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For three days Conrad and Piper relentlessly searched every square inch of Xanthia. Poor AnnA was peppered with questions and forced to explain anything and everything from the reason why Xanthian families shared a sleeping space (“Why would anyone wish to sleep alone through the darkness?”) to why the mountain rumbled and shook from time to time (“Mother Mountain is happy and her spirit is jumping.”).
Each day followed the same gentle rhythm, and it washed over Piper and Conrad and lulled them into a calm that felt foreign and strange. After Aldo sang in the morning, crystal bells chimed, calling everyone to the breakfast offering. “Offerings,” or meals, were shared in a large chamber on the main plateau next to the waterfall’s pool. Long tables were heaped with food that had been lovingly grown on the garden ledges. Piper and Conrad experienced a culinary awakening with the foreign flavors, which were sometimes sharp, often sweet, and always unexpected.
After the morning offering the children sang their way to the Celebration Center, where Sergei, their learning facilitator, was waiting for them. Meanwhile the adult Xanthians devoted their mornings to heart tasks. A heart task, as Piper and Conrad discovered, was anything that was accomplished with the use of the unique talent of a Chosen One.
After the noon offering many Xanthians gathered in the southern gardens, where they whiled away their afternoons listening to the storyteller. As the sun set, the crystals on the mountain ignited in an orange glow and a chorus of singers gave thanks to the day. In the center of the plateau in the evenings musicians played as the children were lulled to sleep.
The more Piper saw of Xanthia the more enchanted she became. While Conrad could not deny its appeal, he found Xanthia inscrutable and maddeningly calm. The more he looked for answers the fewer he found, and as the days ticked by his frustration grew.
On their fifth night in Xanthia the entire mountain was buzzing with excitement. After great preparation there was to be a Celebration. Torches had been lit leading a path to the Celebration Center, which was blooming with woven flower garlands. When Piper and Conrad arrived all the young ones had begun dancing and playing bells. Crystal bells of every color hung from the trees, and when the bells were hit with a rock the crystals lit up and sounded like laughing—a high-pitched, tinkling trill.
AnnA met them, flushed with excitement, and escorted them to where everyone else gathered in front of the steps to the Celebration Center. Conrad noticed that wherever he went with Piper the Xanthian people would discreetly melt away, leaving a berth of space around them.
“Equilla will lead Priscilla out,” AnnA told them excitedly, forgetting her shyness for the moment. “Priscilla is the Chosen One to be celebrated tonight and will show her talent for the first time. Look, those are Priscilla’s parents over there.”
Piper saw a man and a woman laughing and talking proudly with others.
“Does everyone have a Celebration?” Conrad asked.
“Yes. On your twelfth birthday the Celebration is a way for all of Xanthia to recognize your achievement and welcome you.”
Music swelled and the crowd quieted as Equilla led a beaming Priscilla out of the Celebration Center. Priscilla wore a golden robe with bees embroidered so artfully throughout it that it appeared that they were actually alive. When they reached the center of the steps Equilla held up her arms and those gathered found silence.
“I present to you Priscilla!” Equilla’s rich voice carried across the plateau and a cheer rose from all gathered. “Priscilla now stands before you as an adult and shall be recognized for her ability to make friends with the bees. From this day forward Priscilla will be awarded the role of Beekeeper of Xanthia.”
It was an emotional moment for Priscilla’s parents and for many other Xanthians who had watched her grow. They reached out for one another’s hands and held them tight, remembering the day that Priscilla was born, or perhaps the day she took her first step, or learned her first word. They took pride in her and every child, and the ceremony not only celebrated what Priscilla had become but the work of the entire community in creating her.
Equilla held Priscilla’s hand up high over her head in a position of triumph, and the gathered crowd burst into a loud cheer. Mother Mountain rumbled, echoing the fever of the Chosen Ones.
Piper was hit by an unexpected wave of emotion as she watched Priscilla’s face flush with happiness and pride. Imagine, Piper thought, what it must be like to be celebrated for your ability and your contribution. It was a powerful passage for a young person and a strong affirmation of the path that she was on—an affirmation that Piper had only ever dreamed of. Her heart ached. Would they allow a former Outsider to have their own Celebration ceremony? Would Betty and Joe be able to attend when she was celebrated? Piper resolved to speak to the matter at once with AnnA. Surely, she would know the way of things on this.
When at last the cheer died away, Equilla lowered Priscilla’s hands and took a step back so that the girl was front and center.
“Welcome, Priscilla, Keeper of the Bees. All of Xanthia honors and celebrates you.” As Equilla’s last syllable was uttered the bells on the trees began to ring and Priscilla summoned the bees. Up and down the mountain and throughout the valley the sound of buzzing began to fill the air. Soon a large swarm was gathering and growing. Priscilla waved her hand and the bees proceeded to circle over her head like a massive buzzing halo.
All eyes were fixed on the bees as Priscilla sent them hurtling up into the sky until no one could see them again, and then just as suddenly they fell out of the sky like rain. They were mere inches from the ground when they recovered.
Finally Priscilla called the bees to her and they landed on her legs, arms, back, and head until she was completely covered and it was impossible to see any part of her. Slowly she began to turn around and around, and as she did the bees fell from her. She spun faster and faster and the bees swarmed around her, and finally her arms bolted up and the bees shot away like lightning.
By this point tears were streaming down Piper’s face and her body was vibrating with some urgent need. Would she be twisting in the air and would they all clap for her? And what then? How would her life be when she was celebrated and seen for her true self by everyone around her? The tingling grew.
Conrad was surprised to see the tears on Piper’s face.
“It’s real nice here, Conrad,” Piper said. “Maybe we should stay. After we find your father we could bring the others back here too.”
“Maybe,” Conrad said, unconvinced.
Soon there was dancing and Conrad and Piper and everyone else circled around Priscilla, clapping their hands and stomping their feet and cheering. When it was time for the feast Conrad found himself drifting away to a remote corner of the plateau where he could be alone with his thoughts.
The stars were shining over the valley and Conrad could see that there was so much to appreciate about Xanthia, and yet the inner turmoil that bubbled inside him was at odds with his surroundings. What was his father doing at that moment? And how was he going to find him? He wondered about Smitty and Jasper and all the other kids and told himself that they were safe.
As his thoughts continued to spiral in different directions, a metal anchor suddenly flew through the air and lodged in the stone rail inches away from where Conrad was leaning. Conrad started, looking around but seeing no other movement.
“Look out!” yelled a voice.
Following the sound, Conrad looked down and discovered a boy dangling from a rope that was attached to the anchor lodged not more than a foot from his arm. The boy climbed quickly and expertly.
“Dude, get outta the way!” the boy yelled with great urgency.
Conrad did nothing of the sort but continued to stare and wonder why the boy wanted him out of the way. All at once the answer was painfully clear: climbing up the mountain not twenty feet behind the boy were two giant spiders. The spiders had bodies the size of large boulders attached to legs
as long as the wings of an airplane. They were black and hairy with hungry mouths jammed full of pointy teeth. They leaped at the boy, who only just evaded their grasp. The boy was climbing hand over fist, pulling himself up while rappelling against the mountain.
Conrad’s mind snapped to with crystalline clarity—there were large rocks by the water and he grabbed two of them.
The lead spider lunged for the boy and Conrad lobbed one of the rocks, hitting the spider squarely between its fifty eyes. The startled arachnid fell back before regaining its footing. The boy was five feet from the railing and Conrad let his second rock fly at the next spider—but the crafty beast dodged the missile completely.
“Grab my hand,” Conrad yelled.
The boy swung and grasped Conrad’s hand. Just as the spider leaped for him, Conrad pulled with all his might and propelled the boy over the railing. The two of them fell in a painful pile on the rock.
Neither had the time to enjoy a single inhalation before the spider climbed over the side and pounced on top of them.
Conrad was wrenched upward at the end of the spider’s right front leg. The boy was treated similarly by the spider’s left front leg. Crouching triumphantly, the hairy beast opened its wretched mouth and dangled its tasty prey above the filth of it.
“Looks like it’s a good day to die.” The boy shrugged good-naturedly as the spider lowered them to its mouth.
The comment infuriated Conrad. “I’m not dying here!”
Twisting his body around, Conrad kicked the spider’s leg with all his might.
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The force of Conrad’s blow accomplished exactly nothing. Or at least nothing good.
Infuriated by the feeble attack, the spider tossed the other boy away like trash so that he ricocheted off the side of the mountain and fell to the ground. It then focused all its attention on Conrad, opening its mouth wide and baring its fangs.
“Dude, if it bites you’re a goner,” shouted the boy. “Its venom can stop an elephant’s heart cold.”
Conrad’s feet dangled by the spider’s teeth and he drew them away to no use—the nasty creature was stuffing him into its mouth. With death imminent and options limited, Conrad made five quick decisions based on his knowledge of basic spider anatomy. First, he springboarded off the front fang with enough force to pull himself free. Next he used his forward motion to jump on top of its eyes. He then stamped on the many eyes mercilessly, blinding and confusing the beast. The spider began throwing itself against the mountain in an attempt to dislodge Conrad, but he held on to the bucking arachnid, grabbing hold of a sharp branch, which he then stabbed into the back of the spider.
“ARH!” An unholy howl came out of the spider’s mouth.
Jumping off the spider’s back, Conrad rolled to the ground and the boy pulled him out of the way of being trampled. Together they dodged as the spider spun around and finally fell off the side of the mountain altogether.
“Whoa, like that was pretty awesome!” The boy was excited. “You’ve got some moves on you, dude.”
“Not really. When competing against a foe of superior strength and size you must use the element of surprise and attack with stealth and precision.”
“Righteous!” The boy’s smile broke wide open and he took Conrad’s hand and began to shake it vigorously like an overexcited puppy. “I’m Maximillian, but no one calls me that. Just Max, that’s what you can call me. Max.”
“Okay, Max.” With difficulty Conrad extracted his hand out of Max’s grip. His shoulder had completely healed but after all the roughness with the spider he was feeling prickles of pain. “I’m Conrad.”
Even in the darkness, Conrad could see that Max looked much like himself; blond hair, pale skin that set off blue eyes, and the same jaw. But that was where the similarity ended and striking differences emerged—the boy’s face was open and his smile was easy and wide. Unlike Conrad, Max wasn’t glaring at him with open distrust and angry eyes, but instead had a sparkle in his eye and an excited inquisitiveness in the curves of his mouth, as though some great discovery was soon to be made that was sure to delight him. Conrad guessed his age to be about sixteen.
“Where did those spiders come from?”
Max reached into the bag strapped around his shoulders. “I just snatched one of their eggs.” Max pulled out a pale yellow egg about the size of a football. “I thought it’d be like way fun but the spiders went freaky deaky and I was like ‘whoa’ and hotfooted it outta there.”
The egg glowed and made strange sounds as though there was a demon wriggling inside, seeking to escape.
“There’s a legend that says if you eat the yolk you’ll be able to see the future,” Max said, mesmerized by the orb.
“It’s spectacular,” Conrad agreed. “But not exactly worth the risk.”
“Relax.” Max smiled devilishly. “You’ve gotta have fun.”
Before Conrad could respond he caught a fast-moving black blur out of the corner of his eye. In a flash the lead spider, which he’d conked on the head with the rock, was back and gunning for the egg.
Max swiveled to get out of the way, but not fast enough, and the spider knocked the egg out of his hand. In the same movement, it pushed Conrad to the ground while leaping on top of Max.
Max didn’t have time to respond before the angry spider bit him with all that it had.
“Aggggggg,” Max moaned.
Its task complete, the spider scooped up the egg, leaped back over the side, and was gone.
“Max?” Conrad was half crawling and half running in his effort to get to where the spider had left Max in a heap. “Max?”
“Uhhhh.”
Max looked up toward the stars with glassy eyes. Conrad quickly laid him out flat and felt for the wound. He probed gently but couldn’t find anything.
“Max, where did it bite you?”
Max gurgled, sucking in a long, thin breath. With what seemed like a great effort he turned his head so that he could look at Conrad.
“The egg?” he croaked.
“Forget the egg.” Conrad waved his hand dismissively. “You were bitten.”
“I—” Max began.
“What?”
Max seemed to fade away and then blinked a few times. Conrad grabbed him and shook him.
“Tell me where you were bitten?”
“I—”
Conrad waited but Max’s body went limp and his eyes closed. Laying him on the ground, Conrad got up and looked around to see what might be on hand. Besides the water and some flower bushes there was nothing of use.
He clenched his fists in frustration. “Darn it all!”
Silence settled and Conrad stamped his foot, kicking at the dirt. First his father had been shot and snatched away from right in front of him, and now this! It was too much.
“Stop!” Conrad yelled at the mountain. His echo taunted him.
“I don’t know what your problem is,” said Max calmly.
Conrad spun around. Max’s eyes were open and he suddenly looked as fresh as a daisy.
“Seriously, I’m the one who’s out an egg. I’m the one who should be screaming like an idiot.” Max sat up. “Like, dude, you should’a grabbed it. I’ll never get another one now.”
Conrad stared at Max in disbelief.
“I’m not saying I’m mad, but they only lay eggs once every hundred years, and it’s a total buzzkill trying to find ’em. So it’s not your fault but…” Max dusted himself off and hopped up on his feet. “It’s kinda your fault. Next time you could maybe like help out a little bit more.”
Conrad eyed Max closely. “I just saw that spider bite you.”
“Chill. I’m fine.”
“I see that you’re fine. But how?”
“It’s no big deal.”
Conrad wasn’t buying it. “Do you have an immunity?”
“Oh yeah, you’re the new kid. Genius, right?” Max smirked. “Alright, genius, figure it out. I’ll give you three gue
sses.”
“Is everything a game to you?”
“Do you always ask this many questions?”
“No. I’m rarely around someone who knows more than I do.” Conrad wasn’t bragging, simply stating a fact.
Max rubbed his hands together. “Let’s see what you got.”
Conrad eyed him and decided to go with it. “If you had an immunity to spider bites, you would have told me when I asked. If you’d had antivenom, I would have seen you administer it, so I’ll rule that out. You’ve made this into a game because you think that I won’t guess. So it’s something unexpected, something most people wouldn’t think of.”
“Very good. And your questions are?”
“I don’t need three questions, I only need one. Do you have a self-healing ability?”
Max shook his head, his eyes feverishly bright with anticipation.
“Then,” concluded Conrad, “you must be immortal.”
Max clapped appreciatively like he was watching a magic show. “Dude, you rock!”
“So, it’s true? You’re immortal?”
“Let’s just say I haven’t bit the dust yet.”
“Wow!” Conrad’s eyes lost focus as he considered Max. He swayed ever so slightly, and stepping back, he stumbled on a rock that sent him tumbling to the ground.
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The round gray rock that Conrad sat on was no rock at all but a miniature elephant that had achieved a very deep, very happy sleep when Conrad unceremoniously thudded on his back.
“Errrrr—” the elephant trumped angrily, jumping to his feet and tossing Conrad to the ground.
Several other rock elephants awoke and sounded in sympathy. Then the group of them huffily charged off into the night, leaving Conrad with a sore behind in the dirt. He regarded Max speculatively. “And how long have you been around?”
“I’m not a real big numbers guy.” Max would have happily left it at that, but it was clear that Conrad was going to keep at him until he came up with something more substantial. “You know, it was like way, way back when—well, before the Romans and Greeks and there weren’t any cities and things were really simple.”
The Boy Who Knew Everything Page 17