Amnesia Moon Read Online Free PDF

suppress his curiosity. He walked up to the back of Kellogg’s car Kellogg spread his hands like a game-show host brandishing prizes. The trunk was stuffed with blankets, tools, flashlights, jugs of water, cans of food, and a spare can of gasoline. Some of the cans were dog food, but it was still impressive.
    Kellogg stepped aside and let Chaos examine it. “What-cha think? If you gotta go, why not do it in style? You and me, kid. The Babe and the Iron Man. Bud and Lou—”
    Chaos grabbed a can of corned beef hash from the trunk and looked for an opener.
    He found a tire iron instead. Moving with a sudden predatory ease, he set the can back down in the trunk and tightened his grip around the iron.
    â€œToo hungry to think? Go ahead, chow down. We’ll break bread together—”
    Chaos swung the iron in a wide backhand, and it bounced quietly and thickly off the side of Kellogg’s skull. Kellogg stumbled away from the car, his hand rising to his temple. “Oh, oh shit. What, what’re you doin’, sport? Geez, that hurt. Oh man, I think I’m dizzy . . .”
    Chaos swung the iron again, but Kellogg put his arm in the way. Chaos felt the jolt of the impact in his hand. Sickened, he tossed the iron aside, took the keys out of the trunk lock, and closed the trunk.
    Kellogg sank to his knees in the sand. “Chaos, you broke my arm. I cannot believe what you’re doing here, at this juncture, it simply defies any
rational
. . .”
    Chaos got into the driver’s seat and started Kellogg’s car. The engine drowned out the fat man’s voice. Chaos patted his pocket, made sure his own keys were still there so Kellogg couldn’t take his car and follow. Then he drove back into town.
    The Little Americans were sitting on the steps of City Hall, eating food from cans, talking excitedly. Dozens of them, more than had been out at the fire. Edge was sitting with his arm around Melinda Self. Someone was tapping out a rhythm on the steps, and someone else was singing.
    Chaos heard them murmuring his name as he drove up. He stopped in the middle of the street, but kept the motor running and stayed in the car.
    â€œHey, Chaos,” yelled Edge. “Why you in Kellogg’s car?”
    â€œHe sent me,” said Chaos. “To get the girl.”
    â€œIn his car?”
    â€œHe wanted her to travel in style, he said. My car wasn’t good enough. Uh, you want to bring her down here now? Turns out she’s more important than we thought.”
    â€œI don’t get it. Where’s Kellogg?”
    â€œHe’s waiting for us. So let’s go. He wants to see you right away. And the girl. So bring her down here, okay?”
    â€œWhy?”
    â€œShe’s, uh, a seal person. The first of the new breed Kellogg was talking about. Amphibious, you know that word. Edge? Fit for water or land. Kellogg doesn’t want to get her people mad at us or anything, so don’t fuck this up. He said it was very important that we, uh, stay on the good side of the seal people.”
    Edge hurried down the steps, very excited, with Melinda Self in tow. “I
told
you. Chaos, didn’t I? Kellogg’s got something going this time, a whatchamacallit, a whole new
paradigm.
I
told
you.”
    The Little Americans began drifting down off the steps and towards the car, to follow the conversation.
    â€œJust come around here,” said Chaos tensely. He reached over and opened the passenger door.
    â€œCan I go with you?” said Edge. “I’ve never been in Kellogg’s car.”
    â€œI don’t know, Edge. Kellogg didn’t say anything about it. You better take your own car.”
    â€œYeah, yeah, okay, okay.”
    â€œBesides, he wants you to round up some more cans. Clean out the stash, those were his exact words. Get these folks to help you, Edge. Then drive on out to the reservoir. Me and Kellogg will be waiting for