Blown Away!: Even More Confessions of an Angel in Training Page 8

  Confession: I pretty much suck at this spy thing.

  “I need to take a break, and, um…use the facilities,” I tell Gallant.

  By facilities I mean a bush far enough away to have a little privacy.

  He waves a hand over his head without saying anything, which I take to mean, Go on. Have a lovely time.

  Or something like that.

  I stand, dust the wood shavings from my shirt and jeans, and follow the path for a little ways before ducking behind a row of bushes. I’m just about finished, ready to zip my jeans when I hear voices talking low, not too far from my facility. I freeze in place, as still as the angel at Bethesda Fountain, hoping they wouldn’t see me.

  “I’ll make sure everyone is pulled from the shore. If I tell them we’re expecting a frontal attack, they’ll move from their stations.”

  I spread the branches of the bush far enough apart to peek through. The first thing I see are a pair of hiking boots on the ground, but as my eyes travel up, I realize –

  It’s a Cherub.

  Huh? Who’s he talking to?

  To figure it out, I need to spread the branches a little more, but I’m afraid of being seen. My heart’s thumping loud enough to alert anyone in a one mile radius.

  “That should work. The canoes are almost ready, and once we’re past the checkpoints, it’ll be smooth sailing to The Garden. Let’s plan on the day after tomorrow. If anything changes, I’ll let you know.”

  That’s it! I finally got some info, but the day after tomorrow is so soon.

  So. Soon.

  I don’t even know if I started walking right now, if I’d find my way to the portal at the edge of The Wilds. I decide to pull the braches further apart to see who is talking to the Cherub. I spread them slowly, slowly, slowly…crack! A branch breaks off in my hand just as I see it’s Frank.

  Did they hear it?

  The Cherub turns his head in my direction. “Who goes there?”

  There’s only two choices—run or come out with my hands up. Neither is ideal. I stand from my crouched position. “It’s Grace. The AIT.” I add the last part because it makes me seem innocent. “I, um…needed a break. I’m a paddle carver.”

  Frank stalks over to the bush where I’m standing. “You were spying.”

  “I wasn’t. I swear.” Weak. How could he believe that when I don’t believe it myself?

  He grabs me by the scruff of my neck. “I’ve never trusted you. Now, you’re coming with me.” He pushes me out of the bushes onto the path back to camp.

  “Hey!” I swat at his arm. “You don’t have to do that. I’m coming.”

  He lets go of my neck, but on our march back to camp, he shoves me along a couple times, like I’m a prisoner under arrest. Just as we’re stepping into camp, he shoves me in the back one last time, and I lose my balance, stumbling, tripping and falling into someone.

  The someone grabs me by both shoulders. “Grace? What’s going on?’

  It’s Annex.

  Before I can answer, Frank blurts, “I caught her spying when I was meeting with Hardy to finalize our plans.”

  Annex holds one finger over his lips in a hush motion and watches me, his brow lowered. Suspicious.

  “I was …”

  spying

  “…using the…”

  spying

  “…facilities. Just ask Gallant. He’ll tell you I needed to…”

  Spy.

  Frank grabs me by the arm, pushing the sleeve up to expose my forearm. “She hasn’t taken the brand.”

  Annex raises one eyebrow. “Are you with us, Grace?”

  “I don’t even know what that means.”

  “But you do. I told you on the plane to the UMAs. I intend to destroy the Hierarchy. So are you with us?”

  It’s a simple enough question. I definitely empathize with his goal, but I don’t--I don’t, I don’t—want the mark of a Locust. The mark that never comes off. Is this really what Michael wanted me to do? Nothing about being branded was mentioned in his office that day.

  “Well?” Annex asks.

  I hesitate, then nod. “Yes,” is all I can manage.

  Chapter 17

  They didn’t haul me off and brand me right then, but instead sent me back to whittle and sand my second paddle. I began to hope that maybe it wouldn’t happen. Maybe my willingness to take it was enough proof of my loyalty.

  That night, when The Locusts gather around the bonfire, I think we’ll be having another Kumbaya evening of Disclosures and s’mores, so I’m surprised when Annex stands and calls the group to attention. “Tonight we have a special celebration. We welcome Angel in Training Grace Lightbourne to our ranks.”

  Uh-oh.

  There’s light applause, and I’m pretty sure the look on Frank’s face is a grin, but can’t say for sure, because I’ve never seen the dude happy before. He brings Annex a long mahogany box and presents it to him like it’s Excalibur.

  Annex opens the box gently. Inside, against velvet lining, is a metal pole about three feet long. At one end is the raised design of a Locust. Annex places that end into the fire.

  Tremors start in my legs and work their way up my body. I press my fists against my thighs to get them to stop shaking. Please, don’t let anyone around the campfire see my fear. Annex starts giving a speech. To me it sounds like this, “The long-standing tradition of the Locusts…blah, blah, blah. Our mission to re-shape the Heavenly hierarchy…blah, blah, blah. And to remain active participants, supporting Heaven’s goals…blah, blah, blah.”

  The long-windedness of this speech doesn’t really seem like Annex. In fact, it reminds me of Michael in tone.

  He removes the pole from the fire, the branding end now glowing red hot. “Grace, please hold out your arm.” Then he puts both of his hands on my shoulders, leaning in, his lips by my ears. “It’s not as bad as it seems. It’s over in a couple seconds.”

  Sure.

  I hold my arm out, and squeeze my eyes shut to block out everything and pray. Hello. If you’re there, can you help me out of this?

  Annex starts pontificating again, “With all due respect to Him, we believe…blah, blah blah…Repeat after me: I, Grace Lightbourne, do hereby take the…blah, blah.”

  I repeat it like a good robot. All the while hoping beyond hope that someone—Victor, Michael, anyone, really—will swoop in and carry me away from this scene. Are you coming? Or, can you give me a sign that this is what you want? The tremors in my legs have now turned into earthquakes. I’m so stupid! Why didn’t I just Declare and finish school like everyone else? I keep my eyes shut, and then I feel it on the inside of my arm, searing, and pain, and…

  }{

  I open my eyes and see stars. Not stars like some cartoon character that’s in pain, but the real constellations. Mercy, are you out there? Then, Annex’s face blocks my view. His eyes are filled with worry.

  “You fainted. Are you okay?”

  Am I okay? I very much doubt it, but I nod for Annex anyway. He places a hand on my back and raises me to sitting.

  “I’ve put a salve on your arm. It numbs the burning. Here’s some more if it starts to bother you later tonight. He hands me a small tube. “Let me help you to your tent.” He helps me up, and I look around, dazed. The bonfire’s still going, a few Locusts are making s’mores, but almost all of them are looking at me. Frank walks over and takes my other side to help Annex. Cherish smiles sweetly at me, and one Locust starts to applaud. It builds, and as I make my way to the tent, the applause sweeps over me.

  I’m never cheered for the right things. First my singing, now this.

  We get to my tent, the applause has died down, and an air mattress never looked so good.

  “Good night, Grace. See you in the morning.”

  }{

  Later, after everyone is asleep, my arm starts burning again. I go to put some salve on it and see that it’s been bandaged. I peel back the gauze and underneath is the shape of The Locusts, red and turning brown at
the edges. How did I get here? How? I spread a little of the spicy- scented salve, and see that bandage supplies have been left next to my bed. I make a padded square from the gauze and tape it onto my arm, covering up the stigma. Then, I tiptoe out of my tent. I have to get away.

  The bonfire has become embers; the camp is quiet with hibernating Locusts.

  I start to walk back into the forest. Away!

  I tromp through the underbrush, off the beaten path, trying to lose myself, maybe even trying to lose my way back. Should I try to find my way out without a map?

  Tromp, tromp, tromp.

  Geez, this brand stings like the dickens!

  Tromp, tromp, tromp.

  Why did I stupidly leave my compass back at the tent?

  Tromp, tromp, tromp.

  They scarred me! This is not what I signed up for.

  Tromp, tromp tromp.

  How stupid can I be? I had water from Bethesda Fountain in my backpack!

  I wish Victor would’ve stuck around. He probably could’ve prevented the branding even if it involved flaming swords and the rest of Annex’s wings.

  A long while later, I decide the best thing would be to return to Quadrant One. I’ll head directly to the temple, go straight to Michael’s office, and let him know what’s going on.

  My thoughts are interrupted by a low roar. Is that a grizzly? Or a waterfall? The one where Victor and I camped that first night? No, this is much louder. I work my way closer and closer to the sound, which becomes deafening. A fine mist boils up around me and my clothes feel damp.

  Who’s that? I freeze. Standing right in front of me is a woman. She’s facing away, both arms raised high overhead. I didn’t expect to run into anyone, so I debate between running away and approaching her. Maybe she could help me find my way out of here. But, before I can decide, and while I’m still one of Michelangelo’s statues, she turns around and recoils.

  “Grace, you scared me!”

  It’s Mother Nature. “What are you doing here?” I ask.

  “How impertinent! I could ask you the same thing. Aren’t you supposed to be in The Locust camp?”

  “I needed to take a walk,” I say, with more than a little irritation in my voice.

  She looks at me carefully. “I always say, ‘A short temper requires long walks.’” Well then, she must do marathons on a regular basis. “What has you so upset?” She takes one step toward me and notices the bandage right away. “Have you been injured, my child?”

  Child? I set my shoulders back, standing tall and regal in a manner that would make Mercy angel-walk proud. “I’m almost a Full Angel. In fact, if I hadn’t gone on this Mission, I probably would be by now.” I don’t intend to sound sanctimonious, but that’s how it comes out.

  “I see. Well don’t take offense, I call everyone child. I can’t help it. After all, I’m Mother Nature.”

  Oh, okay. In that case. I point at my wrist. “They branded me with the Locust emblem. I agreed to it because my loyalty had been called into question.”

  Natura’s eyes well with tears. “I’m truly so very, very sorry. You must know we never intended for this to happen.”

  “Well yeah. I mean no.” I pause. “I didn’t think you did.”

  “Come, sit. You look too warm.” She gestures to two rocks that look remarkably like rocking chairs.

  I had been walking for a while, and a light sweat had broken out on my neck and under my arms, so I sit, and miraculously the rock begins to… rock. Must be nice to have all of nature at your beck and call.

  As I sit, Mother Nature joins me in her rock rocker, purses her lips and blows gently, bringing a cool breeze laced with the scent of a sweet-smelling flower.

  I sigh and relax. “This spot is beautiful, but on my hike here we stopped at an even prettier one. There was this glade with a waterfall.”

  “The one with the periwinkle flowers?” Mother Nature asks.

  “I loved those flowers.”

  “That little glade is one of my favorite creations. I was feeling so inspired that day, but it took me three full days to get the coloring just the way I wanted it on those flowers.”

  “You created those flowers? I thought He created all of this.” I wave my arm to encompass The Wilds.

  “Yes, I created those flowers. We all create, child. If I’m remembering your file correctly, you were assigned to a musician…a songwriter.”

  “Right. Izzy.”

  “Didn’t he create?”

  “But…he had a Muse.”

  “The Muse only inspires, they don’t create.”

  “But…that’s different.”

  Her face takes on a stern appearance. I swear I’m not trying to make her angry. Then, her look softens. “It’s not. Humans create all the time—doctors and scientists and poets and artists. Even businessmen. He created the Origin and each of us. Then, He put a little piece of Himself inside. That’s the piece that creates. I create nature, and I’m very happy with that shade of periwinkle. I’m sure you create something else.”

  I get what she’s saying, but I don’t think I’ve ever created anything, except a mess. Maybe He forgot to put that piece in me.

  “He didn’t,” she says, and I realize she heard my thoughts despite the vest. “Maybe you don’t realize when you create, but, trust me, you do.”

  I look around The Wilds and realize that Nature has something to do with all of it. So she can be beautiful…or cruel. Or even both at the same time.

  “Now, what have you learned on your errand? Anything we can use?”

  The word errand grates. It’s like she thinks I was sent here for a loaf of bread. Suddenly, all the fear I’ve been feeling swells and it feels like it could burst from me in a nasty, treacherous way.

  “Take a deep breath, dear. You’ll feel better.”

  I do, and she’s right. Of course she is. The anger subsides and I explain about the bonfire and Disclosures. I tell her about how everyone is busy on different jobs, and how I got assigned to making paddles as part of canoe duty. As I tell this part of the story, an expression of fury appears on Mother Nature’s face. The cool breeze grows into a squall. She looks so dangerous I don’t want to tell the rest.

  Mother Nature takes her own advice and takes a deep breath. The wind calms, and her face eases. “Please, continue.”

  As I tell her what I overheard about how they’ll use the canoes, there’s another flash of wrath. A branch breaks and flies off a nearby tree, tumbling end over end as the wind carries it away.

  I finish my report by saying, “It didn’t make any sense to me. Anyway, I got caught and that’s when the whole branding thing got started.” I hesitate, then decide to voice my fear. “I don’t think I’m any good at this spy business.”

  “On the contrary, child. That’s the info we needed.”

  “So, I can leave now, and go back to being a regular AIT?”

  “I don’t think you’re capable of being regular, but that’s beside the point, you can’t go back, because you might tip them off. So, you must go back to camp and act as if nothing has changed.”

  Chapter 18

  Nothing about this Mission has gone as I expected. This morning I was fully prepared to go back to my paddle detail, but as I walk out of my tent, pulling my hair back with an elastic, Annex is motioning everyone to the fire circle.

  “I’ve just gotten word that we’re needed on Earth.”

  Huh? Murmurs run around the circle.

  “There’s been a series of tornados – a super storm – that’s ravaged several states. All Guardians are needed. We leave now.”

  I knew M.N. was mad when I spoke with her last night, but I didn’t realize how angry.

  It’s decided there and then, a few Locusts that are not Guardians will stay behind to keep watch over the camp. But, Annex uses Frank’s idea for enlisting help from other discipline’s. Most of the Locusts are going, including Frank and Cherish.

  It seems the plans for invading the Garden of
Eden are postponed. At least for now.

  We gather all our gear and begin the trek out of the wilds. I’ve gotten used to hiking between my time with Victor, the commute to canoe duty, and my midnight attempt to escape. Most of the Locusts are grouped together, speculating about what we’ll encounter, but I walk by myself in silence, puzzling out why the Locusts would go to such lengths without being asked. My thoughts are only occasionally interrupted by the sweet chirp of a chickadee or the screech of a hawk.

  The number of us making the trip is impressive. One thing I’ve learned since being at the camp is that Mother Nature’s estimates about the number of Locusts was far too high, but that doesn’t really surprise me, given that she seems like she might be prone to exaggeration. Michael’s numbers, on the other hand, were too low. Typical. Of course he wanted to downplay the problem.

  As the sun gets directly overhead, I glance to my left to find Annex in step next to me.

  “How’s your arm?” he asks.

  “Better. That salve really helps.” I hesitate. “Does everyone pass out?”

  Annex chuckles. “Sorry, I shouldn’t laugh. No, Grace, that was a first. I was really worried about you. So was Frank.”

  I doubt that Frank was worried, but it figures that I’d be a wimp.

  Annex takes a hold of my hand, and I don’t feel the need to pull away. “Anyway, I’m glad you’re feeling better. So, are you going on the Mission with us? Or have you had enough of rebelling?”

  “Of course I’m going,” I say. “It’s why I wanted to be a Guardian in the first place.

  We take a few more steps in silence, then Annex says, “Me, too.”

  Then it hits me. Something I hadn’t thought of during all the clamor back at camp. “How did you know about the disaster?” Surely, the Good Guy didn’t contact Annex to round up additional Guardians.

  “Frank heard about it. He’s got keen ears.”

  That makes no sense, but before I can ask what he means, he’s called away by Frank. He turns to me before heading off. “See you at the portal.”