Read Online Day 9 by Robert T. Jeschonek - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Robert T. Jeschonek
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need to believe, if I am going to follow through with this endeavor." He closes his eyes. "If I build this, will you promise never to leave me? Will you pledge that I will never be alone?"
Gaudà shudders as I strain to send him my answer. Maybe I am getting through after all. Maybe the force of my promise shakes him, convinces him, even if the words themselves don't penetrate.
For I know now what I must do for him, what he expects of me. I must stand by him, no matter what. I must give him love and support.
And I must ensure that my father is never alone. That is why he once told me he would make me "a cathedral like no other." Because I must become great enough, unique enough, to draw people to him. They will come to see me, and he will never be alone.
So now I know my purpose. I know why I'm here. I understand why I'm meant to bring people together to worship a "God" I've never seen.
It never occurs to me that I'm not the only one Gaudà is talking to today. That just as I, a thing of stone, reach out to him, he reaches out to the stone statue of Christ above my altar.
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CHAPTER 14
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Asheville, North Carolina - Today
"You can't fire me," said Quincy. "I fwit."
"'Fwit?'" said Dunne.
"It's flanguage , dumbass!" Quincy pounded his fist on the table, making the plates and silverware jump. "I fucking quit !"
Dunne ran fingers through his sandy brown hair, stealing a look around the restaurant. Every customer, waitress, and busboy in the place was staring at Quincy at once.
Maybe a late dinner after flying in to Asheville, North Carolina hadn't been such a great idea after all. The mood at the table had been lousy from the start. Hannahlee hadn't even been eating, just drinking ice water.
That, in fact, was what had led to the outburst. Quincy had said something about Hannahlee not eating anything. Then, he had said this:
"Are you still anorexic? Is it true you had an eating disorder during the filming of Weeping Willows ?"
At which point, Hannahlee had raised her index finger. The Bullshit Detector.
And she had flicked it all the way to one side. Held it horizontal and quivering, pegged to the maximum reading.
She had locked her fiery green gaze upon him like a gun sight. "No more blog fodder," she had said. "I give you nothing."
Quincy had scowled as if she were insane. "'Blog fodder?' What in Gawain's green manhood are you talking about, my dear?"
"I know you've been posting online," Hannahlee had said. "From your cell phone. You couldn't resist breaking the story on the internet, could you?"
Quincy had chuckled. "Zounds! What the fuck's the finternet ? Some sweetmeat or the like?"
"Halcyon's paying you a stipend," Hannahlee had said. "By selling reports to the news sites, you've been double-dipping. And you know what that is." She had flicked her finger hard several times, as if the needle on the gauge had been bouncing. " Bullshit ."
"Okey-fenokee, Pokey." Grinning, Quincy had seized Hannahlee's finger. "So are the rumors about the anorexia true ?"
Hannahlee had reached out her other hand. "Give it to me. Your phone."
Quincy had laid a French fry in her palm. "My food ? You got it!"
Hannahlee had tossed the French fry in his face, then leaned across the table. "You're fired."
And that was when it had gotten nasty. That was when Quincy had pounded the table, drawing stares from around the restaurant. That was when he'd told her he'd "fwit."
So now, everyone in the restaurant awaited the outcome. Watched to see if the ponytailed giant lashed out at the poor woman.
He stared at her across the table, shoulders heaving, smiles nowhere to be found. She stared back at him with teeth clenched.
Dunne should have known better than to try to defuse the situation. "Hey, guys," he said. "I'm sure we can work this out."
Neither Quincy nor Hannahlee said a word in reply. They continued to stare at each other, giving no sign that either was considering compromise or surrender.
Then,
Gaudà shudders as I strain to send him my answer. Maybe I am getting through after all. Maybe the force of my promise shakes him, convinces him, even if the words themselves don't penetrate.
For I know now what I must do for him, what he expects of me. I must stand by him, no matter what. I must give him love and support.
And I must ensure that my father is never alone. That is why he once told me he would make me "a cathedral like no other." Because I must become great enough, unique enough, to draw people to him. They will come to see me, and he will never be alone.
So now I know my purpose. I know why I'm here. I understand why I'm meant to bring people together to worship a "God" I've never seen.
It never occurs to me that I'm not the only one Gaudà is talking to today. That just as I, a thing of stone, reach out to him, he reaches out to the stone statue of Christ above my altar.
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CHAPTER 14
Â
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Asheville, North Carolina - Today
"You can't fire me," said Quincy. "I fwit."
"'Fwit?'" said Dunne.
"It's flanguage , dumbass!" Quincy pounded his fist on the table, making the plates and silverware jump. "I fucking quit !"
Dunne ran fingers through his sandy brown hair, stealing a look around the restaurant. Every customer, waitress, and busboy in the place was staring at Quincy at once.
Maybe a late dinner after flying in to Asheville, North Carolina hadn't been such a great idea after all. The mood at the table had been lousy from the start. Hannahlee hadn't even been eating, just drinking ice water.
That, in fact, was what had led to the outburst. Quincy had said something about Hannahlee not eating anything. Then, he had said this:
"Are you still anorexic? Is it true you had an eating disorder during the filming of Weeping Willows ?"
At which point, Hannahlee had raised her index finger. The Bullshit Detector.
And she had flicked it all the way to one side. Held it horizontal and quivering, pegged to the maximum reading.
She had locked her fiery green gaze upon him like a gun sight. "No more blog fodder," she had said. "I give you nothing."
Quincy had scowled as if she were insane. "'Blog fodder?' What in Gawain's green manhood are you talking about, my dear?"
"I know you've been posting online," Hannahlee had said. "From your cell phone. You couldn't resist breaking the story on the internet, could you?"
Quincy had chuckled. "Zounds! What the fuck's the finternet ? Some sweetmeat or the like?"
"Halcyon's paying you a stipend," Hannahlee had said. "By selling reports to the news sites, you've been double-dipping. And you know what that is." She had flicked her finger hard several times, as if the needle on the gauge had been bouncing. " Bullshit ."
"Okey-fenokee, Pokey." Grinning, Quincy had seized Hannahlee's finger. "So are the rumors about the anorexia true ?"
Hannahlee had reached out her other hand. "Give it to me. Your phone."
Quincy had laid a French fry in her palm. "My food ? You got it!"
Hannahlee had tossed the French fry in his face, then leaned across the table. "You're fired."
And that was when it had gotten nasty. That was when Quincy had pounded the table, drawing stares from around the restaurant. That was when he'd told her he'd "fwit."
So now, everyone in the restaurant awaited the outcome. Watched to see if the ponytailed giant lashed out at the poor woman.
He stared at her across the table, shoulders heaving, smiles nowhere to be found. She stared back at him with teeth clenched.
Dunne should have known better than to try to defuse the situation. "Hey, guys," he said. "I'm sure we can work this out."
Neither Quincy nor Hannahlee said a word in reply. They continued to stare at each other, giving no sign that either was considering compromise or surrender.
Then,
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