Chapter 17

“Except for you, Bay. But something tells me that you know how to keep a firefly’s secret. Now, tell me that you do.”

Bay agreed. His mind started to spin with all the details Christopher had shared with him. The overload of information folded inside his brain, layer upon layer. He asked, “You’re not a hoturathen, are you?”

“A what?” Christopher tilted his head to the right, questioning. “What are you saying?”

“The spirit of a Japanese solider that has come back from the dead. It’s called a hotura. You’re not one of them.”

Christopher huffed, smiling. “Of course, not. My family originated from Florida, somewhere near the Everglades. Our ancestors are of the Miccosukee tribes. But that was over two hundred years ago. I like to consider myself a Channingite, from these parts, just like you.”

“You amaze me, Christopher. I’m still baffled about you and your presence. This is all so strange for me, bizarre. I don’t know how to take it all in.”