CHAPTER 15
Home Schooling
On the way to school the next day, George told Mary and Johnny about Freedom.
"So you are fully a Chosen One now," said Mary. "It shows in your eyes, you know."
"And it's freaky," said Johnny.
"What is?" asked George.
"Your eyes are green!" said Mary, laughing. "Both your eyes are totally green and glowing with dragon power!"
"They are?" said George. "What will I do? I can't go around with green eyes!"
"Relax, Chosen," said Mary. "Mine have a tendency to be red, but it's easy to control."
"It's true," said Johnny. "She scared the hell out of me with her red eyes, but she quickly got it under control."
In a few moments George was able to change his eyes back to normal-human. "Wow, Freedom could have warned me. This is him, by the way, this white ring."
“I knew there was something strange about that ring of yours,” said Mary. “Let’s see it.”
George again showed them the dragon ring. The pure whiteness of it was striking.
“Hi, Freedom,” said Mary, as she ran her fingers over it. There was no response, though she could sense great power.
"It sounds too simple," complained Johnny, after George spoke more to them about what he had learned.
"What's simple?" George reacted in surprise.
"You and your white dragon are supposed to destroy the big bad black dragon and his Evil and then everyone lives happily ever-after? Based mostly on hearsay that elves gathered into magic books? Oh, and our Government will help you too? Give me a break!"
"You're just a born cynic," countered George. "This is reality, Johnny."
"Reality is usually more twisted than that," said Johnny. "I'm just saying that you better keep your BS detector on full power, Chosen One. Especially considering that my sister is all wrapped up in this mess also."
"I can take care of myself, Bro," Mary insisted.
“Is he sleeping, or listening to us, or what?” Johnny asked.
“All of those, sort of,” said George. “He spends a lot of time meditating and dreaming and looking around using that sixth sense that we have.”
“He actually sounds sort of laid back,” said Johnny.
“Dragons live practically forever,” explained George. “They usually aren’t running around in a hurry like us humans.”
“The evil monsters that he says Greble is setting free explains what’s in the morning news then?” asked Johnny.
“What news?” said George and Mary, simultaneously.
“Still both have your heads in the sand, do you?" said Johnny. "The monsters in Africa and India and China.”
“What monsters?” George asked.
“The big ugly ones that are killing thousands of people. Eating them, mostly. You really didn’t know?”
“That’s crazy,” said Mary. “Monsters?"
"Says the dragon girl!" said Johnny.
"This is the twenty-first century," said Mary. "What about police and armies and so forth?”
“They’ve tried practically everything they can think of short of nuclear weapons, and so far they can’t stop them,” explained Johnny. “The United States military is even getting involved. There is a giant zombie thing in Africa, three dragons in China, a kraken along the coast of Japan, a giant snake in India, and worst of all so far, a swarms of man-eating locusts the size of rabbits in Pakistan. The latest news is that some kind of giant big man-eating birds are spreading across Europe. Rocs, they’re calling them. Oh, and they seem to have brought some sort of plague with them that is killing thousands of people. It all started a couple days ago but it is so weird that it took a while for news agencies and governments to believe any of it was real.”
“As dangerous as these monsters may be, I’m more concerned about Greble herself,” said George.
School was abuzz with news of the monsters, for those that went to school. Quite a few students stayed home. The reason became evident to George when he overheard what people were talking about on the way to class. “My Dad says the monsters are popping up everywhere, and it’s only a matter of time before they attack us too!” said a frightened girl. “My brother is in the marines and he says we’re going to kick some monster butt,” said an enthusiastic boy. “That monster in the town library was only the beginning,” said one teacher to another.
Things seemed relatively normal to the teens once they delved into their first period class work. George and Mary were in their advanced placement English class while Johnny was in his Biology class. The two protégés were having a good time with Shakespeare. Midway into the period George, Mary and Johnny were called to the Principal’s office.
There they found Principle Gunther, Vice Principle Crantz, and Ellen waiting for them, along with Trent and Marge Williams.
“Here they are now,” said Gunther, with a grin, “the two budding geniuses. And Johnny too, of course.” He was a small rotund middle-aged man with thinning, graying hair, soft, high pitched voice, and instantly likable manner.
“I have to say that I’m surprised,” said Mr. Crantz. “I thought that things were going well for them here. But all the paperwork is in order.”
“Paperwork?” asked George.
“You know,” said Ellen, “the paperwork for your home-schooling.”
“Dad?” asked a clearly upset Johnny. “What is this about?”
“Your future, son. George’s Aunt here made an offer we can’t refuse. The best home-schooling that money can buy for you both. She’s doing it for George and kindly offered to do it for the both of you too.”
“Home schooling?” asked Johnny. “What about football and prom?”
“That’s the part that we just worked out,” said Gunther. “Extra curricular activities will still be available to you here at the high school. Ms Simple squared it with the school board through some generous donations.”
“Sweet,” said Mary, forcing a smile. “DID YOU KNOW ABOUT THIS?” she pathed George.
“OF COURSE NOT,” George replied. “Could I talk to my Aunt alone for a minute?” He ushered Ellen out into the hallway before anyone could reply.
“I’m sorry to spring this on you,” Ellen said, “but this was a presidential order. I only got it myself four hours ago. I’ve been running around ever since, getting paperwork together and talking to Mr. and Mrs. Williams.”
“This should have been negotiated with us first,” said George. “What the hell is going on?”
“Did you catch the morning news?" Ellen said. "What the public doesn’t know is that in anticipation of the monster problem spreading to this country, a national emergency has already been secretly declared. Our military is already in action abroad and is not being very successful. So they want to get you out of school and accelerate your training.”
“My training?” George said.
“And Mary’s. Training to do whatever it is you do, hero-wise. They don’t really know; this was a knee-jerk reaction. Most of the people in the administration that know about you still say you’re a scam artist. But you don’t know the pressure they’re getting. They’re close to panic, the whole world is.”
"OK, let me tell what's up to Mary," said George, as he rapidly exchanged thoughts telepathically with Mary. She took things much more calmly than he had.
“OK, we’ll try it,” George finally told Ellen, “but next time bring your plans to me and Mary first. Feel free to inform the President that we don't work for him or take his orders.”
“Most members of the Administration are blaming Narma’s Portal for the crisis,” said Ellen. "Some sort of anti-monster effort by you will hopefully counter that notion."
“The Portal has been there for countless thousands of years and it’s Earth’s as much as it’s Narma’s," said George. "Harry and the Elves thought it would be a good idea to guard and hide the Portal to limit such problems, and they’ve done a pretty damn good job of it.”
“Th
en why is Earth overrun with monsters?” Ellen asked.
“Because a witch from Narma is setting Earth monsters free. She came through the Portal some days ago. It’s apparently her second visit to Earth. She killed my parents on her first visit.”
Ellen’s eyes went wide. “When were you going to tell me all this?”
“I found out about the monsters only this morning. If you had been with me I would have told you right away. With you moving in and us staying home with you, our communications should improve. They damn well better improve!”
“I’m planning to move in with you right after we leave here," said Ellen. "I already have suitcases and some other things in my car outside.”
“Great!" said George. "Let’s finish up here and get to work. Are you really a teacher?”
”I actually was a high school science teacher for a while in my former life, before Rick recruited me. I also have a master’s in psychology. My educational background is supposed to enable me to get along with you and your little friends and understand what’s going on.”
“Has it helped so far?”
“Hardly at all. I probably should have been reading The Lord of the Rings or the Harry Potter books instead.”
“It hasn’t been easy the last few months for me either, and lately things seem to be happening much too quickly," said George. "Every time I seem to settle in on something the rug gets yanked out from under my feet again. I was just starting to get the hang of high school, for example. I wasn’t figuring on being a super hero until maybe after collage.”
“Let’s try to get through this together, shall we?” said Ellen.
George grinned. “Amen to that.”
They reentered the principle’s office, where they found a pouting but subdued Johnny listening to Mary talking enthusiastically about the advantages of home schooling. Soon everything was squared away as school and they all went home. The teens all rode in the Williams SUV, since Ellen’s little Beatle was loaded down with her belongings.
“We were surprised to hear from your Aunt,” said Mr. Williams. “We thought that Harry was your only relative.”
“I was very surprised when we heard from her too,” replied George, from the rear seat. “Our family members are few and scattered far and wide. A bunch of eccentric loners, every one of us. And she’s a teacher too. What luck!”
“It’s free for our kids, that’s what amazes me,” said Mr. Williams. "Totally free."
“She seems like a nice lady,” said Mrs. Williams. “I can’t get over the fact that she plans to dedicate the next few years of her life to educating the three of you.”
“That’s easy,” said Mr. Williams. “I bet she’s figuring on getting her hands on a chunk of the Simple estate. Harry’s no Spring chicken, you know. He must be even richer than I ever figured. He could have boxes of cash stuffed up in the rafters.”
“She’ll have her hands full with you three, that’s for darn sure,” said Mrs. Williams, “especially Johnny.” She said it with a smile for her son.
Johnny was still scowling. “I said that I’d do it, but I don’t see how it can work,” he complained.
“I was apprehensive at first myself, son,” said Mr. Williams. “I wondered how one woman, no matter how talented, could keep up with Mary and George.” He gave a quick glance towards the second row of SUV seats, where Mary and George sat silently with Johnny. Johnny figured correctly that they were yapping away telepathically. “But when she explained that high school and college level classes of all kinds would be made available via computer, that cinched it. Plus, it’s free. You can’t beat free.”
“Yes you can; I still think it sucks,” complained Johnny. “I’ll have to try to get all of my socializing accomplished by way of official school activities. That will be a huge disadvantage. There’s a lot of competition out there for the hottest girls, you know. And I was just starting to establish myself among the upper classmen.”
“I’m sure you’ll manage,” said Mary sarcastically, rolling her eyes. “Think of the extra aura of mystery that you’ll have. Girls will be curious.”
“You think?” asked Johnny.
“Hey, if it doesn’t work out, we can call it off at any time,” said Mr. Williams. “And it’s free!”
“I think it’s worth a shot,” said Mary. “If little brother doesn’t want in on it, George and I could do it without him.”
“Not a chance,” Johnny said. “You aren’t going to get rid of little brother that easy! We’re a package deal.”
“Ms. Simple thought so too,” said Mr. Williams. “That’s why we’re both getting it free. Absolutely free, down to books, computers, and pencils.”
“THEY WANT ELLEN KEEPING AN EYE ON ALL OF US,” pathed Mary.
“AND WE’LL SOON SEE HOW THAT WORKS OUT,” replied George. “I’M STILL BOSS, EXCEPT FOR FREEDOM, OR RATHER WE ARE, AND I WON’T LET ELLEN OR HER BOSSES FORGET IT.”
They had arrived home to find Ellen already digging boxes and suitcases out of her car. Mr. Williams insisted on helping carry Ellen’s things to the Simple House, though he was of course by Treaty he was not allowed to enter. Awkwardness was averted by a division of labor whereby Mr. Williams and Mary carried things only as far as the front porch, where they were met by Johnny or George. Mr. Williams seemed not at all displeased to spend the time with Ellen. George finally realized with a shock that it was largely because Ellen was a fairly attractive young woman.
“Harry is resting,” George told a disappointed Mr. Williams, when his absence was questioned. George was getting used to making those sorts of excuses for his dead uncle, though it still pained him greatly every time he did so.
Ellen moved into Harry’s old rooms, following a hasty clean-up effort by Mary and Ellen. Fortunately, after her earlier visit to the Simple House, Ellen had the foresight to pack a good vacuum cleaner.
“Damn,” said Ellen, after she had set up her computer. “There was supposed to be a networking capability, but I suspect the elf ward is nullifying reception and transmission.”
“Let me see,” said George. He closed his eyes and explored the area. He was grinning a minute later when he opened them. “OK, you should be able to get a connection now. Your cell phone will work too. All the Government spy signals are still blocked, though.”
“Spy signals?”
“Sure. They break the Treaty, of course, but Harry never made a big deal about them, since they’re totally ineffective. I’ll show you where they come from.” He drew a map of the Government antenna locations that ringed the Simple property, and even described the military personnel manning the spy equipment, including their names and physical characteristics. “I sort of feel sorry for them. They keep changing frequencies and so forth, like it’s going to make any difference. They’ll try to take advantage of what I’ve done just now. They put a bunch of spy stuff in your equipment already that I disabled as we carried it from the car. Bugs, mini-cameras, etc. I also fried the bugs in your clothing and so-forth.”
“Spy gizmos in my belongings? I had no idea!” said Ellen.
“I know,” said George. “Hey, don’t tell them it’s hopeless, OK? They’re only doing their jobs. Can we all talk about this monster business now?”
In response to George’s silent summoning, Mary, Johnny, and Grog joined them.
"Nice necklace," Ellen complemented Mary.
George didn't usually notice such things, but now that his attention had been drawn to it, the small round medallion that adorned Mary's neck had a strange 'feel' to it. Not of elf or dragon, and definitely not evil, but there magic power there of unknown type and depth.
"Thanks," said Mary. "It's my mother's good luck medallion; she insisted that I wear it. How could these Earth monsters exist and humans not know of them?” asked Mary.
“Actually there are legends about most of them,” said Ellen. “My guess is they are other examples what the Narma folks call elementals, which evolved sometime in Earth’s pr
imordial past or were introduced here long ago. Being virtually immortal they can be dormant for millions of years and then waken and feast or whatever they need to do. Maybe they are what really killed off the dinosaurs.”
“Dandy,” muttered George.
“Can you tell me anything to help us stop the monsters?” Ellen asked.
“Can you describe them to us first?” countered George. “From here I can sense there are powerful beings of some sort far away, but that’s about all.” He could sense many living things, billions of people and other creatures, plants, on land and in the seas, sharply within a hundred miles or so, but only dimly farther away. The monsters were much more distant but much more powerful.
“Same with me,” added Mary.
Ellen brought up numerous images of them and the destruction they were causing on her computer as she described them. All of them seemed to be mindless engines of destruction. Once they had power, possibly they had no need to evolve intelligence. Conventional bullets and bombs at most only slowed them down. Poison gas and biological weapons had absolutely no effect. They actually seemed to enjoy fire and blasts of electricity or lasers.
“Yes, them be elementals,” confirmed Grog, shaking his big hairy head. “Them not be alive like we be. Human weapons not stop them.”
“What can stop them then?” Ellen asked. “A nuclear weapon?”
“Maybe, if it overload them," said the troll. "Or maybe it make them much stronger. Magic better. Magic and strength.”
“Magic and strength?” said Johnny. “That sounds like a job for a dragon.”
Mary gave her brother a nasty look.
“But Jewel is in Narma,” said Ellen.
George looked at his White Dragon ring. Freedom was listening, he knew, and trying to decide what should be done. He could sense that the dragon was only mildly interested in Earth’s monster crisis. “Dragons are temperamental. I’m not sure that Jewel would regard our monster situation to be any of her business.”
“Even if it’s caused by a Narma witch?” asked Ellen.
“I don’t know," admitted George. "She would certainly go after Greble. But dragons take a wider view of things, a view that is not human-centric.”
“Getting rid of Greble would be something, anyway,” said Ellen. “Can Jewel be summoned back from Narma?”
“Not without maybe summoning others we not want here,” said Grog. “She will return when she think Greble not be in Narma.”
“When would that be?” Ellen asked. “Any idea?”
Grog shrugged. “Narma be big place and witches be hard to find so it be hard to be sure they not hiding there. She will want to be sure Greble be not there. That could take at least two, three weeks more.”
“That’s far too long,” said Ellen. “Thousands of people are dying every day; more with every new monster.”
Mary hadn’t said anything. She sat at Ellen’s computer, bringing up one horrific news image after another of monsters rampaging through towns and cities. It looked like a Japanese monster flick, except the ‘effects’ were perfect and the cameras sometimes cut to real screaming and dying people. “It’s up to us then,” she said. “Me and George.”
“That’s what your bosses want, Ellen,” said George. “But you don’t think we’re ready. You think we need to somehow prepare ourselves better.”
Ellen nodded. “I’ve seen you guys do amazing things, but you’ve seen what those monsters are like. No offense, but I think you’re out of your league.”
“You fighting monsters be what Greble wants,” rumbled Grog. “She free monsters to put young Chosen Ones in danger. Greble smart.”
“You’re saying that George and Mary are the real targets of all this?” asked Ellen.
“Yes, but not only that,” said Grog, shaking his huge hairy head. “Greble also hungry. Greble feed on life. In Narma, she hide from Horde, feed little. Here she feed big on many. Life force taken from many. I think your Government finds many dead, but not know why? Dead people, animals, plants?”
Ellen nodded. “Yes. That wasn’t in the news reports, but our experts have been puzzling over many deaths that don't seem to be directly tied in with monsters. Thousands in Africa and Asia. Victims look like they died of some sort of plague, but no pathogens have yet been identified. ”
“That makes sense then, doesn’t it,” said George. “Greble is there when the creatures cause panic and chaos, and takes advantage of it to do some killing of her own. I assume she is thereby increasing her own strength?”
“Yes,” answered the troll. “She make herself stronger.”
“But ultimately it’s all to draw us into it, to let the Earth monsters kill us or weaken us,” said Mary.
“BUT WE KNOW WHO SHE’S REALLY AFTER,” pathed George. “SHE’S AFTER YOU, FREEDOM.” He looked at the ring. It had tripled in size and was beginning to glow.
“THEN WE WILL GET HER FIRST,” replied Freedom. “AND THE SO-CALLED MONSTERS ALSO. WE NEED PRACTICE BEFORE WE FACE ANY OF THE HORDE. WE WILL GET PRACTICE BY FIGHTING THESE EARTH MONSTERS. GET YOUR ELF WEAPONS AND BRING EVERYONE OUT TO THE FOREST. IT IS TIME THAT WE ALL MEET OPENLY.”
“I need to get some things; I’ll be right back,” George stood and announced abruptly. Indeed in a few minutes he had returned, wearing golden-glowing elf-made body armor and helmet, with elf sword and spear strapped to himself. He handed an elf-made bow and arrows to Mary, who received them without sign of surprise. “My partner wants us to go after them,” George explained grimly. “My senior partner. He seems to be quite eager about it.”
“Partner?” asked Ellen.
“The reason we are all here,” explained Mary. “The reason for this house being here and why my family moved here. The reason Harry and then George were given powers of elf warriors. The reason Jewel and her sister dragons came here and Greble returned to Earth. The reason that George is stronger now than Harry ever was.”
“The weapon?" asked Ellen. "This senior partner is the weapon? Not you two?”
“Together he and I are the big weapon, but only because he wants it that way,” said George. “Now he wants to talk to all of us in person in the forest behind the house.”
“He’s in your backyard?” asked Ellen, as they walked through the house.
“He soon will be,” said George. “He’s on my finger right now.” He showed her the glowing dragon ring.
“A dragon?" said Ellen. "The weapon is a dragon? That is exactly what Rick has speculated.”
“A juvenile male dragon,” said Mary, “but the only dragon and only known force in the Multiverse that will have a chance against the Dark One."
"Once he grows up,” added George.
“If he and the rest of us live that long,” added Johnny. "I still say this is all too simple."
****