24
Bandage
“What did you have to take that piece of the dragon for?” said Jake.
“What do you care?” said Mort.
They had hitched a ride with a truck driver all the way to the outskirts of Portland where he had dropped them off at a truck stop. He was going to be there for a few hours, getting some rest and eating, before continuing north to Canada. He told Jake and Mort they could ride with him then if they wanted to wait. Neither did. They thanked him for his help and went out on the road and put out their thumbs.
“It just seemed like a stupid thing to do,” said Jake. “That was a piece of art.”
Mort fingered the metal tip of flame, still stowed in his pocket. It had been about eight hours since he had taken it from the side of the road in California. During that time he had come back
