that Danny’s under somebody else’s control. Half the Families would try to kill him, and the other half would try to bargain with the Belgod to get some kind of advantage.”
    â€œEven Danny’s own family?” asked Laurette mournfully.
    â€œIt’s about power,” said Stone. “Most people respond to power by trying to control it, to get the use of it. And if they can’t own it, then they try to destroy it.”
    â€œThe more you say about how bad the Families are,” said Hal, “the more they sound like normal humans.”
    Stone chuckled at that, but didn’t dispute the point. “I take it you can use your own amulets to get back home?”
    â€œTo our meeting place, anyway,” said Hal.
    â€œThen you should get back there before your families miss you. And just in case it occurs to one of you to try to save Danny by inviting the Belmage to jump into you, don’t even try. Because he wouldn’t come into you himself, he’d just have one of his followers take you over.”
    â€œBut we could resist one of those ,” said Wheeler.
    â€œDanny could,” said Stone.
    â€œAnd you think we’re all weak?” asked Wheeler.
    â€œPlease don’t take this as a challenge,” said Stone. “Being possessed by the devil isn’t a recreational drug. It’s losing everything .”
    â€œIt’s like being murdered,” said Hal, “only you have to stay and watch.”
    â€œExactly,” said Stone. “And yes, kid,” he said to Wheeler. “I think you’re weak. Because you are weak. Danny seems to be fighting this thing—and even he is barely holding on. There’s not a chance in hell that any of you are even close to being as strong as Danny is. Get it?”
    â€œGot it,” said Wheeler.
    â€œGo,” said Stone.
    â€œYou’re supposed to say ‘Good,’” said Wheeler.
    â€œThis isn’t The Court Jester ,” said Stone. “Go.”
    They all took out their amulets and gated away. Except Pat.
    â€œPlease tell me what you find out,” she said to Stone. “Please don’t cut us out of this just because we’re drowthers.”
    â€œGive me your phone number,” said Stone. “Danny can sense whenever you come here like this, but he can’t tell if I text you or call.”
    She wrote it down.
    â€œBut you’re the only one I’m telling,” said Stone.
    â€œYou can trust Hal to keep his mouth shut,” said Pat.
    â€œThink a little harder,” said Stone.
    She did.
    â€œOh,” she said. “I’m not a drowther.”
    â€œGoodbye, windmage,” said Stone. “Thank you for telling me. I think you’ve done everything right.”
    â€œWe don’t even know what ‘right’ is,” said Pat.
    â€œBut you didn’t keep it to yourself in order to avoid being embarrassed if you were wrong,” said Stone. “You didn’t try to fix it or talk to Danny about it directly. A lot of really wrong things that you didn’t do.”
    â€œYeah, I guess

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