Chapter 19
Bullies
I
Amica stood with her father, his arms wrapped around her as Henry sent the queen’s daughter. She was the last of the Angriff on her planet, and it signaled the end of their occupation. She watched Henry as he released the gate; he stood there for a long moment his head just resting on the gate.
“I am very glad he was on our side. How did you both get here?” her father asked turning her around, giving her a tight hug. She had dreamed of this day for a long time. She just snuggled in his arms; she had never felt as safe as she did in her father’s arms.
“I was so worried for you,” Amica said, “Sir said that if they took you off world that you would be lost,” she said.
“I should have know that man would be involved, I spent the last ten years on this planet cooperating with the Angriff because they threatened to kill you if I disobeyed, and he sends you right into their hands. I am going to have words with that man. Does you mother know you are here?” he asked.
“I left her a message,” Amica said. She had a feeling she was going to be in trouble when she got home, but she didn’t care; it was worth every moment of punishment to feel his arms around her now.
“I am very glad to see you though. The idea of you, and your mother has been what kept me going all of these years,” Melchiorre said. “He is really something,” her father said over her shoulder. She knew that he meant Henry; she turned to look at him. He was still standing at the gate his forehead resting on the stone at the center of the gateway.
“You have no idea,” she said. She had never met a person like Henry, he was kind to everyone, and even those she didn’t feel deserved it. She would not have risked her life for that woman. He had been very impressive. She took her father’s hand pulling him towards Henry.
“Come on I want you to meet him,” she said. They walked towards Henry, and he still had not moved very much, she began to worry that something had gone wrong with the last opening. She let go of her father’s hand, and ran to him. She called his name, and pulled up short when he lifted his head. He turned to look at her, and she realized Henry had been crying. His eyes were red, and his face was blotchy, she could see his cheeks were wet. She thought she knew why he was crying, but it didn’t matter to her. She folded him in her arms, whispering in his ear.
“Everything is going to be okay, Henry,” she said.
“Her mother will likely kill her and all I can think is that she probably deserves it. She was going to make me a slave. I am tired of being weak, I want them all to pay,” he said. She realized that he was no longer talking about the Angriff. She wrapped her arms around him holding her tightly to her chest.
“It’s late, and it has been close to over a day since either of us had any sleep. Let’s go home, everything will look better in the morning,” Amica said. Her father stood back a foot or two he was smiling. Harold, and Justin walked over to where she stood with Henry.
“Henry it is natural to hate the people who hurt you, and your friends. Vengeance is easy, but a real man understands that forgiveness is hard. You had a chance to take your vengeance today, but didn’t. That is the first step. You did well here today,” Harold said. Justin nodded his agreement with Harold’s words.
“I think I’m going to open the gate home so I can sleep in my own bed tonight,” Henry said. Her father went to make preparations for their departure; she was torn between wanting to comfort Henry, and staying near her father. In the end she figured Henry would be busy with the gate, and stayed with her dad. He walked over to where Marito stood with a group of keepers, they did not look very healthy, and she remembered that there was medicine in her pack, which she had hidden in a bush out side the city.
“With the exception of where ever these two came through, this is the only operational off world gate left, I recommend placing guards on each gate after we are gone. I do not think the Angriff will return, but we cannot be to sure,” her dad said.
“Marito do you remember where we left my pack,” Amica asked.
“There is medicine in there, please give each person a capful from each bottle, I don’t know how much is left so start with the worst. My father, and I will return tomorrow with medication, and supplies. We will also bring Moglie if she is up to travel, and if she isn’t I will personally open the gate to take you to her,” Amica said.
“Thank you Amica, and thank Henry as well, I am not sure I agree with all his decisions, but we would have lost so much with out you both,” Marito said giving her a hug, and shaking her father’s hand. Amica saw the light from the gate out of the corner of her eye; she turned to see that Henry was preparing to open the gate. She hoped he would be okay. He walked through the gate; Harold, and Justin following close behind him.
II
Roberts sat in the chair at her desk, Henry sat across from her; he had asked to come up to her office after Melchiorre, and Amica had gone to see Alessia. Roberts had met them at the Chicago terminal gateway when it opened. She had been very pleased to see them all return safely, even Harold, and Justin. Soon she would have to start the arduous process of moving the Scultarians home. She absently wondered how many would give up their life on earth, and return to help rebuild. She had been unable to reach Nathan to inform him of the recent events on his planet, although she had not tried particularly hard to do so either. But, she would deal with that problem when it finally arose.
She was also pretty sure from the look Melchiorre had given her when they hugged, that she was going to have a very unpleasant conversation with him regarding his daughter’s involvement in his rescue. She was sure that in time he would come to see that Amica being the woman she has grown into that she would have gone with, or with out her help, and she only participated to increase the odds of her survival. Henry looked very tired, and a little sad. Henry was dressed in a black shirt and pants and a scarlet tie, with rose pins near the points of his collar, she had to admit it was a very good look for him. The rose pins looked familiar, but it had been a long day, and she could not place them. She was however curious to their meaning, and she thought whatever reason had put him in this outfit was the reason he had asked to speak with her in her office.
“Henry where did you get the rose cuff links, and pins, they are very handsome,” she asked trying to be casual. Henry looked down his finger sliding over the rose of one of the cuffs, and she saw that same sad look she had seen earlier cross his face.
“They were a gift from Mariele, she gave them to me shortly before I betrayed her,” he said. There was more to this story; she thought that if she could place where she had seen the pins before she would understand what was happening.
“What do my parents know about where I have been?” Henry asked.
“I told them what you asked me, that you went to help a friend in trouble. Your mother asked if the friend in trouble was Amica, and when I told her yes, she didn’t seem surprised that you would drop everything to help her. She implied that you had a bad habit of letting your desire to help a friend in need over rule your common sense, I agreed with her,” she said.
“They weren’t mad at me for running off, and risking my life?” Henry asked surprised.
“Your mother never asked how much danger you were actually in, and I did not volunteer that information. I thought that when you returned it would be your decision to tell them. I know that you are young, but part of growing up is deciding what information to keep to yourself, and what is important to share. If you tell them about what you did, will they worry needlessly about you every time you walk out the door? There are risks to every job, your mother’s health is potentially in danger every time she encounters a sick patient, but she plays down the fact because she has accepted those risks, and decided they are worth it to continue doing what she loves. You are no longer in danger, but that doesn’t mean that as a keeper you will not be exposed to risks. You will need to decide if the ris
ks are worth the experiences you will have as a keeper,” she said. Henry was quiet while he thought about what she had said.
“I would like to continue to work as a keeper, although I could use a break from training. I am not happy with Sir at the moment,” Henry said.
“I think that sounds like a good idea, you have obviously shown yourself to be capable of opening the gates at this point. I think your other abilities as a natural will take some time to develop, I can put you on the schedule for Monday,” she said.
“What day is it now,” Henry asked blushing, “I have kind of lost track of time to be honest,” he said.
“It is Saturday evening, right around 8:30 she said checking her watch,” she said. “You really have not been gone that long, although I would wager it did not feel that way, given that you have not slept,” she said smiling, although being careful not to show too many teeth. Henry had a long day and she didn’t want to scare him.
“You know it doesn’t scare me when you smile, you don’t have to be as careful,” Henry said. He really was becoming very perceptive. She smiled again this time just relaxing.
“I will remember that, would you like a ride home?” she asked rising from her chair.
“That would be nice,” he said.
III
Henry stood at his locker feeling pretty good. He had spent most of Sunday catching up on sleep. He had thought about taking the day off of school, but his mother had made it clear, that if he was too tired for school, he was too tired to go to work. He felt pretty good, regardless. He had worn some of the new clothes that Amica, and his sister had gotten him for his birthday. They were just khakis, and short-sleeved red polo, but it was different from the black long sleeved tees he usually wore. He had chosen the red with a smile thinking of his time with Mariele, The pins, and cufflinks she had given him were tucked safely in his backpack; he was considering wearing them with his uniform. The gates he operated were covered in roses, and the symmetry of the idea appealed to him. He was not sure how Roberts would feel about, that maybe just the cuff links. He would have to speak with her.
He had talked to Amica Sunday evening; she and her folks were going to Scultura sometime this morning, they were bringing a shipment of food, and supplies. She was complaining about Nathan, he was trying to bring all of these weapons to defend the gates, which Henry thought wasn’t entirely a bad idea, but Amica thought it was just the first step to creating a military program, which her people had evolved beyond millennia ago.
“He has spent entirely too much of his upbringing with uncivilized humans if you ask me,” she said. He agreed with her that creating a military force was a step backwards in their planetary evolution. “How long after we created an army, would Nathan be looking for a reason to use it,” she argued. Henry thought about what Marito had said about his people accepting the rule of someone who had been absent for the occupation. Henry wondered if Nathan creating a military was the beginning of him trying to establish his place as king. It was hard for him to say after all he had never actually spoken to the man, he had seen him in the garden many times, but didn’t really know anything about him the way Amica did. Besides, Henry disliked politics, and was glad to just agree with Amica and let her blow off steam. He reminded her that what ever happened on Scultura, Roberts would probably give her a job, and Henry would always find a place for Amica here on Earth.
He closed his locker door, and resisted the urge to step back when he found Britney their waiting for him. He took a second to find his focus, in the past he had always had a difficult time reading Britney, because there was just so much going on in his life, but after being through the experiences he had been through on Scultura, high school wasn’t as intimidating any more, it wasn’t like anyone was murdered in the hallway. After his experiences with Mariele, he was able to really see Britney for the predatory creature she was. Mariele was fierce, willing to dole out serious punishment when she thought it needed to be done, but she was fair; punishing only those that deserved punishment. He found it sad that Mariele was less objectionable than the girl that stood before him.
“Good morning Britney. What can I do for you this morning?” Henry asked politely. He was not really in the mood to deal with her craziness today, but she had all but admitted she was responsible for the football team slamming into him in the hallway. He decided to give her a minute.
“I was thinking more along the lines of what I could do for you,” she said sweetly. Henry checked his watch, he still had time before his class, and wisely, or not was curious what she had to say.
“I’m listening,” he said. She looked him up, and down appraisingly. She smiled her sweetest smile at him, but using his ability to see, it came across very predatory.
“I was thinking that I could make things a little easier on you in the hallways, I need help writing that project for English, and I was thinking that if you helped me, that maybe I could get the guys to lay off,” she said. Henry wondered if she used her sweet smile, and charms to get everything she wanted.
“Are you listening to me,” Britney said. Henry realized that he wasn’t, that she had been talking, and he had not heard a thing she had said.
“No,” Henry said. He turned to walk away, and she put her hand on his arm.
“No, you weren’t listening or no you won’t help me,” she asked surprised.
“Both, I’m not interested in being a part of your life, just leave me alone,” Henry said. He was just turning to walk away when Paul walked up. Henry groaned inwardly, he just wanted to go to class.
“Is he bothering you again?” Paul asked angrily.
“No, she’s bothering me!” Henry said. Paul looked at him, a surprised look on his face. “I am not, nor will I ever be interested in working with her. One date with her was more than enough for me to see her for what she is, she is mean spirited, and manipulative. She is all yours,” Henry said then walked past them, to go to class. He half expected Paul to throw a punch, or catch him in the hallway, but he was very quiet the rest of the day. Neither Paul, or Britney spoke with him during English, and the few times Britney was supposed to pass him back papers, she dropped them on the floor accidentally for him to pick up.
It was the end of the day, and Henry was leaving school to walk towards the Chicago entrance to the Milky Way Terminal. He was looking forward to earning money for college in the fall. He had applied to NYU for early admission, but had not yet heard back. If he got in he would have to talk to Ms. Roberts about getting a pass through the Grand Central Terminal gate, that way he could continue working. He stepped out of the front door of the high school, and did not bother trying to sneak out of the building. He did not feel like fighting Paul, but it would be what it would be.
Henry was not far from the door to Industrial glass, which was the entrance to the Chicago Terminal, when he heard Paul’s voice behind him. He fought the urge to just run the last 20 feet to the entrance, and turned to see Paul. He was not going to be bullied any more even if it meant fighting. Paul looked like he had been jogging towards him, but when he saw Henry stop Paul slowed to a walk.
“What do you want Paul? I need to get to work, and I don’t really have any desire to fight you,” Henry said.
“I don’t really want to fight you either,” Paul said.
“Then what do you want?” Henry asked. He had never had a conversation with Paul before.
“I wanted to ask you a question, man to man,” Paul said.
“Okay,” Henry said. Paul looked kind of embarrassed.
“Listen, I know I’m not smart; but, I’m not as dumb as everyone thinks I am,” Paul said.
“I never thought you were dumb Paul, mean certainly, but never dumb,” Henry said. It was true, Paul always seemed to know how not to get caught, there was definitely more to Paul than met the eye.
“I understand why you would feel that way, I know you have no reason to be honest with me, but was it true
when you said that you had only been on one date with Britney?” Paul asked. Henry had not seen this question coming.
“Until you went snowmobiling, I had never said more than five words at a time to the girl, and never out of school,” Henry said. He could tell from the upset look on Paul’s face that he was kind of expecting this answer, but was not really happy to hear it.
“I know it’s not really an excuse, but that was not really what I have been lead to believe. Don’t get me wrong, I believe you, but…” Paul stopped talking; he looked unsure what to say next. He was not sure what Paul had been told, but he was pretty sure who had told it to him.
“What did Britney tell you?” Henry asked.
“I never really liked you freshmen year, I guess that’s not really a secret, you were smarter than me, and I thought Britney liked you. So I started picking on you thinking that if I could make you look weak she would like me more than you. It was a terrible relationship; I know that now. Whenever we would fight she would say that you were smarter than me, and would make a better boyfriend. Over time she used different guys to point out my flaws, but I think she knew that it bugged me the most when she said she liked you more,” Paul said. Henry kind of felt sorry for Paul, not a lot, but still. It can’t be easy always being told you aren’t as good as someone you don’t really like to begin with.
“I think that chick is bad news,” Henry said.
“Yeah you’re probably right, listen I’m gonna ask the guys to lay off. I’m sorry,” Paul said offering his hand. Henry didn’t want to shake his hand. What he really wanted was to punch Paul in his face, to drag him through a gateway, and leave him stranded on the other side of the universe as payback for all of the times he had made him ashamed to look in the mirror. He thought of the Angriff. They had been a peaceful, quiet people once; before they were twisted by their desire for revenge. It was a path that standing here in front of Paul, that Henry understood, but it was not what Henry wanted for his future. In the end he shook Paul’s hand.
“I forgive you Paul,” Henry said. He was not sure he was going to say it until the words came out of his mouth, but now that they had he realized they were true. Henry thought of what Harold had said and he felt proud of himself. Paul turned, and began to walk home. Henry turned, and found Amica standing in the doorway to the false front of the Chicago Terminal. She smiled at him.
“That your bully?” she asked when he got closer.
“Not anymore, I thought you were leaving this morning?” Henry said.
“The folks left this morning, but you didn’t think I would leave with out saying goodbye in person did you?” Amica said. Amica leaned in, and gave him a big hug. She whispered into his ear. “I also stayed behind to tell you something. My father saw things while trying to look after the keepers during the occupation. Not all of the keepers who disappeared died, some of them joined the Keeper’s Union, and were spared. The Keeper’s Union was working with the Angriff. They are up to something, something big, but I don’t know what. This goes way beyond just smuggling. Please be careful,” she said. She kissed him on the check, and stepped back.
“Hey, you don’t mind opening the gate so I can get home do you?” she asked smiling; adopting her same teasing tone, but Henry could see the worry in her eyes.
“I guess not, but only if you promise to come visit soon,” Henry said holding the door open for her.
“Deal,” she said. Henry followed her through the door letting it swing closed.
The End
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