Zera and the Green Man (30 page)

Theodore had not been formally charged, yet. Under the advice of his attorney, he had left the police station to go outside with Langston Void alone, to talk. They sat in the back of his limousine. Theodore couldn’t remember when he had been more exhausted; it took all his willpower just to hold it together.
When will this nightmare end?
he thought.
I just want to get back; to Zera, to home.

“I’m sorry about your mother,” said Langston. “I really am.”

The expression on Langston’s face said he wasn’t lying; in fact, Theodore was shocked to see how upset he looked.

Langston continued, “I’m sorry, but we’ve got to make some decisions about what’s going to happen now. The media’s all over this and they
’re going to want answers.”

“We tell them the truth,” said Theodore.

“I can’t do that. There’s too much at stake.”

“Yes, I agree, there
is
too much at stake. That’s why we’re telling them the truth!”

“You don’t get it,” Langston said. “I can’t let it end like this. I won’t.” Langston’s voice grew quiet. “I do care about your future, regardless of what’s happened, but I won’t lose everything I’ve worked for. You have to come back to the
company.”

Theodore couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “Are you
insane? Did you not experience what I did last night? Those . . . those green
gods
, whatever they were? You don’t know what you’re messing with Langston. I know I don’t either, but I have some idea now!”

Langston shrugged. “The Green Guerillas had some kind of knock-out gas. I’m pretty sure we were all under the influence of some kind of hallucinogenic substance last night — probably something they drugged you with when they kidnapped you.”

Theodore shook his head. “You’re crazy.”

“Maybe.
But I can’t let this happen. You have to listen to me. If you come back, I’ll make sure Lily doesn’t go to jail, that none of them go to jail when they are caught, and I promise you they will be caught. But if you don’t, if you go against me . . .” He swallowed hard. “You could lose custody of your niece and go to prison. Then what will happen to Zera?”

Theodore stared at him.

“You must decide now. I took you to your mother last night, and then I had to have you arrested. You see that, don’t you? I have control here.”

After all this?
This is what it comes to?
For an instant Theodore thought about what his mother would want, what she’d do, and he knew that she would certainly tell Langston Void to shove it right up his . . . But before that thought was complete, another came:
She made a mess out of things too, in her life. I can’t make her mistakes. I can’t leave Zera. I’m all she has now.

Theodore stared into Langston’s already-triumphant green eyes.

“I heard they’ve been camping outside all night,” Theodore said to Zera. It was morning again, and he’d just gotten back from Los Angeles. The group had gathered at the hospital exit; Zera was in a wheelchair, a nurse at her side. The others were standing close by, waiting until Theodore gave the go-ahead for them to leave the hospital and take on the media crowd.

Hattie peered out the glass door over his shoulder. “It’s going to be tough getting out of here without a scene. It’s like piranha-infested waters.”

“People should know the truth,” Zera said. “We need to tell them.”

“Listen, Zera,” said Theodore. “Let’s not say anything today. There’s a lot that’s going on that I’ll tell you about later. Stuff about Lily, the others . . .”

What is going on with him?
Zera wondered.
There’s something he’s hiding.

“It’ll be okay,” said Dan. “It’s just a crowd.”

“A
crowd
?” whispered Hattie. “That’s an understatement.”    

“We can handle it,” said Ben, trying to be upbeat.

Hattie turned to Grandma Wren, whose ancient face showed only curiosity.

The nurse moved into position behind Zera’s wheelchair. “We can call Security for an e
scort, Mr. Green,” she offered.

“It’s not necessary,” Theodore turned to Hattie. “Don’t worry, Hat, it’ll be fine.” To Zera he said, “You ready?”

“It’s weird to be in a wheelchair. But I guess I’m ready.”

“Hospital rules, honey,” said Hattie. “Once you get out the door, you can stand up and walk out of here.”

Cosmic Dan grasped one of the door’s metal bars. “I’d feel better if I spoke to them first. I’ll be back in a sec.”

He stepped through the door. The hum of activity turned into a clamor as Dan faced the swarm — reporters, television crews, photographers, and behind them all, a crowd of onlookers. The group numbered well over a hundred.

The ruckus died down as all eyes studied Cosmic Dan. Murmurs traveled through the throng as they took in his appearance: tall, thin, middle-aged, and good-looking. Cameras flashed. Then came shouting: “Where’s Theodore Green?” “When is he coming out?”
 

Dan raised one large hand in an appeal for silence and waited for the crowd to quiet. “Theodore’s niece just came out of a
coma
yesterday,” he said calmly. “Both the Greens have lost a loved one. You’ll need to back off the sidewalk.
Please
.”

The crowd obliged. Dan disappeared behind the doors, and a moment later they all stepped into the sun.  

The throng waited as Zera rose from the chair. Ben went to her other side and stayed there. Cameras flashed as her uncle put his hand on her shoulder and whispered, “It’ll be all right.”

The crowd closed in as Dan led the way. Reporters shouted. “Mr. Green, Mr. Green!” 

Theodore glanced in the direction of one of the voices and its owner bellowed, “Can you tell us anything about your arrest?”

“No comment.”

Zera looked at her uncle.
Why won’t he say anything?

“But what about the accusations, Mr. Green?” chirped a small woman at Zera’s side. She directed a microphone toward Theodore’s face. “Was Void Corporation performing those horrible scientific experiments?”

“I’ve been advised not to make any statements.”

That comment was met with a dozen more questions as they worked their way through the crowd.

“What about Lily Gibbons? What is your relationship with her?”

“I’m not answering any more questions,” said Theodore. “Not today. There’s been a death in our family — please have some respect!”

As the group inched towards the parking lot, a reporter bulldozed his way toward them. He accidentally knocked into Cosmic Dan in an attempt to get closer to Zera. Behind him, a camerawoman trained her lens on the girl.

“For goodness sake, man!” said Dan. Ben’s shoulder was touching Zera’s, and she felt him grow tense, saw that his hands were balled into fists.

Hattie, behind them, raised an arm to shield her grandmother. “What a jerk!”  

The young blond reporter ignored them both. “Miss Green,” he beckoned, “I’ve been doing some research into your family, and legend has it that the Greens can talk with plants. How about you? Can you communicate with plants? Do they talk back?”   

Zera stopped, turned to the reporter. “Yes, I can. And yes, they do.”

The reporter’s mouth dropped open as Zera added, “And what I can do, everyone can do.”

Cameras flashed all around her. A few snickers rippled through the crowd. Zera took a breath, slowly, mindfully. She didn’t feel self-conscious in the chaos. She felt at peace. And, in spite of everything, she felt stronger than ever before.