Read Online The Kuthun by S.A. Carter - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: S.A. Carter
Tags: Fiction, Magical Realism
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just so you know, when you teleport you completely disappear. I saw you pop back onto that table before, right out of nowhere.’ He shrugs. ‘Thought it might help you to know.’
He drives out of the car park and I see his hand reach out the window and give me a wave.
I stand there for a minute, surprised at my uncle’s nonchalant way of telling me I disappear when I time travel. I am completely gone? Well at least I know my body isn’t sitting back here in some comatose state for someone to find
.
The sound of the lunch bell ringing startles me back to the present. I glance back to the oval to see Magi’s tail disappear into the long grass on the other side.
A hive of activity begins to surround me, with students heading to the oval for sports, and others heading to the trees to hide their smoking habits. I slowly make my way to the front of the building where Phoebe and I usually sit.
My mind is a swirling vortex of thoughts and images—the mystery surrounding the kuthun and my involvement with it seems to be more complex than I initially thought. As my mind wanders again I see Phoebe waving at me enthusiastically from our habitual grassy mound.
As I get closer she says, ‘Hey, where did you get to?’ She is busy unpacking her lunch. You don’t ever come between Phoebe and her food. As she always says, ‘Eating completes me.’
‘Oh, uh…nowhere. Just felt like going for a walk that’s all.’ I sit beside her, content to be in my normal environment once again.
She takes a large bite out of her infamous chicken and mayo sandwich and says, ‘Sure you did. Meeting some cute guy behind the shed hey?’ She raises her eyebrows suggestively.
I shake my head. ‘As if, Phoebs.’ I realise I didn’t bring my bag with me when I fled the room earlier and my eyes fall to her full-to-the-brim lunch box. ‘Any chance you want to part with any of that? I forgot my bag.’
As she takes another bite she says, ‘E, you are my best friend, but if you touch my food I will have to kick your ass.’
I laugh. ‘Was worth a try.’
The day passes without another incident. I try to catch glimpses of Magi from my classrooms that have a view of the oval, but I don’t see her again.
School finishes and we make our way to the car park. Uncle Jo is there already and Magi is seated in the back. A shudder of relief runs through me.
As we head for home my mind wanders continuously despite the upbeat chatter that is going on between Uncle Jo and Phoebe. I smile at their banter and turn my head to look at Magi. Her large, black head is resting against the window and she seems to be lost in thought.
We drop Phoebe off and now that we are alone together the mood in the car suddenly shifts. I turn back to face Magi. ‘Mags, what’s wrong?’ I give her a pat through the sliding rear window. She doesn’t even move her head to look at me, as if she’s saying, ‘I don’t have the energy to respond right now, thanks anyway, Ellie.’ She continues to look out into space.
Sensing my concern Uncle Jo changes the subject by asking, ‘So, where did you go today?’
‘Huh? Oh you mean when I disappeared?’ He nods. ‘Um, well you probably won’t believe this, but I was actually in Isabella Cole’s tent watching her being healed by a medicine man.’
It takes him a few moments to respond. I can hear the turning of the clogs going inside his head as he tries to remember this event occurring. His eyes widen in surprise. ‘Do you mean the Isabella Cole who fled Salem?’ His eyes are flitting back and forth between me and the road.
‘Yep, that’s the one.’
His mouth hangs open slightly. I smile and look out the window, knowing the questions are coming.
He gathers his thoughts. ‘Wow! So you were actually there? Did you see her? Did she speak to you?’ he asks enthusiastically.
‘Yes and no. I saw her but she was unconscious. The medicine man, Taqôq Wiyon, appeared to be healing her when I interrupted.’
He
He drives out of the car park and I see his hand reach out the window and give me a wave.
I stand there for a minute, surprised at my uncle’s nonchalant way of telling me I disappear when I time travel. I am completely gone? Well at least I know my body isn’t sitting back here in some comatose state for someone to find
.
The sound of the lunch bell ringing startles me back to the present. I glance back to the oval to see Magi’s tail disappear into the long grass on the other side.
A hive of activity begins to surround me, with students heading to the oval for sports, and others heading to the trees to hide their smoking habits. I slowly make my way to the front of the building where Phoebe and I usually sit.
My mind is a swirling vortex of thoughts and images—the mystery surrounding the kuthun and my involvement with it seems to be more complex than I initially thought. As my mind wanders again I see Phoebe waving at me enthusiastically from our habitual grassy mound.
As I get closer she says, ‘Hey, where did you get to?’ She is busy unpacking her lunch. You don’t ever come between Phoebe and her food. As she always says, ‘Eating completes me.’
‘Oh, uh…nowhere. Just felt like going for a walk that’s all.’ I sit beside her, content to be in my normal environment once again.
She takes a large bite out of her infamous chicken and mayo sandwich and says, ‘Sure you did. Meeting some cute guy behind the shed hey?’ She raises her eyebrows suggestively.
I shake my head. ‘As if, Phoebs.’ I realise I didn’t bring my bag with me when I fled the room earlier and my eyes fall to her full-to-the-brim lunch box. ‘Any chance you want to part with any of that? I forgot my bag.’
As she takes another bite she says, ‘E, you are my best friend, but if you touch my food I will have to kick your ass.’
I laugh. ‘Was worth a try.’
The day passes without another incident. I try to catch glimpses of Magi from my classrooms that have a view of the oval, but I don’t see her again.
School finishes and we make our way to the car park. Uncle Jo is there already and Magi is seated in the back. A shudder of relief runs through me.
As we head for home my mind wanders continuously despite the upbeat chatter that is going on between Uncle Jo and Phoebe. I smile at their banter and turn my head to look at Magi. Her large, black head is resting against the window and she seems to be lost in thought.
We drop Phoebe off and now that we are alone together the mood in the car suddenly shifts. I turn back to face Magi. ‘Mags, what’s wrong?’ I give her a pat through the sliding rear window. She doesn’t even move her head to look at me, as if she’s saying, ‘I don’t have the energy to respond right now, thanks anyway, Ellie.’ She continues to look out into space.
Sensing my concern Uncle Jo changes the subject by asking, ‘So, where did you go today?’
‘Huh? Oh you mean when I disappeared?’ He nods. ‘Um, well you probably won’t believe this, but I was actually in Isabella Cole’s tent watching her being healed by a medicine man.’
It takes him a few moments to respond. I can hear the turning of the clogs going inside his head as he tries to remember this event occurring. His eyes widen in surprise. ‘Do you mean the Isabella Cole who fled Salem?’ His eyes are flitting back and forth between me and the road.
‘Yep, that’s the one.’
His mouth hangs open slightly. I smile and look out the window, knowing the questions are coming.
He gathers his thoughts. ‘Wow! So you were actually there? Did you see her? Did she speak to you?’ he asks enthusiastically.
‘Yes and no. I saw her but she was unconscious. The medicine man, Taqôq Wiyon, appeared to be healing her when I interrupted.’
He
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