(no subject)

28.

The room was rumbling for several minutes, as the new comrades traded concerned looks.

“Squad 3 to Section 14, perimeter breach,” Blasted a voice over the Public Address system. It did not sound like the battle was going well.

“What do you think . . .” Jeremy started, but was stopped when something hit somewhere and nearly knocked them all out of their seats.

“Black Demon Brigade has deployed,” came a more somber voice than any they had heard thus far. “Repeating, Black Demon Brigade had been sighted within site of the main tower.”

Without warning of any kind, all the tremors stopped.

They heard the P.A. switching on again.

“This is Stonedragon,” the familiar voice came from the boxes on the walls. “Release Rugglestump!”

With that there was a screaming inhuman roar. The sound started beneath them and passed where the plane had been.

That same sound went up and left the structure, joining a heated battle above everyone’s heads.

Within seconds the fighting stopped.

There was a reverse order repeat of the roar, as something returned to the chamber below them that it had originated in.

“Stand down,” came Stonedragon’s comforting tone.

“What the heck is Rugglestump?” Asked Jeremy.

“Dunno,” said Mickey, “But I’m glad he’s on our side.”

The door opened and Mr. Position poked his head in.

“Everyone all right in here?” He asked.

Before anyone could answer they all perceived the same thing. The man was covered in soot, and most of his clothing that had been so meticulous just moments before, was burned off his body. He stood, covered in
burned rags.

“We’re fine,” David said, “Are you?”

“Just got a little close to the action,” The man said, brushing off his lapel, which fell to the floor.

“What was all that?” Demanded Carvine, “Was that because we arrived? Did they see our plane? Were they after us?”

She looked at the McCauleys and added, “Or did they have something to do with it?”

Position tittered lightly, without really bringing all his attention into the room.

“Did those things want them?” The girl demanded again.

“All the answers in good time,” Position said, “First we have to set up some quarters for the four of you. Then orientation and the answers to all . . . well, most of your questions.”

He laughed self-consciously and the soot in his blond hair made a dark cloud puff around his head. He blew at it, and closed the door behind him.

“I’ll bet this was all about you two,” Carvine said sullenly.

“Don’t listen to her,” Jeremy said as he walked to the boys. Once he was close he whispered, “Was it about you guys?”

Mickey shrugged.

All in all, he wasn’t sure if it wasn’t about them.

He sure hoped not.

That was not the kind of popular he hoped to be around here.

(c) 2005 by C. Wayne Owens

(no subject)

29.

After about half and hour the boys were shown to their new digs. They had a nice little dorm room which, as they had asked, had twin beds so they could share it.

Jeremy was next door and they didn’t know (or care really) where Carvine was staying.

When they arrived there was a dinner tray waiting for each boy. They had a turkey sandwich and potato salad, followed by a banana and jello. There was also some Peanut Butter and Ritz crackers for a snack
later.

They were shown that they had a small refrigerator unit in their room, and it was stocked with fruit juice and milk.

There was no TV or radio in the rooms, but there were a lot of books. All classics. Dickens and Twain were the most represented.

Mickey had read many of these, but was always happy to look through bookcases stacked with good stuff.

David chose to eat dinner while reading “Complete Stories of Edgar Allen Poe.”

Mickey was excited to dip into “The Complete Sherlock Holmes.”

They discussed their anticipation of what would happen, and read and ate for a couple of hours.

There came a knock at their door and David went to check it.

At the door was a very pretty girl who identified herself as “Sanna” and told the boys that “Lights Out” would begin in an hour.

“We slept in the plane, so we’re really awake,” David told her.

“The lights will be out in most places, but you can stay up to read if you want to,” Sanna said, “But you should try to sleep, tomorrow is you orientation, right?”

They nodded.

“You want to have all your faculties for that, it can be confusing. That depends on how long you’ve known about you powers.”

“We’ll go to bed pretty soon,” David assured her.

Sanna said her good nights and left.

David came back to his bed, but didn’t seem interested in returning to his book.

“She was pretty,” Mickey said.

“Very,” David said, with a distant look in his eyes.

“God,” thought Mickey, “It’s Vicki Halop all over again.”

“Don’t forget I can read your thoughts,” David thought.

“And verse visa,” Mickey thought back.

The boys smiled and returned to their reading.

Within an hour David turned out the light between their beds and pulled the covers up over his brother’s shoulders and placed the Sherlock Holmes volume on the nightstand.

He slipped into his bed and tried not to think of the pretty girl he had just me.

Good luck at that.

(c) 2005 by C. Wayne Owens