The Epic Crush of Genie Lo by F. C. Yee

Author:F. C. Yee
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Abrams
Published: 2017-08-21T04:00:00+00:00

24

“Aaaaaaaaahahahaha!”

The ground shot away from Quentin’s feet. It looked like that footage from NASA launches where the camera’s mounted at the top, pointed downward, and you can see the coils of fire and thrust pushing you higher and higher. Only this was a million times faster, and there was no smoke to obscure the view of the rapidly shrinking Earth.

Street, block, district, peninsula. I screamed as each gave way to the next. The wind stung the tears right out of my eyes. I probably should have died of fright right there on his back. It would have served him right if I voided myself on top of him.

But somewhere, probably right around the time I recognized we were passing over Fisherman’s Wharf, the terror turned to joy. The first plunge of the roller coaster wasn’t going to kill me, and I was free to whoop and holler to my heart’s content.

We were doing a slow turn as we traveled. The world gradually flipped upside down and then right side up in an astronaut’s sunrise. Quentin was doing one big somersault.

That meant we were going to descend now. I clutched him tighter as a thrill went through my body. Maybe we would die after all, smashed against the Earth so hard there wouldn’t be anything left. We were about to find out.

I thought Quentin was going for some kind of water landing before the rusty red towers of the bridge came into view. I braced for impact, but he did not.

His feet slammed into the painted iron and stuck without moving an inch, a perfect 10.0 landing. The sudden stop should have liquefied my internal organs. The impact should have sent a bell-like clang throughout the platform. But neither happened.

Localized laws of physics, I told myself.

“We’re here,” said Quentin.

I didn’t get off him. Instead I clapped his chest excitedly.

“Again!” I shouted. “Again! Let’s go to Wine Country!”

He dumped me on my feet. “This isn’t a joyride. We’re here to train.”

“Nerd.” I flicked his ear, making a little clack against what used to be my jewelry.

We were alone high up in the gray sky. I knew they let people go to the top of the bridge on occasion, so the platform wasn’t without the trappings of safety. But I was still heady from the way we’d arrived, making the red tower feel like uncharted alien territory. Olympus Mons.

“Look around and tell me what you see,” he said.

“I see the city. The Bay.”

“Good. Now open your eyes and tell me again.”

I did as told before realizing the incongruity.

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