Part 25 (2/2)
”But why would Ms. Richter want to keep all of this a secret?” asked Max.
Mr. Morrow was silent; his rheumy eyes shot quickly from face to face. Suddenly, his features darkened and his jaw quivered.
”Because Richter's nothing but a bureaucrat bureaucrat! A war war is beginning, children! The Enemy is on the move. Only a fool wouldn't see this rash of vyes for what they are-scouts to test our strength and will. Nothing less.” is beginning, children! The Enemy is on the move. Only a fool wouldn't see this rash of vyes for what they are-scouts to test our strength and will. Nothing less.”
The words came quickly; he clawed at his chair with his fingers.
”War is coming, and our Director clings to process and procedure like every lousy bureaucrat before her.... And it's because of fear, I tell you! She's paralyzed by the thought of a mistake-that her competency will be questioned and someone will challenge her for-”
”That is enough!”
Bob's voice shook the cottage; the windows hummed. Max had never seen Bob raise his voice in anger. It was terrifying.
Mr. Morrow did not appear terrified, however. He appeared capable of violence. Slowly, however, the old man's silent fury subsided to anger and then to a weary, defeated look. He nodded at Bob, coughing hard into a fistful of blanket. He gave the children an apologetic wave of his hand.
”You're right, you're right. You bring me soup, and I go ahead and frighten you! It's this horrible flu talking-making me cranky-eh, Bob?”
Bob said nothing. He pulled on his coat and opened the door a crack. A gust of wind upset some papers on a nearby shelf. He watched them settle to the ground in slow spirals.
”We must go. Children, come along with Bob.”
”Yes, yes,” agreed Mr. Morrow. ”You're all very kind for looking after me. Ah! But before you leave, we should have a quick lesson.”
Mr. Morrow put down his pipe and leaned forward in his chair.
”I can't frighten you all about vyes without giving you a bit of defense, can I? Vyes hate bright light-causes them to lose their senses for a moment. It's a simple enough trick, but I know they don't get to it until later. You should be able to do it with the energy already in you-no need to tap other sources or gather any.”
Mr. Morrow balled his hand and then spread his fingers, hissing, ”Solas.” The room was filled with a bright burst of light, like a ma.s.sive flashbulb. Little shapes swam before Max's eyes. A moment later, the room was dim again, lit only by the fire and candles.
”You all try it. It's a simple thing, really.”
Connor stepped forward, his hand in a tight fist.
”Solas!”
The room flickered with a bright golden light.
Mr. Morrow nodded and turned next to Cynthia, who looked doubtfully at her hand.
”Solas!”
The room filled momentarily with warm light. Connor and Cynthia seemed delighted with their new skill.
”And you, Mr. McDaniels,” murmured Mr. Morrow, dabbing at his nose.
As soon as the word left Max's lips, the room erupted in brilliant light that subsided just as quickly.
”Last but not least, Mr. Menlo.”
David shook his head and stepped to the door.
”I can do it,” said David simply. ”I hope you feel better, Mr. Morrow. I'll visit again soon.”
Mr. Morrow nodded and offered a small, sad smile.
”I hope so, Mr. Menlo,” he said softly. ”And many thanks to all of you for looking in on a poor sick thing! Forgive me if I lost my head.”
The children waved good-bye. Mr. Morrow waved back, looking very small and old. He reached for a nearby photo alb.u.m.
Outside, Bob took long strides to the top of the first dune. He motioned for them to come quickly before disappearing over the crest. Max started to trot ahead but hung back when he heard Connor chiding David.
”Oh, come on, David. We We all did it.” all did it.”
”I already know I can,” muttered David, zipping his jacket and pulling on his gloves with his teeth.
”I know you can, too,” said Connor, laughing, ”but I want to see for myself, Mr. Magic Man!”
”Me too!” added Cynthia.
”Yeah,” said Max, feeling a swell of envy. After all, Mr. Morrow said Max was lucky to have survived Mrs. Millen while David had had nothing to fear from the vyes that chased him in the woods. ”It's not fair for you to just watch all the time.”
At Max's words, David stopped pulling on his glove. The smile melted from Max's face. David looked at him impa.s.sively for several seconds. With a sudden nod of his head, David flexed his hand.
”Solas,” he whispered.
Max gave a yelp and fell backward in the snow as the entire sky erupted in light, illuminating the countryside for miles as though a hundred bolts of lightning had flashed at once. Max's eyes stung from the sudden exposure. Connor and Cynthia were doubled over, s.h.i.+elding their faces, while Bob fumbled blindly for the lantern he had dropped. When Max regained focus, he saw David standing over him, extending his hand.
”Don't ask me to do that again,” he whispered, helping Max to his feet. Max nodded, his cheeks flus.h.i.+ng in shame. Ascending the dune, David carefully placed the lantern in Bob's groping hand. With a moan, Bob lurched to his feet and placed a hand to his knotty forehead.
”Bob will be fired....”
The trek back was quiet, broken only occasionally by Bob's faint and angry muttering in Russian. Max's spirits were finally lifted by the happy sounds of Nolan's fiddle, which turned his thoughts away from wild charges, lurking vyes, and missing children.
Bob turned to face them.
”Bob goes ahead. Dinner soon. Say nothing of the light,” he warned, wagging a finger at them, lingering a moment on Connor's ruddy face. ”If you do, Bob gets false teeth. Then Bob finds finds you!” The ogre's features twisted into a hideous, sunken smile, and he pulled the lantern close to cast an eerie glow across his face. Connor whimpered and took a backward step. With a satisfied chuckle, Bob smiled and walked on ahead, taking six feet at a stride. you!” The ogre's features twisted into a hideous, sunken smile, and he pulled the lantern close to cast an eerie glow across his face. Connor whimpered and took a backward step. With a satisfied chuckle, Bob smiled and walked on ahead, taking six feet at a stride.
”He's kidding, right?” Connor said with a weak laugh.
”Of course he is,” said Cynthia, sneezing into her sleeve.
As Max and the others approached the Warming Lodge, they saw that the bonfire was still burning brightly, and a dozen students lounged on bales of hay. Nolan was putting his fiddle in its case. Julie was busy aiming her camera at Lucia, who had fallen asleep with Kettlemouth held tightly in her arms. Other students began to stir, standing up and stamping their feet to get the feeling back in their toes.
”Hey there!” drawled Nolan. ”Y'all missed the music, but you're in time for dinner. Good timing either way you look at it!”
”Oh, stop it, Nolan,” Cynthia blushed. ”The music sounded wonderful wonderful!”
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