The Invisible Tower

The Invisible Tower by Nils Johnson-Shelton Page B

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Authors: Nils Johnson-Shelton
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turned their heads toward Artie slightly.
    Artie reached behind him and put Cleomede in Kay’s hand. She’d be happy for that when things sped back up.
    He returned to the Girl of the Lake and asked, “What do I do now?”
    â€œHold high the brand.”
    â€œThe brand? What brand?”
    Her hands slowly sank. She was going back under. Her smile was gone. Her last extended fingertip submerged. At the same moment she winked and whispered fiercely, “Now!”
    The violence of the rocking boat nearly threw Artie overboard. He got a swift hit to the gut as he slammed against the gunwale.
    Kay yelled, “What the?”
    The dragon writhed above them. It gurgled a foul rumble deep in its throat.
    Thumb screamed, very much to the point, “What did she tell you to do?”
    â€œHow did Cleomede—” Kay shrieked, more to herself than anyone in particular.
    Artie yelled, answering Thumb, “She said, ‘Hold high the brand’!”
    â€œDo it then, boy!”
    â€œWhat’s a brand?”
    â€œThe firebrand! Excalibur! The sword !”
    Of course! The sword!
    He thrust Excalibur up high.
    The dragon reared. A hot wind wafted from its underside like a punch in the face. It reminded Artie of getting hit by Finkelstein.
    Curse that Frankie Finkelstein! Even now, at the height of peril, Artie couldn’t shake him!
    Then Excalibur shuddered. He looked up. The glasseye pommel of his new sword glowed white.
    The dragon extended its neck at Artie. Black, crinkly smoke began to waft from its nostrils.
    Then, just as the serpent gathered itself to strike, Artie understood. He thought of light. He thought of the sun, the moon, fireworks on the Fourth of July.
    Light danced off the blade in a blinding blast. Artie shut his eyes, but he still saw the light through his lids.
    The dragon squealed. This time it sounded afraid. It slithered in the air and retreated a hundred feet instantly. It cried again, and the noise echoed over the Lake.
    Excalibur was alive. It released another pulse of blinding light before extinguishing itself.
    Artie opened his eyes. The dragon was flying away. After a few moments it stopped, turned, and looked directly at Artie. It let out a small, defeated whimper that drifted down to them. Artie knew that the creature was disappointed.
    Before they knew it, the beautiful monster was gone. The air calmed, and the sweet smell of the Lake and the woods returned.
    They sat in the boat for several moments without speaking, just breathing, just trying to piece together what had happened.
    Finally Kay asked, “How did you move that fast, Artie?”
    â€œWhat do you mean?”
    Thumb said, “My boy, you were like a blur.”
    â€œI don’t know. Everything was super slow-mo to me. I think the Girl of the Lake did it.”
    â€œThe Girl , you say?” inquired Thumb.
    â€œYeah, the Girl. She was only five or six.”
    â€œMy goodness.” Thumb chuckled. “She was much older than that, I assure you, lad.”
    Kay let out a deep breath and cracked her neck. “Well, however it happened, that was pretty awesome, Your Highness.”
    Artie was happy to hear Kay sound like her old self, but was also completely exhausted. He slumped in his seat. He’d just scared off a dragon so big it could have nested on a football field. His eyes burned and his head hurt. But Artie had to agree. “Yeah, it was pretty awesome, wasn’t it, Sir Kay?”
    â€œLet’s get back to shore,” Thumb said as he wrangled Vorpal, who was still raring for a fight, into the bottom of the canoe. “I think we’ve had enough excitement for today. Kay, help me paddle. Artie can rest.”
    Kay felt that her brother was totally whipped. “Good idea, Tommy. Take a load off, Art. We’ll get you home.”
    â€œOkay. Thanks, guys.”
    They paddled, and the sun warmed their backs. After a while the trees around the Lake

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