LeOmi's Solitude (36 page)

She turned with her body and what seemed like
an instant of super human strength, she turned his arm and shoved
the Ruby Knife in under his rib cage—the hilt of the knife hardly
visible, the point somewhere in the area of his heart, if there was
a heart in that foul body. She looked into his eyes. As Grand-Père
had looked into hers.

“An eye for an eye? My petit Gossamer.” A
possible laugh came from his mouth—along with more blood. She could
see the life leaving his eyes and with that the sugary sweetness of
his voice. “Do you think that this makes us even—little girl?”

She didn’t hold him up any more. She let go
of her grip on his arm and he crumbled to the ground lifeless.

At that point—LeOmi heard a voice calling her
name. She looked around and realized that many people were all
around her, policemen with guns drawn and the voice again.

“LeOmi, it’s okay now, step away.” It was
Sergeant Polaris. His words seemed to echo in her ears. “Step
away.”

Just then, the smell seemed to jolt her back
to reality. Looking down, her hands were covered in blood. The
smell was like hot iron and salt mixed together. The evil steam
from it seemed to envelop her, it seemed to have a power all its
own. There was so much blood, pouring out of Julian Compton.

Sergeant Polaris was there when LeOmi’s legs
seemed to stop working and she folded to the ground.

Chapter 21

Lack of a Sense of Humor is a
Delicate Thing.

The sunrise was beautiful as always, but
today it seemed like there was only the slightest amount of haze,
and it quickly diminished. The haze always added more color and
shimmers.

Bekka stowed her notebook, “Graduation Day
festivities begin with a breakfast at The Oasis at seven a.m. I
don’t need to get your dad. Jesse has offered to get him.”

LeOmi turned with her mouth open.

“Technically Jesse doesn’t get a day off from
the orphanage, but his charges have a stand-in today.”

“When will they be here?”

Bekka repeated, “As I said, Graduation Day
festivities begin with a breakfast at The Oasis at seven a.m.
Graduation Ceremonies will follow at nine a.m. with trophies and
awards to be distributed. Then at three p.m. the Graduating Class
is presented to family and faculty. You and Fireball will lead the
pack.”

“I will?”

“You’ll be happy to know that you are
forty-eight points above Slone.”

Bekka didn’t get up from her comfortable spot
on the ground, but she did make the usual do-si-do arm
gestures.

The coneys had made their way down the Olive
Tree to LeOmi’s lap. Usually by this time, they had already been
enticed to the book bag with carrot and apple slices.

“Have you picked-up your Blazon? You’ll need
that for the Graduating Class procession.”

LeOmi nodded, still trying to form her
question.

“Emerald? Are they the top ranking
tribe?”

“Yes.”

A smile came on LeOmi’s face. The coneys
jumped down and went to Bekka, and then they came back to her. They
stood on their haunches in her lap and put their feet on her arm
and sniffed the air.

Bekka and LeOmi started laughing and then,
apples, carrots and grapes were distributed.

* * *

After their last run of the school year,
LeOmi went back to the dorm. Gail was waiting outside of her
room.

Shyly she said, “I’m not going back to the
Summus next year.”

LeOmi said, “Good, I knew you had sense.”

Gail smiled and nodded. As she was walking
down the hall she yelled over her shoulder, “See you next
year.”

I sure hope so.

* * *

LeOmi was a little early, but her dad and
Jesse were already at The Oasis. They had chosen a booth as close
to the main entry as possible and as soon as they saw her arrive,
they stood to greet her. An awkward family group hug was attempted
but the men were so tall that they rested their chins on different
parts of her head.

Her father said, “Hey, no spiked hair.”

LeOmi self consciously smoothed down the
usually spiked tufts of her hair.

Then he fingered the scarf that she had
gathered as a hair band. “She would have liked that.”

“I think so too.”

“Let’s eat, I’m hungry.”

“I was telling Jesse how much I enjoyed real
Belgium waffles. I would like to try that again.”

* * *

Mrs. Shadowitz began the announcements
promptly at nine a.m. She stood center stage. “Guests, teachers and
staff, students, I offer this simple prayer.” She paused. “God,
grant us peace as we humbly serve you.” She paused again.

“I have some news. Mr. Diefenderfer has
decided to step down from teaching in order to lead the team in the
fulltime study of the recently recovered artifacts. He has named,
as his permanent replacement…Timothy Augustus Fairbanks.”

Through the cattle calls LeOmi said, “That is
Mark Young’s counselor.”

“He has always wanted to be a teacher.” Jesse
whispered.

LeOmi whispered back, “He has filled in for
Mr. Diefenderfer since they first went into the labyrinth.”

“I have an announcement to make and, I must
say, it’s about time. Gerod Hudson and Shana O’Riley have asked me
to announce their engagement. They haven’t set the date yet, but
they plan to have a traditional Magi wedding. For those of you who
don’t know, that will be one humdinger of a party. They plan to
invite all of you back here for that event.”

I hope I’ll be there.

“Now…for the awards.”

Mrs. Shadowitz directed the audience’s
attention towards LeOmi, “Emerald Tribe’s LeOmi Jones.”

LeOmi made her way to the stage, pulling her
hood up and ascending the stage steps to receive her awards.

Bekka stood beside Mrs. Shadowitz to gather
the awards as Mrs. Shadowitz called them out. “She received perfect
scores in all classes.” Bekka handed Mrs. Shadowitz seven plaques
as she called out each class.

“Top points in flags matches.” A trophy.

“Top overall points.” A trophy.

“David’s Crown of Courage—twice.” Two
medallions.

“Overall school champion.” A trophy.

“And a freshman to boot. It has been many,
many years since a freshman has achieved this honor.”

The audience applauded and LeOmi looked
around and she saw new true friends. Mrs. Shadowitz and Bekka
clapping loudly. Mark, Chenoa, Nick, Jamal, Cap’n Ben, Krisa, Gail
and Emerald Team. Kayleen, Ms. Vanmie, Mrs. Kirby, Mr.
Diefenderfer, Lydia Jefferies, Albert, and of course Jesse and her
father and even Gunnison was clapping just as hard as her
father.

“That makes her the winner of an all expenses
paid, two week vacation, anywhere in the world for her and her
family.”

LeOmi stood concentrating on breathing while
standing at attention, and then she awkwardly exchanged hugs while
she juggled the trophies and awards, first with Mrs. Shadowitz,
then with Bekka. While standing there, LeOmi remembered Henry’s
shelf at the ranch where he had displayed all her awards.

Here are more awards Henry.

Slone was next. –

“Beaten out of first place by a mere
forty-eight points, Ruby Tribe’s Slone Voif.”

* * *

By three o’clock all the students were
mounted and ready for the final commencement of the day signaling
the end of the school year. It was a sight to see. There were
people and horses everywhere.

A few moments before they were to begin,
Bekka who had been a blur of activity all day long, suddenly
appeared beside LeOmi. “Something has just happened, just go with
it.” Bekka disappeared as quickly as she had appeared.

LeOmi noticed Chenoa Day making arm gestures
trying to get someone’s attention.

Chenoa was a few rankings behind Slone and
she was trying to get Mark Young’s attention as he rode The General
past the procession towards the front of the line. Then Chenoa
finally whispered loudly, “Mark, what are you doing?”

“Tim told me to come to the front of the
line. He said to listen to the announcements.”

Mark had a flag with a number one on it. The
General and Mark took a position in front of LeOmi and
Fireball.

Slone said, “What…?”

Mrs. Shadowitz amplified voice stopped him
from finishing his question, “Well, it seems that there has been a
bit of breaking news. Ladies and Gentlemen, it seems that we have
some extracurricular points to add for one of our students. Faculty
and staff…brace yourselves for this…Mark Young has tagged Tim
Fairbanks in the Assassin’s Game. He has earned two thousand three
hundred and twenty-one points…”

Laughter flowed from everywhere except for
the first three students in line.

Slone said, “I can’t believe it. I knew you
would figure out a way to weasel your way in front of me.”

“Slone, stop it. Can’t you see that he is
just as surprised as we are?”

LeOmi leaned in towards Mark and whispered,
“Congratulations.”

“I wandered how you’d feel.”

LeOmi shrugged, “I’m just glad it wasn’t
Slone that tagged Tim.”

“Me too!”

Mrs. Shadowitz continued, “That puts Mark
Young at a good two thousand points above any other student this
year. By unanimous vote of the Council of Elders, he is the school
champion. All accolades have already been presented. They will not
be recalled, however, he will be acknowledged as the school
champion.”

Mrs. Shadowitz clapped and motioned for the
audience to stand, “Please stand as I present to you the Six
Thousand, Four Hundred and Fiftieth Seventh Mountain Student
Body.”

Mark and every student behind him raised
their flags. As they approached the stands Mrs. Shadowitz shouted,
“Salute.”

All the teachers, faculty and staff drew
their swords and held them high as the procession passed by.

LeOmi saw her father and Jesse in the stands,
just where she had left them. They were clapping and then Jesse
whistled through his fingers and everyone around him covered their
ears. He apologetically looked around and pointed towards LeOmi and
started clapping again.

LeOmi smiled and waved.
Well I’m not
number one Henry, but I can live with that.

Slone had his sword drawn and held it over
his head along with all the other members of his gang, whether in
the procession or in the stands. It was amazing to see how many had
joined his little group throughout the year.

Albert was at the end of the line where the
students dismounted.

Mark and LeOmi greeted him and Slone said,
“What are you doing here? Have you come to blow your horn
again?”

“Three things in human life are important.
The first is to be kind. The second is to be kind, and the third is
to be kind. H.G. Wells.”

“What?”

“Leave him alone Slone.” LeOmi jumped down
off Fireball and stood next to Albert. Mark jumped down off The
General and stood beside Albert too.

Slone gave a disgusted look, turned and rode
off towards Ricky and Ralph and the rest of his followers.

Albert had cleaned-up for the day’s
celebrations. “I just wanted to say goodbye and to make sure you
knew that I will look after Adicus, Scout and Jym.”

“I knew you would Albert. Thank you.”

* * *

The coneys were more than willing to go
anywhere other than being cooped up in the Nightingale Floors. They
didn’t care that they had to share space in the book bag with bags
of fruits and vegetables; they just hung their heads and half of
their bodies over the side.

“One more stop guys.”

Mrs. Shadowitz had been surrounded by people
all day and now that the Graduation Day was almost over, she had
found a quiet spot in The Oasis that students could come to speak
to her before summer vacation.

LeOmi had to stand in line, but it was short
and everyone was quick.

“I just wanted to say goodbye.”

“Goodbye?”

“I don’t know if I will be returning next
year, and I wanted to make sure and say goodbye.”

“LeOmi, I can’t imagine the Council turning
down your enrollment for next year.”

“Great! But just in case, I wonder if it is
okay if I leave the Journal and the Ruby Knife in the care of The
Seventh Mountain?”

LeOmi took out a case from Aaron’s Grasp. The
coneys circled and hid as best they could.

“Certainly. They will be in the museum when
or if you are ready for them again.”

“Thank you.”

She stood and hugged LeOmi; she smoothed her
hair and said, “I wouldn’t be surprised if Leo himself visited you
during the summer.”

LeOmi looked a little leery.

“In a good way.” She sat back down and LeOmi
moved on for the next student in line.

Bekka was waiting for her as she exited The
Oasis.

“You ready to go home?”

She brought her book bag and the coneys in
front and hugged them close, “Yep.”

* * *

Gunnison arrived not long after Bekka and
LeOmi went into the house at the naval base in Virginia.

“Our scientists have found the location of
the Ziggurat. The Tell has a whole community built on top of
it.

If the Neo-Phylum find it, they will likely
leave a big path of destruction trying to uncover it.”

LeOmi asked, “What do they want to do with it
anyway?”

“We don’t know.”

“Maybe they don’t intend to uncover it.”

“All things will be revealed in their own
time.”

Bekka, LeOmi and her dad all nodded their
agreement.

Then Gunnison asked, “Did it bother you that
it wasn’t announced that you were pre-chosen?”

“You mean the trophy at the assembly? Not at
all.”

“Mr. Diefenderfer is the one who suggested to
not make that known to the Magi community. It was because of the
song he sang to you. Unlike Lydia Humphries’ song, which has been
mostly revealed during the school year, Mr. Diefenderfer is much
more-so far reaching. Don’t you agree?”