A Time and Place for Magic by M. Eugene Smith

Author:M. Eugene Smith
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: M. Eugene Smith
Published: 2022-07-04T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 16 – The Barren Land

It started to rain as they left. The road ahead became a blur of water on the windshield. The air conditioning ran for hours until the outside temperature dropped. Then, with the warm air from the heater blowing on them and the dim sound of the radio drumming in the background, the teenagers fell asleep fresh off their sugar highs. Gordon led, with his truck out front as Lightfoot and Jade followed. They were a small, lonely caravan, with Rachel taking up the rear in her SUV. They travelled like this for two days all the way to their destination.

The heat intensified as they neared Phoenix, but a few hours later, they found some relief arriving in Sedona valley. The heavy traffic confirmed that the tourist season was in full swing, months earlier than it used to. They made their way to the same campgrounds where they’d stayed all those years ago but were disappointed to find only a low-lying spot farther away from the hill still available. Fortunately, the hiking trails were still accessible.

They unpacked that afternoon and set up camp for the night. They would make the hike to the Wall in the morning. Before dark, Rachel and Gordon took trips with the vehicles to a long-term parking lot, catching a ride back to the campground when the last vehicle was parked. They all hoped that they would return soon enough to avoid having their vehicles impounded.

They awoke early the next morning. Even Riley and her friends didn’t sleep in. Riley knew this place well. She had camped in several of the adjoining campsites before. Over the years this had become a second home of sorts where she could visit her mom. She knew that she was different, that her whole life was unusual, and maybe that is why she was drawn to those who were also outsiders, like the children of the Dark Lord. She didn’t see them as spawn from the Great Curse. Neither their power nor their very existence was their fault and like herself she believed they were free to choose who and what they wanted to be.

Riley held out some string cheese to Xavier who gently peeled off a section with precision. His brown complexion was nearly perfect except for some minor acne on his cheeks which he cleverly smoothed away with concealer. His broad nose and wide set eyes gave her the impression he could see everything. He was very quick witted and rarely let an opportunity to prove it, pass him by. His hair was trimmed short and constantly complained how nappy it felt when he let it get even a little bit longer than it was. He was her sentinel. He kept her on her toes, always quick to point out when she wasn’t at the top of her game but the first to defend her if anyone dared insult her.

Riley turned and offered the remaining cheese to Tasha who finished it in two bites. She stood at just about Riley’s height but was so much more woman.

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