Fun With Mind Control by Jack Ravenhill

Author:Jack Ravenhill
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Sterling & Stone

Chapter Nineteen

Sam rose from the table. "Excuse me. I just have to … "

He stumbled through the crowded restaurant after Gus. Whatever leadership potential or assertive — whatever he'd been trying — was gone. He was just a little kid again, trying to catch up to his big brother, his dad, his angry friend. Out of breath and wishing everything would be okay again.

Gus was already pacing through the parking lot of the Peculiar Grill House by the time Sam caught up to him.

"Gus," he panted. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean for any—"

"Go away." Gus sounded angry, but that was just on the surface. Deeper down, more worryingly, he sounded defeated.

"I wasn't trying to show you up with your new friends or anything. Or … or make you look stupid. I just needed to — I'm trying some things. You know? It's like my Sons of Knute."

"They're a secret organization. You're not supposed to know about them."

"I mean, their existence isn't secret. Is it?"

"Brand new age," said Gus.

But something was off. Sam couldn't tell if he was disgusted with the idea or what. Really couldn't get any read on the emotion under the words. He charged ahead the best he could. "I know. I know you think that, I mean. I'm pretty sure you're—" Something in him clenched up, and he couldn't tell Gus he was wrong. He'd used up all his confrontation points for the day. Maybe the year. And it was a lot harder now. When Gus had been blustery and red-faced and an obvious opponent, it was easier. But now, with Gus just looking sad and hollowed out—

Wait.

"Gus. Are you all right?"

"Yeah. Totally. Magnificent powers. Dawn of a new age. Humanity's boon companion."

"You're not making sense." This time it came out fine because he wasn't confronting Gus. He was just worried about him.

"I'll be fine," mumbled Gus. He exited the parking lot in a weird back corner, skirted the back of some other shop, started charging through someone's backyard on the diagonal.

With a sinking feeling, Sam realized where they were headed. Gus was making a beeline straight back to First Lutheran Church of Lake Peculiar.

"Gus, listen to me. I think … I don't think … You want to grab a slice of pizza or something? Or a cup of coffee?"

"Yeah. Sure. Jarvis, put it on the books."

"No. Now. Somewhere else. Come on," he cajoled. A panicky part of him wanted to yell or even grab Gus's arm, wrestle him to the ground. Whatever he needed to do. But he was back in beta mode, way too used to having those urges and then packing them quietly away with all the others. We have top men working on it right now. Top. Men.

Sam trotted after Gus. "Look, I know things got a little weird in there. I just … no hard feelings. Right?"

Gus didn't answer. Sam felt his desperation redoubling, hated his powerlessness to stand against it.

"It's just, there's a lot going on lately. And I think we need to be careful.

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