Return of the Trickster by Eden Robinson (ebook voice reader TXT) 📗

at Granny Nita and then his girlfriend. “Back in a minute, babe.”

Neeka watched him go, then said, “Wee’git was the one who trapped our great-great-great-grandmother in human form.”

“The ogress is his sister, Jwasins,” Granny Nita said.

“Jared didn’t mention that,” Neeka said, giving him a dirty look.

“She put a hex on him to keep him silent. I took it off. She’s making transformational skins out of Trickster organs for her pack.”

Neeka frowned. “That’s not possible.”

“It is with enough power and no morals.”

Bob the Octopus descended through the ceiling, beak clicking, golden eyes searching for Jared and clicking faster when it saw him.

“Not now, Bob!” Jared hissed.

Bob shot upwards, clicking.

“You’ve taken Bob as a familiar?” Neeka said to Jared.

“No! No. He’s just, you know, hanging out.”

“Can we get back to the coy wolves?” Sarah asked.

Everyone went quiet.

“Maggie said they have a compound in Ladner,” Neeka said. “But she took care of it.”

“That’s Aunt Georgina’s old pack,” Jared said.

“Who?” Neeka said.

“Also known as Jwasins,” Granny Nita said.

“So Jared’s aunt is an ogress.”

“Yes,” Jared said. “She was threatening to hurt you all, so, um, I helped take her to a different universe. Her new pack is trying to get to me to bring her back.”

“Thus the outbreak of violence,” Sarah said.

Neeka sighed. “It would be helpful to have Maggie around if we’re about to go to war with an ogress and her coy wolves.”

“No war,” Jared said emphatically. “No fighting. Just sensible running away.”

“Yes,” Granny Nita said. “Tricksters are known to be paragons of sense.”

“Hey.”

“She’s not wrong,” Neeka said. “All this could have been avoided if you’d simply accepted who you are.”

“ ‘I’ statements, please,” Sarah said. “Chill with the hindsight.”

Neeka and Granny Nita turned to study Sarah.

“Well,” Granny Nita said. “Someone likes his women bossy.”

Sarah flushed. “We’re not together. I’m his friend.”

“Of course,” Granny Nita said.

“Mm-hmm,” Neeka said.

“Has anyone heard from Mom?” Jared said, desperate both to change the subject and to know if any of them had heard from her.

Sarah and Neeka pulled out their phones. Jared closed his eyes, willing his mother to be safe, wanting her safe.

“Maggie is resourceful,” Granny Nita said.

“I’m sorry you had to drain your—”

“Stop it,” Granny Nita said. “Stop traipsing around with that guilty look on your face. It was my choice. I knew the cost and I was willing to pay it.”

Hank returned and stopped in the kitchen, where Mave loaded him up with a platter of pancakes and a bowl of fruit salad. Justice followed with plates and cutlery. Jared got up to help, but Mave told him to park his butt. They brought out a small buffet of breakfast food.

“Should we dig in?” Mave said. “Or wait for the Wild Man of the Woods?”

Jared regretted being so blunt this morning, but he hadn’t slept and the first coffee hadn’t kicked in. Mave and Justice seemed to have heard only “guest coming for breakfast” and leapt into action.

“I’ve never met a supernatural being before,” Mave said breezily, ignoring the resounding lack of response. “Is there protocol?”

“Chuck has never stood on ceremony,” Granny Nita said.

“Charles Hucker. Wild Man of the Woods,” Mave said.

“So you know him as well?” Justice said to Granny Nita.

“He’s Wee’git’s friend more than mine,” Granny Nita said.

Hank made a face then tucked into the pancakes. Neeka watched Mave for a reaction, then caught Jared looking at her. Sarah remained glued to her phone.

“If you could see what we see,” Jared said to Mave, “would you want to?”

“Is the Wild Man invisible?” Mave offered the bowl of fruit salad.

Jared shook his head. “No, but he’s got an illusion making him look like a human.”

“I think you have enough on your plate without adding sasquatches,” she said.

“If you could see ghosts and spirits and supernatural beings, would you want to?” Jared asked again.

Mave shrugged. “I haven’t been up Burnaby Mountain since you disappeared. There’s rumours the geotech work starts soon and I want to support the protest. You could come up the mountain with me.”

“Fair enough,” Jared said, “but as a favour to me, could you spend this one weekend with Chuck?”

“I wouldn’t mind,” Justice said. “I’ve heard the hiking is amazing near Whistler.”

“Fine,” Mave said.

“Good,” Granny Nita said. “That’s settled.”

“You’ll get to meet my whole clan,” Neeka said, nudging Hank.

“I’m staying with Gran this weekend,” he said.

Neeka smiled. “She’s coming.”

“She can barely stand,” Hank said. “She’s in a lot of pain.”

The buzzer blared and they all went silent. Jared hopped up and went to answer. “Hey.”

“Hey yourself, Baby Trickster,” Chuck said. “Sorry I’m late. Parking sucks around here when your ride’s a bus.”

“No worries,” Jared said, pressing the button to let Chuck in.

Sarah smoothed her hair. Granny Nita sat up straighter. Mave and Justice exchanged a glance. Hank kept eating, while Neeka’s phone suddenly began to ping.

“Knock knock!” Chuck said, opening the door and poking his head through. His hair was corralled into a braid. He had on a nubby grey sweater, ratty jeans and hiking boots. He beamed when he saw Jared and clomped up to him, giving him a bear hug. Jared had forgotten how tall he was.

“You look better,” Chuck said, holding him by the shoulders to look at him.

“Gran took a hex off me.”

Chuck’s head swivelled and his eyes locked on Granny Nita. “Oh, man. You are a sight for sore eyes. Did I piss you off or something? Why the silent treatment?”

“It was just easier,” Granny Nita said.

“For who?”

“Don’t play dumb.”

Chuck manoeuvred between the table and chairs to kneel in front of Granny Nita. “I’m not taking sides. Your relationship is between you guys.”

“And his 535 children.”

“That’s survival, man! It’s for the future!” Chuck paused as if just realizing there were other people there. “Whoa. Serious room. Jared, intro me.”

“This is Chuck,” Jared said. “This is Sarah Jaks. She made you some vegan oatmeal.”

Sarah gave a shy wave.

“Hey,” Chuck said to Sarah, nodding.

“My aunt, Mave, and her daughter, Justice.”

Mave and Justice wore identical shell-shocked looks.

“Hey, Justice. Mave, your poetry rocks,” Chuck said. “Big fan.”

“Thank you,” Mave said.

“This is