The Suicide Forest (The River Book 5) Read Online Free PDF

really didn’t want any, but he knew better than to refuse her.
    “The next step will involve a token,” she said, passing a cup
to Steven. “The token will keep whatever is in the house busy with something
else whenever you’re there, so you’ll be able to talk to this woman without
fear of her being hurt because of your presence. You’ll send the token to her in
a package with a note, explaining that she must keep the token pressed between
her palms, like this – ” Judith demonstrated by holding her hands together,
palms pressed tight – “whenever you are there working with her in the house.
That is how she’ll stay safe, and it’ll allow you to keep researching. You won’t
be able to go back until she’s received it and is ready to use it. For god’s
sake don’t deliver it yourself. Mail it, or have UPS deliver it, something like
that. Instruct her to call you when she’s received it and understands how to
use it.”
    “Alright,” Steven said. “What is the token?”
    “We’re going to make one,” she said, “specially for this
situation. Roy, there’s a drawer in the bureau over there. Inside is a small
tin that has several coins in it, would you bring it over to me?”
    Roy rose, set down his tea, and walked over to the bureau,
rummaging through the drawer she mentioned. He returned with a small mint tin,
which he gave to her.
    “Thank you,” she said, opening the tin and removing a 50 peso
coin. “I had these consecrated years ago. You have to use something that is
small, so it can be held easily. I used to use American quarters, but I found
people kept accidentally mixing them in with their normal change, so I switched
to foreign coins. They’re still the right size, but they stand out and don’t get
lost. You see, more of my experience for you to benefit from!” She smiled
weakly at Steven, handing the coin to him. “Place it in your palm, and jump
into the flow, please,” she said.
    Steven slipped into the River and found Judith waiting for
him. She reached out and held his hand, and Steven felt the coin begin to heat
up. His instinct was to drop the coin, but he looked at her, and her facial
expression told him to keep holding on. After a moment, it began to cool. She
left the River, and he followed.
    “It’ll protect her now, from you,” Judith said from her
daybed, grabbing another tiny sandwich with the tongs.
    “What about Roy?” Steven asked.
    “Roy doesn’t threaten them,” Judith said. “You do.”
    “Me?” Steven said. Roy seemed surprised as well.
    “Yes,” she said. “You. Whatever these beings are, you scare
them. You haven’t got a clue how to deal with them, so scaring them does you
little good other than to make them angry. To drive you away, they’ve
threatened something that’s important to you. That’s what they normally do in
situations like this. You must take the threat seriously. Your client must be
vigilant with the token whenever you’re around. Make sure she understands.”
    “Why me?” Steven said. “Roy has had the gift longer than me.
I can’t even trance, not really.”
    “Everyone’s different,” she said. “Some people have stronger
abilities than others, in certain areas. You scare these beings. The token I
gave you will protect everyone in her house from you, if she uses it
correctly.”
    “But it won’t protect her from whatever these things are?
Whatever they’re doing there, aside from us?” Steven asked.
    “No,” Judith said, taking a sip of tea. “it won’t. And
there’s little we can do about that just yet, because we don’t know what they
are. The token will make it possible for you to be there, in the house, without
scaring them so badly they want to kill anyone. With them distracted, you’ll be
able to figure out what they are. That will be the second step. Roy, another
favor please. On the shelf over there, third shelf down. Looks like a little
lantern? Would you bring it to me?”
    Roy once again set