Chapter 14

“Slate?” I asked, looking at him. He nodded.

I was puzzled. “You’re going to make footwear out of—slate?”

He stared, and then guffawed. “No. Of course not. Weapons! Blades!”

“Oh.”

He looked at me as I straighten up. “What was that you were shouting about?” he asked, imitating my arms waving over my head.

“I found something,” I said, trying to keep my voice calm.

“Oh, yeah?” He looked at me, as if trying to see I had found. I held out my hands, palms toward him.

“What?” he said, still puzzled.

I waggled my empty hands, then put them behind me and, bringing out the two flip-flops, held them out to him.

“Ta-da!” I cried.

He stared at them, evidently nonplussed. Then he looked at me.

“They’re way too small,” he said, frowning.

I let the footwear fall, making a farting noise at the same time. “Try them, will you?”

He nodded and put down his spear and knife.

He could barely fit his toes into the twin loops, but did eventually manage.