Parahuman (Parahuman Series) Read online

Page 6


  “I’m not scared of horses.” They were scared of him. But that wasn’t something they would understand. “They just don’t seem to like me.”

  “Is this one experience or have you tried a few times?” Nick asked.

  “Believe me, horse don’t like me. Will that be a problem?” No horse was going to be comfortable around him.

  “No, I’m not expecting you to be good at everything as long as you’re strong in other areas.” Nick replied.

  That had to be a first; the first time someone told him he wasn’t supposed to be good at everything. At one time he had been expected to excel at all things. He had never tried horseback riding, but he’d been around enough animals to know they didn’t like him. Most animals felt that way around him. They just went crazy. Non-predators feared him and predators became anxious, if not extremely aggressive. No horse was going to let him near it, let alone allow him on its back.

  “I’m going to want to check out your climbing abilities, but I need approval from your uncle first. A letter will do. If you can meet me back here tomorrow, we can do that.” Nick continued.

  “What time?”

  Nick ran his hand through his hair and scrunched up his face in thought. “We have church service in the morning…let’s say eleven o’clock?”

  “I can do that,” Devan said.

  “We’ll see you tomorrow than, and good job today.” He said cordially, holding out his hand. After giving it a shake Nick pivoted on his heels and headed toward the main office building. Devan was going to get along fine with Nick; he was direct, to the point.

  Nick’s departure left Devan alone with Laney and his muscles tensed at the possibility of undesirable questions. She was always smiling, and while it did lessen Devan’s tension it seemed to increase his internal temperature by few degrees.

  For some unfathomable reason even though he was uncomfortable he didn’t feel like leaving yet, which was unusual because typically he couldn’t wait to get away from other people.

  “You did a really good job out there today.” Laney said, breaking the silence.

  That comment made the tension come right back. What was she referring to?

  “Thanks.” Devan’s instincts told him to depart post haste…but another part of him, that he didn’t recognize, and that seemed to have more dominance over his instincts at the moment, nudged him to remain. He also couldn’t seem to pull his attention away from her gaze.

  “I keep wondering, though, how you saw that lion, and how you knew where Johnny was?” She asked this hesitantly; not like she was suspicious, just curious.

  Even though he hadn’t been looking forward to the question he was prepared for it. “I heard a growl and the kid’s voice and ran ahead instinctively. I thought you heard it too the way you came in yelling.” Devan knew this last part would probably make her doubt any uncertainties she had about his story. By the way her brow furrowed in concentration he thought it might be working.

  “That was brave of you, not many people would have run toward a mountain lion in the hopes of scaring it away.” Devan continued, diverting attention away from him and on to her, but he also said it because he thought she had been brave. Devan could tell she had been scared when she had run up, but she had still done it in spite of that fear.

  “You’re the one who ran into a situation that you didn’t know anything about; I’m just the fool that followed you.” She said dryly.

  Devan felt more inexplicable tugging on his lip. “Maybe we were both foolish rather than brave then.” Devan commented just as dryly.

  Laney gave a shake of her head and a wave of her hand. “How about I’ll concede we were both brave with maybe a touch of recklessness, but that’s all I’ll concede to.” She then gave him a full out smile. Devan’s nape warmed unexpectedly. He reached back to rub it absently.

  “But, if there is ever a next time we should probably approach more cautiously, not just barrel into possible danger haphazardly.” She cautioned.

  “Agreed.” Devan conceded rather than argue. Approaching cautiously would have ended with Johnny torn to pieces, but she didn’t know that. She also had no idea that he had taken stock of the situation and gone through several different scenarios in just the few seconds it had taken to reach Johnny. Just one of the perks he was born with.

  “That’s another thing; you should really rethink about going out for the track team, because you are super fast. One second you were there and the next you were gone.” She was smiling as she said this, not overtly suspicious, which calmed Devan’s heart beat some. It seemed everything had been explained away in her mind.

  “Again, I’d rather spend time on my own pursuits.”

  “I’m the same way. I’ve spent my life on these mountains; there’s no other place I’d rather be. I love it. There also isn’t a large variety of sports to choose from in our small school community.” Laney smiled ruefully.

  The way Laney voiced her passion for the outdoors resembled his own thoughts. Devan had not come across anyone who felt the same as he did. Most people lived for malls, crowds, and noise. None of the things he could stand. Even Brett didn’t feel the same affinity for the outdoors as he did.

  Looking at her smiling mouth and her sparkling green eyes Devan started to feel tautness in his abdomen and chest. He took a step back reflexively, not understanding where it was coming from. Indigestion? He’d read about it but never experienced it before.

  “I had better get going.” The words burst out of his mouth, surprising both of them. He just suddenly felt the need to flee.

  Laney’s smile faltered a little and the sparkle in her eyes turned to confusion at his abruptness. Devan spun and strode swiftly toward the jeep, feeling her eyes following him in bewilderment. Jumping in and slamming the door, he drove out of the parking lot barely restraining the urge to squeal the tires in his haste to leave.

  Two seconds later he remembered he’d forgotten to ask her not to say anything about his eyes…and he never forgot anything.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  Devan watched the four elk grazing in the meadow from the tree he was in. Their scent was strong, wafting toward him in the breeze. He had been lounging on the branch patiently for the last hour, waiting for them to come within range. Stalking them would have been faster, but he wasn’t in a hurry as yet. He was enjoying the time outdoors. Even after six years the novelty hadn’t worn off. There was always something new to see, hear, and smell, and he soaked it all in like it was the first time.

  A squirrel on a branch below him scampered about oblivious to his presence. As he was decked out in camouflage and had covered himself in hunters spray it was likely to stay that way until he moved. She was gathering food for her pups and taking it back to her nest. He knew this because he had been observing her for forty minutes running up and down the tree getting her provisions.

  The elk were now within range, and his target the smaller sized calf was in perfect alignment. She appeared to be in her second year, a perfect age for tender meat, and not too bulky to haul back to the house. Drawing the string back on his long bow he sensed the squirrel freeze in her scrambling, finally becoming aware of his presence.

  The elk were just over three hundred yards away, an improbable shot for anyone else to make with a long bow, but effortless for him. The only reason he needed the elk closer was so the arrow would be able to reach them for a clean kill. He could have brought the crossbow but he had wanted the extra challenge of the longbow today.

  The calculations began automatically, complex and intricate and so familiar in his head. Wind—2 mph. Heat—forty-four degrees. Humidity—moderate. Distance…etc, etc…Like breathing.

  If only everything could be determined through simple computation.

  Training his eyes and arrow slightly above her upper chest behind the shoulder, he released the arrow. The squirrel scattered in alarm, but the arrow sailed true hitting its mark. The elk went down instantly, with no hint of any danger. The other
three elk fled in response to their companion falling dead.

  Fitting the bow in its harness on his back Devan swung down from the tree, making sure to stay away from the squirrels nest…he didn’t want the mother to have a conniption. Jumping from the bottom branch he sprinted across the meadow toward the downed elk, sending other small animals fleeing for cover in fright.

  Knelling down Devan ascertained that the shot was a clean kill shot. Pulling the arrow out he wiped the blood off and returned it to the quiver on his back. Reaching into his vest he pulled out his knife and gloves and sliced open the abdomen, extracting all its entrails. Then he cut off the animals head. Wiping his knife clean, he returned that to his vest. Detaching a rolled section of leather from his vest Devan wrapped it around the elk’s sliced middle and tied it off; this would keep blood off his shoulders and neck. Reaching under its rib cage and lower belly he lifted it over his head and onto his shoulders and began the seven mile hike back to the house.

  Devan followed the natural trail markers home, each one giving him an estimate on how close he was to the house. He was still familiarizing himself with these woods, and imprinting notable aspects of the terrain was the easiest way to get his bearings. They had only been at this property for two weeks; it consisted of three acres with a national forest boarding it. It was by far one of the best rentals they had acquired so far.

  In the weeks since their arrival he had investigated all of the three acres and into the San Juan National Forest. It was early April, springtime, and the landscape was beautiful with its abundance of wildlife and mountainous ranges perfect for exploration. He was looking forward to their time here.

  About eighty minutes later Devan stepped out of the forest into back yard of their temporary dwelling. He couldn’t help thinking how out of place this house looked in the middle of a national forest. One would expect to find a cabin in the middle of the woods, not this modern style ranch home with domed porches.

  Lugging the elk over to the processing shed that had been there when they moved in, Devan hung the elk up and began to skin it. It was never wise to leave meat or any food out for too long when living in an environment containing bears and mountain lions.

  “Chris…darn it…Devan, are you in the shed?” Brett called out.

  The corner of Devan’s mouth curled at Brett’s slip. He didn’t do it often, but every now and then Brett would say the wrong name. When a person went through so many identities it was difficult at times to shed the connection to a previous alias. Devan never slipped up with Brett’s new identities, his brain was too well-designed for that kind of error.

  “Yes,” Devan acknowledged, listening to footsteps cross the lawn.

  “Caught one, did you?” Brett stepped into the shed. He’d changed a little in the last six years. At sixty-two his hair was completely gray now, but he had thinned out, and his one hundred and eighty pound body was now down to one hundred and sixty from all the walking he did. He knew the importance of staying in shape. Running for your life will do that to you

  “Did you think otherwise?” Devan asked affronted. “I told you when I went out I would bring one back. In five years have I ever failed on a hunt?”

  “This was your first time hunting elk, I had to wonder.” Brett responded apologetically. He gave the nearly skeletal animal a critical once over. “It’s a good sized one; did you have any problems carrying it back?”

  Devan smirked, you can take the man out of the science lab, but you can’t take the science lab out of the man. “No, I didn’t have any problem.”

  “What do you estimate the weight was?” Brett asked curiously.

  “Approximately two hundred and fifty pounds.”

  “How far did you carry him?”

  “It’s a female,” Devan corrected, “and seven miles.” He could almost hear Brett’s mind calculating the improvements Devan was making—and he was improving. In the past years his physical abilities had increased considerably, probably as a result of puberty.

  Carrying that calf seven miles had been no hardship at all.

  “And you had no problems carrying her all that way?” Brett continued, switching his scrutiny to Devan.

  “No.”

  “Really,” he mused. “Work up a sweat?”

  “Hardly noticeable.” Devan answered, slicing off the last of the meat from the dead animal. He washed the knife off in the utility sink, conveniently located in the corner, and then wiped it carefully with a towel so it wouldn’t rust.

  Grabbing the container he had piled the meat into Devan headed toward the house. Brett trailed behind him, asking more questions on the way. Once in the kitchen they commenced packaging the meat for storage. They worked together smoothly, having done it many times before.

  When the last of the meat was put away Brett began to put together a stew with some of the elk they’d left out. Devan had been up since six this morning, and even though he had eaten an entire box of cereal and three bananas just three and a half hours ago he was hungry yet again.

  As Brett readied the stew Devan went out back to dispose of what was left of the elk carcass. After taking a quick shower he joined Brett back in the kitchen where the stew was hot and ready. Ladling a heaping portion into an oversized bowl and grabbing a loaf a bread, Devan sat down at the table. Brett rationed a smaller serving for himself and sat down opposite of Devan.

  “So, what are your plans today?”

  Devan had adapted himself to Brett’s customary requirement for meal conversation. Another purported social skill exercised among the populace.

  Devan swallowed the mouthful of stew in his mouth. “I have a climbing test today for that job. In fact I need a letter of consent from you.”

  “Ahh…the guardian’s permission. I can do this.” Brett said drolly. “How did yesterday go?”

  “Uneventful,” Devan answered after another mouthful. He had decided to keep yesterday’s incident with the mountain lion to himself. Brett would only worry about exposure, and at this time Devan was relatively confident that matters were under control.

  “It’s interesting that you’ve made the decision to acquire employment. Even though our income is more than sufficient the social interactions attained will be quite beneficial to you.” Brett had been able to secrete away a large amount of money from his previous career, money that Devan now invested via the internet under assumed names. They had never ending expenses that would bleed them dry if Devan didn’t.

  Brett leaned forward and continued. “I know you’ve been discontent with my pushing you into school two years ago, and though these institutions are not near your intellectual level it’s important for your social acclimation.” A perplexed expression crossed Brett’s face. “I was a little surprised that you volunteered to take on additional public interactions. You don’t seem to enjoy the ones at school.”

  Devan managed to consume most of his stew and one-fourth of the loaf of bread by the time Brett stopped talking, taking the edge off his hunger. He looked up from his food to give Brett the eye contact he desired during these exchanges. “I was curious about earning an income through manual labor instead of from my intellectual efforts, and I also wanted to see the distinction between school and career interactions. My main difficulty with school has to do with the enclosed environment.”

  “Well, I’m just glad you’re branching out.”

  Devan considered Brett. “Have you ever thought about getting a job yourself?” He inquired curiously. The extent of Brett’s interactions would be going to town for supplies. “You want me to go out and socialize, how come you don’t? I would think it would be just as important for you as it is for me.”

  Devan knew his socializing wasn’t all that impressive. He could converse somewhat and appear normal, but he wasn’t comfortable around his peers so nothing went further than school civilities. He was somewhat surprised himself by his desire to acquire a job since it would put him around people more, but it was something that had been weighin
g on his mind lately and wouldn’t go away. He had finally decided it would be a good learning experience. It’s not like he wasn’t accustomed to uncomfortable situations.

  Brett sighed. “I have been gone from society for too long with my years of living at the facility; even the years before that I was a bit reclusive. I’ve just never been a people person. I doubt I have it in me to change.” He stated this matter-of-factly, with no feelings of self pity.

  It seemed inequitable that Brett was allowed to hide away here at the house while Devan had to go and make nice with the locals. Logically, he knew it was essential to have an adequate understanding of community interactions, but sometimes being out there with all those people made him feel even more alone then when he was out in the woods all by himself.

  Devan had another bowl of stew before he felt adequately full. They cleaned up the dishes together and stored the left over stew in the refrigerator. When they were done Devan headed for the door, tossing over his shoulder an age old phrase he’d heard. “You know, it’s never too late to learn something new.” All he received in return was a grunted ‘huh’, which signified Brett’s annoyance at his interference. Devan had heard another phrase, ‘that older people were set in their ways’—it must refer to situations like this.

  Devan headed into town in his recently acquired jeep. A new location necessitated new vehicles, and the jeep was his. Brett had acquired a full size truck, good for hauling their supplies. The jeep was good for rough off-road travel and that was something he needed, because the drive down the mountain to the main road was definitely rough.

  Silverton was a small town set in the middle of the Colorado National Park with one main road leading into and out of town. The road leading into town was enclosed on both sides by rolling hills and trees that was intermittently broken by small clearings where someone had erected a house. Eventually, the forest opened up to reveal the town nestled in a deep valley bordered by the Colorado Mountains. Silverton Adventure Tours was at the other end of town. It was set back from the road nestled within the forest. The building looked like a throwback to the eighteen hundreds; a log cabin structure reflecting an old pioneering store.