‘We can’t blesh no more,’ said Janie. It seemed to explain everything.
‘Look,’ I said, ‘I’ve got to be Lone now.’
Janie thought about that and Baby kicked his feet. Janie looked at him. ‘You can’t,’ she said.
‘I know where to get the heavy food and the turpentine,’ I said. ‘I can find that springy moss to stuff in the logs, and cut wood, and all.’
But I couldn’t call Bonnie and Beanie from miles away to unlock doors. I couldn’t just say a word to Janie and make her get water and blow up the fire and fix the battery. I couldn’t make us blesh.
We all stayed like that for a long time. Then I heard the bassinet creak. I looked up. Janie was staring into it.
‘All right,’ she said. ‘Let’s go.’
‘Who says so?’
‘Baby.’
‘Who’s running things now?’ I said, mad. ‘Me or Baby?’