Read Online Virginia Hamilton by Justice, Her Brothers: The Justice Cycle (Book One) - Free Book Online

to the school. And everyone had been impressed that he would lend Thomas such valuable equipment.
    Levi had no apparent talent, although he enjoyed writing prose as well as poetry. He wrote easily, constantly, telling no one. He felt no envy for Tom-Tom and the crowds of kids he attracted. Summers could be the worst times. For, with little to do, Thomas had in the past gotten into trouble with their dad. Usually, he had dragged Levi in with him. So Levi was glad that Tom-Tom could do something so special. Also, this way, Tom-Tom’s attention focused elsewhere than on Levi.
    Thomas did poorly in school, almost as if he tried. Rude to teachers, contemptuous, he made poor marks in conduct. He was smart enough, Levi knew. But he would have flunked his subjects if not for Levi’s steady coaching at home.
    Through the roll and echo of deep drumming, Justice discovered the twitching of Levi’s hands. He was perspiring, glistening with sweat, although the shade had cooled the field somewhat. It was a mystery to her why Levi’s hands had to twitch. No other boy’s hands did that.
    Thomas beats the drums and Levi’s hands make to do the same. So who’s the copycat?
    Justice couldn’t believe that Levi would want to be a drummer. Oh, she’d heard Thomas drumming for her whole life, it seemed like. And just because he’d thought to bring those big, sickening drums outdoors, everybody had to go make him something special. See the way they look at him! Before, Thomas hadn’t brought anything bigger than a parade drum outside.
    Standing there with that dumb, moth-eaten hat, she thought. Like it makes him some better than Levi. Because he got it from them Ultramunda actors the last time the straggly troupe came to town. With their circus tent and their made-up faces!
    Anybody can wear a hat. And play drums, too.
    She was sure of this, if and when the drums were that terrible loud. Even a monkey wouldn’t have any trouble playing them.
    Suddenly, Thomas made the drums sound comical. Fleetingly, Justice wondered how it was possible he could do that.
    Sitting utterly still, the boys sensed the change in the air. They screwed up their faces, covered their ears at the crashing shenanigans. Some jumped up, knocking into one another. Others staggered around and fell down again. Suddenly, boys were wiggling and crawling on their stomachs like the worst unbearable pain had hit them. Moaning and groaning, they were putting on quite a rambunctious show themselves.
    They made Justice about sick to death. But, in spite of that, she would have loved to be as free to play around in the field as they were. Why couldn’t she? Yet she knew the answer to that. It made her sad to be so alone and left out of things.
    Through the din, Levi had to smile. He caught Tom-Tom’s eye, and identical smug grins flowed between them.
    The comical drumming had been a lead-in, something Levi had recognized the moment the boys began slithering on the ground. The thunderous sound of kettledrums ceased abruptly, as somehow he’d known they would. Such an immense, sudden absence of noise froze the boys in twisted poses.
    “Youuuu snakes-in-the-grass!” Thomas screeched at them.
    Shocked, they sat up, looking like a bunch of babies wakened from sleep. Then, again alert, they settled into their semicircle. All eyes watched Tom-Tom.
    The drums rolled softly. “Well, I ain’t no snake charmer,” he told them. “I’m the Major Drummer and I lead the parade. Except we ain’t going on any march.
    “And you guys won’t be some little snakes in the grass,” he said.
    The drums sounded deeply, but as if from a great distance: “The Great Snake Race is my snake race … ,” Thomas chanted.
    A staccato beat began on one drum: “Is my great race. …”On the other drum, a long, resounding roll: “Is a race for snakes. …”
    Both drums rolling. Smooth, like the sound of rivers: “The Great Snake Race won’t be just snatching snakes.
    “Y’all have to hold