The tower of air, p.20
The Tower of Air,
p.20
Baka sneezed, or coughed, or whatever it is when a horse makes that loud, lip-vibrating noise that spews stinky horse phlegm everywhere.
“I know, weird, huh? None of us have a clue what he was talking about, and he fell asleep before we could get one more word out of him. But that wasn't the weirdest thing.”
Again, I gave Baka a chance to read my mind, but he went for some yummy oats instead.
“You don't even care, do you?” I patted him on the head, and told him that I'd come to see him again later.
As I walked to the stable doors, I paused, and looked back.
“You're dying to know, aren't you?” I asked the four-legged creature.
He let out a slight snicker, and nodded his head. Honest to goodness, the horse nodded his head.
“He had a big wire cage with him,” I said. “It was completely full of … something, and we still have no idea why.”
Baka's eyes bore into mine, anxious for either the next part of the story, or some more oats, I'll never know. But I told him anyway.
“The cage was full of butterflies.”
As I left Baka behind, and headed off in search of breakfast with my family, my heart was heavy with a sense of approaching duty and danger.
Deep inside of me, I felt something within my blood and bones, although I don't think my mind fully comprehended the feeling I was having. But somehow, I knew.
It was all about to come to a head, the day of reckoning, the day things would be decided with either dreaded finality or perpetual hope.
And I would be ready.
The battle of all time and substance was about to begin.
To be concluded in …
James Dashner was born and raised in Georgia. Although he currently resides in Utah, he will always be a southerner at heart.
After high school, James attended Brigham Young University, where he went on to receive a master's degree in accounting. He also took a couple of years off and served a mission in Japan. Since graduation, he has received his CPA, worked for a major audit firm, and now works as a financial analyst.
He is married and has three children.
For more information on James and The Jimmy Fincher Saga, visit www.jamesdashner.com or email him at author@jamesdashner.com.
Michael Phipps grew up spending hours with friends drawing, imagining other worlds, making odd recordings, and building marble chutes and forts. He always knew he would be an artist as an adult, and he graduated with a bachelor of fine arts degree in illustration from the University of Utah. He loves to spend time with his family and friends, be outdoors, and listen to strange music. His art can be viewed at www.michael-phipps.net. E-mail him at art@michaelphipps.net.
James Dashner, The Tower of Air
