Chapter 9

           Nottomentionmythiccreaturesintherubble….

           —WENDYCOPE,"APOLICEMAN’SLOT"

           AstheydroveoutofIllinoislatethatevening,ShadowaskedWednesdayhisfirstquestion.HesawtheWELCOMETOWISCONSINsign,andsaid,"Sowhowerethebunchthatgrabbedmeintheparkinglot?MisterWoodandMisterStone?Whowerethey?"

           Thelightsofthecarilluminatedthewinterlandscape.Wednesdayhadannouncedthattheywerenottotakefreewaysbecausehedidn’tknowwhosesidethefreewayswereon,soShadowwasstickingtobackroads.Hedidn’tmind.Hewasn’tevensurethatWednesdaywascrazy.

           Wednesdaygrunted."Justspooks.Membersoftheopposition.Blackhats."

           "Ithink,"saidShadow,"thattheythinkthey’rethewhitehats."

           "Ofcoursetheydo.There’sneverbeenatruewarthatwasn’tfoughtbetweentwosetsofpeoplewhowerecertaintheywereintheright.Thereallydangerouspeoplebelievethattheyaredoingwhatevertheyaredoingsolelyandonlybecauseitiswithoutquestiontherightthingtodo.Andthatiswhatmakesthemdangerous."

           "Andyou?"askedShadow."Whyareyoudoingwhatyou’redoing?"

           "BecauseIwantto,"saidWednesday.Andthenhegrinned."Sothat’sallright."

           Shadowsaid,"Howdidyouallgetaway?Ordidyouallgetaway?"

           "Wedid,"saidWednesday."Althoughitwasaclosething.