Raising Dragons (30 page)
Billy nodded slowly. “That’d be cool,” he said, but his voice was only halfhearted.
Bonnie took his hand again, and she gazed at him with probing eyes. “Billy, we have to have faith. It’s all going to work out.”
Billy felt the coolness of Bonnie’s soft touch and also something new. He held up her hand to take a look and noticed a ring on her finger. “What’s this? I haven’t seen this before.”
“It’s a rubellite, just like yours. Your mom went back to the Foley’s to get some clothes, and the gemstone was there on the porch. So she went right out and had it cut and polished and put into a ring for me. She said she’s sure that’s what your dad wanted.”
Billy gazed at it for a moment while Bonnie went on.
“Your father said there’s still more to be fulfilled in the prophecy, and it’s all been true so far. That’s good reason to have faith.”
Billy released Bonnie’s hand. “Yeah, that’s true, but what about Devin and Palin?”
“We’ll just have to deal with whatever comes.”
Billy didn’t answer. He just smiled and gazed at Bonnie’s face, amazed at her ability to overcome anything.
“I’ve spent more than my share of time here,” she said. “The professor’s coming in next, and he has something for you.” She limped toward the door, and when she reached it, she turned, smiled, and blew a kiss. “Get well soon, Billy. I have a feeling we have a lot more adventures ahead of us.” She opened the door, stepped into the hall, and then looked back again. “Just remember,” she said, holding her hand over her heart, “even though I’m going to be Walter’s sister, I’ll always be your sister, in here.” With that, she shut the door, and Billy stared at the wall and then closed his eyes, listening to Bonnie’s uneven footsteps as they faded in the distance.
Within a few seconds, the door opened again, and a familiar British accent boomed. “William! It’s so good to see you again!”
Billy opened his eyes and watched the professor stride in. “Hi, Prof—”
“William,” the professor interrupted. “I have something very special for you.” He didn’t wait for Billy to respond and turned toward the hallway. “Walter! The coast is clear!”
Walter walked in, hunched over, with his coat fully zipped. With a wiggling lump struggling under his coat, he looked like he had swallowed a live wolverine. Walter held his hand over the thrashing bulge and grunted, “Be still!”
“Shhh!” the professor warned. “If the nurses find out, we’re . . . how do you say it? Dead meat?”
Walter unzipped his coat, pulled out a squirming, hairy mass, and laid it on Billy’s stomach.
“Gandalf!” Billy cried out. “Where did you find him?”
Walter stripped off his coat and shook his head. “You don’t want to know!”
“The solution was quite simple, actually,” the professor said, “but the journey was very trying. We found Gandalf’s old bed in the ruins of your house, and Hambone sniffed it and did the rest. He ran us all over the neighborhood, under cars, through several gardens, and into and out of two homes. I had to climb into three trees, onto a slippery roof, and over a barbed wire fence.”
“And I had to carry a shovel all over the neighborhood,” Walter added. “Wherever he stopped and sniffed, I dug a hole to see what he found.”
Billy bit his lip to keep from laughing. “And what kind of stuff did you find?”
Walter began counting on his fingers. “Gandalf’s squeaky rat toy, the collar he lost a year ago, and various—” He looked up at the professor. “Uh . . . various kitty leavings.”
Billy laughed in spite of the pain, and he stroked Gandalf’s long, lush coat. The cat arched his back and then curled up on Billy’s chest. “So, where did you finally find him?”
“Oh, yes,” the professor continued. “Actually, he was under your bed at the Foley’s house.”
“What? What was he doing—”
“And that’s not all!” the professor interrupted again. He slipped his hand under his vest and pulled out a glass, baby-food-sized jar.
Billy stared at the black, angular pieces inside. “Shark teeth?”
“Yes,” he said, placing the jar next to a flower vase, “quite a number of fine specimens. Walter discovered them on his doorstep yesterday morning, and he said you would probably like to have them here at your bedside.
Billy gave Walter a thumbs up sign, and Walter returned it, adding a quick, tight-lipped nod.
The professor reached under his coat again. “And last but not least . . .” He pulled out a miniature tape player and wedged a small earphone into Billy’s ear. “Yesterday’s lecture notes,” he announced proudly, “all recorded on tape. You can play them while you relax.”
Billy adjusted the earpiece to make it more comfortable. “Uh, thanks Professor, but I think I’ll be too tired to—”
“Nonsense.” The professor gathered the cat and put the tape player at Billy’s side. “Surely you’re not too tired to lie here and listen. Later I’ll ask you some questions, and we’ll have a nice talk. Miss Silver told me some of her story, but she seemed quite reticent. I should like to learn more about the sword I saw in Devin’s supply closet and to study the rubellite ring on your finger as well. I also wish to show you a most interesting book Walter found, but everything must wait until your wounds are healed.” He paused and gazed down at Billy’s head bandage. “I discovered that you have quite an interesting lineage, William, and I predict you will learn much about yourself in the very near future, physically, mentally, and spiritually.
Walter gave Billy a strong handshake, holding on as if he would rather not let go. Their eyes met, and they each nodded with firm-set jaws. They didn’t have to say a word. Their friendship had been sealed forever.
Walter took Gandalf from the professor and tried to hide him under his coat again, but the cat had other ideas. He leaped from Walter’s grasp and zoomed into the hall. “You crazy cat!” Walter yelled. “Come back here!” He gave Billy a quick wave and dashed from the room.
Professor Hamilton grasped the bed rails, his eyes dancing with mirth. “Well, I should be going, too. It’s wonderful to see you recovering.” He pointed at the tape player. “Did I mention that Miss Silver read the notes for me on the recording?” The professor winked. “Get well soon, William.” And he left the room.
Suddenly, all was quiet. The old gentleman’s words settled in Billy’s mind, gently caressing his soul. They echoed and whispered questions over and over, reminding him that many mysteries remained unsolved. What would the professor teach him from the book? Would they ever find the sword? And, of course, how in the world did Dad get shark teeth into a jar and deliver them to Walter’s house?
He slowly shook his head in wonder.
I guess we dragons have our ways!
Billy glanced at the cassette player at his side and noticed once again the gauze tape on his finger. He picked at the tape until he was able to unwind it. Slowly, as each layer peeled away, the shape of his treasured ring became clear. When he stripped off the final bit of tape, the rubellite appeared. He used his thumb to rub away the sticky remnants and then held the stone close to admire its beautiful, dark red shine. For the first time, he noticed how it reflected everything in the room, the ceiling, the lights . . . and his face. He saw himself in his father’s ring. The image was sharp, the details clear. For some reason, he no longer grimaced at the thought. He was indeed the son of a dragon.
And he wasn’t alone as a dragon child. He thought of Bonnie, his partner in adventure, a friend closer than a sister, and now she, too, shared this symbol, a simple rubellite ring that reflected more than what lay on the surface; it somehow revealed their inner character and represented their faith in each other. Billy knew he could trust Bonnie with his life, yet he couldn’t help but feel that something was still missing, a void within himself, a strange, deep-seated hunger that even this amazing young lady could never fill.
He took a deep breath and sighed. Bonnie was right. Their adventures together were only just beginning, and maybe the future would hold the answers Billy was seeking. Who could tell what life would be like for a couple of dragon kids?
Billy smiled, pressed the button on the tape player, and leaned back, closing his eyes. “Maybe I’m not too tired after all.”
For more information on
Raising Dragons
and other titles in the
Dragons in Our Midst
series, go to the series website, www.dragonsinourmidst.com. There you will be able to contact the author and participate in discussions with other readers about these exciting books.
