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〃I guess not；〃 Zach said quietly。 〃But； Trevor； I think it's a real bad idea。〃
〃What do you mean？〃
〃You know I'm going to have to leave soon。 And I know you must have at least thought about going with me。〃
〃So？〃
〃So maybe it doesn't want you to leave。〃
〃Maybe I don't want to。〃
The words stung like a slap。 〃If you stay here；〃 Zach began； then had to stop and take a deep breath。 His voice had nearly cracked。 〃If you stay here； it'll be hard to get back in touch with you。 I might not be able to do it。〃
〃You could leave a message for me at the club。〃
〃If They find out I was ever in this town； They could tap the club's phone。 They could make trouble for Kinsey。 They could tap Terry's phone。 They could harass the fuck out of you。 A lot of real scary people are after me； Trev。 I've already left too many traces here。 I have to disappear for good now； and you might never be able to find me again。 Is that what you want？〃
Trevor had been staring stubbornly at the table。 Now he looked up at Zach。 His eyes shimmered with tears about to spill over。 〃No。〃
〃Neither do I。〃 Is it true？ thought Zach。 Am I telling him this in good faith？ If I'm going on the run forever； do I really want to take someone with me？
And the answer was a resounding yes。 Because he not only wanted to； he had to。 If he didn't take Trevor； he might as well leave his brain or his heart behind。 It was that simple； that was how deeply people became grafted into you when you loved them like this。
A part of Zach still hated that。
A part of him was grateful that he had at least found the right Siamese twin。
And a part of him rejoiced that this was possible after all。
Their fingers intertwined on the tabletop。 They gripped hands tightly for a moment； both fighting back tears。 〃You could stay here for a while； then go over to Terry's；〃 Trevor said。 〃I wouldn't mind being alone。〃
〃No way。 You don't want to trip alone in this house。〃
〃I don't mind。〃
〃You would。〃 Zach pulled back to look into Trevor's eyes。 〃Believe me。 You would。 You may be able to deal with the house； but I know psilocybin。 I'm not letting you do that。〃
〃Then stay。〃
〃Okay。〃 Zach let his head fall back onto Trevor's shoulder。 I've just agreed to trip on mushrooms in a haunted house； he thought。 The Grand Adventures of Zachary Bosch 。 。 。 reel three。
〃So；〃 said Trevor； 〃how do we do it？ Do we just eat them？〃
〃Yes。 And I warn you； they taste fucking horrible。〃
Trevor picked up a blue…streaked stem and nibbled experimentally at it。 〃They don't seem to taste like much of anything。〃
〃Just you wait。〃
Zach got up and refilled their water glasses； then began to portion out the mushrooms。 There were seven caps and five stems。 The caps were the most potent and shittiest…tasting part。 He put three caps and three stems in one pile； four caps and two stems in the other。
〃Now what？〃 Trevor asked。
〃Getting nervous？〃
〃No。〃
〃Then let's eat。〃
Each of them picked up a cap； put it in his mouth； and began to chew。 Zach's cap splintered and grew soggy in his mouth。 The dry dead flavor trickled between his teeth； over his tongue。 He washed it down with a gulp of water。
〃I see what you mean；〃 said Trevor after a few seconds。
〃You don't have to chew them all the way。 Just soften 'em up a little and swallow the chunks。〃
〃Now you tell me。〃 Trevor drained his water glass and got up for more。 〃God； that's disgusting。 It's like chewing on mummified flesh。〃
〃Better lose that thought。 You've got five more pieces to eat。〃
Crunching； grimacing； and swigging water； they choked down the rest of their mushrooms； then brushed their teeth at the sink。 〃How long does it take？〃 Trevor asked。
〃Twenty； thirty minutes。 Shall we smoke a joint and get in bed？〃
〃Are you sure we ought to be stoned？〃
〃Yes。〃 Zach nodded vigorously。 〃Under the circumstances； I'm very sure。〃
Trevor felt the first tickling tendrils of the drug twenty minutes later。 Zach was lying half on top of him with his head on Trevor's chest。 They had been talking in the darkened bedroom； a meandering conversation with pools of calm clear silence here and there。 It was during one of these silences that the sensation seemed to begin in Trevor's stomach and spread； shivering through his guts； swirling slyly through his blood； up his spine； into his brain。
He felt Zach's lips move against his chest。 〃Do you feel it？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Are you hallucinating？〃
〃I don't think so。〃 Trevor looked at the shadows cast on the ceiling。 Veins of pink and purple light were pulsing through them； beginning to creep down the walls。 〃Well； maybe。〃
He pulled Zach up to him； cupped Zach's head between his hands； and kissed his closed eyelids。 The smudges of shadow beneath Zach's eyes were dark with eyeliner and fatigue。 Trevor brushed his lips across them； felt Zach shiver。 He kissed Zach's forehead； the narrow bridge of his nose and its elegant pointed tip； his willing mouth。
Kissing soon became a hallucinatory experience in itself。 The interplay of their tongues was like a dance。 Zach's mouth tasted of mint toothpaste and pot smoke and what Trevor had e to think of as his lover's own flavor； peppery and faintly sweet。 Zach's very skin seemed to undulate against him at every point of contact。 Trevor imagined it being soft as warm caramel and flowing over him； surrounding him。 Whether Zach's body was taking him in or being assimilated itself would not matter。 Their flesh would mingle； their bones would merge into one plex cradle surrounding the stew of their viscera。 What a drawing it would make！
Now Zach was running his tongue along the arc of Trevor's collarbone； leaving a trail of warm wetness that quickly turned cold as it evaporated。 He rubbed his face on Trevor's chest； pressed his lips into the hollow just below Trevor's ribs。 Trevor felt that bright band of energy connecting them again； as elusive and yet as constant as the particles and waves that made up light； sound； matter。
The room was swarming around him。 His drawings waved gently from the walls。 The mattress felt insubstantial under his back； as if it were suspended above a great gaping hole that went through the floor and the foundation of the house； as if it could dissolve at any moment and leave him plunging forever； alone in a numb black void； a blank universe。 Trevor gasped and clutched Zach tight。 It was beginning in earnest。
〃It's okay；〃 Zach soothed him。 〃These are strong 'shrooms； that's all。 Keep hanging on to me and you'll be fine。〃
〃Do you 。 。 。 can you 。 。 。〃 Trevor had no idea what he wanted to ask。 His teeth began to chatter。
〃Trev； just relax and go with it。 Look at the lights。 Everything feels good。 I love you。〃
〃I love you too 。 。 。 but it's so strange 。 。 。〃
〃It's supposed to be strange。 That's why we do drugs； they make us feel different。 Don't fight it。〃
Zach stroked Trevor's hair； rubbed his arms and shoulders until the muscles began to unbunch。 Trevor's hands had curled into loose fists。 Zach coaxed them open； kissed the mirror…image maps of the palms； the pencil…calluses