Unfit to Practice (42 page)

Death flew low over their heads in a ragged blazing cloak, setting fires wherever it touched down. They ducked. “Another hundred feet,” Danny said. “Follow me.” And Danny walked through trees, wiggling his fingers. “We got it made now, ol' buddy, ol' pal. Follow Danny, now.” Danny moved on ahead, a stocky half-lit figure.

Wish took one stumbling step toward him.

And saw several things. Danny, disappearing into the white black soup. A wall of fire rearing up like a tsunami in front, bigger than him, amoral, ready to take him down.

And then two blackened hands reaching out from behind the tree trunk right in front of him, holding up a big sharp rock with white stipples and granite lines. He saw the fingers raise it up. He saw the rock crash down toward him.

Wish lurched to one side. He howled, but the noise he made got lost in the belligerent, ripping, tearing fire. Losing his balance, he toppled to the ground.

UNFIT TO PRACTICE

A Dell Book

PUBLISHING HISTORY

Delacorte hardcover edition published August 2002

Dell mass market edition / July 2003

Published by

Bantam Dell

A Division of Random House, Inc.

New York, New York

All rights reserved

Copyright © 2002 by Mary O'Shaughnessy and Pamela O'Shaughnessy

Map illustration by Hadel Studio

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 2002067217

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Published simultaneously in Canada

eISBN: 978-0-440-33419-4

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