by Saxon Andrew
Lydia smiled and said, “Ok, let’s take this one by one. What do you think about his looks?”
Cynthia tilted her head to the side, “I didn’t notice him until I took a good look and he looks pretty darn good and he seems to be better looking every time I look at him.”
“Trust me on this one Cynthia, within a week you won’t be able to see anyone else that looks as good. He grows on you faster than a fungus. What about his courage?”
“I’ve never met anyone as brave as him. I have also learned that he has a good heart.”
“Cynthia, his heart is the strongest thing about him. He is going to love you every minute until the day he dies. I know he has loved you ever since I’ve known him. So your real issue is his smarts?”
Cynthia lowered her head, “Yeah, I guess it is.”
“Cynthia, what did you make on the SAT?”
“1520.”
“He made 1600.”
Cynthia’s mouth fell open. “That’s a perfect score.”
“You might also find it interesting to know that he has a perfect 4.0 GPA.”
Cynthia narrowed her eyes, “Now I know you’re not being truthful. The number one person in our class is me and I’m at a 3.95.”
“His grades are not included in the class standings, Cynthia.”
“Why not?”
“When he was in the ninth grade a student threw a rock at a teacher during class when the teacher’s back was turned. The rock thrower was Dale Woodalle.”
“I remember him. He was eventually arrested for burglary wasn’t he?”
“Yes, he’s always been a thug. However, AG saw the rock coming at the teacher’s head and he reached up and deflected it. The teacher turned around when the rock hit the blackboard and saw AG’s hand up in the air. He took AG to Mr. Grest’s office and Mr. Grest suspended him for a week. He told Miss. Lavender to keep his grades in a separate file from all the other students because he wouldn’t be in school very long. She has been putting his grades in that file ever since and has never mentioned it to Mr. Grest, who obviously forgot he told her to do it. Cynthia, he is not just a little smarter than you. He so far ahead of anyone I’ve ever met that I don’t think they have a test to adequately measure just how smart he is.”
Cynthia now knew where the troublemaker tag came from that Miss Lavender used. Could this possibly be true? She had to know, but she now needed to have time with AG to get a measure of just who he really was. “Thanks, Lydia. I know how you feel about him. I can see it, but I need some time to get to know him better.”
Lydia sighed as she stood and hugged Cynthia. “I can see why he chose you. I’m happy for both of you.”
Cynthia left cheerleading practice and drove out to the orphanage. She pulled up in front of the cottage where she had dropped AG off and several young boys ran out and gathered around her car, “Wow. Nice ride lady.”
She smiled and said, “Is AG around?”
“May I help you, Miss?”
She turned and saw a very old man looking at her, “Yes sir. I’m wondering if I may talk with Anthony Gardner for a moment.”
The old man, who looked Asian, smiled at her with a twinkle in his eye and said, “You must be Miss Johnson.”
Cynthia smiled, “Yes I am.”
“Jimmy, why don’t you go inside and round up AG.”
One of the little boys looking at Cynthia’s corvette turned and ran into the building. While they waited the crowd of little boys started firing questions at Cynthia, “What engine do you have in it?”
Cynthia smiled and said, “It has a fuel injected, porcupine head, 396 cubic inch turbojet engine making 425 horsepower. It also has four wheel disc brakes.”
The group of boys looked at her with their mouths open. One of them asked, “How fast will it go?”
“Too,”
“Two hundred?”
“No, too fast.” The little boys laughed and then Cynthia saw AG coming out of the front door walking toward them. The little boys saw him and started giggling. Cynthia smiled at them and walked up and gave AG a kiss on the cheek. The ‘oooo’s,’ and ‘that’s gross’ comments coming from the little boys made Cynthia laugh out loud. “Is there somewhere we can talk?”
AG took her hand and led her to a swing hanging from a tree in front of the building. He held it steady while she sat down and then he joined her. He gave a little push with his foot and started the swing moving. “It’s good to see you Cynthia,”
“I have some questions, AG.”
“I figured you would.”
“How did you know about me going to Harvard and opening a free clinic?”
“You had a brochure from Harvard Medical on your desk in Literature class a year ago. You also had a book of medical supplies offered by Dillon Burns Medical Supply, who sells to non-profit organizations. A week later you were looking at a commercial real estate map of the area around Desoto Park. A plus B plus C equals free clinic with you being a doctor.”
Cynthia looked at him and said, “You’re very observant.” She looked out at the farmland in the distance and then looked at him, “You said you were there to save Tao. For the life of me I can’t imagine why you would do that. He is the personification of evil. Why would you want to save him? I’ve never hated anyone in my entire life until I ran across him.”
AG shook his head and looked down at the ground. “There’s a lot you don’t know about Tao. His mother deserted him the day he was born and never returned. His father blamed him for her departure and not his physical abuse of her. He beat Tao viciously pretty much every day. He was taken to the hospital several times as a baby with broken limbs and multiple bruises. You would think someone would have taken him from his mean, cruel father, but no one wanted the responsibility of a child whose father was a drunken thug. He suffered constant verbal abuse about how worthless and sub human he was and one freezing night when Tao was five years old, his father tied him up and threw him into a garbage dumpster to die. He was found by a Wang-dao warrior who heard him crying. The warrior took him to the clan, who took him in and raised him.”
“They shoot rabid dogs, AG. The dog isn’t to blame for the disease either but they must be eliminated to protect people from them. Tao is worse than a rabid dog.”
“Tao possesses more leadership potential than anyone in the clan, Cynthia. He can be so much more than he knows. In order for him to change and grow he had to face death, just like his victims, and be able to identify what he does to others. That happened during the challenge and I’m hoping he finds himself while his arms are healing. We should know if he learned anything soon.”
Cynthia shook her head and then looked at AG, “How were you able to defeat him?”
AG looked at Cynthia and said, “Come with me.” He stepped out of the swing and helped her get to her feet. They walked around to the back of the building and Cynthia saw four man-sized boards standing in a ten foot square. AG walked over to one of the boards and took a harness off it and buckled it around his chest. Cynthia saw four handles protruding from the belt. AG handed her a stopwatch and asked her to step into the center of the square with him. “Cynthia, I want you to imagine that we are surrounded by four very bad men that are going to do their best to hurt us. You notice each of these boards has a white circle on it which is where the neck of an average sized person would be. When you’re ready say ‘now’ and time how long it takes to me hit them with a knife.”
Cynthia looked at AG, who was looking in her eyes. She smiled, clicked the stopwatch, and said now. She watched AG standing in front of her with his arms crossed. “I said now.”
“Look at the targets, Cynthia.”
She turned and every circle had a knife sticking out of the center.” Her eyes widened, “You did not move. How did you do that?”
AG smiled, “Put the stopwatch away and just focus on me.” He walked forward and retrieved the knives and put them in his harness. He looked at Cynthia, tilted his head and said, “Whenev
er you’re ready.”
Cynthia focused on his hands and said, “Now!” She thought she saw something move and she knew she heard the sound of the wooden targets being hit. She turned and all four targets had a knife in the white circle. “How do you do that? You moved faster than I could see.”
AG unbuckled the harness and put it back on the board. He took her hand and walked back toward the swing. They sat and he pushed it, “I am born with abilities that I don’t really understand myself. In stressful situations, the world seems to slow down around me but I feel like I am moving at normal speed. To people watching me it appears that I am moving extremely fast. However, to me, everything is moving slowly. In the challenge with Tao, I was barely able to move fast enough to stop his swords. All I could do was get a rod in front of them just before he hit me. When we took the break, I knew I was going to die. At that point, things started moving much slower. It seems that stress causes my talents to develop to a higher level. After that it was easy to stop every swing he made with his swords. He really had no chance and he discovered at the end that I could have killed him any time I chose. I think that experience will change him. I discovered this ability as a ten year old during a very stressful situation. I also sense that there are other abilities that have not manifested themselves yet.”
“Is that what you were saying to the Kahn at the end of the challenge; that you were not yet ready; not yet ready for what?”
“Cynthia, that is something that will have to wait. I know that I have a lot to learn about myself and even though I think I’m grown, I’m only seventeen. I do not know myself, yet.”
“Is the vision of the future you described part of your talents?”
“Yes, but I have absolutely no control over those visions. I never know when I’ll have one.”
“Why did you ask to make me a Clan Favored if you knew that you could protect me against anyone?”
AG’s face turned serious and Cynthia could see the change, “There will be consequences to my actions and I may not be here to protect you. With their favor, I know you will be protected in the event I’m not around.”
“What are you not telling me, AG?”
“I wish I knew. I just sense that something is ahead. I honestly don’t know what it is; I would tell you if I knew. I do know that whatever it is, I must allow it to take place.”
“Am I going to be a doctor?”
AG smiled, “One of the best.”
“Then we will leave tomorrow to tomorrow. How about you and I going out tonight? It’s Friday, I’m hungry, and I want some time to get a feel for what you’re all about.”
Chapter Six
Tao sat on a cushion with the book of Wang-dao opened to the first page in front of him on the floor. A young boy sat beside him to turn the pages for him. Both arms were in a cast and hurt more than he cared to show or admit. Twelve young boys were sitting in a semi-circle in front of him and he was beginning his first class to teach the guiding principles of the Great Master Wang-dao. He looked at the boys, “What are the qualities of a great warrior?”
A little boy in the center of the group said, “Great strength and power and the ability to defeat everyone in combat.”
“Very good, Nathan. Anyone else?”
Drea leaned forward and said, “Everyone should fear a great warrior.” Tao listened to their answers and could hear himself so many years ago in class. These children knew what they were talking about. He looked at the group and said, “Let’s see what Wang-dao says about being a warrior. Open your books to the first page and Gregory, you read the first quality of a warrior.” Gregory looked down and began, “A warrior’s life is dedicated to making the world better than he found it. Warriors who fail to do this fall into the category of being mere fighters. The true power a warrior develops is not for self-promotion, but to provide the tools necessary for him to change the world around him and make it a better place to live.” Tao was confused. He knew that Wang-dao was the greatest warrior in the clan’s history. He pointed to Zen and said, “Read the second quality.”
Zen began, “The true warrior defends those that cannot defend themselves. A warrior, except in self-defense, should only fight those that are equal or superior to his skills. Fighting one that is weaker will only weaken the strong warrior and imbue him with false confidence. He should decline combat with an inferior; it will only weaken his skills and his heart. Defeat of the weak leads to a false sense of superiority that will fail during critical events. His path through life will be guided by protecting those in his care that are being preyed upon by those that abuse power.”
Tao listened to the young boys read the qualities of a great warrior and he thought about how he matched up to Wang-dao’s vision. The only quality he came close to was the last, “The great warrior’s mission is to perfect those skills necessary to excel in his chosen profession. The warrior’s life is spent joyfully perfecting the talents and skills needed to make the world a better place than he found.” He did not remember ever hearing these things when he was trained. Or, he heard but didn’t hear. He thought about himself and he knew that according to Wang-dao, he was only a ‘mere fighter’. He also knew that he was the one that others needed protection from. He relished beating everyone he fought, knowing they could not stand up to him. He also knew that those that were better in other weapons he avoided. He was the best with swords but with the lance… He thought about the one that had vanquished him. He had tried everything to avoid the challenge. Was it because he knew he was better and did not want to weaken his skills by fighting someone weaker?
He thought about his father. He always attacked the weaker ones and ran from those that were stronger. Then he saw it and it hit him like a battering ram. He was no better than his father. He inflicted pain on those who could not defend themselves against him and he avoided those that were stronger. He was becoming the man he hated. He was actually worse because he was stronger and could hurt much more severely than his father.
He stood up, “Young Warriors take your books and memorize these principles tonight. You will be required to say them tomorrow. Now go.”
The young boys ran from the room and Tao remained behind, reading the book through tears for all that he had been. He realized as he continued to read that he was not a warrior, but a coward and a thug. Protecting anything never entered his mind. He was an attacker and was proud of it. Just like his father before him, he reveled in hurting those weaker than himself. He was found the next day sitting where the boys had left him, still reading the book of Wang-dao.
• • •
Cynthia and AG had spent an evening talking and laughing. She found him to be funny and to possess a very quick wit. They sat at The Varsity and ate a hamburger and fries and she said, “How have I never gotten to know you? I know we’ve been in the same class. I also can’t understand how all my friends don’t know anything about you.”
Ag smiled and said, “I have a way of keeping a low profile and avoiding attention.” Cynthia just stared at him. “Yes, it’s another one of my talents; I didn’t want to be noticed. I was fine just watching you from a distance.”
“AG, have you seen whether or not we end up together?”
“No, that is a decision that you control and I really think you should do exactly as the Kahn said; take your time and think things through with much consideration. There is plenty of time for you to decide. You still have college ahead of you and there is no rush to decide. I’m just glad you want to spend time with me now.”
The night seemed to just fly and after what seemed like moments they were back at the home. AG leaned over in the car and kissed Cynthia and she felt it all the way to her toes. “Goodnight, Cyn.”
“Goodnight, AG.” She watched him leave and enter the building and she already missed him. How had he gotten in her heart so fast? She knew now that he was as smart as Lydia said he was and that he was more fun to be around than anyone she had ever met. She thought about him the rest of the
weekend and looked forward to seeing him at school Monday, but first she had to take Johnny to a doctor’s appointment because her parents would not be back until the next day. When she and Johnny arrived at school, it was time for lunch and she started toward the cafeteria looking for AG. As she stepped into the cafeteria she saw Lydia jump up and come rushing her way. “Where have you been?”
“I had to take Johnny to the doctor; why, what’s going on?”
“The police were here this morning and arrested AG for assaulting those football players last week. They handcuffed him and took him away in a squad car.”
Cynthia turned white, “He didn’t attack them; they attacked him.”
Lydia pointed over Cynthia’s shoulder and said, “Mr. Grest went with them and now he’s back.”
Cynthia turned around and saw Mr. Grest go up the stairs to his office. She turned and ran after him.
AG arrived at school that day and saw Robert Adams standing with two police officers at the building entrance. As soon as Robert saw him he pointed and said something to the officers. They turned and approached him, “Anthony Gardner, you are under arrest for assault and you’ll have to come with us. Put your hands behind your back.” AG looked at Robert and then saw Robert’s father standing off to the side. He could tell Robert was not happy about what was happening. He put his hands behind his back and got into the back of the squad car. He watched Robert, his father, and Mr. Grest get in a car and follow them.
The officers took him to the county courthouse and escorted him into the county courtroom. Judge Sam Jackson looked up from what he was reading and motioned the two officers to bring AG forward. Robert, his father, and Mr. Grest came and sat down behind the four teammates that AG had thrown into the lockers. Judge Jackson looked at AG and said, “I have a report here that you assaulted five students at school last week damaging school property in the process. Did you beat up the five students here?”
AG looked at the five and said, “No your honor. I only beat up four of them. The fifth I hung over the balcony in the lunchroom.”