Thorn is very fast on his feet these days, but Jan has long legs, and could’ve been a professional runner, if there were any down here.
I start to chase after them when an incredible thing happens: there’s a frantic rustle in the Fireseed field. A band of at least forty Reds alight from its canopy. Their madly fluttering wings are framed against the bright coral sky as they charge toward Thorn and Jan. But instead of the Reds attacking Jan as before, they link their wingtips to form a fluid, rolling rectangle. Soaring closer and closer to Thorn, they swoop him up on their airborne carpet, just as Jan has caught up and reaches out to grab Thorn.
The Fireseed hums its approval Safe, safe, safe, safe! Fly, fly, fly.
I cheer from the dunes below. “Go, Reds!”
A distinctly more human cheer erupts from behind me. Spinning around, I see Blane, Armonk, Radius and Bea pumping their fists by the entrance to The Greening.
Today Thorn spoke for the very first time in front of his classmates and now this flying red escape hatch. It’s unfathomable that Thorn didn’t get picked, and I sense the real reason could be disturbing. What other bizarre wonders and terrors await us I can hardly imagine.
Chapter 23
Armonk, Thorn and I take one more trip to Dr. Varik before I pack for Vegas-by-the-Sea. This is Thorn’s first trip here and he’s excited to meet the well-regarded doctor. He skips along the tasteful stone path and raps on the door.
Dr. Varik is delighted to meet Thorn as well, and they seem to hit it off—this all with few words, though Thorn is talking more. The doctor examines Thorn, peering into his ears and down his throat. “Have you been eating much?”
Thorn holds up one finger. “Bowl. Fireagar.”
“One bowl a day?” Thorn nods. “You have questions for me?” Dr. Varik asks as he sneaks in a quick blood sample and genetic swab from Thorn’s tongue. I see the blood sample is as greenish as mine.
Thorn’s liquid eyes shimmer. “Reds. I made them. Part plant. Part human. Like me?” Impressive that my brother can stay silent for so long and then easily find the words he needs. From his shirt he produces a Red and holds it out. We all do a double take. The critter was so quiet on the way over—not one peep—that I had no idea he was swaddling it. It’s true; the Reds are incredibly calm around Thorn. This one flaps its wings once and then, with a twiddling of its stamen-like tufts, it settles into itself.
Dr. Varik reaches out a gloved hand, palm up. “May I?”
Thorn moves his hand toward Dr. Varik’s. The Red flicks its head at Thorn. It seems to be asking Thorn if this man is safe. Having transferred an unseen, unheard okay from Thorn to the Red, the Red hops onto Dr. Varik’s hand, and then on his crossed knee. It nibbles the doctor’s pant’s leg. Deciding it not very tasty, it closes its snout and blinks up at Dr. Varik.
Just above the rim of Dr. Varik’s gloves, I see more blunted nubs on his wrist. The sight makes me wince. His movements seem slow and stiff, as if he’s aged in the span of a couple of weeks. I don’t know what to make of it, and a cold, hard shiver runs down my spine. I again glance furtively at my own arms. No nubs. I heave a sigh.
“The Red sure has a giant personality,” Armonk notes.
Dr. Varik makes a few funny faces at it to see if it’ll react. The Red just blinks back at him. “Uncanny blend of Thorn and the Fireseed,” he decides.
“Yup, it has the same serious, yet cute expression as Thorn,” I say.
“The eyes are a lot alike,” Dr. Varik agrees. “Irrefutable evidence of the Fireseed’s capacity for transgenic breeding.” He takes a tiny genetic sample and then observes it as it hops back onto Thorn. “Makes me nostalgic for my dolphin, Juko. I had to leave him up north.”
“Can. I. See. Juko?” Thorn pronounces each word as if it’s in its own sentence.
Before we know it, Dr. Varik has guided Thorn and the Red to a couch in front of a holo screen. Thorn yelps with delight as the doctor plays a video of the dolphin tapping a ball with its prosthetic flippers.
While Thorn watches the film over, Dr. Varik does final fittings to Armonk’s leg. He also advises me on what I’ll need to stay healthy when I travel. “Go outdoors daily. Drink in solar vitamins. You’ll need this extra supplement.” He hands me a liquid vial. “Steer clear of cake and fancy contest foods that could make you sick.” He pauses. “Anything you want to ask me?”
“Yes. It’s um, hard to talk about. It sounds nuts.”
“Try me,” he says. By the way Armonk starts stops fiddling with his already adjusted leg it’s clear he’s curious.
“Okay, I hear things,” I check the doctor’s reaction. He’s still waiting patiently. “I hear the Fireseed talking. That sounds really odd. But I do. My brother does too, I’m sure of it. I hear Thorn’s thoughts in my head and even the Reds. As if we’re all connected.”