Wheels (43 page)

“PLEASE!” McKenzie was going to send Wells spiraling across the universe if he didn’t cool it with the snide comments.

“In my day, a lady—”

“The Lady said ‘please,’” said Hayes, “and I don’t think you want to mess with The Lady.”

McKenzie stifled a laugh.

“Stop right there,” said the man in the black suit, brandishing a gun and trying to work his cell phone at the same time. After a few minutes, it became obvious he was having trouble getting clear reception—a common problem in Avondale.

Wells put up his hands. “Help! I’m under duress. I’ve been kidnapped.”

The man in black, preoccupied as he was, either did not hear Wells, or didn’t care.

“Any ideas,” whispered McKenzie.

“How about an orange?” said Hayes.

McKenzie laughed. “I believe I can do one better.” She closed her eyes and began to weave. All they needed was time. Just a little time until Principal Provost returned. McKenzie had never woven a bubble of present time so that wasn’t an option. She had, however, already woven a giant fist.

Behind the man in black, the white van looked as if it were exploding, quietly and slowly, into a billion pieces. A fist, thought McKenzie, I need a really big fist. She opened her eyes. It wasn’t working. The particles shifted and moved, uncertain where to go.

Once again, McKenzie tried to imagine a fist, but a large white hand giving someone the peace sign kept forcing it’s way into her imagination. It’ll have to do, she thought.

“Look!” said Hayes, laughing.

“A ‘V’?” asked Wells.

Hayes laughed harder. “A peace sign, old man.”

Then, McKenzie had a brilliant idea. The middle finger of the giant hand folded down, the thumb went out and the hand, like a kid playing a game of cops and robbers, turned sideways and pointed at the man.

The man in black saw the hand, screamed, dropped his gun and cell phone, and took off. He never looked back.

Hayes ran over and picked them up. “It’s only a stun gun,” he said, sounding disappointed.

“How would you know?”

“Different sides of the tracks, Mac. I know things you’d never want to know.”

McKenzie shrugged. “Let’s go look in the van. I want to get my grandfather’s stuff out of there in case that cop, or whatever he is, returns.” She glanced at Wells and found him standing, still staring at the—

“Oops!” McKenzie closed her eyes and nudged the particles back into the shape of the van.

As Wells refused to step foot in the van, Hayes and Charlie, along with the stun gun, stayed outside to keep an eye on him.

McKenzie collected her great-great grandmother Julianne’s diary, along with a folder full of important looking documents, and a personal logbook that had apparently belonged to the man in black. She had just finished rolling down the ramp from the back of the van, when Principal Provost returned.

He looked like his old self again, wheelchair and all.

“Rudy B. Hayes,” he said. “Put that gun down, immediately!”

“We have a small problem,” said McKenzie, handing the logbook to Principal Provost.

“These too,” said Hayes, handing him the cell phone and the gun.

While Principal Provost flipped through the logbook’s pages, McKenzie and Hayes pulled the rest of Revolvos’ belongings out of the van and closed it up.

“He’ll be back,” said Wells, sounding almost gleeful. “Mind you, a man like that makes his living spying on people. Now that he knows there are aliens living on our planet, he won’t let you rest. Knowledge is power. I should know. A man like that loves power!”

“Knowledge is power only if you have proof,” said Principal Provost, “and we’re taking that with us. You’re probably right, however, he may try to cause us trouble. Whatever you do, McKenzie, don’t particle-weave in public. And Hayes, don’t let that poonchi out of your sight. If this man should return—”

“Oh, he will,” said Wells, “Mark my words, he will!”

Principal Provost shook his head. “You humans are self-absorbed creatures. It comes from thinking you’re the only sentient species on the planet—closes your mind to the possibility of other intelligences. My advice would be to play along with this man for a while, build up his confidence and then pretend it’s all a lie. Or, better yet—play dumb. It will drive him crazy. Either way…” He looked at McKenzie. “I’ll be gone by summer.” Then he looked at Hayes. “And so will the poonchi.” Principal Provost rolled over, picked up Revolvos’ suitcase and tossed it on his lap. “Time to go,” he said, “I see another helicopter in the distance.”

“What about him?” said Hayes, pointing to the man frozen inside the field.

“As soon as I deposit the three of you safely inside the time field, I shall return for Roony. At which point,” Principal Provost smiled, “Time will resume.”

Wells and Principal Provost began heading toward the time field.

Hayes walked over and picked up Charlie, who’d rolled over to leave his mark on one of the van’s tires.

“Wait,” said McKenzie.

Hayes, cradling Charlie in his arms, gave her a smile that just sort-of…took her breath away.

“So,” McKenzie said, hoping like crazy he couldn’t tell how nervous she was. “We’re home and I guess everything’s back to normal…except for your poonchi friend.”

Hayes tucked Charlie under his arm, strolled over and stood beside her. He grabbed one of her curls and began twisting it around his finger. “Normal,” he said, his breath tickling her ear and sending a thousand shivers up and down her arms, “is for girls like Joanne.”

McKenzie thought she was going to die—right then and there—die! Before she had taken another breath, he’d untwisted the curl from around his finger and gently tucked it behind her ear. “And, geezits-louizits, Mac—who the heck wants to be normal!”

“Not me!” cried McKenzie. “Geezits-louizits—not me!”

“Race you to the time field,” said Hayes.

“You’ve got to be kidding.”

“What? Afraid you’ll lose?”

McKenzie put her best racing face on. “In your dreams, Rudy Hayes.” She laughed. “Only in your dreams!”

CAST OF CHARACTERS

ON EARTH

Humans

Julianne Wells
: (Julianne Anderson) Younger sister of H.G. Wells. Married Petré T. Revolvos (a.k.a. Peter R. Anderson and Prof. R.) in 1896. McKenzie Wu’s great-great grandmother

McKenzie Wu
: Daughter of James and Georgianna Wu

Hayes
: (Rudy B. Hayes) McKenzie’s classmate, lives with his Aunt Patty

Grandma Mir
: (Miracle Madison) McKenzie’s Grandmother (mother’s side)

James Wu
: McKenzie’s Father, inventor, married to Georgianna Madison (deceased)

Roony
: (Joseph Roony) Assistant to Prof. Petré T. Revolvos (Assumes the identity of Professor R. after Revolvos leaves Earth.)

Wink Krumm
: FBI Agent

Miss Chantos
: (Stephanie Chantos) Head Secretary, Avondale School

Nurse Prickel
: Nurse, Avondale School

Circanthians

Principal Provost
: (Bewfordios R. Provost, B.R. Provost) Principal of Avondale High School. Traveled to Earth in search of his old mentor, Petré T. Revolvos, and the Corona-Soter (in Earth language, the Wheeled Warrior), a being upon whom the fate of the entire Circanthian race rests.

Professor Revolvos
: (Petré T. Revolvos, Peter R. Anderson, Prof. R.) Circanthian scientist and mentor to Bewfordios Provost. Arrived on Earth 1895; changed name to Peter R. Anderson and married Julianne Wells in 1896. Shortly after Julianne’s death, he faked his own death and returned to using the name, Revolvos. Earned several degrees and added the title of Professor. Over the years built several companies worldwide all of which were under the name Prof. R.

ON CIRCANTHOS

Circanthians

Pietas
: A member of the Circa Septim (see glossary), which sent B.R. Provost to Earth.

Soliis
: A member of the Circa Septim (Later on, spy for H.G. Wells and the Tsendi)

Tsendi

Abacis
: The Advitor’s number one Tsendi.

Mallos
: Forest Spy. First to discover arrival of McKenzie and Hayes

Humans

H.G. Wells
: (Herbert G. Wells, the Advitor) Older brother of Julianne Wells, writer and failed inventor. Arrived on Circanthos, Earth-year 1895. Proclaimed “Advitor” by the Tsendi.

GLOSSARY

Taken from: Circanthian Made Easy, 3rd Edition, by Rudy B. Hayes
(New York: Courtright and Schwartz)

ADVITOR
-
According to legend, the coming of the Advitoris signals a new beginning for the Tsendi civilization. When H.G. Wells arrived on Circanthos, he fit the description and the Tsendi crowned him Advitor. Proving, looks can be deceiving! (Ch. 12)

ALBOLIAN TROGSITTER
-
A tennis ball-sized, aqua colored, amphibious creature with three, fat, round spheres. (
In other words: a triple threat, tri-sphered frog that’s fantastically fast!
) (Ch. 24)

ARAC-TELAE
-
The Tsendi word for particle-weaving. Translated it means, Web of the Spider. H.G. Wells claimed it was a form of magical deception. Unfortunately, he also discovered how to rid the Circanthians of their particle-weaving ability. A discovery that cost many Circanthians their lives and almost destroyed their planet. (Ch. 26)

ARAMEDIOS
- Ah yes…Aramedios holds a special place in my heart! It’s where Mac and I first came face to face, or should I say, spears to face, with the Tsendi. Traditionally used as a neutral trading area before the Veni Commotos, Aramedios is about midway between the Tsendi and Circanthian settlements. Famous for its towering rock formations, it’s also great for stakeouts. (Ch. 13)

ARELO MINE
-
The ancient Tsendi mines where, before the Veni Commotos, the Tsendi mined for coraltea: an orange colored metal used to make armor and other useful, as well as beautiful, items. The collapse of one of these mineshafts is, unfortunately, what began the famous falling-out between the Tsendi and the Circanthians, a period in their history known as the Veni Commotos. (Ch. 22)

AZALIN
-
Flowers that grow in bunches of four or five in dry, rocky areas such as the Last Gathering. Azalin have thick, black stems and tiny, black, diamond-shaped leaves. The flower consists of one long, red stamen and three wide, fire red, ruffled-edged petals. Azalin have a strong, sweet, seductive scent similar to jasmine. (Ch. 19)

BERTLECOCK
-
A large, round, bird-like creature ranging from 15 to 25 pounds. Covered in short, brown feathers, the head appears small in comparison to the body. While their eyes are barely visible, their beak, which is black, can be up to four inches long. Bertlecocks build three-sided nests in trees and mountainsides. Rather than fly, they scrunch their three webbed feet into small balls and bounce from place to place. Bertlecocks can bounce almost a third of a mile before landing. (
On another note: Circanthians claim the braying of a Bertlecock is the most annoying sound in the universe. Obviously, they’ve never heard Penny Nickels sing.
) (Ch. 12)

BOREIS PEAKS
–
The northernmost point on Circanthos, (
Although, according to Prof. Revolvos there really is no ‘northernmost’ as we understand it in Earth terms
.) The Boreis Peaks and their ‘southernmost’ counterpart, the Isle of Iciis, are perpetually in the path of the Loonock, (
a dead, dark moon
) which blocks out most of the sans’ heat leaving them uninhabitable, with the exception of wild broshbonits. (Ch. 13)

BOTOOTO FROOT
-
From a distance, botooto froot looks every bit like a bunch of orange bananas hanging from a palm tree. While botooti (
plural
) are fruit, (
Or froot, as the natives say.
) you don’t peel them, as the skin is the best part, tasting something like maple sugar. The inside is plain, but has a nice, juicy, melon-like texture and taste. Next to mosrack, botooto froot is my favorite Circanthian food. (Ch. 25)

BRINPIG
-
Short, fat, docile creatures resembling forest-green colored hedgehogs. Brinpigs shed their waste products through pores evenly distributed over their body. Like walking fertilizers shooting their loads to the wind, you don’t want to be near a brinpig when he decides to take a dump. The process happens so fast the expression, ‘
like sleet from a brinpig’,
is commonly used to describe anything unpleasant that happens much too fast. (Ch. 19)

BROSHBONIT
-
Your worst fluffy nightmare come true. Broshbonits thrive in cold temperatures and live primarily near the Boreis Peaks; however, since few fresh roots grow there, you can find them foraging almost anywhere on Circanthos, raiding food supplies and local gardens. Broshbonits range in size from five to seven pounds and breed only once in their short, two loonocks (
two year
) lifespan, laying approximately three eggs, of which only one will ever hatch. What looks like soft, white fur covering them from head to cotton ball-like tail, is actually a coat of strong, spikey needles, which they’re capable of shooting with deadly accuracy at anyone or anything they feel is a threat. Unless you can particle-weave, the only defense against a broshbonit is to stay very,
very,
far away. (Ch. 14)