CHAPTER 23
Astral burst (part 2)
They exchanged another one of their looks, lasting several seconds this time, then he finally nodded and pulled out his cell phone.
It seemed to ring several times at the other end before someone picked up. "Shim? Yes, we've-- No, no, she's here, with us. Wait, before you do that, listen." Quickly, he repeated everything I'd heard Smith say, then the argument Rigel and I had just used for spreading the word. "And I have to admit that she has a point. She should have a say in this," he concluded. Another silence while Shim spoke, during which Mr. Stuart's expression became even more concerned.
"Yes, she might be safe there," he finally said, "but for how long? We'd have to turn it into a fortress. (pause) No, I don't agree. I think the time for secrecy is past. (pause) MARSTAR, of course. It's the only thing fast enough. But I need your okay. Yes, all right." He hung up.
"What did he say?" I asked breathlessly. It was only my whole future on the line, after all.
"He's going to confer with the rest of the Council--they're already convening because of the emergency. He'll call me back shortly."
The next half hour seemed to last days. Dr. Stuart tried to distract us all by setting out sandwiches, brownies and milk, but none of us--not even Rigel, the eating machine--seemed to have much appetite. Even though we'd been expecting it, when Mr. Stuart's phone finally rang, we all jumped.
"Yes?"
I sat on the very edge of my chair while Shim--presumably--talked. I was already practicing arguments in case the decision went the wrong way, since I was not agreeing to the walled-up-in-Montana-without-Rigel scenario. But then Mr. Stuart gave me a little smile and my tension started to ease even before he clicked off his phone.
"They've agreed. In fact, they'll send the message themselves, since that will carry more authority, and they'll include a full account of last month's formal test to convince the skeptics. And there will be skeptics. After all, you've been presumed dead for thirteen years."
Rigel gripped my hand so tightly he nearly cut off my circulation. "And that will make Morven and Smith back off, right?" He was urgent. "Once that message goes out?"
His father hesitated before answering. "I hope so. It depends on how committed--and how desperate --they are. Some of those people are fanatics for their cause, and we don't know exactly how many of them are on Earth. Only a few, the Council claims. I hope they're right. But even if the message goes out at once, it could be a day or two before most read it. Not everyone will have immediate access to their e-mail."
"But Morven's people are the important ones, right?" I asked, some of my nervousness returning. "I mean, once they know the word has gone out, they'll have to change their plans. Won't they?"
"I hope so," he said again. "Still, the next day or two will be critical. All of us--and especially you, M--will need to be on our guard against, well, anything."
"We will be." Rigel was definite-and he didn't loosen his grip on my hand. "We'll stay right here, if we have to."
I stared at him. "But the game! It's Homecoming tonight. You can't miss that!"
"Do you think that matters to me, compared to your safety? If I have to make a choice, it's no contest." His eyes burned into mine but I could see anguish there as well as concern for me. The game did matter to him.
"But Morven's not even on his way to Indy yet, right? It takes hours to fly from California, then he has to drive to Jewel. There shouldn't be any real risk tonight. Besides, it's not like they're going to stage some big attack in the middle of a high school football game. Or would they?" I turned to his parents.
"No, probably not," Mr. Stuart conceded. "Anything they do will likely be covert."
Dr. Stuart was watching Rigel, her brow furrowed, compassion in her hazel eyes. Clearly, she knew how important tonight was to him. "I don't think you need to skip the game, Rigel. It wouldn't be fair to your teammates. And M is right that the risks this soon, and in that setting, should be minimal. We can keep a close eye on her while you're on the field."
I nodded vigorously. "And if Smith comes anywhere near me, I'll scream. How's that?"
He didn't smile, but some of the tension left his mouth and eyes. "Promise?"
"Promise. I'll be fine. And you'll be fantastic. On the field, I mean," I clarified, not wanting his parents to get the wrong idea.
I thought I heard a muffled chuckle from his dad, but then his mom said, "All right, that's settled. How about some of these sandwiches, kids? And M, why don't you call your aunt and uncle and let them know you'll be going to the game with us."
Though Aunt Theresa wasn't happy--when was she ever?--she didn't insist I come home first, which I'd half expected she might. But she did say that she and Uncle Louie would drive me back from the game.
"Both of you are coming to the game?" I asked in surprise. I couldn't remember Aunt Theresa attending a football game before.
"It's Homecoming," she said without any other explanation. "We'll meet you at the car as soon as the game is over."
We got to the game early, of course, since Rigel had to warm up. After a few last, totally unnecessary, words of caution from both Rigel and his parents, he went to join the team and they went to sit at the top of the stands, so they could keep an eye on things (meaning me). I went to sit with Bri and Deb, near the fifty yard line, as usual.
"So, you're back in with Rigel's folks, too?" Bri asked, glancing up the stands to where they were sitting, a dozen rows behind us. "Guess you weren't going back to his place for smoochies after all, huh?"
"Bri!" I punched her in the arm, but I also laughed. It was nice to pretend gossip was the worst I had to worry about for a little while. "Thanks again for the dress, by the way. It saved me having to ask my aunt to take me shopping--and actually going with her, if she'd said yes."
"It fits you better than me anyway," she said.
"And that sea green is a great color on you, M," Deb chimed in. "I can't wait till tomorrow night!"
"Me, either," I said, trying not to think about what might happen before then. I'd be really pissed if the bad guys kept me from going to the Homecoming dance!
I did my best to focus on the game, but other than appreciating the hotness that was Rigel on the field, I can't claim I was really following it. I was aware of my aunt and uncle at the left-hand end of the bleachers and even more aware of Mr. Smith at the right-hand end. Though I never caught him watching me, I was sure he was. Even the Homecoming parade at halftime, with its absurd tissue-paper floats, barely registered. Except for the Homecoming Court.
I watched Rigel and Trina ride past, representing the sophomore class, both of them looking acutely uncomfortable. The voting had happened last week, when they were still "together." Trina waved to the stands with jerky little motions, but Rigel didn't even do that. He just stared in my direction the whole time they circled the field.
Shortly after the game resumed, maybe ten minutes into the third quarter, I felt a hand on my shoulder. Looking up, I saw Dr. Stuart, her beautiful mouth tight with strain. Leaning down, she spoke softly and quickly into my ear, not that anyone would have heard her anyway, with all the yelling. We'd just scored, putting us ahead 22 - 7.
"We need to go," she said. "Mr. Smith just left and Van thinks we should follow him. If we're not back by the time the game ends, do you think your aunt and uncle would give Rigel a ride home?"
"Of course," I said. Aunt Theresa was all about hospitality, so I couldn't imagine her refusing.
I wanted to ask what they thought Smith might be planning, but with a last squeeze of my shoulder, she hurried to join Mr. Stuart, who was already heading for the gate.
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