Read Online Billy: Messenger of Powers by Michaelbrent Collings - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Michaelbrent Collings
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outline, she managed to look fairly irritated, as though she hadn’t counted on having to answer any questions.
“Well,” she finally said, “the greatest indicator that I saw was that he managed to punch your son, Eva.”
“I told you,” responded Mrs. Black coolly. “That was clearly luck.”
“And I tell you , Eva, that no ‘no-Power nothing’ that I’m aware of has ever managed to harm a Black Power in all our history.” Then, she added with a biting sarcasm, “I’m surprised to find that you know so little of your own history, Eva. But then, the Blacks have never been famous for their thinking.” Billy still wasn’t sure exactly what they were all talking about, but he felt a bit of pride, both that he had apparently managed something special in smacking Cameron, and at the fact that Mrs. Russet was clearly sticking up for him.
“Still and all, Lumilla,” said Wade, his wet, dripping voice oozing over Billy like a cold tide, “there are other tests which are less radical than the test of Five.”
“Don’t you think I know that?” snapped Mrs. Russet. For the first time, Billy thought she appeared a bit anxious. This did nothing to calm his already strained nerves. “I already gave him those tests.”
“And?” asked Ivy.
“He didn’t fail them,” said Mrs. Russet. “Not totally, at any rate.”
“Let’s back up a moment,” said Vester. He tousled Billy’s hair and winked at him. Generally, Billy didn’t go in for head-tousling, any more than he went in for diapers or a baby rattle. But at that moment Billy felt as though he could have hugged the young fireman, if for no other reason than because he actually seemed to recognize that Billy was more than a little frightened by the tempest of discussion that all seemed to be about him. “Lumilla, why did you give him any tests in the first place?”
“The first day I met him—the first day of school—I gave out a test—the written kind, not a Test of Power—to all my students. And before he started working on his test, Billy did….” Mrs. Russet’s face screwed up as though she herself were trying to figure out what it was Billy had done.
“Yes?” prompted Ivy.
“Well, I’m not exactly sure what he did. But he closed his eyes, and suddenly I could feel something in the earth.”
“You mean he was calling the Earthessence? He was going to do a first spell of some kind?” asked Ivy.
Mrs. Russet shook her head. “It didn’t feel like he was controlling the Element. It was more as though the Earthessence were waiting for something. Expectant.”
Eva Black laughed, a quick yip of a laugh that sounded to Billy as though a small dog had caught its leg in a trap and was now considering chewing the leg off to get out. “And for that,” she said, “you summon five Powers to a Gleaning? Because of an indistinct hunch ? Have you lost your mind, Lumilla? You could have simply been having indigestion for all we know!”
“Now, now,” said Ivy, the greenery that cloaked the young/old woman writhing anxiously. “I’m sure there was more to it than that.” She turned to Mrs. Russet. “What about the other tests?”
“Inconclusive at best,” said Mrs. Russet.
“Really,” said Eva. Her tone of voice left no doubt that she had a very low opinion of anyone else’s opinions. Especially one that originated with Mrs. Russet. She looked squarely at Billy and said, “Robot fish wear Picasso’s underwear.”
“What?” asked Billy. No one answered. He realized that everyone in the room—Mrs. Russet, Eva Black, Tempus, Vester, Wade, and Ivy—were all staring expectantly at him. He felt like he should do some kind of trick or musical act or something. Unfortunately, the only trick Billy knew was the best way to get comfortable in a locker, and he had never learned how to play anything other than the kazoo. So he just smiled a nervous half-smile and waited for someone else to do something.
Finally, Wade said,
“Well,” she finally said, “the greatest indicator that I saw was that he managed to punch your son, Eva.”
“I told you,” responded Mrs. Black coolly. “That was clearly luck.”
“And I tell you , Eva, that no ‘no-Power nothing’ that I’m aware of has ever managed to harm a Black Power in all our history.” Then, she added with a biting sarcasm, “I’m surprised to find that you know so little of your own history, Eva. But then, the Blacks have never been famous for their thinking.” Billy still wasn’t sure exactly what they were all talking about, but he felt a bit of pride, both that he had apparently managed something special in smacking Cameron, and at the fact that Mrs. Russet was clearly sticking up for him.
“Still and all, Lumilla,” said Wade, his wet, dripping voice oozing over Billy like a cold tide, “there are other tests which are less radical than the test of Five.”
“Don’t you think I know that?” snapped Mrs. Russet. For the first time, Billy thought she appeared a bit anxious. This did nothing to calm his already strained nerves. “I already gave him those tests.”
“And?” asked Ivy.
“He didn’t fail them,” said Mrs. Russet. “Not totally, at any rate.”
“Let’s back up a moment,” said Vester. He tousled Billy’s hair and winked at him. Generally, Billy didn’t go in for head-tousling, any more than he went in for diapers or a baby rattle. But at that moment Billy felt as though he could have hugged the young fireman, if for no other reason than because he actually seemed to recognize that Billy was more than a little frightened by the tempest of discussion that all seemed to be about him. “Lumilla, why did you give him any tests in the first place?”
“The first day I met him—the first day of school—I gave out a test—the written kind, not a Test of Power—to all my students. And before he started working on his test, Billy did….” Mrs. Russet’s face screwed up as though she herself were trying to figure out what it was Billy had done.
“Yes?” prompted Ivy.
“Well, I’m not exactly sure what he did. But he closed his eyes, and suddenly I could feel something in the earth.”
“You mean he was calling the Earthessence? He was going to do a first spell of some kind?” asked Ivy.
Mrs. Russet shook her head. “It didn’t feel like he was controlling the Element. It was more as though the Earthessence were waiting for something. Expectant.”
Eva Black laughed, a quick yip of a laugh that sounded to Billy as though a small dog had caught its leg in a trap and was now considering chewing the leg off to get out. “And for that,” she said, “you summon five Powers to a Gleaning? Because of an indistinct hunch ? Have you lost your mind, Lumilla? You could have simply been having indigestion for all we know!”
“Now, now,” said Ivy, the greenery that cloaked the young/old woman writhing anxiously. “I’m sure there was more to it than that.” She turned to Mrs. Russet. “What about the other tests?”
“Inconclusive at best,” said Mrs. Russet.
“Really,” said Eva. Her tone of voice left no doubt that she had a very low opinion of anyone else’s opinions. Especially one that originated with Mrs. Russet. She looked squarely at Billy and said, “Robot fish wear Picasso’s underwear.”
“What?” asked Billy. No one answered. He realized that everyone in the room—Mrs. Russet, Eva Black, Tempus, Vester, Wade, and Ivy—were all staring expectantly at him. He felt like he should do some kind of trick or musical act or something. Unfortunately, the only trick Billy knew was the best way to get comfortable in a locker, and he had never learned how to play anything other than the kazoo. So he just smiled a nervous half-smile and waited for someone else to do something.
Finally, Wade said,
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