WHEELS

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by Lorijo Metz


  “My-my-my-DAUGHTER is here?”

  “Don’t worry. It’s usually not this exciting. Not all at once, anyway.”

  “The trees—they’re BLUE!”

  “Yes, they’re blue, just the way trees ought to be. Never could get used to all that green. It’s not normal.”

  “And the leaves—so red! My goodness they’re tall. And dense! It’s like having a roof over your head.”

  “Now James, I’m sure you’d love to study—”

  “NO! Oh no! I have no desire to study the trees. Trees make me—” James’ arm shot straight up in the air as if he were trying to keep the canopy at bay.

  Provost reached out and steadied him. “Try to relax.”

  “I mean forests make me-me-me…”

  “Make you?”

  “Did I mention I get kind of…” James’ swaying became more pronounced, “claustrophobic?”

  “EEEEEE, tsoot, tsoot, tsoot!” Another wad of tsootbas spit shot past James and disappeared under the moss.

  “And I DON’T LIKE BUGS!”

  Darn Petré for sticking me with this scientist! Probably never gets out of the lab! “Then I suggest you keep your noofoto open and, if possible, your mouth shut!”

  James nodded, his face growing paler by the second.

  “Quickly. Hold on to my shoulders. I’m weaving us out of here.”

  “But I thought you didn’t know where to go.”

  “Soliis, an old associate of mine, once described the location of a Tsendi prison. According to him, it’s built around an inlet, in a C-shape to be precise, surrounded by a moat. Ingenious; for the Tsendi fear water. Moreover, while there are many inlets on Circanthos, I believe there is only one Tsendi prison.”

  “What about the earthquake? Won’t there be aftershocks?”

  “Not on Circanthos.” Provost frowned. Though there shouldn’t have been a tremos now either. Shortly before he’d left for Earth, he’d begun to notice that tremos, usually so predictable, were occurring at odd times. On Earth, he’d researched earthquakes. They were, indeed, much like tremos. Perhaps, exactly alike. However, while Earth rotated around only one sun, Circanthos was pulled between two. He was beginning to wonder how his tiny planet held together at all.

  “Are we going?” asked James.

  B.R. Provost closed his eyes. Particle-weaving the planet back to calm after a tremos was second nature to a Circanthian. But what if there were no more Circanthians? Was it purely coincidental that as there were less and less of his people, tremos began to increase in frequency and size? He sighed. “Yes, we’re going. Be aware, I have no idea what awaits us. There may be two dozen Tsendi at the end of the portal.”

  “Or McKenzie,” said James.

  Principal Provost took a deep breath and began to particle-weave a portal to a place he’d never been, a Tsendi prison. A place, he dearly hoped, they would not find McKenzie.

  Chapter 45

  FBI TRANSCRIPT 21205

  Agent Wink Krumm and James Wu

  Tuesday, June 9th

  KRUMM: What do you know of Principal Provost’s disappearance?

  J. WU: I barely knew the man.

  KRUMM: And yet…never mind, you’ll simply deny it. I’m warning you, don’t leave town. You or any of your family.

  J. WU: We’ll see what my lawyer says about that. From what I’ve discovered—and by the way, we also have our sources—your record isn’t exactly spotless. Seems your little vacation wasn’t exactly…voluntary.

  KRUMM: I’d like my personal log returned.

  J. WU: You would think someone in your position would be more careful. You keep misplacing things.

  KRUMM: Stay out of my business.

  WU: How about this, I’ll stay out of your business, if you stay out of mine. Mine—and McKenzie’s!

  ***

  STUBBORN, FRUSTRATING, PIG-HEADED…!

  Thursday, March 19th

  Tsoot Pit on the Tsendi Compound

  Take it easy. Everything’s gonna be fine. Think back, when did I first notice this-this—this feeling?

  Hayes closed his eyes. He needed a moment to step away, if only mentally, from the adventure/nightmare that had become his life recently. Something even more dramatic had happened.

  Abacis was lying on the sidelines, knees up to his bulbous Tsendi eyeballs. That’s right! And his team—Wait! How did Abacis get hurt? Weird? Okay, whatever, I have no idea. Anyway, his team was down by a lot. It was the end of the first half—NO—it was the second half, ‘cuz the tremos was over and that Tsendi sitting in front of McKenzie had fallen again—although this time it looked more like he jumped. Weird. Then Wells called a timeout. Right. That’s right! And while he was busy fixing his hair for like the hundredth time, I was tapping my leg, staring at Mac and thinking, LOOK at me! LOOK at—

  Why was I doing that?

  Oh right! ‘Cuz I couldn’t risk shouting across the pit, “Hey look at me. I’ve got a cortext in my pocket!” If Mac can imagine her way across the universe, I should at least be able to send my thoughts across the tsoot pit.

  I’m an idiot!

  Of course, she didn’t look. Well…she looked, but then she headed into the tsoot pit and then she wouldn’t look at me at all. Like she was angry or something.

  Then the timeout was over and McKenzie still had no clue I had the cortext.

  Ohhhhh man!

  That’s when it happened! That’s when I remember thinking; McKenzie Wu is the most stubborn, frustrating, pig-headed female alive. But man—is she hot!

  ********

  They were now down by exactly three players and five points. Not good. Not good at all!

  “Nooooo!” McKenzie covered her eyes. Make that six points.

  Including Abacis, who was still lying on the sidelines moaning in pain, they’d lost more than half their team. We’re never gonna win at this rate. It wasn’t fair. It totally wasn’t fair! Mallos was injuring players right and left and the refs weren’t calling any of it. It wasn’t even a game anymore. More like a World Wide Wrestling competition. A joke. One that was gonna get them all killed.

  McKenzie shook her head and looked across at Hayes. He was staring at her, tapping his leg again. What was wrong with him? Did he really expect her to feel bad about his sore leg at a time like this?

  I have to do something!

  McKenzie tapped Mana on the shoulder. He turned around, a growl already in place, but she quickly leaned forward and whispered something in his ear.

  Mana shook his head.

  “PLEASE,” said McKenzie, not bothering to whisper this time. “It may be our only chance.”

  Mana growled at her and turned around.

  McKenzie sighed. If Mana refused to help, she’d have to do something else, even if that meant escaping with Hayes and leaving Abacis and his followers to die at the hands of her great-great-great uncle.

  Could I do that?

  Suddenly Mana stood up. He glanced back at McKenzie—

  Did he just wink at me?

  And jumped into the tsoot pit.

  Wells jumped to his feet and yelled, “Moocroken!” Which meant, not only were they down another point, but there would now be a timeout while Mana returned to his seat. Only Mana didn’t return to his seat, he walked over to Abacis.

  Please, oh please, oh please let Abacis agree to this! McKenzie could hardly keep herself from racing down there.

  Abacis shook his head.

  NO!

  He looked at her. He looked angry. He shook his head again. He—Yes!—motioned McKenzie into the pit.

  McKenzie could feel all eyes on her as she made her way down. Especially Wells…and Hayes, whom she refused to look at, fearing all she would see was disappointment. It wasn’t like she was trying to take over the game. It isn’t like back home.

  She stopped. Why had she thought that? …like back home? Was it true what her coach had said? Was she really a ball hog? Oh, my god, I am! I’m a horrible team player. No wonder Joa
nne hates me.

  If only she could talk to Hayes, promise him that once they got back home things would be different. Which was silly because he probably didn’t care. He wasn’t even on the team and yet…for some reason she wanted him to know.

  McKenzie glanced at Hayes. He was looking at something else, but he still had his hand on his leg. It must really—Oh God! Suddenly it dawned on her. Oh, oh—oh snaps! Hayes was wearing the pants with all those crazy zipper pockets. His leg didn’t hurt. He was trying to tell her something. Something was in his pocket. He’d been in Wells’ bedroom. Could it be? Did Hayes have the cortext?

  McKenzie took a deep breath. Don’t look at him. Don’t give it away. Then rolled into the pit and up the ramp to where Abacis was waiting just beyond the drummers.

  “You are no match for Mallos,” he said, still looking very much in pain.

  “I don’t have to be. I run him down. I take him out of play, and we’ve got a chance.”

  Abacis cocked his head as if examining her wheelchair. He muttered something about Wells making it impossible for them to win.

  “If it’s impossible,” said McKenzie, “then you’ve got nothing to lose by letting me try.” What she didn’t say was that when it came to basketball—or in this case, tsoot—she didn’t believe in impossible.

  For one brief second, Abacis’ big Tsendi eyes locked on hers, and McKenzie had the strangest sense he approved.

  “Thank you,” she said and, before he could disagree, turned and rolled into the pit.

  As Mana walked back to his seat, McKenzie rolled over by the rest of her teammates—all three of them. If they were going to win they would need more than Mallos out of the pit, they would need strategy. “Gather round,” she said, “I have an idea.”

  ********

  Boom daga-bagadaga,

  Boom daga-bagadaga,

  Boom-daga, Boom-daga, BOOMBOOMBOOM!

  The moment the drummers began to play, McKenzie took off, barreling around the court and straight towards Mallos. Mallos didn’t even know what hit him. He went limping out of the pit and was now brooding on the other side of Wells.

  Hayes watched in amazement as McKenzie led her team through plays right off the court—the basketball court, that is. Not only did the plays work, they were now only one point behind. What amazed him most, however, was that McKenzie had made not one of the points. Sure, the hoop was clearly too high for her. But this was McKenzie, the obnoxious, aggressive star of the Avondale Warriors. The player who eighty-eight percent of the time had control of the ball. Who made ninety-nine percent of the Warrior’s scoring points. McKenzie Wu, diehard ball hog—not a team player. Until now. Hayes had never seen her play so well.

  Beside him, Wells was red-faced and ready to blow. Hayes sighed. There was no way Wells was going to let Mac get away with it.

  Sure enough, Wells turned to Mallos and whispered something heatedly in his ear. Mallos’ leg was all red and twisted. Whatever Wells said must have been motivating, for Mallos headed back into the pit.

  Wells stood up and yelled “Moocroken!” The drummers paused.

  This can’t be good. Mallos was going to play. Even with his messed up leg he was strong. This time, McKenzie would not have the advantage.

  Hayes leaned over the wall. He had to warn her.

  “Master Hayes,” Wells was glaring at him. “What are you doing?”

  “I’m a…” Hayes leaned back, “just trying to get a better view.”

  The Tsendi had already begun shouting, “Mallos, Mallos, Mallos!”

  Mallos stood in the center of the pit, facing McKenzie like a bull waiting to charge.

  “Shall I give the signal,” said Wells, “or would you like the honor?”

  Hayes felt ill. “You can.”

  “Thank you,” said Wells, sounding smug.

  Suddenly a murmur arose from the fans. Something was happening in the pit. Something amazing. Abacis was on the court. He limped over and stood behind McKenzie. Judging by his limp, he would be of little help. At least now, however, McKenzie might have a chance.

  Wells, whose face was as red as a piece of cobaca froot, held up his hand and yelled, “Moocroken!” The drummers began.

  Boom daga-bagadaga,

  Boom daga-bagadaga,

  Boom-daga, Boom-daga, BOOMBOOMBOOM!

  Before the first boom had finished piercing the air, Mallos charged. The small ringed area around the hoop was out-of-bounds, so Mallos had to charge around rather than straight. Just as he’d stood there shocked when McKenzie charged, for a second, it looked as if McKenzie and Abacis were frozen by the sight of Mallos. Luckily, the second passed and McKenzie, who still had the ball, tossed it over her head, into Abacis’ waiting hands and then took off in the opposite direction.

  While Mallos followed McKenzie, Abacis took aim, shot and sent the ball sailing through the hoop, tying the game. The ball whisked through the hoop and McKenzie, rather than continuing her path around the pit, headed straight toward the wall, turned around, reached out and caught the ball as it came down on the other side of the pit.

  Mallos was now just seconds away. Hayes held his breath, expecting McKenzie to pass the ball. Expecting Mallos to smash into her before she had the chance. Expecting everything—but what happened.

  McKenzie threw the ball up, up and through the hoop—then disappeared!

  Mallos, expecting to crash into McKenzie, crashed into the wall instead.

  Wells jumped up.

  The drummers stopped playing.

  We won! Thought Hayes.

  But where was Mac?

  Chapter 46

  Excerpt from the personal log of Agent Wink Krumm

  Thursday, March 19th

  Just outside Avondale

  Discovered several articles in Professor R.’s suitcase about a girl named McKenzie Wu. He seems to have been keeping tabs on her. The girl’s in a wheelchair, but appears to be quite the athlete. Some sort of wheelchair basketball star.

  ***

  REVELATIONS & REALIZATIONS

  Thursday, March 19th

  McKenzie leaned forward and felt something solid. Particles continued to swirl and dance, but slowly fell into place revealing a rough dirt wall and a dusty, blue-gray trail left by her fingers. Had she really done it! Then why is it so quiet?

  “GUARDS!”

  And all hell broke loose.

  Tsendi guards, heavily armed and armored, swarmed into the pit, surrounding Abacis and his team. McKenzie turned just in time to see Mallos struggling to his feet on the other side of the pit.

  At least no one had noticed her.

  “GUARDS! THE GIRL!”

  McKenzie looked up to see Wells red-faced, pointing and screaming—and leaning so far over the wall she was afraid he’d fall on top of her. Ah well.

  Four guards broke away from the circle and surrounded her.

  McKenzie ignored them, sensing they were far more afraid of her than she was of them. Besides, something more important was bothering her. Where was Hayes?

  As though reading her mind, Wells stepped aside allowing two guards, dragging a prisoner between them, to step forward.

  McKenzie felt ill. What had she done? She’d only meant to win the game—not this!

  In an obvious attempt to conceal his pain, Hayes smiled. “Sorry,” he mouthed.

  McKenzie looked away. How could she have been so stupid?

  Wells’ guards must have been ready and waiting, just out of sight, the entire game. Abacis’ followers were being poked and prodded into the pit. Wells had never intended to let them win. Abacis had known this. “…impossible,” he’d muttered. So why had he continued to play? Had he hoped to expose his Advitor for what he really was?

  McKenzie looked up again. Hayes was gone! She should never have taken her eyes off him. She should never have done so many things…touch the box, agree to this stupid plan and, worst of all, let Pietas convince me I’m some sort of savior. Humans weren’t meant to be special—not
superhero special. What had Spiderman’s uncle said? “With great power comes great responsibility.” Something like that. From what McKenzie knew about being human—all fourteen years of it—it was impossible for a human to be in control all the time. If Superman had been an emotional human, he would have hurt people as often as he helped them. Lex Luther would have pissed him off so much the entire storyline would have been over in a day. So far, her own ability had brought only pain and suffering. Her mother had lost her life because of it and, if she didn’t think quick, her best friend would too.

  “What’s going through that little mind of yours, Miss Wu? You look worried.” Wells smiled, clearly confident of his position. “Given your recent demonstration, I’d say your Gate is fully functional and capable of allowing you to escape at any moment.”

  Interesting… Wells thought she’d used her wheelchair, or rather, her Gate to disappear.

  “You and I both know that would be a most unfortunate choice, given your friend’s position.”

  As if on cue, Hayes was dragged into the pit. The circle opened and McKenzie saw Abacis kneeling in the center, his arms behind his back and a knife to his throat. A huge hulking Tsendi towered over him. Hayes was forced to kneel beside him and now he too had a knife to his throat. McKenzie studied the faces of the other Tsendi. Her heart beat faster. Where was Mallos?

  “I suspect you’re feeling left out,” said Wells. And much to her surprise, one of the guards poked her in the back. “OW!” While another grunted and poked at her chair.

  “You can stop poking. I’m going,” she said, allowing the guards to herd her into the center beside Abacis.

  Wells paced back and forth, clearly enjoying the moment. “So, Miss Wu, save yourself or save the boy? Surely, you wouldn’t sacrifice his life simply to deny me. It is only a machine, after all. A machine versus a life. You decide.”

  McKenzie needed more time. The chances of saving Hayes and herself were getting slimmer by the second. The chances of saving Hayes, herself, Abacis and all his followers seemed nearly impossible. But what the heck…” What about Abacis and his followers?” she shouted.

  “Tutt-tutt, my dear. We had a deal. Olt-tsoot is an old and honorable tradition on this planet. While it may appear barbarous to your human sensibilities, it does serve the purpose of settling disputes quickly and cleanly. Furthermore, if you recall, Olt-tsoot was Abacis’ idea. While cheating, and thus forfeiting the game, was yours.

 

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