The signature read: Kendrick
Kendrick''s signature was a mboyant scrawl, almost illegible to most people.
But Lowell had been with Tarquin for so long that he was very familiar with Kendrick''s signature.
He recognized it instantly. It was Kendrick''s!
Kendrick and Diana''s father knew each other-they were friends!
So Tarquin''s photo wasn''t a mistake. The person they were looking for in Border City was Diana''s father!
But Diana''s father had never left this area. He couldn''t have been the one who brought the virus back!
So what was going on?
Diana noticed his strange expression. "What''s wrong?"
Lowell snapped back to reality. "Nothing. I''m just surprised by this signature..."
Diana asked, "You can''t read it either?"
Lowell neither nodded nor shook his head, changing the subject instead. "This one isn''t a children''s version. How do you read it?"
Diana said, "I haven''t read it yet. I can''t read it without the simplified text. I don''t know a lot of the words."
Lowell asked, "Then why not buy an easier version?"
Diana, who had let his guard down, shrugged helplessly. "It would be a waste of money to buy another one when we already have it. Books are expensive. I saved up for a long time to buy these."
Lowell looked at Diana, feeling a pang of sympathy.
Life really wasn''t fair.
Some people had every opportunity to study and learn but couldn''t be bothered. Others would do anything for the chance but didn''t have the means.
Lowell said, "I''ll send you some bookster. I love to read, just like you, and I have a ton at home."
Diana was too shy to ept. "Once the library is built, you can donate them there. I''ll just borrow them."
Lowell smiled. "That works, too."
They chatted for a while about books, and the distance between them shrank
considerably. Diana rxed around Lowell, his attitude softening.
Themb stew were cooked. Diana turned off the fire and served them.
As they sat down to eat together, Diana looked at Lowell and asked, "It''smb. You okay with that?"
Lowell tried one. "This is delicious! You can''t beat themb from around here."
Diana was in a good mood and poured him some homemade hard cider. "Try this. We make it ourselves."
Lowell took a sip. It had a fruity aroma but wasn''t harsh. "This is great."
Diana just smiled without saying anything.
After they finished eating, Diana said, "You can rest in my brother''s room for a bit I''m going up the mountain to bring Wyatt some food I''ll take you to the old man''s ce when I get back."
"Can I go with you?"
"No, your ankle is sprained. The doctor''s wife said you need to rest."
Lowell didn''t insist. "Alright. Be careful on the trail."
Diana packed the freshly cooked stew into an insted container and headed out.
The moment Diana was gone,
Lowell''s expression hardened. He didn''t rummage through Diana''s belongings, but he frowned, took a photo of the old picture on the wall, and sent it to Tarquin.
Up on the mountain.
The crazy guy was on edge, constantly looking down the path. When he saw Diana
in the distance, he rushed to meet him, and the sheepdogs ran toward Diana as
well.
Diana first pulled a few bones from
his sack and tossed them to the dogs, then dismounted as he got closer to the crazy guy. He opened the container and handed it over. "Wyatt, time to eat."
The crazy guy nced down the path again. Diana knew he was looking for Lowell.
“He''s fine, just a sprained ankle. He''s resting at my house right now."
Upon hearing this, the crazy guy''s eyes widened as he stared at Diana. After a
moment, he said agitatedly, “Go! Make him go!"
Diana said, "I checked him out. He''s not a bad person. They''re here to learn martial
arts from the old man. They might even be able to help us."
Wyatt red at Diana, unhappy. "Make him go! Go!"
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