As soon as he spotted the bridge, Mink focused on it and ran as fast as he could. His speed paled in comparison to what he had achieved prior to his altercation with Blin, so he figured more boost bar was in order. That’s when he discovered his mom’s flatwrap was missing. It must’ve fallen out during the fight!
Mink stopped and frantically scanned the schoolyard area with his telescopic eyes. They had covered so much ground over the the Lightning, Air, and Spirit sections, it could be anywhere. His heart pounded. His mom would kill him for sure if he lost it. And who knows what would happen to her if someone else found it and was able to trace it back.
Panicked, Mink caught view of Thoy looking at him and chanting. Vowing to find the flatwrap later, Mink dashed for the Wood bridge. It seemed to take forever, but he managed to reach it with effects intact. Cutting a hard right turn, Mink ducked low and close to the fence. He checked each street sign ahead of him, found the one that led to Dreh’s, and made a break for it in a dead sprint.
Less than halfway to his turn, his vision stretched out in front of him, returning to normal. He tumbled hard into the drainage ditch, legs giving out. The pain from the fall lingered now. As he stood back up, he looked in the direction of the schoolyard. The Air user had climbed high into view with Air Walk, presumably using Featherweight to carry Thoy within a clear view of Mink. His mother’s effects were gone.
The next effect Thoy might implement could only go very wrong for Mink. He couldn’t afford to wait for the right street to appear. He took off at his old, painfully slow pace down the closest street. He had hardly passed two of the typical two-story octagonal houses before he was sucking wind. After all that running he had done since yesterday afternoon, now his legs were threatening to leave him here.
If God would only let him live through this, he promised never to run again. He made for a side street to his right, hoping for more cover from Thoy. It took forever. He couldn’t believe he was ever this slow. Looking over his shoulder, Mink couldn’t see Thoy. It wouldn’t be long before Thoy had an effect chanted out and ready to implement as soon as Mink came into sight. The houses stood high and close enough together to provide some protection, but there weren’t any guarantees.
Dreh’s house should be four blocks away from here. Two blocks later, Mink realized he was passing Gyov’s house. Of all the rot! He kept reassuring himself that she had already left for the lake. But just in case, he acted like he was running for exercise, rather than for his life. Still, he wouldn’t expect Gyov to be impressed with his wheezy, heavy-footed jog.
One last turn to the right, and Dreh’s house was finally ahead of Mink. He risked one more look over his shoulder to find no one in pursuit. For some reason, it creeped him out that he couldn’t see anyone on the ground or in the sky. He calmed himself by assuming they were tending to Blin, but he still scanned the area as he ran.
He reached Dreh’s porch, alternately clutching his chest and knees. Mink took long, deep breaths to regain his composure. The door opened before he could knock. Dreh repositioned his Wood-rimmed glasses to better appreciate Mink’s condition. There wasn’t anything wrong with his vision, but he insisted on wearing his first pair of Materialized glasses as a fashion statement. Dreh’s chestnut hair matched his skin tone so closely that Mink almost thought he had gone and shaved his head. He did a double-take and saw it was just slicked back. Jacketless in a soft orange shirt, Dreh leaned against the open doorway.
“Gyov called and said you might be coming over,” Dreh teased.
Mink collapsed on the porch, panting and leaving a sweaty impression on the Wood. “Don’t care,” he managed to say. “I… don’t care. I’m not dead.”
“Just kidding, champ. I saw you run down the street from my room. I thought you were at Rift Ridge. Back early?”
“Long story, Dreh,” Mink gasped. He managed to sit up, hugging his knees and getting better control of his breathing. “Can’t tell you.”
“Please. Come in. Unless you want me to go jogging with you.”
Dreh’s house often held the aroma of some kind of thick stew, but the smell hit Mink’s greedy lungs stronger than usual. He started feeling lightheaded just a few steps inside.
“I’m going to be sick,” Mink half-joked. “You safehousing Reeks here?”
Dreh led Mink up the stairs. “Yeah. I thought you could use a girlfriend.”
Mink doubled over and threw up well-digested boost bar on the stairs. Dreh started laughing first, but Mink joined as soon as he was able.
“I’ll clean this up,” Mink offered. “Just grab me a cloth or something.”
Mink sat beside his vomit and concentrated on recovery while Dreh ascended quickly to fetch a small towel.
“Now you’re going to have to tell me what you’re doing here,” he said before he disappeared.
Mink knew he wasn’t allowed to tell Dreh anything about the crystal, the Machinist, or why he was back from his trip early. He had to clear his head and focus on what might be okay to divulge. If there were any way to reach his uncle in Protallus City in time, Dreh was his best bet. He had to give him some information to be willing to travel that far. He was roused from his thoughts by a towel falling on his head.
Dreh sat a few steps above the mess. As Mink cleaned, he told Dreh close to every detail about the trip, up to the point where he experienced death. Not knowing how to be vague with regard to the events that followed, Mink skipped to the part where his mom put effects on him so that he could deliver a message to his uncle. Dreh listened with great amusement until Mink began explaining how she put the Quick Legs effect on him, at which point Dreh got up and climbed the stairs.
“Mink,” Dreh grumbled, shaking his head. “I was believing all that rot, too. You don’t even know how to lie.”
I’M NOT lying, Dreh. Serious. My mom figured out a way to put Quick Legs on me. How do you think I got back so fast? I left Rift Ridge before sunset yesterday!”
Dreh shot Mink a harsh look from the top of the stairs. “I watched you run up here. Your Quick Legs rot. I could run faster uneffected.”
“You haven’t let me finish, man. I was on my way to Protallus City when Blin and crew jumped me. Thoy canceled the effects my mom did.”
“If you were going to Protallus City, why’d you go where Blin could find you?”
Mink felt embarrassed to tell Dreh the truth about his detour to see Gyov, even if he knew about Mink’s crush. He didn’t want to betray his friend’s trust by lying to him, but it felt like the only option. There were more important things about Mink’s mission that he had to lie about anyway.
“I thought I’d have time to grab a music crystal and another paddle and junk from home to take with me. I got kinda lost trying to find my way with the Quick Legs and Tunnel Vision. So, I wound up at the school. That’s when Blin jumped me.”
Dreh offered to take the towel, but Mink ascended the stairs instead and walked down the hall to throw it in the hamper. Dreh’s silence drove Mink to weigh the consequences of sharing something confidential to win his trust.
“You’re telling the truth? Your mom was able to put Quick Legs on you?”
“On my honor, may the Reeks take me.”
“Okay, okay, no need for all that. I believe you. Still, that’s amazing. Is that so… what? You going to work for her taxi business now?”
“I dunno. She’ll do what she does, you know that. She did it because she and pops need to stay at the campsite and I have to take a message crystal to my Uncle Durren.”
“That sounds like serious business. What’s going on out there? Your dad see something?”
They entered Dreh’s room. It was hard to believe that he spent almost all his time in here, he kept it so neat and orderly. All of his crystals were arranged in a case on the wall with glass doors. Books sat, alphabetized by author and chronological by title, on a set of bookcases that Dreh had Materialized himself. Mink looked out the window and satisfied himself that no one had follow
ed him.
“Man, please, trust me. I can’t tell you any of the details. But, now I need you to take me to the Capitol.”
“Nope. No can do,” Dreh said.
“Why not?” Mink asked.
“I didn’t think you would be back for days, so my social calendar is filled. I’ve got places to go and people to see and none of it is at the Capitol.”
“What? What do you have to do tonight? We’d be back by tomorrow night. I promise.”
“Sorry. The details of my evening are classified.” Dreh spoke in a way that Mink understood to be a bargain. Quid pro quo. Mink might have to violate some confidentiality in order to complete his mission. The last time he told Dreh classified information, his dad found out before Mink even got back home, so he was anxious not to make the same mistake with this.
“Look, Dreh. This is for my dad. I don’t even know what it’s all about. I just know that I have to get to my Uncle Durren by morning. My parents are still out there to take on the Machinists by themselves if war breaks out before the Capitol can respond. You’d be doing everyone a huge favor. Not just me.”
Dreh thought about it while jostling around an egg-shaped animal skin thornball. His fingers deftly avoided the thorns lining the stitches, which were laced with a specific neurotoxin inhibiting speech. This was his way of pretending to think after he had already made up his mind.
“Did you scratch yourself, man?” Mink prodded. “It’s not like you to be this quiet.”
“Promise me this,” Dreh began.
“Maybe.”
“Let me finish, Mink. Promise me that if I take you to the Capitol, you’ll come with me to a party tomorrow night after we get back.”
Mink hated parties. At some point in the festivities, he inevitably became a target for effect after effect. Other students delighted in showing off their skills by picking on him. Mink could count on one hand the number of people his own age who didn’t exploit his lack of an Element. He no longer even had birthday parties for himself.
“That’s not fair, man. I have to get to Protallus City for national security. Not an option. If you have to resort to petty blackmail, I’m wasting my time.”
“I only ask for one teensy-weensy favor.” Dreh skillfully tossed and spun the thornball in the Air. He knew he had won.
“I need you and your sled. That’s my fastest option now. You’re extorting me.”
“You didn’t say the magic word,” Dreh taunted.
“Fine. I’ll go.” Mink already started thinking of a way to get out of the party. Maybe Uncle Durren could detain him for questioning or something.
“Okay. Wanna swing by your house and get your stuff?”
“Nah. There isn’t enough time. Besides, Blin’s friends might be waiting for me there.”
“Not Blin?” Dreh clarified.
Mink didn’t want to admit to himself, let alone Dreh, what he had done to Blin. He almost hoped Blin made it out okay. However, if he were alive, their next meeting would be nightmarish. Mink needed Dreh’s protection. Staying by his friend’s side made the most sense, even if that meant placating him and going to some stupid party.
“No. Blin won’t be there,” Mink said without elaborating.
“Let’s get going then.” Dreh sprang into motion.
Dreh put on his jacket and stuffed the pockets with a few essentials before they went back downstairs. Mink had reacclimated to his natural sight and gait, but would’ve liked to keep the Regenerative Cells for all the soreness he felt going down the stairs. It occurred to him that Pulti could easily heal his legs, but there just wasn’t any time to spare.
“Yathi!” Dreh yelled from the middle of the house.
“What?” his sister’s voice sounded muffled by a couple of walls at least.
“Tell mom when she gets back that I went to the Capitol!”
“Why?”
“Because I won’t be here to tell her myself!”
“Why are you going?”
“I’m starting a petition to lower the legal working age to twelve! You better start thinking about what—”
“Fine! Whatever!” Yathi cut him off. A prolonged silence followed. “Is Mink with you?”
“No! He’s at Rift Ridge!” Dreh lifted a finger to his lips. Mink didn’t betray Dreh’s ruse, but signaled that it was past time to go.
“Then who were you talking to?”
“Myself!”
“Did you throw up on something?”
“Are you going to tell mom, or not?”
“I already said I would!”
They hurried to the garage where Dreh’s sled was parked. The way he had painted it red, black, and silver, made the sled appear to be assembled from several parts. On the contrary, Mink had watched Dreh make it from one solid piece of Materialized Wood. It had two seats in tandem, high-backed with grips for each occupant, and a sloping nose in front that resembled a beak. The four runners underneath were sleek, road-only style lengths of Wood, specifically tuned for speed.
“By the way,” Dreh said, mounting the driver’s seat. “You’re buying the food.”
Dreh passed Mink a helmet which he securely fastened, tucking in his hair. Dreh made final preparations for depature, using one hand for his helmet and the other to pull a couple of thumbless gloves out of a compartment between the handlebars. Mink mounted the seat while Dreh pulled on the gloves. Then Dreh chanted the Sledding effect for Wood users’ Movement,
“I ride upon a sled of Wood.
The sled and my power are one.
My thumbs steer and control the speed.
The runners under the sled glide.
Thumbs up, forward. Thumbs left and right.
My sled won’t move without my thumbs.
I feed off Soil and Water.
My sled and I move when I reach.”
As soon as Dreh grabbed the handlebars in front of him, his thumbs sank into them, becoming Wood themselves.
DREH EASED the sled out of the garage, down the driveway, and accelerated along the residential roads. Either he had been ticketed in the past couple of days, or was trying to catch Mink off guard before zipping off. The neighborhood roads were made of natural Soil which contained rocks, shells, and glass that could damage the runners. Materialized Soil was expensive due to its purity and higher density, which made it almost exclusively used on the main roads. There was an audible difference between the pops and cracks of natural Soil roads and the shushing sound of the highways.
Mink braced himself as they approached the on-ramp for the main road, lest Dreh inject a large amount of his energy into the sled in an oft-attempted move to throw him. A Body user’s medic cart rushed by with a sense of urgency. The Body user pulled the cart with such speed that, by the time Mink turned back to look, it had already disappeared in the direction of the school. The sled lurched forward, almost spilling Mink onto the road. Dreh threw his head back and laughed. Mink settled back in, grabbed the handles more tightly, and then laughed himself.
Compared to his Quick Legs experience, Mink decided it really was much nicer to be the passenger. He was able to lean back and take in the sights passively. Dreh moved to the left a couple of lanes, then doubled the speed. The sled hugged down close to the road.
“Did you do something different to your sled?” Mink wasn’t sure if he could be understood in the muffling wind.
He could barely make out Dreh’s voice through his helmet, leaning forward a bit to make sure he heard him right. “I think I finally found the right amount of mud for the runners. I’m getting a big boost to the effect without any extra weight to slow it down.”
“What kind of mud are you using?”
“Top of the line stuff. Both natural Elements Purified with apostrophication.”
“That’s awesome. Your dad paying for that?”
Dreh snorted. “Ya think? The only drawback is the mud dries out after four hours. We’ll need to stop regularly for application, but the extra speed should m
ore than make up for it.”
Mink was impressed by Dreh’s ingenuity and resourcefulness. Mud made the perfect enhancement for Wood effects. A mixture of Soil and Water, both augmenting Elements for Wood. True, the boost lessened as the mud dried, but as the only Element augmented by two others, it held a huge advantage for the user.
“Is this the top speed then?”
Dreh shot a sly look over his shoulder by way of an answer, then pressed the sled to a frightning speed. There was no way Mink could have traveled this fast with Quick Legs and he doubted even his mom could have kept up. After a few seconds of showing off, Dreh backed the speed down to a cruising pace. Mink was glad he had come to Dreh.
“I’ll buy you all the mud you need if it gets us to Protallus City before breakfast.”
“Thanks, champ. You’re the best!”
Mink leaned back into his seat and watched the towns come and go along their route to the Capitol. Octernal shone with particular beauty to him today, though he didn’t usually consider himself a patriotic person. Yes, his dad worked for the government and his uncle was an elected official. Although it was hardly the first time Mink had been a courrier of sensitive information, now he was more or less going to be in the government’s employ. It connected him in ways that he had yet to experience.
Elementalists went about their day, commuting, contributing, and generally enjoying their lives. Everything seemed peaceful and happy. That any peril should loom over this land felt wrong and out of place. Securely stowed in his thigh pocket, a satchel held a singular crystal encoded with a classified message revealing the probable existence of a Tear of God. With it came the promise of a new era of enlightenment and progress, as long as the Machinists didn’t get it first.
Given this time to decompress and reflect, Mink felt immensely honored to be the one to deliver the crystal. For the first time in a long time, he sensed that he belonged among his people. Considering that a few billion Elementalists lived throughout this vast country, how could he be the only one without an Element? It didn’t seem fair. It was certainly a ridiculous fate to be the one to discover the supposed Tear of God.
Elements (Tear of God Book 1) Page 8