Radiant

- 22 -

Promise


Mary,



I may have something. Email or call when you get this.



- Drew



Mary deleted the message from her inbox. She hadn't figured out how she was going to tell Drew about Phos. Or even if she should. She closed the computer and leaned back in her chair. Phos was supposed to pick her up soon for their next date, and she felt weird. Drew had made it clear that Phos shouldn't be possessing Carter. And she had agreed with him before. But things were different now, since Phos told her who he was. And since he was keeping Carter alive, he shouldn't leave him yet. Or her.

In fact, Mary was starting to feel like Phos shouldn't leave at all.

The buzzer rang. Downstairs, Mary found Phos wearing cowboy boots and a hat.

"Good evening," he greeted. "Have you ever seen a rodeo?"

"Just in movies," she said. "Is that where they kill cows?"

He wrinkled his brow. "I think you're thinking of bullfighting. That's in Spain."

"But there are bulls involved, right?" she asked.

He nodded. "They don't kill them, though."

"Just making sure," she said. "Are we driving or translating?"

"Translating. We're going to Texas." He smiled. "And I have a surprise for you there."

They went up to the roof and translated. Instantly, they were at a fair, complete with rides, cotton candy, and clowns twisting balloons into animals. But unlike the fairs she'd been to before, everyone wore a cowboy hat.

They followed the crowds to an outdoor arena with stadium benches arranged around a large oval rink filled with dirt. The air was thick with the smell of farm animals.

They took their seats, and Mary looked around nervously.

"Is something wrong?" Phos asked.

"I don't know," she said. "I'm reading all the signs around here. Why are all the sponsors hospitals and urgent care clinics?"

Before he could answer, an announcer with a heavy southern accent boomed into the microphone. Mary couldn't understand anything he said, but the crowd apparently did, and they whooped, hollered, and raised their beer bottles into the air.

For the next hour or so, they watched several events. In one of them, young men jumped from their horses and wrestled small cattle to the ground. The goal was to get the animal onto its side and tie three of its feet together with a cord. Even though the cows were small, they were strong and irritated.

Then came the agility races, which Mary appreciated better. Women had to ride their horses through an obstacle course without knocking over anything. The ones who posted the fastest times with the fewest penalties won.

Finally came the event that Phos was eager to see. "Here is the bull riding," he said. "This is the main event of the evening."

Mary watched as young men strapped on padded vests and tan leather gloves. Then, there was a loud crash! Mary looked in the direction of the noise and saw handlers coaxing a monster of a bull into the narrow bucking chute. A guy who looked young enough to still be in high school climbed up the iron bars of the chute and mounted the bull, gripping the braided rope handle as tightly as he could. Sweat gathered on his brow just under the rim of his hat.

The crowds cheered as the announcer said the rider's name. Seconds later, the air horn blew, and the chute swung open. The bull leapt out into the rink, leaping and bucking into the air while kicking up storms of dirt. The rider was whipped about like he was a rag doll. He had to stay on for at least eight seconds. And the longer the young cowboy rode, the louder the cheers came.

The seconds on the timer ticked down.

But the cowboy was slipping from the bull's back, and with a few seconds still to spare, the bull threw him off like a fly. The young man landed with a loud and painful thud on the dirt.

Rodeo clowns jumped out into the rink, and their calls and saggy clothes got the bovine's attention. The bull looked at one particularly annoying clown, pawed the ground once, and charged.

"Watch out!" Mary cried. But she wasn't heard over the cheers as the clown jumped the fence just as the bull ran past him and out the gate. The audience whooped again as the rider got back to his feet and walked off the field.

"That was brilliant!" Phos said. "You know though, I think he might have been able to hold on just a little longer if he…Mary? Mary, are you all right?"

Mary had buried her face in her hands. "No."

"You're shaking," he said. "Are you cold?"

"No, I'm not cold!" she snapped. "I'm terrified!"

"Terrified?" he asked. "Of what?"

"Of this!" She pointed at the next rider and bull as they took their positions. "That beast could've killed that guy. And people are cheering!"

Phos looked at the audience. Then at her. "It's a sport to them. It's what they do for fun."

"It's a stupid sport!" she said, looking at all the hospital sponsor signs again. "People can get really hurt here. I don't want to see anymore. Take me home."

The air horn sounded, and the new battle began. Mary wasn't sure, but this bull looked bigger than the first.

"But Mary, this isn't any more dangerous than driving a car," Phos reasoned.

The cowboy was in the air and on the ground in a couple seconds. Clowns came to get the bull's attention, but he didn't seem to care about them. He already had his eyes set on the downed rider. And with a powerful snort from his massive nostrils, he charged.

Mary heard a disgusting snap! as the bull's head collided with the rider's rear. The cowboy flew at a perfect arc across the field. The bull pawed the ground again, but a bunch of clowns managed to get his attention this time, and they got him back through the gate. A couple a medics rushed out to the field to see to the rider. After a few tense seconds, they were able to get him up and awkwardly out of the rink. The crowds cheered again.

"At least a car won't come and break your butt after you've gotten out of it," she said. "Please. Let's go."

"Hey kid!" A bubble-bellied cowboy from the prep area pointed at Phos. "You're up next. Come on!"

Mary looked at Phos. "You're in this?"

He smiled sheepishly. "Surprise?"

She didn't return the smile.

"Come on! We ain't got all night!" the cowboy shouted.

Phos stood. "I'll be right back."

He walked towards the prep area, where the handlers were getting a gray bull ready. This animal had to be bigger than the first two by at least a billion pounds.

Mary jumped to her feet and ran after Phos, catching him by the arm. "Phos, don't! This is stupid."

"It'll be all right, Mary," he assured her.

"No it won't!" she cried. "Look, I know you find our human recreational activities fascinating. But you'll get killed!"

"Killed?" he asked. Then he chuckled. "Mary, I can't be killed. I'm not made like that." He took her hands. "I'll be fine. You'll see."

She tried to argue more, but he was already walking into the restricted area. A couple of clowns told her she needed to go back to the stands. Mary told them where they could go as far as she was concerned. She went and sat down with crossed arms, determined not to enjoy this.

Phos strapped on a padded vest and gloves. Then he mounted the gray bull. This one was just not having it. Even in the narrow space, he jumped and got his front hooves over one of the lower bars on the chute. The handlers eased him back into place.

Phos had apparently given the announcer a phony name, which he bellowed into the speaker. Then, the air horn sounded, and the gate flew open.

The bull raged out onto the field. He twisted and snapped about with such force that he looked like he would break himself in half. Wild snorts and clods of dirt flew. Mary swore that fiery breath came from his mouth.

Phos held on. With all the bucking and snapping and twisting, he managed to hold onto the reins. The seconds on the clock ticked down. The crowds went ballistic.

The air horn sounded again. Eight seconds had passed. Phos had done it! Even the announcer cheered with the audience as clowns ran out to distract the bull so that Phos could jump off unharmed.

Mary slumped in her seat and breathed the biggest sigh of relief she had ever breathed. Down in the rink, Phos looked at her and waved excitedly. She shook her head and couldn't help laughing.

The clowns were getting the bull back through the gate when he suddenly stopped and turned his massive gray head around. He eyed Phos and charged.

Mary jumped. "WATCH OUT!"

Too late.

Phos still had his back to the bull when it struck. It grabbed him with its blunted horns and tossed him into the stands like a toy.

"Phos!" Mary tripped and stumbled down the steps into the crowd of people swarming around him. Someone called for the medics, who came immediately.

"Let me by!" she cried as she shoved her way through. Panic welled up in her. All she could think about was if he was injured, paralyzed, or even dead. She hadn't even considered the fact that he was her only way home.

As if on cue, the crowd cheered and Phos stood on his feet. He looked a little dazed. But mercifully, he seemed all right.

"Mary!" he said as he made his way to her. "Did you see that? Did you see me?"

She stared at him.

"Mary?" Phos asked, his smile fading.

She said nothing. Suddenly, Mary balled up her fist and punched him. Pain surged through her hand.

"Ooo!" the crowd gasped.

Shaking the soreness from her hand, Mary stormed out of the stands. She was walking into the parking lot when Phos caught up with her.

"You're upset," he remarked.

"Really, Captain Obvious?" she said. "I hadn't noticed."

"You're also crying," he added.

"That's stupid," she said. "I can't cry."

Phos took her arm gently but firmly so that she would stop walking. He touched her face with his feverish hand and showed her a tear on his fingers. Somehow, it had found its way out of her tiny tear ducts.

Mary stared at her tear on his hand. She touched her own face and felt the wet trail it had left.

"I frightened you greatly," Phos said. "Didn't I?"

Mary looked in his eyes and nodded.

Phos wrapped his arms around her. "I'm sorry."

But Mary pulled away and wiped her eyes on her sleeve. "No. This doesn't make what you did okay. You could've died!"

"Mary," he said calmly. "I was never in any danger. I told you before. I can't be killed. I'm not made to die."

Mary wiped her face again. "What are you saying? You're indestructible or something?"

"Well, not exactly," he said. "But my energy is constantly regenerating Carter's body. I'm healing all the time and very quickly. Look." He raised part of his shirt, revealing a disgusting bruise on his torso.

She wrinkled her face. "Ew."

"Three of my ribs are broken," he explained.

"Omigosh!" she cried. "We need to get you to a hospital!"

"Just wait for a minute and watch," he said.

Mary stared at him. But she did wait and watch. The bruise was quite large and had different shades of black, blue, and some red on the edges. Suddenly, the bones slowly moved under his skin. They made all kinds of sickening noises as they went back to their proper places. The colorful hues on his skin began to morph, like someone was pushing paint around with a brush. Then, the bruise started to fade.

Mary didn't even blink for fear of missing something. In just over a minute, the broken bones and bruise were completely healed. Speechless, Mary touched his side. Healthy, whole, and blazing hot.

Phos smiled. "See? Good as new." He lowered his shirt and wrapped his arms around her again. His lips brushed hers.

"That's not fair," she mumbled.

"What isn't?" he asked.

"You're making it hard for me to be mad at you," she answered.

"That's the idea." He gently pressed her back against a car and kissed her. "Is it working?"

She didn't answer, since her lips were busy. She knocked his hat off so that she could run her fingers through his hair. When her mouth started hurting, Mary turned her head up slightly so that Phos could kiss her chin. He worked his way along her jawline to her throat.

"Uh, can we have our car?"

Mary and Phos jumped apart. A man and a woman stood in front of the car, looking at them awkwardly. Mary blushed and fought to keep from bursting into chuckles.

"Our apologies," Phos said. "Have a good evening."

The couple got into their car and drove off. Once they were gone, both Mary and Phos broke down in laughter.

"Are you still mad at me?" he asked.

When Mary caught her breath again, she shook her head. "No, I'm not mad anymore. But please, no more bull riding."

"If you knew what a beating this body takes when I have to burn space debris, you wouldn't think much of bull riding," he said.

"Then don't burn anymore space debris either," she said.

"It's my job," he said. "I can't get out if that."

She sighed. "Fine. But still, no more bull riding."

He smiled. "All right. No more bull riding."

"Promise?" she asked.

He looked at her curiously. "What?"

"Promise," she said. "It's something humans make when we say we'll do something and then actually do it."

"I see," he said. Then he nodded. "I promise."

"Good." Mary pointed to her throat. "And whatever you were doing here just now felt really good."

Phos laughed. "Blame Carter. I learned it from him." He took her in his arms again and kissed her once on her neck. "There. Now time to get you home."

"Can't we stay out a little longer?" Mary asked.

He shook his head. "I told your mother I wouldn't take advantage of you. The longer we stay out, the harder it's going to be for me to keep that promise."

Mary stared at him. Then she sighed and laughed. "All right. Let's go."

Back to Table of Contents