Read Online The Compendium by Christine Hart - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Christine Hart
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seats. I followed Jonah to the swings.
We sat on the swing set, pumping back and forth with our legs, passing each other in a blur, laughing.
“I couldn’t tell you the last time I sat on a swing.” I smiled, my nervousness melting away.
“We should all–” Jonah stopped short and fell backwards out of his swing, crumpling like rag doll. I turned back as my swing carried me forward in time to see Jonah’s limp body hit the gravel with a crunch.
“JONAH!” I shrieked. I jumped out of my swing and dove down next to his body.
I heard footsteps and shouts behind me as I slapped Jonah’s cheeks and shook his shoulders.
“Wake up! Don’t do this, Jonah. Wake up! Wake up,” I chanted like a mantra.
“He needs water,” said Cole, handing me a bottle.
I cracked the cap and tipped the liquid into Jonah’s mouth. The water slid in as though pouring down a drain.
Jonah roused, grabbed my hand and the bottle together, sucking hard until he emptied the bottle. He was pale as a sheet. The rest of us were sweating in the heat, but Jonah’s skin didn’t release a drop of moisture.
“Take me to the water. Take me to the ocean,” said Jonah faintly.
We rushed to the car and headed west, not knowing the city streets, only knowing the general direction of the Pacific. After passing through block after block of small town America, we finally saw a pier ahead.
“Look for a boat launch,” said Cole urgently.
Faith pointed out a ramp leading down into the sea next to the pier as we turned onto the main waterfront street. Cole drove right down to the ramp. Ilya and Faith quickly carried Jonah into the water.
Jonah sat in the water for a moment. Frothy foam surged and swirled around him, full of debris and garbage, but he leaned back and floated, lounging peacefully. After several minutes, Jonah stood, turned, and dove into the dirty water.
We all stood on the boat ramp watching the surf, waiting for Jonah to resurface. I looked around to see if we had drawn a crowd with our friend’s odd mid-day swim. A few pedestrians walked along the sidewalk behind us. One woman cast a quick glance in our direction. Nobody else cared about a young man plunging into the water fully clothed.
Jonah swam for a while before eventually coming back to us. He emerged from the water covered in dirt and seaweed, but looking more refreshed than I had seen him in weeks.
“Let’s grab a flat of water before we get back on the road,” said Jonah.
“Dude, whatever you need,” said Cole.
Jonah peeled off his wet shirt revealing his pale muscular chest. He squeezed what water he could out of his shorts and we all got back into the car.
Chapter 8
We stopped at the next grocery store and bought two flats of water. The briny smell of sunbaked seaweed permeated Cole’s car as we left town, but none of us said a word.
We passed outlet malls, resorts, and a casino, separated by woods and grasslands tinted yellow by the summer sun. Muggy heat stifled us. The only relief was the occasional gust of cool air through the car windows.
As we neared Seattle, the concrete cultivation improved. Software companies, research facilities, and corporate towers replaced brand-name clothing and chain restaurants. The highway poured onto a larger freeway. After many more miles, the great cement channel opened into an urban landscape. The Space Needle stood out in the distance as we drove onto a bridge leading into the heart of the city.
“I have Josh’s apartment, the name of the diner where he works, and his cell number,” said Ilya as he consulted a piece of paper.
“We should text him first,” said Jonah.
“Which of you guys knew him best?” said Faith.
“Probably me,” said Ilya.
“Use my phone,” I said, handing my precious digital treasure to my not-so-technically inclined brother. Does mind-reading and the capacity to create illusions negate a need for technology? Or does he not like electronics?
Ilya took the phone. “If you’d
We sat on the swing set, pumping back and forth with our legs, passing each other in a blur, laughing.
“I couldn’t tell you the last time I sat on a swing.” I smiled, my nervousness melting away.
“We should all–” Jonah stopped short and fell backwards out of his swing, crumpling like rag doll. I turned back as my swing carried me forward in time to see Jonah’s limp body hit the gravel with a crunch.
“JONAH!” I shrieked. I jumped out of my swing and dove down next to his body.
I heard footsteps and shouts behind me as I slapped Jonah’s cheeks and shook his shoulders.
“Wake up! Don’t do this, Jonah. Wake up! Wake up,” I chanted like a mantra.
“He needs water,” said Cole, handing me a bottle.
I cracked the cap and tipped the liquid into Jonah’s mouth. The water slid in as though pouring down a drain.
Jonah roused, grabbed my hand and the bottle together, sucking hard until he emptied the bottle. He was pale as a sheet. The rest of us were sweating in the heat, but Jonah’s skin didn’t release a drop of moisture.
“Take me to the water. Take me to the ocean,” said Jonah faintly.
We rushed to the car and headed west, not knowing the city streets, only knowing the general direction of the Pacific. After passing through block after block of small town America, we finally saw a pier ahead.
“Look for a boat launch,” said Cole urgently.
Faith pointed out a ramp leading down into the sea next to the pier as we turned onto the main waterfront street. Cole drove right down to the ramp. Ilya and Faith quickly carried Jonah into the water.
Jonah sat in the water for a moment. Frothy foam surged and swirled around him, full of debris and garbage, but he leaned back and floated, lounging peacefully. After several minutes, Jonah stood, turned, and dove into the dirty water.
We all stood on the boat ramp watching the surf, waiting for Jonah to resurface. I looked around to see if we had drawn a crowd with our friend’s odd mid-day swim. A few pedestrians walked along the sidewalk behind us. One woman cast a quick glance in our direction. Nobody else cared about a young man plunging into the water fully clothed.
Jonah swam for a while before eventually coming back to us. He emerged from the water covered in dirt and seaweed, but looking more refreshed than I had seen him in weeks.
“Let’s grab a flat of water before we get back on the road,” said Jonah.
“Dude, whatever you need,” said Cole.
Jonah peeled off his wet shirt revealing his pale muscular chest. He squeezed what water he could out of his shorts and we all got back into the car.
Chapter 8
We stopped at the next grocery store and bought two flats of water. The briny smell of sunbaked seaweed permeated Cole’s car as we left town, but none of us said a word.
We passed outlet malls, resorts, and a casino, separated by woods and grasslands tinted yellow by the summer sun. Muggy heat stifled us. The only relief was the occasional gust of cool air through the car windows.
As we neared Seattle, the concrete cultivation improved. Software companies, research facilities, and corporate towers replaced brand-name clothing and chain restaurants. The highway poured onto a larger freeway. After many more miles, the great cement channel opened into an urban landscape. The Space Needle stood out in the distance as we drove onto a bridge leading into the heart of the city.
“I have Josh’s apartment, the name of the diner where he works, and his cell number,” said Ilya as he consulted a piece of paper.
“We should text him first,” said Jonah.
“Which of you guys knew him best?” said Faith.
“Probably me,” said Ilya.
“Use my phone,” I said, handing my precious digital treasure to my not-so-technically inclined brother. Does mind-reading and the capacity to create illusions negate a need for technology? Or does he not like electronics?
Ilya took the phone. “If you’d
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