The boys lay there for a time while the police and security personnel found a ladder high enough to get them down. Lance didn’t mind, actually, just lying there with Ricky, holding hands, allowing his heart and breathing to draw down, savoring the life they’d both nearly lost. He even held onto Kai’s hand the entire time, and the Navajo boy didn’t seem to mind at all.
With the ease and strength he’d used to heft Esteban onto his shoulders, Dakota carefully lowered himself to a squat so Esteban could clamber off his back, and then both young men were off the horse and panting from exertion. Esteban gazed at the stoic Indian with openmouthed awe, but Dakota did not respond to the obvious admiration. His eyes flew up to the roof in search of his brothers, and remained so fixed until they’d been brought back to earth.
When they were finally able to clamber down the ladder to safety, Lance, Ricky, and Kai were met by Dakota, Esteban, Ryan, Justin, and a wildly grinning Reyna. A crowd of tourists had gathered, and they burst into applause when the boys touched ground again, and camera phones and video worked over time. The boys grinned sheepishly at the crowd, knowing they’d seriously disrupted the hallowed atmosphere of this place, and bowed hesitantly. That made the crowd clap even more forcefully.
Once everyone was back on the ground, Ryan flashed his badge and said, “I need to get these kids out ’a here.” The cops agreed and escorted them all back to their limo. The driver sat patiently waiting, and Edwin paced anxiously back and forth outside the car.
“What happened?” the intern asked as the kids and Ryan appeared through the wrought iron gates.
Lance shrugged and threw his aching arm around Ricky. They both had scraps and cuts, and would likely be sore as hell the next day, but they were alive. “Typical day for the Round Table.” He turned to grin at the boy he nearly lost, his heart beating with joy just being near to him.
Ricky groaned and rolled his eyes, while Kai found himself staring at the silent Dakota as though he’d never met him before, and shook his head in wonder as they slid back into the luxurious comfort of the limo and wearily headed back to their hotel.
†††
By that time, Lance and Ricky had spoken with Arthur and Jenny on the phone and assured their parents they were alive and well. By the time they returned, the story had already hit the local and national news and the kids got another round of applause from everyone in the hotel atrium as they entered. Lance and Ricky bowed foolishly, grinning and nudging the Indians and Este to bow, as well, which they reluctantly did.
Edwin thanked them with a grin. “This is a day I’ll never forget, and neither will my heart,” he added, holding a hand dramatically over his heart. He promised to be in touch with them about the CBOR and then left with the limo driver, who thanked them for “The most exciting day I’ve had in years.”
Ryan also found a contingent of five Secret Service agents awaiting them in the lobby. The one in charge informed him that the president wanted him to call immediately. As everyone retired to his or her room to get cleaned up, the agents stationed themselves outside of each door and told the occupants they would be there the entire night.
Ryan settled into the easy chair in his room and dialed the president. The chief executive was furious about the near disaster, and demanded to know where his agents had been during the melee.
Ryan informed him about Senator Cairns’ decision to call off the agents.
“Special Agent Ryan,” the president said, his voice testy and annoyed, “Senator Cairns would not be held accountable if harm came to those boys in this city, but I would. Now those agents I sent will accompany you back to L.A. on Air Force Two tomorrow and will remain housed at New Camelot until this maniac is apprehended. Arthur will just have to accept that. Are we clear?”
Ryan sighed heavily. “Yes, Mr. President. Crystal.”
“Good. Keep me in the loop on everything that happens.”
“Yes, sir.”
The phone went dead, and Ryan slumped back in his chair. He’d blown it today, and those boys almost suffered on account of his laxness. Maybe I’m just too old for this kind of work, he told himself. Maybe it’s time I did retire. Feeling dejected and more like a failure than he ever had, Ryan pushed his way stiffly from the chair and entered his bathroom to shower.
Lance and Ricky had invited Kai and Dakota into their room, and the four tired, battered boys sat in their usual circle atop Lance’s bed.
They watched the coverage for a while on the flat-screen, not surprised to see most of what happened captured on video from numerous cell phones. The news stations pieced together bits from different phones and pretty much showed the entire escapade. The boys held their breath as they watched the frenetic chase through the streets of Washington, and clapped when Dakota took out the cyclist on the bridge. Then they all watched in breathless silence as Lance sailed over JFK’s speech to grab Ricky in mid-air, and then nearly gasped at the sequence on the roof.
As Dakota and Esteban muscled Ricky up and onto the roof, Kai whistled in admiration. “I never knew you were that strong, Cloudy Boy,” he exclaimed with a shake of his head.
“Me, either,” Lance agreed. “That was like something Jack could’ve done.” Then his face clouded at the memory of Jack, and Ricky smiled supportively.
Kai eyed Dakota shyly. Of them all, Dakota was the only one who’d chosen to wear a baggy t-shirt, despite the heat of the day. Even Kai had on a tank top. Now the Navajo boy grinned slyly at Dakota. “C’mon, Cloudy Boy, off with the shirt, man. Let’s see how buff you are.”
Dakota snorted, but Lance and Ricky jumped into the fun. “Oh, c’mon, Dakota,” Lance admonished. “It’s only us guys. And Kai’s right––you always wear those big ass shirts.”
Dakota shook his head defiantly, and the other guys started chanting, “Take it off, take it off!”
Sighing with distaste, Dakota reached up and slipped the shirt over his head. Kai gasped, and even Lance and Ricky gaped. The Lakota boy was corded with muscle, across his chest and shoulders and arms; not bodybuilder thick, but wiry and ripped and solid.
“Shit, Cloudy Boy,” Kai mumbled. “How’d you get so buff on the rez?”
Dakota shrugged and slipped his shirt back on. “Wrestling foals and calves, splitting wood with an ax, hunting. Stuff like that.”
Kai nodded, not trusting himself to say another word. He was already certain everyone could hear his thumping heart, so he lowered his gaze and fell silent.
Lance noted the moment of tension between them and cleared his throat. “Don’t know about you guys, but I stink like a barnyard and need a shower. So does this fool.” He gently shoved Ricky and toppled him back onto the pillow.
“Speak for yourself, fool,” Ricky shot back with a grin as he sat back up.
Kai and Dakota excused themselves to get cleaned up before dinner and suddenly Lance and Ricky were alone. Lance killed the volume on the TV and looked solemnly at this boy he loved more than life itself.
“Don’t ever do that again, Ricky,” he whispered.
Ricky pulled a face. “Do what, get shot at by nail guns?”
Lance shook his head. “Tell me to let you go.”
Now Ricky understood, and bowed his head sadly. “I’m sorry. I just didn’t want you to die for me.”
Lance reached out and took Ricky’s hands in his. “Don’t you get it, Ricky?” he said, his voice barely a whisper. “I’d die without you.”
Ricky expelled a throaty laugh. “That’s cuz you’re a dumbass.”
Lance grinned. “No, that’s cuz I’m crazy in love with a dumbass.”
They smiled and rested their foreheads together, savoring the touch and presence of the other. Then they reluctantly separated to get ready for dinner.
†††
Dinner was uneventful except for the hotel guests wandering past and asking for pictures or autographs. Knowing they needed as many people on their side as possible, Lance and Ricky were gracious to all. Some people even wan
ted pictures with the “other heroes” and Lance shoved the other three boys out in front.
The heat and exertions and stress of the day got to everyone early and, despite it being their last night in Washington, they all retired early and fell asleep almost instantly. Lance had barely whispered, “I love you” across the room to Ricky before he drifted into a dreamless slumber.
†††
The trip home on Air Force Two was, thankfully, unexciting. Lance half expected their mysterious stalker to send him a gloating text message, but none was forthcoming. Unfortunately, all of the cyclists had gotten away in the confusion of rescuing the boys, and the helicopter cleared Washington airspace before even the Metro Police could get their own chopper airborne. Once again, they were left with nothing in the way of clues except the motorcycles, and those were ordinary Hondas outfitted with protective plating to withstand arrowheads.
Lance had been right about the aftermath of their adventure – his body hurt everywhere it was possible to hurt, and he knew Ricky felt the same. Plowing into that roof was like what he imagined being hit by a truck would feel like, and his whole body suffered painfully the next day from that bone-crunching impact.
As he napped on and off during the flight home, with Ricky’s head in his lap where it belonged, he considered how Merlin’s simple warning had saved their lives. He knew the wizard couldn’t zero in on details, but he decided to make a point of spending more time with the old guy when they got home. Perhaps Merlin knew something he didn’t realize he knew, something that would make sense to Lance, something about the identity of this psycho who sought revenge on him.
He knew they had a long way to go with their bill of rights, and he couldn’t be too frightened to go out and campaign for it. That might be his stalker’s intent, but Lance swore it would never happen. He only wished he could leave Ricky at home when he ventured forth, but the other boy’s pride would be too badly hurt. He also understood that the progression from falling objects to rubber bullets to nails meant the stalker was upping the ante. What would be next, he wondered? Another time bomb like San Francisco? He shuddered at the thought and drifted off once more, the droning of the plane engines lulling him to sleep.
†††
Due to the publicity surrounding the boys’ speech to Congress and their near-death experience at Arlington, there was a huge crowd of well-wishers, naysayers, and media encamped at LAX when everyone exited Air Force Two. The Secret Service agents deplaned first, scouting the area for potential threat assessment, and finding nothing suspicious, allowed the party to descend the air stairs to the hot tarmac. The sun was shining and the temperature in the upper seventies, but everyone relished the lack of intense humidity they’d experienced in D.C.
The public lined the fences around the tarmac, many waving signs, and media personnel shouted questions their way. Lance spotted Helen and waved, shooting a grin her way. She waved in return, but did not shout out questions like many of her colleagues.
Lance felt Ricky squeeze his arm, and when he turned Ricky pointed at some signs being waved around by protestors. Lance scowled as he read them: “God hates Fags!”; “Parents Should Control Children”; “Children Should Be Seen, Not Heard.” There were more of a similar nature, but Lance ignored them. Instead, he pointed out to Ricky the bigger part of the crowd waving signs of support: “Way to Sock It To Congress, Lance!” and “The CBOR Rocks!” Many in this section were children and teens.
He turned to Ricky with a shrug, and Ricky shrugged right back as they made their way toward the media personnel. Lance turned to Ryan as they walked. “I’m gonna answer some questions, nino.”
Ryan frowned. “Not too many, though. This place is too open for my taste.”
Lance agreed, and led Ricky out the gate to where a limo awaited them. Arthur and Jenny practically leapt from the vehicle and ran toward them, grabbing each boy in a crushing hug, all caught on camera as the media people swarmed around like bees to a hive, held at bay by the Secret Services agents. After the greeting, Lance told his parents he wanted to answer a few questions. The agents scanned the crowd intently, eyes roaming everywhere at once.
Lance smiled for the cameras, and that drew an equally photogenic smile from Ricky. The questions came at them like machine gunfire, but Lance just held up his hand for quiet and waited until everyone settled down.
“Thank you for welcoming us home,” he began, and then grinned. “I suspect you all have some idea what went down in Washington.”
There were laughs and cheers from the media and the public. The naysayers with their nasty signs tried a few boos, but were shouted down by the majority.
Lance looked sheepishly at the people and the cameras. “First off, I wanna apologize to everyone watching who was at Arlington yesterday. I mean, we spoiled what’s supposed to be a quiet place that’s meant to honor people who died for this country. And I’m, like, really sorry for skating over President Kennedy’s speech and all.”
That drew a few laughs from people, but Lance didn’t join them.
“No, seriously, it was disrespectful, but I just want everyone to understand I did it to save Ricky. I hope I didn’t wreck anything, but if I did, I’ll figure out some way to pay for it.”
That drew some gasps of surprise from members of the crowd, and Lance waited for them to quiet down before he continued.
“Besides all that drama yesterday, I think we got off to a good start on our campaign to get the CBOR through Congress. Our plan from here on out is to keep hitting up every single rep and every senator until they either agree with us or get so tired of us they vote our way just to shut us up.” He grinned, and got a few more laughs.
Lance glanced at Ricky. “You wanna say anything, fool?”
Still awkward with crowds, Ricky shook his head quickly. “No.”
Lance smiled and looked out at Helen and the other reporters. “So, I can take a few questions and then we gotta bounce. Anyone?”
Of course, every hand shot into the air, including Helen’s, and naturally Lance chose her first. “Lady Helen.”
“Do you honestly think adults want to abort kids up until they turn eighteen?” Her tone wasn’t challenging at all, and Lance had expected the question, so he was happy it came from her.
He looked straight into the cameras. “Yes, I do.”
That started a furor of follow-up questions, which Lance ignored until everyone settled back down. Then he sighed.
“What other reason is there for not giving us real rights as human beings?” he asked, not expecting nor awaiting an answer. “Right now we’re just property, and property can be thrown away because property has no rights. And children are thrown away every day in this country, in so many ways. Isn’t that basically aborting us after the fact?”
More hands flew wildly into the air and Lance called on a reporter from CBS.
“Sir Lance, do you have any idea who might have perpetrated this latest attack on you, and the other attacks, as well? Or what the motive could be?”
Lance frowned. “No, I still have no idea who’s doing these things,” he answered truthfully. “In the threats this a-hole sent he says it’s about revenge, but for what I don’t know, and my dad doesn’t know, either. We haven’t done anything to hurt anybody, unless this is about politics and stuff.” He paused a moment to collect his thoughts. “If it’s about politics then maybe there is no hope for this country, you know? If somebody or some group is so extreme they wanna kill kids like me and Ricky cuz we’re trying to make things better, well, then I guess we’re all doomed.”
He shrugged and eyed the others for follow-up questions. He pointed to another hand in front and the CNN reporter asked, “Do you and your family intend to go into hiding until this alleged terrorist, or whatever he is, is apprehended?”
Lance stood straight and tall. He turned to his fellow knights gathered around him. He eyed his parents behind him. On every face was the same answer to that question. He turned back to
the reporter and said, “Hell, no!”
The crowd burst into applause and cheers and whoops, and Lance could hear his family behind him clapping too. He waited until everyone settled back down. “I been running my whole life, and I’m not gonna run any more. I got outta that dark place I was in. I’m happy with who I am, and nobody, including these people here with their nasty-ass signs, are gonna bring me down.”
The people waving the rude signs booed, but were quickly drowned out by the cheers of the others.
“Ricky and me got work to do,” Lance went on, his intense gaze sweeping over the expectant faces in the crowd. “Important work that’ll help all kids in this country, especially kids like me and Ricky and Este and Dakota and Kai and Justin. We’re gonna be out there with the people, in their neighborhoods, meeting with grown-ups and kids, selling our bill of rights. Later, we’re gonna travel the country and do the same. We’re gonna win this thing, and if some little bitch with a fleet of helicopters thinks he can stop me, he doesn’t know me. I grew up on the streets, and I’m a survivor.”
More cheers followed his passionate statement, but Lance wasn’t done yet. When they quieted down, he glared fiercely into the camera. “If you’re watching, and I’m sure you are, yeah you who can’t fight like a man so he’s gotta send other guys to do his dirty work, you don’t scare me. You don’t scare Ricky. You don’t scare any of us. We’re gonna get our bill of rights passed and then we’re gonna find you. And when we do, we’re gonna kick yer little bitch ass from here to China!”
Reyna whooped loudly behind him and more cheers erupted. Lance grinned as Ricky playfully nudged him. Then Ryan was at his side and speaking to the reporters. “That’s all the questions for now.”
Lance waved. “Follow our campaign online. Thanks, everybody!”
And The Children Shall Lead Page 31