“Come on in,” Coral calls from the kitchen. “Eat something, please!” It sounds like a command, but I don’t mind. I’m starving now that Marla is somewhere else.
I round the corner and gasp. No wonder she’s ordering us to eat. The counters practically groan under the weight of lovingly prepared, donated food. “Jewel, Storm, you’ll both have to take some of this home with you when you leave. We couldn’t possibly finish it all.”
We help ourselves to plates of deviled eggs and chicken salad. I reach for a leg of cold fried chicken and heap baked beans and coleslaw on my plate. To my happy surprise, cold baked beans taste wonderful. I thank God I live in a community of great cooks.
The boys sit at the table close to the food. They can put away a lot of it at one sitting. Sky is in the same chair we left her in last night with a loaded tray table next to her. “Jewel!” she calls out around a mouthful of slaw. “Sit next to me!”
I drag a chair from the dining room and share her tray table. We eat in silence for about three minutes, until the words she’s been holding back all day begin to pour out of her. The poor girl needs to speak.
“How was school? Did you have lunch with Storm and Pax? Are people asking about me?”
I grin, still chewing on chicken, and she laughs. “I guess I should give you a chance to speak.” I really missed her today. The week is going to crawl by without her cheery presence and ability to lift everyone’s mood.
“First tell me how you’re feeling, Sky,” I say and take another bite. This food is delicious.
“Sequoia has been working her Cherokee magic on me,” she lifts her pants leg and I see the bandages are gone. “She rubbed some spicy smelling potion on my leg and face and they don’t hurt at all anymore. It still hurts to laugh, though.”
The bruises around her eyes have turned a nasty shade of yellow-green. It usually takes about a week for the black and blue to fade to that shade. Her nose is slightly red, but the bruise there is nearly gone. The healing process has accelerated under Sequoia’s care.
“Sequoia could teach our modern doctors a thing or two about healing,” I note.
“Dad says I have to stay home one more day, but then I can return to school.”
“I am so glad to hear that, Sky! It isn’t the same without you, and I miss you, even if it’s only been one day.”
We reach across the table and clasp hands and it doesn’t feel the least bit awkward.
Dylan comes in and calls the boys into the living room. They bring their plates and cups along and settle on the couch. Maybe now I’ll find out what’s bothering everyone.
“The story we told at the medical center about Sky’s accident isn’t the entire story, as you’ve probably deduced,” he says.
Storm looks at me, and I’m guessing he already knows what’s coming.
Dylan continues, “There were no other cars along the stretch of dangerous curves when a bright light shone into Sky’s windshield and blinded her. The same thing happened to Storm’s folks, and you saw it when that craft attacked your house, Jewel. By the time she could see again, the car had crashed through the guardrail and tumbled and rolled onto those bushes where you found it, Storm.”
I ask the obvious because I want it clarified. “So, was it another Dracan attack?”
“We don’t know for sure, Jewel. When Sky regained her sight, she saw a silver craft hovering above the river on a level with her car. She didn’t see any sign of the triangular craft that attacked you and Storm. Afterwards she lost consciousness and didn’t come to until Storm rescued her.”
Oh, no. That’s not possible. The Sentinels? They’re the good guys, aren’t they? The thought that the Allarans might be our enemies tumbles around my brain and twists it into knots. Nothing makes sense, and my head hurts nearly as much as my heart. My Sentinel?
Pax breaks in and I feel some of the knots begin to unravel, “What if the Allarans didn’t attack her? It’s possible that the Dracans were the aggressors and the Allarans fought them off the way they did at Jewel’s house. Maybe that one stayed behind to make sure she was okay.”
“They’re still guarding us,” I add, glad that Pax spoke up. “Three of them were over the school, and when we got here, I saw all four in the sky over your house. I can’t imagine they’d still be there if they meant us harm.”
“I like to think that’s what happened,” Dylan says. “The problem is that we don’t know for sure. What do we know about them? Jewel, you’ve seen a disk in the sky for as long as you can remember. We saw them attack the ship that attacked us. I want to trust them, but we actually have no understanding of their objective here.”
“The Watchers called them our allies,” Storm reminds us.
“And what do we know of the Watchers?” Dylan asks. “We simply don’t have enough information to make a judgment call. I say we have to be exceedingly careful, and suspicious at this point. We know the Dracans are determined to hurt you kids, and it’s possible that the Allarans are also hostile.”
I hate to think that my Sentinel could be hostile, but Dylan’s right. Didn’t the silver ships abduct our mothers and mess with us while we were still in the womb? Was that the act of allies, or do they have a more sinister plan?
Training helps clear my mind simply because I have no energy left to think. Sensei works us hard today while Sky watches from her spot on a pile of mats in the corner. It isn’t until after we’ve gone home and I’m ready for bed that I remember I never got an answer about the boys’ mysterious errand.
In spite of my exhaustion, I have trouble sleeping, and get up to watch the news with Mom. It isn’t good.
*****
Breaking News: “Moments ago, a magnitude 7.5 earthquake rocked the Northeast, sending residents running into the streets. The extent of damage and casualties is not known at this time. We will keep you updated.
“In other news, the remnants of Hurricane Susan are sweeping across the western states in a line of devastating storms that have dropped up to two feet of rain in some drought-stricken areas. Flash floods have wiped out entire communities. Fifty-five people have lost their lives and the death toll is expected to rise as these storms march across the Midwest. - Cayla Knox reporting for News Channel Twelve.”
*****
It seems at least one major cataclysm happens every single day, and that’s just in our country. World news is much worse. Thankfully, by the time the newscast is over, I’m too tired to think about anything and I’m out like a light as soon as I crawl into bed.
TWENTY-ONE
The quake shakes me to the floor. My alarm clock reads 4:32 a.m., and I know I won’t get back to sleep. I slept through the other tremors, but this one scares me. Is the artifact causing this?
When Sequoia challenged us to research whether the occurrence of natural disasters has increased since we were born, I started with my birth year and began to read the reports. By the time I’d read about ten years’ worth, I was convinced that what she said was true. The world is falling apart.
Does this mean we four kids, with no experience and no clue as to how to go about doing it, are expected to fix the problem? If we somehow manage to repair the tetrahedron, will the disasters stop? Will the earthquakes stop? What if they don’t?
I wish Sky was going to be at school today, but her parents made it clear she needs another day at home. I don’t blame her, of course, but I do miss her.
~~~~~
Pax is a bit more cheerful in Physics today. He winks as he walks past my desk to take his seat behind me, and sudden warmth fills my body. Even with my glasses on he’s gorgeous. When Sky is around I have mostly sisterly feelings for him, probably as a reflection of the way she feels. In this class, it’s different. I have feelings for him, but my thoughts are not sisterly at all. I remember the way his muscles moved as he carried his sister into the house, and how quick and supple he is sparring with his dad or Storm, and I feel a blush rising up my neck.
I check to make su
re I haven’t accidentally linked with Mom or Dad since my tapping on the wristband has become a habit. It’s a relief to know they’re safely out of my thoughts at the moment.
When lunchtime finally rolls around I’m reluctant to go to the cafeteria. What if the boys aren’t there? What if I have to pretend to like Marla again? My hunger wins out and I’m happy to see that Pax is already seated at our table. When I sit down across from him, he smiles. Something inside of me flutters.
“Where’s Storm?” A tiny cloud seems to come across his face when I ask.
“Running errands,” he answers, looking at the sandwich in his hands.
“What kind of errands?” I’m really curious now. Yesterday he and Storm were both out, and with Max, no less. Neither of them could stand to be around the loudmouth, and yet they were running errands together, whatever that means.
“It’s nothing to be concerned about,” he says and avoids my eyes, but of course this only increases my curiosity. “Pastor John needed us to do something in town and we did.”
“What was it?” I press. I may have gone too far, though, because he starts cleaning up.
“Nothing,” he says and stands up. “I’ll see you after school.” He walks away and I’m seething. What was that? He’s never just walked away in the middle of lunch period before. Something is definitely up, and I resolve to find out what it is.
Before I can move, Marla slithers into the seat Pax just vacated. Great.
“What’s up with him?” she asks.
“He’s probably still upset about his sister,” I answer. Maybe that’s it. It’s time to change the subject. “Where’s Max?”
“He’s off with Storm again. If I didn’t know better, I’d think they’re becoming best friends.” We both laugh at that. They can barely stand each other. There’s nothing like shared laughter to relax the atmosphere. I decide to jump off a figurative ledge.
“Tell me about yourself, Marla. How long have you lived here?”
“Mom and I moved here last January.”
“Where did you live before?”
“Raleigh. Now it’s my turn for questions.” Uh, oh. From the way she talked about Max non-stop yesterday, I assumed she’d be more than happy to talk about herself. I guess I misjudged.
“Jewel,” she says. “What are you and your friends up to?”
I gather my lunch, stand up and say “Bell’s about to ring, Marla. Enjoy the rest of your day.” I leave her sitting there with a smirk on her face. So much for trying to draw her out.
I don’t expect to see Pax again until after school, but he’s waiting for me in the hall.
“Your curiosity is going to get you in trouble someday, Jewel.” He looks serious. “You want to know what Storm is doing?” He grabs my hand. “Come on and I’ll show you.”
He pulls me along the corridor and out the double doors that open to the courtyard. We cross it and march along the breezeway to the parking lot. Pax has a firm grip on my hand and I have to practically run to keep up with his long strides.
“Where are we going?” I demand. “We can’t just leave school!”
“We’re running an errand, Jewel. I’ve cleared it with Pastor John. You’re involved and you’re coming with us.”
I haven’t seen this no-nonsense side of Paxton Fletcher before, and I must admit I like it. He holds the passenger door open as I climb into his SUV and buckle in. I take the glasses off, but probably should have left them on. Now I can’t seem to keep my eyes off him as he crosses in front of the car and climbs into his seat. His normally calm blue and yellow aura is flashing with red and streaks of dark blue. I really need to find out what the colors mean. They disturb me.
“So, what’s all the secrecy for?” I ask. “Does it have to do with our friends or enemies in the sky?”
“Earthquakes,” he says. I wait, but he keeps his mouth shut.
“What about them?” I ask. If he wants me to quit asking questions, he’ll have to be more forthcoming.
“You’ll see.” I doubt I’ll get any more out of him for now, so I sit back and watch the passing scenery. We drive a few miles along the one main road through the reservation, and then turn onto a paved narrow road leading through a tunnel of trees, around sharp curves and up the mountain. We continue to climb through thick forest until we reach a meadow with a huge house smack in the middle. We park in a circular driveway in front, behind Storm’s bike and a blue car that must belong to Max. I can see why the people who live here picked this mountaintop to build their mansion on. The view is breathtaking, no matter where you look.
“Who lives here?” I ask. Pax must be tired of all my questions, but how else am I going to learn anything?
“Chief James O’Brian and his family,” he answers. “He’s the Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation in this part of the country. He’s also a lawyer. A good one.”
My parents and I had met him and the other Tribal Council members when we first moved here. They’ve certainly smoothed the way for us and for the Fletchers to make our home here. I wonder if they’ll kick us out if we decide not to take up their challenge to save the whole world.
Pax grabs my hand again, and I feel a warm current start where his palm grips mine. It travels up my arm and through my body. A magenta glow surrounds our joined hands. Interesting.
He tugs me along, but walks slower this time, and I spot Max crouching in the field and holding a shovel. Is he digging a hole? Where’s Storm?
Two patrol SUVs are also in the field, one with its back-end to Max and what looks like a rope attached to a winch. A deputy sits on a folding stool next to the winch. He’s eating a sandwich. Someone in the far vehicle is talking into a radio.
Max turns to us and shouts, “Come to help or to bother us?” He’s as obnoxious as ever.
As we get closer, I see that the rope is actually a thick cable that disappears down a large perfectly round hole. The cable jerks and the deputy starts the winch. I watch as Storm slowly emerges from the hole, hanging from a safety harness attached to the cable. He wears a miner’s lamp and dusty yellow coveralls, similar to a fireman’s getup.
“How deep?” the deputy asks.
“About sixty feet,” Storm says. “The walls are smooth all the way down. Whatever made it stopped at bedrock.”
The second deputy strolls over with his hands stuffed casually in his pockets. “Same as the other two,” he comments. “The one we found in the woods behind Rob Townsend’s place and the hole on Wild Bill’s property were deeper, but they both bottomed out on rock, just the same.”
Three holes? I’m beginning to understand what Pax meant by earthquakes.
“Did the earthquakes cause these holes?” I ask.
Storm answers, “It’s more like whatever dug the holes caused the earthquakes.”
He peels off the coveralls and hands them and the headlamp to the deputy who’d been manning the winch. Max joins us and we walk back to our vehicles.
“Any idea what’s doing this?” he asks. “Let me rephrase that. I know you know what’s digging the holes and why. At least you have a pretty good idea. Spill it.”
Pax and Storm exchange a look and Pax nods and says, “He might as well know, Storm. If this is what I think it is, we’ll need allies, and it’s not like it’ll remain a secret for long anyway.”
“Meet us in Pastor John’s office tomorrow, Max. He’ll explain it all, and we might learn something ourselves,” Storm says. “Right now I need to get home, clean up and eat. You should, too. You’ve been working hard. Don’t you have training with Sensei Hunter tonight?”
Max reluctantly agrees. I feel his frustration. I hate it when answers to my questions are delayed like that. It’s even worse when no one will give me an answer at all. For once, I feel sympathy for the oaf.
~~~~~
As usual, we meet at the Fletchers after supper and train with Sensei Dylan in relative quiet. The strain of knowing and not knowing is beginning to take its toll. Sky doesn�
�t come to the gym at all and I assume she’s resting. I’d love to join her and take a nice long nap. After another night of interrupted sleep thanks to the earthquakes, I’m feeling very tired. And who knows if we’ll have another quake tonight, all I know is that they seem to be getting stronger.
TWENTY-TWO
SKY
The quake is more than a minor tremor. A sound as loud as the roar of a stadium full of fans wakes me up to rolling waves of motion. My stomach turns, sick at the unnatural movement. I pull the covers over my head and pray that it stops. God, keep my family safe. God, keep Jewel’s house from falling off the cliff. Disjointed thoughts and prayers rattle as hard in my brain as the earth rattles our house. I feel Mom’s terror. Dad and Pax send out protective vibes, waves of strength and comfort. I expect it from my courageous brother, but this is new from Dad. Does Pax get this gift from our father and not from the aliens?
When it stops, I jump out of bed and run to Mom and Dad’s room. Mom passes me in the hall. “Get outside, Sky,” she yells, and turns the corner toward the kitchen. I know she’s going to check her instruments.
Dad and Pax have put on boots and jackets, and Pax hurries me back to my room to do the same. I pull on a hoodie over my pajama top and slip my feet into sneakers without bothering to tie them.
It’s cold outside, typical for a mid-September night. I’m glad Pax made me take the time to cover up. We sit in Dad’s car with the heater going and wait for Mom. Her face is pale in the headlights when she emerges from the house and climbs into the passenger seat.
“We’ll have to wait here a while. There should be aftershocks after a quake of that magnitude.”
“What did it register?” asks Dad.
“It was a 6.0, a strong one. We should be hearing about it in the news tomorrow. I pray there are no injuries and not too much damage. Our house and the Adams’ home should be fine. The O’Connells should be alright, too. Their log home is as sturdy as they come. I’m concerned for our less fortunate friends and neighbors.”
Terra's Call (TetraSphere Book 1) Page 8