Shadow Wrack Read Online Free

wondering,” she said gently.
    â€œNo, no! I know this! Why can’t I remember?” His voice was agitated, and he looked away.
    Poor Horace, thought Willa.
    During the “troubles,” the Horace she knew had disappeared, gone with his memory into some black hole in his brain while his body continued to wander aimlessly about. He didn’t seem to know who he was or what was going on around him. Willa didn’t know much about diseases of the mind — dementia, was it called? She had no idea if it was reversible, but in Horace’s case, after the battle he’d suddenly snapped out of it and was himself again. Mostly. He still had these little memory lapses over insignificant things. It was all very normal, but it upset him terribly.
    They were interrupted just then by some old-timers heading their way in single file, white-haired gentlemen and ladies in a flush of khaki and hiking boots, walking sticks and binoculars in hand. Birders. These were Horace’s new friends, a gaggle of seniors who shared his avian obsession. Willa smiled, bade Horace a quick goodbye, and started down the path to town. She didn’t want to get trapped in an endless discussion about how to tell one little brown bird apart from another little brown bird.
    She was glad that Horace was mingling with real people, though — real, mortal humans. Maybe that was the secret to his regained grasp on reality. At any rate, she was glad she didn’t have to worry about him.
    â€œHello, Willa,” said a familiar voice.
    Willa jumped. It was Mr. Hacker, nosy next-door -neighbour extraordinaire, with his wife right behind him. Willa wasn’t used to seeing them smiling. They were more often than not scowling over the fence at her. Willa smiled, said hello, and hurried on. They’re in this group too? The two people we most want to steer clear of? She’d probably have to check in on the birders from time to time now, just to make sure the Hackers weren’t prying. What would they do if they ever saw Horace the androsphinx magically transforming into a lion? Willa sighed. Another item added to the things-to - worry-about list.

    Work began at the house. Overnight the dwarves banged together a high plywood fence around the lot to block the view from the street … and from the Hackers, who were in a state of apoplexy.
    â€œIt’s an eyesore!” burbled Mrs. Hacker.
    â€œBrings down the tone of the whole neighbourhood,” harrumphed Mr. Hacker.
    Willa had Horace talk to them. He applied some smooth talk about high-priced architects and how posh the new house would look. The fence was only temporary, of course, a necessary evil of construction. One must keep small children from wandering in and falling into holes.
    Horace did such a job on Mr. Hacker that even when the fence was covered in graffiti, he shrugged it off with a lack of concern that left his wife speechless. For a day, anyway. Then she focused her laser beam eye of disapproval on the workers.
    â€œI never see them arrive. I never see them leave. It’s all very mysterious!” she announced to Willa on the street.
    â€œThey work long hours. And there’s, um, lodging on the site. In the stable.”
    Mrs. Hacker’s eyebrows shot up so fast, Willa thought they might pop right off her head.
    â€œLodging in the stable? That can’t be up to code for a dwelling, even a temporary one.”
    â€œWe couldn’t find anywhere else that suited them,” said Willa with a sly smile. “Unless you’d like to offer them your guest room? There are only nine of them.”
    That got Mrs. Hacker spluttering and twitching. “Well, they’d better have all the proper work permits from city hall!” she barked and retreated into the house, slamming the front door behind her.
    The idea of permits filled Willa with anxiety, but the dwarves overcame it immediately. Barely five minutes after she mentioned it