“Okay, Winnie it is, then.” Devon reached out and pulled her into a hug. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome, tree boy,” she said, and then quickly pulled away from his embrace. “Speaking of trees, shouldn’t you be making like one instead of slobbering all over me like some drool-challenged Saint Bernard?”
“We should get going,” agreed Alya. She smiled at Winnie and waved. “See you at the afterparty, Winnie.”
“You got it! I’ll fill you in on how the dragonfly hologram recorder works later. Good luck tonight.”
“Thanks again, Winnie!” Devon called as he and Alya raced down the forest path hand in hand, only to stop dead in their tracks at the top of a small rise.
“Oh, my,” Alya gasped.
Devon wrapped an arm around her shoulders and took in the sight of hundreds of people, entire families even, sitting on picnic blankets beneath the trees, waiting for him. All of them were members of the Psionic Underground Network. And Devon was well aware that each and every one of them was risking their lives to be here this evening. “I thought this was supposed to be a small gathering.”
“I thought so, too.”
Devon could see people sitting in every direction encircling the three lounge chairs that were to be his stage. “Well, I guess word got out.”
Alya laughed. “I guess it did.”
Hand in hand, they strolled down the path, waving awkwardly at the large crowd that had gathered. An energized awareness flittered through the spectators as many of them sat up or stood to watch Devon and Alya pass.
“The Tree Shepherd,” he heard an excited voice whisper in the crowd.
“Devon! Oh, my gawd!” cried Nevada, as she raced out from beneath the trees in greeting. Her hair was growing in, her psi-tat no longer visible on her scalp. “I’m so excited! I’ve totally invited, like, all of my new friends. I even recruited Jake’s mom. She’s working for the Network now. She came up from LA tonight to experience this.”
Nevada threw her arms around Devon and Alya and hugged them both at the same time. “I totally miss you guys! Let’s catch up at the celebration afterwards, okay?”
“See you there!” Devon said, beaming. Looking around, he couldn’t believe the sheer number of people who had shown up. He had noticed both baseline and psionic faces in the crowd, all of them hoping for a chance to share in this once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Together, Devon and Alya walked toward Miguel, who was patiently waiting for them not too far from the lounge chairs. He was Devon’s official road manager for tonight’s demonstration. Miguel was in training to control his telepathy, but Devon still couldn’t get over his rapid progress not only with the mastering of his powers, but the English language as well.
“There you are,” Miguel said, clasping Devon warmly on the shoulder. “Where have you been?”
“We got held up. Sorry.”
Flashing him a strained grin, Miguel stepped closer and gestured toward the Chinese beauty who was taking a seat on one of the loungers. “Please don’t make her wait any longer. Waiting makes her extremely cranky.”
“Thanks for the tip,” Devon said with an apologetic shrug. He could only imagine what Miguel had had to endure in his absence.
“Don’t mention it,” Miguel replied with a wink. “Just get out there and do your thing.”
“You got it.” Devon turned to Alya. “You ready?”
Alya looked troubled. “Are you sure you want me to go out there with you? I mean, it’s not like I’m going to be doing anything out there.”
“Oh, yes, you are.”
“I am?”
“Of course. You’re my standby EMT.”
Alya grinned. “Your what?”
“My on-site healer. You know, just in case.”
“Just in case of what?”
Devon shrugged. “Who knows? It’s not like I’ve been around ancient redwoods before. What if it’s all too much for me and I need mouth-to-mouth resuscitation or something?”
Alya raised an eyebrow. “Mouth-to-mouth resuscitation?”
“Uh-huh.”
“Because of a tree?”
“That’s right.”
Alya laughed. “Oh, Devon. If you want me to hold your hand through this, all you have to do is ask.”
Devon sweetly kissed the back of her hand. “Then I am asking.” He gave her his best Prince Charming smile. “Please?”
“You’re impossible,” she teased as she slipped her arm through his with a giggle. “Let’s go, already.”
Arm in arm, Devon and Alya walked toward the two empty lounge chairs. The third one was occupied by Bai Lee Chen. Oh, wait a minute, strike that—Bai Lee Chen wasn’t her real name. That was the one she used for everyone’s little replay head-trip—you know, to hide her true identity like the kick-ass freedom fighter that she was.
Her real name was Mae Sing Wong, and she was not a para-psion—just merely one heck of a powerful telepath. One with attitude to spare.
Devon nodded in greeting to Mae Sing, only to have her frown and tap her wristwatch.
Yup. One powerful telepath, one super-sized attitude.
But you had to love her.
Applause rose as Devon addressed the crowd, the sun sinking low on the horizon to his right. “Thank you for coming this evening,” he said as loudly as he could, making sure to acknowledge those behind him as well. “Tonight is a very special night for me because it has always been my wish to share this experience with others. And I hope, after you hear what the trees have to say, that people worldwide will reconsider how we, as a species, treat our plant life.
“So, please, lie back, find a nice comfortable position, and open your minds. I guarantee you’re going to be amazed at what you’re about to experience here tonight.
“Thank you.”
Polite applause broke out as Devon walked to the chairs. He helped Alya into her cushiony lounger, then lay back and got comfortable in his. As he swung his legs up onto the chair, he thought of Vahn and how he had first volunteered for Mae Sing’s replay. He missed the quiet, noble psi-blade, but nothing was going to tie him down for long without his beloved Emily. Vahn had left three weeks ago to follow up on a promising lead. No one had heard from him since.
Devon prayed that the big guy was all right. If anyone in life deserved a happy ending, it was Vahn de Montague.
With one last look around, Devon reached over and took Alya’s hand and gently squeezed it three times. That was their private code for “I love you.”
He grinned to himself when she squeezed his hand three times in return.
She loved him, too.
Ah, this was one of those perfect life moments. He hoped that he wasn’t about to mess it all up with what he was about to do.
Gazing up at the powerful redwoods that loomed above him, Devon relaxed his body and opened his mind.
Sing for us…the people are listening… Show them what it is to be…natural divinity…
He was not disappointed by the mental stirring he felt, as a solitary bass voice rose from a whisper and gathered strength in volume. One voice, then two, then five, then many, filled his head in song never intended for human ears.
Once the choir of trees began to hum, Devon pointed to Mae Sing beside him. It was her telepathy that enabled the crowd to experience what previously only Devon could hear. As the trees followed the rhythm of the warm ocean breeze, their chorus rose in a lovely melody that sprang from the natural world. The voices built upon the original tune with a series of delightful variations that filled his head with complicated runs infused with jubilant inflection. It was a vibrant, stirring sound that crescendoed until the voices united as one in a powerful series of chords that gripped Devon’s heart in what could only be described as beauteous thunder.
When he heard the collective gasp from the audience, he knew that they had all just experienced it, too.
That was the natural world calling.
Voices once silent, now shar
ed.
Devon had found a way to build his bridge, after all.
He was a tree shepherd.
Just one of the many beautiful freaks of nature.
Shhh.
Open your mind.
Listen.
The trees are singing.
The End
Acknowledgements
I would like to thank some of the many people whose contributions made this book possible. First and foremost, a big warm thank-you goes out to my editor, Jennifer Carson, who saw potential in this manuscript and championed it all the way through to publication. Thanks too to Kate Kaynak, Jessica Porteous, and Raychelle Steele, and the many other wonderful and talented people at Spencer Hill Press who helped this strange little story out along the way. It’s been a pleasure to work with you.
A very special thank you goes out to Chad Brigham, from the Leach Firm, LLC, who has graciously put up with my endless stream of questions and concerns and who has been absolutely invaluable in his ability to translate legalese. Thank you, Chad!
Deep in my heart, I know that this novel probably wouldn’t have ever gotten off the ground if it weren’t for the talented members of my writing group—Shellie Braeuner, Susan Shifay Cheung and Doan Phuong Nguyen. Thank you for your wisdom, friendship, and proofreading skills over the years. Your belief in me is humbling. I cherish you all.
Thanks also goes out to Mike Corriero, an extraordinarily gifted artist who has brought the Freaks of Nature universe to life through his creature, tech and character designs. It’s such a pleasure to work with you, Mike. Your talent blows me away. Thank you! (Mike’s work is on display in this book and at www.wendybrotherlin.com and www.mikecorriero.com. Check him out.)
I would also like to say a big think you to Dianne Ellenberger, my forever friend, whose encouragement and story editing skills are second to none. I couldn’t have done this without your spot-on advice.
Thanks too, to my parents, Robert and Carol Brotherlin, who never doubted that one day I would be published.
Lastly, I would like to thank my husband and children for supplying me with ample amounts of hugs and laughter. Your support and encouragement are what inspires me.
About the Illustrator
MIKE Corriero lives in New Jersey and works as a freelance concept artist and illustrator for the video game, film and entertainment industries. Clients include: Applibot Inc., The Topps Company, Hasbro Inc., Paizo Publishing, Liquid Development, Radical Entertainment and Zynga among others.
MIKE specializes in Creature Design, Visual Development, Character Design and Environments. He has also taught as an online Instructor for the Academy of Art University in early 2012. Mike continues to pursue his passion and love of designing conceptual creatures as an independent contractor.
About the Author
WENDY Brotherlin is a screenwriter, music enthusiast and all around geek-goddess. She earned a Masters in Screenwriting at the University of Southern California and went on to write for children’s television including Nickelodeon’s Are You Afraid of the Dark?. Today, she lives in Manchester, Maine, with her husband and two little super-heroes-in-training. Freaks of Nature is her first novel.
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