7

In the corridor outside their rooms, they looked out the big windows to see Coleman Collins just now reaching the top of the iron staircase. The lights pulled a long shadow out behind him on the flagstones.

'At least he was down there all the time,' Del said.

'He knew where we were. He set off the sound effects, didn't he?'

'Then it was a mistake to go into that room. And I'm sorry I did.' Del looked ferociously up at him, and Tom mentally braced himself for an attack. 'You used to be my best friend, but I think he was right about you. You're jealous. You want to get me in trouble with him.'

'No… ' Tom started to utter some general shocked denial, but his dismay was overwhelming. Coming so soon after the threat from one of the 'Brothers Grimm,' Del's assault left him wordless. 'Not now,' was all he managed to get out.

Del spun away from him. 'You sound like a girl.' When he reached the door, Del turned to glare at him again. 'And you act like you own this place. I should be showing you things, not the other way around.'

'Del,' Tom pleaded, and the smaller boy grimaced as if he had struck him.

'You want to know something, pal? Something I never told you? I guess you remember those times my uncle showed up in Arizona - at the football game and at Ventnor. Well, you wanted to know why I never talked about it with you.'

'Because he confused you,' Tom said, happy to be back on ground more or less solid. 'Because I didn't ask about him enough. And he was here, not there, and - '

'Shut up. Just shut up. I saw you with him, dummy. You were right next to him - you were walking along with him, like something that was going to happen. I saw you, damn you. Now I know why. You always wanted him for your own. And he was trying to show me what you're really like.' Del shook his balled fists at him, tears leaking out of the corners of his eyes, and disappeared inside his door. A second later Tom heard the slam of the sliding doors.

Glumly Tom went into his own room.