I help Chase sit on a nearby rock, and then move toward the copse of trees to search for the culprit. Askal follows me, still visibly agitated.

“It might get you!” Chase yells, but I ignore him.

I reach the spot where the apparition should have been but find nothing there. I turn to wave at Chase, who stares at me, worry straining his face—

—and see that same white face lurking just over his shoulder. Its shriveled flesh makes its eyes larger than they should be, and its steepled, twig-like fingers caress at Chase’s hair, gliding down toward his neck—

I take off toward Chase, running as fast as I can, shouting “’Wag mo siyang hawakan!”

Chase doesn’t understand, but I know the creatures does. Askal is faster than me. He closes the distance rapidly, leaping at the creature behind Chase with a bark. But suddenly the shapeless figure and its unblinking gaze is gone.

Nothing else moves around us. Askal calms, returning to my side with grim satisfaction.

Slowly, still oblivious, Chase reaches out for my arm and gulps. “I didn’t understand what you were shouting.”

With effort, I force my lips to move. “I said, Don’t touch him,” I say hoarsely. “I told it not to touch you.”

Fourteen

Interviews

“The bad news is that the storm isn’t going to let up anytime soon,” Gries says in disgust, staring daggers at the bright sky outside the window. “As unbelievable as it sounds, there’s a full-on tropical monsoon going on out there. We were able to establish communication with the crew in Leyte for a half hour before the connection went down again. They’ve confirmed the severity of the storm—the city’s flooded, and many neighborhoods are without electricity. We won’t be able to do much beyond waiting it out and hoping the power comes back quickly, so they can send a rescue team.”

“Askal can’t take his boat to get help?” Hawaiian Shirt asks.

“Let’s not risk it. I don’t want anyone getting caught out there, even if looks peaceful.”

“We’re not that far from the mainland,” Hemslock says. “If there’s a storm out there, then we should fucking well see it from here.”

“This damn island’s cursed,” Straw Hat mutters again, an opinion the rest of the crew agree with, based on the growing murmurs. Askal whines quietly beside my chair, and I stroke his head to calm him down.

Gries raps loudly at the table for silence. “There’s little we can do. We’re in one of the few places in the country with good weather right now, so we may as well take advantage of it while we can. My son was able to get in contact with friends earlier, so there are people back home who are organizing to get us out of here. Have a little more patience. Once the storm’s passed, we’ll leave.”

“I’m staying,” Hemslock says abruptly.

“Reuben,” Gries protests, “this isn’t the time to—”

“On the contrary, Leo, I can’t think of a better time to do this. We now have goddamn physical proof that these ghosts are real. We’ve all seen them. We could find power beyond our imagination here, the one that Lapulapu wielded and Cortes wanted. And you’re choosing to leave?” He sounds almost disbelieving. “This is our chance to become household names, be set for life. And you’re turning down the opportunity? For what?”