by James Gough
Cylus flashed two silver fangs. According to Dervis, Cylus had lost the other one when he sank it into the wood. Will tried to return the intimidating look while Berko and Mars clutched their sides with laughter.
After the speeches, a multi-species enchant choir performed, followed by a parade of nations and a live reenactment of the discovery of the Silent Sanctuary. The ceremony ended with aerial acrobatics by a team of falconchants and a fireworks display that shook the entire chamber.
The moment it was over, Mars and Berko flew away to get changed before anyone could recognize them in formalwear. Dr. Dervis retreated to the safety of his lab, but Dr. Noctua held Will back.
“There were quite a few enchants who would like to thank you personally.”
As Dr. Noctua led Will out of the box, Kaya and Manning joined them, looking crisp and alert, like perfect secret service agents in their all-black suits. Their faces showed signs of the previous day—scrapes, bumps, and cuts. They seemed serious about the job they were doing, so Will didn’t try to talk to them, although he did get a stunner of a smile from Kaya and a slap on the back from Manning.
Will was shuffled from one reception to another, meeting enchants whose names he would never remember and tapping hands with every wing, claw, or flipper extended to him.
The fourth reception was in the herbivore cafeteria where the new Immune was surrounded by well-wishers grazing on imported grasses and aged algae. Dr. Noctua was in deep conversation with an African giraffe enchant. Will noticed he was standing next to the door that led to the cliff-side tables. Fresh air would be nice. He pushed the button and slipped out into the warm evening.
The sun bobbed above the far-off hills and the prairie below teemed with enchants frolicking in the last yellow glow of twilight.
Will wandered under the waterfall and up to the highest terrace, Rizz’s terrace. The smell of pine washed over him as he sat down.
He noticed a single lumpy envelope on the center of the table. Will looked around to see who might have left it, but he was the only one still outside.
His hand slid to the envelope and picked it up. The word IMMUNE was scrawled across the front. As Will opened the envelope, its contents fell onto the table with a soft clink.
He picked up the fang on the silver chain and unfolded a small slip of paper with Rizz’s sloppy handwriting: Never believe what you see, kid.
Emptiness filled his chest. Even though everything Rizz said was most likely a lie, Will still couldn’t help but miss his friend. He fastened the chain around his neck, tucked the note in his pocket and gazed out of the canyon.
“Rizz really did care, you know.” Kaya sat down next to Will.
“I’m not so sure.”
“I am.” Kaya put her hand on Will’s. “He just let his instincts take him down the wrong road.”
“His instincts? He’s a ram. An herbivore. Isn’t he supposed to be all about the herd and loyalty and stuff? What instinct makes a ram enchant turn against his friends and family?”
“Our human sides have instincts too, Will. Greed, guilt, and thirst for power can be hard instincts to ignore. But our human sides can also let us choose who we want to be.” Kaya patted Will’s hand, and for the first time, Will realized he hadn’t been wearing his latex gloves all day.
He studied his bare hands in the fading light. “So, now what?”
“Now we move on. Dean has agreed to join Special Branch, and we’ve been flooded with requests by top agents who want to transfer over from ISPA.” Kaya paused. The sound of the waterfalls filled the air. “And you, Will? No more gerbil scent, no more vegetarian meals, and no more hiding. You’re a famous Immune now—a hero—naturalized and everything. And I think you’re ready for the whole enchant adventure.”
Will half-smiled. “Rizz told me once that you’d know I was ready when I did.”
“And?”
Will stood up and watched the last edge of the sun bury itself in the horizon. He untied his bowtie and grinned. “Does the carnivore cafeteria serve bacon?”
~~~
Acknowledgements
My deepest thanks to everyone at WiDo Publishing who help dreams become a reality—Allie Maldonado, Kristine Princevalle, Amie McCracken, Bruce Gowen, and Don Gee.
Thanks to Steve Keller who showed me that writing combats insanity.
Thank you to my parents Pam and Rick for teaching me that being creative is a noble endeavor.
A special thanks to my family for seeing the enchants no matter how well they were hidden. Thanks Kristen, Kayla, Abby, Rachel, Steve, Dave & Mike.
About the Author
James Gough was born in the Rockies, raised in the Dakotas, schooled in a mountain desert, trained south of the border and wooed by the Big Apple. He now lives in a forest near a great lake with three bright daughters, a brilliant wife and a dim-witted dog.
His debut novel, Cloak, was born from a single question: Why are there so many myths, legends and stories about talking animals? It smelled like a cover-up. So he dug deeper. What he found surprised even him. Some discoveries just need to be written about.
James has been an actor, an artist, an athlete and an advertising creative. He’s thrilled to add author to the list. Besides writing, he loves to teach, is obsessed with strange foods and has always been an avid people-watcher.
James Gough studied creative writing at Brigham Young University where he double-majored in Communications Marketing and Visual Arts Design with a minor in English. For the past decade, he has worked on the Madison Avenue and Detroit advertising circuits, where his writing and marketing earned a New York Festivals Silver World Medal, a Cannes Finalist nod, and six IAAA awards.
Once, he saw a well-dressed possum in Grand Central Station; and he’d be willing to bet that a night guard he met in Detroit was half pit-viper, but it’s hard to be sure.
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Dedication
Prologue
Strange Security for Pants
Boy in a Bubble
Commuter Roulette
The Director
A Walk in the Park
Dangerous Help
An Interrupted Meal
Answers
Gladius Encánto
Surprise Visit
Evacuation Plan Alpha
Westward Bound
Hard Earth
St. Grimm’s
First Morning
Food At Last
The Tour
Interrogation
A Big Decision
Helpless
Flight
Bacon, Bacon Everywhere
Training
Sequestered Secrets
Accused, Arrested, and Tried
Maggot Duty
Sanctuary Day Eve
Masks Removed
A Little Show of Thanks
Acknowledgements
About the Author
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Dedication
Prologue
Strange Security for Pants
Boy in a Bubble
Commuter Roulette
The Director
A Walk in the Park
Dangerous Help
An Interrupted Meal
Answers
Gladius Encánto
Surprise Visit
Evacuation Plan Alpha
Westward Bound
Hard Earth
St. Grimm’s
First Morning
Food At Last
The Tour
Interrogation
A Big Decision
Helpless
Flight
Bacon, Bacon Everywhere
Training
Sequestered Secrets
Accused, Arrested, and Tried
Maggot Duty
Sanctuary Day Eve
Masks Removed
A Little Show of Thanks
Acknowledgements
> About the Author
