popping inside the tree. The hole began to recede slowly. Mike didn’t have time to think as he raced towards it, his breathing accelerating and his footsteps crunching loudly on rotting leaves as he flew toward the tree.
Mike launched himself toward the hole. He heard a loud sucking, slurping noise rattling the tree as he tumbled through the passageway and inside the hollowed-out base of the tree.
Mike fell to the ground with a thud. He stared at the round, brownish walls and the ten-foot ceiling. Through the moonlight that filtered through the shrinking hole, Mike caught a glimpse of the forest before the sucking hole closed with a loud slurp and engulfed him in darkness. Mike forced himself to breathe steadily. He fingered the walls of the tree, trying to find his bearings. He saw a small light impossibly far in the distance and moved toward it, inching his way along the steeply declining interior passageway.
28
IT WAS KATHY’S turn to pace as Laura sat on the couch. “I wanted Sam to stay away from his grandma. She’s crazy. These shirts. I thought this was all over,” said Kathy.
“I have to be honest. It is rather … unbelievable,” said Laura.
Kathy nodded. “Sam’s father, Greg, and I dated in high school. He didn’t tell me about the red shirts until we were married. But I knew he was different. And his brother, Francis, too.”
“Different, how?” asked Laura.
“Well, Greg was very strong, and Francis—well, I’m not totally sure about him, but it seemed like he could control trees or the forest,” said Kathy.
Laura stared at Kathy, trying to wrap her mind around what she had just heard. Supernatural powers and magical shirts were way beyond her worldview. She massaged her temples with her fingers as if staving off a headache. “I’m trying to believe you, Kathy. It’s just a lot to take in. Where do these, um, magic shirts come from?” she asked.
“His mother’s side of the family. Greg told me that these shirts have been handed down from generation to generation,” said Kathy. “It all began in ancient Scotland. The Falton clan was loyal to King Arthur, and they fought valiantly against the Saxons in many battles.
“Seamus Falton, the patriarch of the Falton clan, was a strong force on the battlefield. During a particularly nasty battle, Seamus led a large group of Scotsmen dressed in battle kilts against the most brutal Saxon army.
“On that day, on a bright green hillside in Scotland, Seamus saved the lives of four of King Arthur’s trusted knights while personally killing twelve Saxons.
“When news of Seamus’s accomplishments reached King Arthur, he decided that Seamus and his brothers would from that day lead a special battalion whose existence would be known only to King Arthur and the magician known as Merlin.
“King Arthur declared that the Falton clan should be awarded a special mystical gift to assist them in their new endeavors. He sanctioned a fairy, who worked exclusively for Merlin, to present the gift to the four Falton brothers.
“As Greg told it, the ceremony took place deep inside the forest beside a bright blue stream. Seamus and his brothers knelt with their heads bowed in reverence and their arms crossed and leaning on their swords planted firmly in the ground.
“The fairy, dressed in flowing white robes, showered them with red fairy dust that fell and morphed into beautiful silk red shirts that disappeared over their clothes. The shirts were invisible to all but others who wore the shirts. The fairy then bestowed large oak chests upon the four Falton brothers. Each chest had a golden lion-head lock with Scottish flags engraved on top.
“As time went on, Seamus and his brothers led this secret band of warriors dedicated to King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. They carried out secret missions and reported only to the king.
“On one occasion, they assisted the regular army in a pivotal battle against the Saxons. Seamus was incredibly
Mike launched himself toward the hole. He heard a loud sucking, slurping noise rattling the tree as he tumbled through the passageway and inside the hollowed-out base of the tree.
Mike fell to the ground with a thud. He stared at the round, brownish walls and the ten-foot ceiling. Through the moonlight that filtered through the shrinking hole, Mike caught a glimpse of the forest before the sucking hole closed with a loud slurp and engulfed him in darkness. Mike forced himself to breathe steadily. He fingered the walls of the tree, trying to find his bearings. He saw a small light impossibly far in the distance and moved toward it, inching his way along the steeply declining interior passageway.
28
IT WAS KATHY’S turn to pace as Laura sat on the couch. “I wanted Sam to stay away from his grandma. She’s crazy. These shirts. I thought this was all over,” said Kathy.
“I have to be honest. It is rather … unbelievable,” said Laura.
Kathy nodded. “Sam’s father, Greg, and I dated in high school. He didn’t tell me about the red shirts until we were married. But I knew he was different. And his brother, Francis, too.”
“Different, how?” asked Laura.
“Well, Greg was very strong, and Francis—well, I’m not totally sure about him, but it seemed like he could control trees or the forest,” said Kathy.
Laura stared at Kathy, trying to wrap her mind around what she had just heard. Supernatural powers and magical shirts were way beyond her worldview. She massaged her temples with her fingers as if staving off a headache. “I’m trying to believe you, Kathy. It’s just a lot to take in. Where do these, um, magic shirts come from?” she asked.
“His mother’s side of the family. Greg told me that these shirts have been handed down from generation to generation,” said Kathy. “It all began in ancient Scotland. The Falton clan was loyal to King Arthur, and they fought valiantly against the Saxons in many battles.
“Seamus Falton, the patriarch of the Falton clan, was a strong force on the battlefield. During a particularly nasty battle, Seamus led a large group of Scotsmen dressed in battle kilts against the most brutal Saxon army.
“On that day, on a bright green hillside in Scotland, Seamus saved the lives of four of King Arthur’s trusted knights while personally killing twelve Saxons.
“When news of Seamus’s accomplishments reached King Arthur, he decided that Seamus and his brothers would from that day lead a special battalion whose existence would be known only to King Arthur and the magician known as Merlin.
“King Arthur declared that the Falton clan should be awarded a special mystical gift to assist them in their new endeavors. He sanctioned a fairy, who worked exclusively for Merlin, to present the gift to the four Falton brothers.
“As Greg told it, the ceremony took place deep inside the forest beside a bright blue stream. Seamus and his brothers knelt with their heads bowed in reverence and their arms crossed and leaning on their swords planted firmly in the ground.
“The fairy, dressed in flowing white robes, showered them with red fairy dust that fell and morphed into beautiful silk red shirts that disappeared over their clothes. The shirts were invisible to all but others who wore the shirts. The fairy then bestowed large oak chests upon the four Falton brothers. Each chest had a golden lion-head lock with Scottish flags engraved on top.
“As time went on, Seamus and his brothers led this secret band of warriors dedicated to King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. They carried out secret missions and reported only to the king.
“On one occasion, they assisted the regular army in a pivotal battle against the Saxons. Seamus was incredibly
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