Jack startled mid-sigh. He drew in a sharp gasp through a throat that wasn't there and turned, shoulders up, arms straight at his sides. The skeleton stood stone still for several long seconds and stared at Gino with his empty eye sockets. And then he burst out laughing--cackling really. It was a high, thin noise like an old door hinge caught in a storm.

"You scared me!"

He'd been so sad and Ginko had given him just the jolt he needed to get himself up and out of the dumps. Jack brought a long thin hand to his chest and sighed again, happily this time.

"Thank you!"