Read Online Shadow Tree by Jake Halpern - Free Book Online

this place,” explained Marta. “She was convinced this place was a doorway – you know, her way out of the coma.”
    â€œYou think I needed to come to this exact spot to wake up?” asked Alfonso with a chortle. “Come on, really?”
    â€œDidn’t you say, ‘I feel like I’ve been here before?’” asked Marta.
    Alfonso looked off into the distance and stared again at the tower – or whatever it was. The sight of it gave him an uneasy feeling. He felt increasingly certain that he had dreamt of the place, but he couldn’t recall any of the details of the dream.
    â€œSo what’s the plan?” asked Alfonso.
    Marta reached into her shirt and took a Pendant embedded with a number of emeralds. It was what the Abbot had given her.
    â€œWhat’s that?” asked Alfonso.
    â€œOur way home,” replied Marta.
    â€œHome?”
    â€œBack to Jasber,” said Marta. “I got it from the Abbot. We just need to burn it and they’ll come looking for us – the sweepers – they’ll find us.”
    â€œNo way,” said Alfonso. “Forget it.” That was the last thing that he wanted to do right now. “These are the same people who locked away my dad in the middle of a labyrinth for years – the same people who kept you locked up in a monastery where you had to sit in a chair all day and stare at a tree. Have you forgotten all that? You want to go back there? Are you crazy?”
    â€œMy mom and dad and brothers are there,” said Marta. “Besides, I’m done being seer. I plan to quit.”
    â€œAnd you think they’ll let you?” asked Alfonso. “Marta, be honest with yourself.”
    â€œI’m the seer,” she said stubbornly. “They need me. We’ll make a deal or something.”
    â€œLook,” said Alfonso. “If that’s what you want to do, I’m not going to stop you, but I’m not coming with you.”
    Marta studied her Pendant carefully. She appeared lost in thought, as if trying to make up her mind.
    â€œYou’re not going to make it without me,” she said finally.
    â€œLook, I appreciate all that you’ve done for me, I really do,” said Alfonso. “But I think I can survive without the help of a nine-year-old pipsqueak.”
    â€œStand up!” said Marta. It wasn’t a request – it was an order.
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œYou heard me – stand up!”
    â€œFine,” said Alfonso. With great effort, he rose to his feet. He felt weak and unsteady. “I’m standing,” declared Alfonso. “Okay?”
    â€œWalk forward ten paces,” ordered Marta.
    â€œYes boss,” said Alfonso. He took one step forward and then another. His legs ached and his balance was off, but he managed. He took three or four more steps and then, rather abruptly, he felt exhausted. He could go no farther. He dropped to one knee and, as he did, a spasm of pain shot up his leg. He grabbed his thigh and felt that his muscles had dissipated and his skin was soft and saggy. “My legs... I’m an...” He stopped mid-sentence – his voice sounded like the croak of a frog.
    â€œA very old man,” finished Marta. She couldn’t suppress a hint of satisfaction in her voice. “Ninety five, maybe ninety-eight. You’re a regular grandpa – probably even a great grandpa.”
    â€œWhat do I do?” croaked Alfonso and, as he spoke, he became aware of the fact that he no longer had any teeth in his mouth. “Tell me.”
    â€œThat all depends,” said Marta. “How old do you want to be?”
    â€œMy real age,” croaked Alfonso.
    â€œNo,” said Marta. “I’ve already shown you how to do that. Why don’t you try for thirty-six?”
    â€œThirty-six?”
    â€œYes,” said Marta with a smile. “It’s a lucky number.”
    â€œFine, thirty-six then,