Cloak (YA Fantasy) (37 page)

Authors: James Gough

“Our human sides have instincts too, Will. Greed, guilt, and thirst for power can be hard instincts to ignore. But our human sides can also let us choose who we want to be.” Kaya patted Will’s hand, and for the first time, Will realized he hadn’t been wearing his latex gloves all day.

He studied his bare hands in the fading light. “So, now what?”

“Now we move on. Dean has agreed to join Special Branch, and we’ve been flooded with requests by top agents who want to transfer over from ISPA.” Kaya paused. The sound of the waterfalls filled the air. “And you, Will? No more gerbil scent, no more vegetarian meals, and no more hiding. You’re a famous Immune now—a hero—naturalized and everything. And I think you’re ready for the whole enchant adventure.”

Will half-smiled. “Rizz told me once that you’d know I was ready when I did.”

“And?”

Will stood up and watched the last edge of the sun bury itself in the horizon. He untied his bowtie and grinned. “Does the carnivore cafeteria serve bacon?”

~~~

Acknowledgements

My deepest thanks to everyone at WiDo Publishing who help dreams become a reality—Allie Maldonado, Kristine Princevalle, Amie McCracken, Bruce Gowen, and Don Gee.

Thanks to Steve Keller who showed me that writing combats insanity.

Thank you to my parents Pam and Rick for teaching me that being creative is a noble endeavor.

A special thanks to my family for seeing the enchants no matter how well they were hidden. Thanks Kristen, Kayla, Abby, Rachel, Steve, Dave & Mike.

About the Author

James Gough was born in the Rockies, raised in the Dakotas, schooled in a mountain desert, trained south of the border and wooed by the Big Apple. He now lives in a forest near a great lake with three bright daughters, a brilliant wife and a dim-witted dog.

His debut novel, Cloak, was born from a single question: Why are there so many myths, legends and stories about talking animals? It smelled like a cover-up. So he dug deeper. What he found surprised even him. Some discoveries just need to be written about.

James has been an actor, an artist, an athlete and an advertising creative. He’s thrilled to add author to the list. Besides writing, he loves to teach, is obsessed with strange foods and has always been an avid people-watcher.

James Gough studied creative writing at Brigham Young University where he double-majored in Communications Marketing and Visual Arts Design with a minor in English. For the past decade, he has worked on the Madison Avenue and Detroit advertising circuits, where his writing and marketing earned a New York Festivals Silver World Medal, a Cannes Finalist nod, and six IAAA awards.

Once, he saw a well-dressed possum in Grand Central Station; and he’d be willing to bet that a night guard he met in Detroit was half pit-viper, but it’s hard to be sure.