“That’s because you don’t see what’s happening underneath,” she said. “There’s a whole world of critters eating other critters just below us, not making hardly a ripple. You call that beautiful?”

“Yeah,” I said. “I think I do.”

“Suit yourself,” Tally said.

My stomach growled something awful. I realized I hadn’t eaten since Granddad’s stew.

“Think we can stop and find some food?” I said.

“Not on your life.”

“Why not?”

“Lest you forget, we’re on the run.”

That made me pretty glum, if you want to know the truth about it. I didn’t want Tally to know that, so I tried to be brave about it.

“Naw, you’re right,” I said. “We got to keep going if we’re gonna find Pop in time. The sooner we find Pop the sooner we can get back to our house on the river and everything will be fine and good again. Once I tell him I been hexed, he’ll go straightaway and fix that. And I’m sure he’ll know how to find a cure for you no problem. You’re gonna love Pop. Everybody does.”

“I’m sure I will,” she said. Tally spat into the water. “I’m sure I’ll be durn glad to meet him.”

“What are you so sore about?” I said.

“Well, if you want me to be honest,” she said.

“Oh, I do.”

“A’ight then, I’ll tell you. One, I’m hungry and we’re floating down the durn swamp through goblin territory and I don’t know what else, all to try and find your daddy who’s probably locked up in Boss Authority’s jail by now. Two, you burned the hair off Granddad’s back and he’s mad enough to kill you and me both about it. Third, you’re so excited to see your pop, but guess what? I don’t even know my daddy. Not my mom either. They ditched me when I was a kid, on account of how I got the spider-blood in me, same as my granddad. My mom didn’t inherit it, because she’s beautiful and lucky and all them other things. But me? I got stuck with it. And they sent me to live with ornery old Granddad and I been robbing and stealing for him ever since. All because of this stupid spider-blood. It ain’t even my fault.”

“Can I be honest with you real quick?” I said. “I think you being spider-folk is amazing.”

“Amazing how?”

“I mean, you healed me didn’t you? And the way you looked last night? All battle ready and tough? My lord, who would ever want to mess with me when I got you around. And you’re the best pickpocket I ever seen, no question about that. You’re the fastest, smartest kid I ever met in my life.” I was scared to say the next part, but I figured I would go ahead and try it anyway. “And you’re my friend, ain’t you?”

Tally nodded.

“I never really had one of those before. My bad-luck blood always made me ruin it somehow. Like this one kid, Freddie George Persons, who lived down the street from me? He was outside bopping a sheep’s bladder around pretty good. I never much cared for sheep’s bladders, but he was having fun, and I wasn’t more than seven years old. So I figure maybe I can run out and play with him too.