LeOmi's Solitude (14 page)

“You are still subordinate to me. You will
address me as such.”

“Yes sir…you wanted to see me?” Tim was
stunned, yet calm.

The man’s voice boomed, “Do you know what one
of your brats has done?”

“I do not understand what you are referring
to, sir.”

“I found lion tracks leading up to and away
from the school. The tracks had human tracks going away from the
school with them. I followed the tracks to the game preserve. Do
you know what that game keeper, what’s his name…, told me?”

“Albert, sir, Albert is his name, and yes
sir, I think I know what he told you.”

“He told me that the boy with the staff found
her and brought her back! Do you have any idea what that
means?”

At this point there were a few telescopes
that toppled over off one of the counters. Several students went to
grab at them starting a dominoes effect for one of the entire
counters. This went on unnoticed by the large gentleman, his anger
was so great.

“It means that this boy … this prodigy… this,
this …this special boy… has no regard for safety, his own or anyone
else’s for that matter.”

“Mr. Thorpe, I wish you would not do that,
this is a public place.”

As he said that he swept his hand around to
point out all the students standing in seemingly frozen positions
and others trying to pick up the tumbled spy glasses.

“Ah, Algebra and Numeric Logic.” LeOmi said
to no one in particular.

“Do you know what else Albert said?”

Tim Fairbanks tried the whispering technique
where he leaned in to try and bring Mr. Thorpe back to his senses
but it was of no effect.

“He said that the boy with the staff made him
promise to feed the lioness some gazelle…Made him promise to give
her some gazelle, like he knew what she wanted.”

Tim tried the pleading technique … “Very
improper to do this here.”

Mr. Thorpe turned to Mark Young as he
approached from the balcony. He carried the staff, and he had
several other students come up behind him.

Mr. Thorpe’s tone turned beyond irate, and he
began using his finger to make his point. LeOmi stood and watched,
along with everyone else in the room. This was a teacher here at
the school, and here he was actually accosting a student with his
beefy angry finger displaying his angry attitude at an alarmingly
growing rate.

“That could mean only one thing, you knew
what the lioness wanted, didn’t you boy?”

Mark looked down at his feet, as if he was
contemplating what to do. This was a teacher here at the school,
and here he was out of control.

“Answer me boy, and answer me now.”

Mark looked at Tim.

“Boy, I told you to answer me now!”

Tim nodded to Mark to go ahead.

“Yes sir.”

“I knew it. You have Balaam’s Tongue, don’t
you boy? You can talk to animals, right?”

“Yes sir.”

“Why haven’t you told anybody about this? Do
you think that you’re too special to let anyone know about
this?”

Then Tim broke in again. “He has told, Mrs.
Shadowitz just hasn’t told you.”

Mr. Thorpe turned to Tim, “You knew. Why
didn’t you tell me?”

“It is not my place, sir. Mr. Young has asked
that only the Council of Elders be informed with the exception of
Gerod and myself.”

Mr. Thorpe wheeled back around at Mark, with
his finger accusingly, “Is this true boy?”

“Yes sir.”

“I’m sorry to hear that. That means that I
have unknowingly violated a trust.” Then the accusing finger turned
to Tim.

“And you let me do it.”

“I beg your pardon sir, but I tried—it’s just
that you wouldn’t listen.”

“I don’t listen huh. Well you will report to
the Council of Elders tomorrow morning at nine. A disciplinary
hearing will let us see who will listen.”

“Yes sir,” was Tim’s response.

“I’m afraid that won’t be
necessary…Harmonious.” Mrs. Shadowitz’s familiar voice entered the
room from behind Mark and his friends.

“I’m afraid you have pronounced your own
fate. I will see you in Council Chambers tomorrow at nine and you
will face your disciplinary hearing.”

“But ma’am I didn’t mean to…”

With Mrs. Shadowitz’s arrival, the
conversation’s volume turned down to a whisper. LeOmi could feel
the calm slowly settling over the gathering of students. The
huddled adults soon dispersed and Mr. Thorpe went over to the bar
and ordered an iced tea and he took it into the storage room. He
didn’t come out, but a lot of students finished their purchases and
quickly made their way down the spiral staircase.

LeOmi found that she now had the room to move
around and look at the different telescopes and binoculars settling
on a well made but not overly expensive binocular with a good
range. She made her purchase and pulled out her list and checked
off binoculars or telescope.

Items still on the list were clothing which
included school tunics-dress, work and class styles; sandals and
boots, two cloaks for summer and winter trimmed in tribe color, a
blazon tabard or surcoat embroidered with the tribe colors.
Completing the list were a training sword, combat weapon of choice,
combat knife for training and a utility tool.

A saddle was listed as optional.

For those with enough money to purchase and
store their own saddle no doubt.

Of all these things, the utility tool was the
only necessary purchase that she could see. She had her training
equipment from Henry, and why should she have to buy clothing, just
so she could look like everyone else? It seemed ridiculous and a
waste of money.

The Small Appliance store next to The
Quarters might have just the utility tool she needed, anything to
keep from going back to Ms. Vanmie’s Shop.

She had made it through her last night in the
gray dorm section. Tonight she would be in the Emerald Tribe dorm
section. The choosing was one of the first things this morning.

After running with Bekka, showering and
dressing and a quick stop at The Oasis, LeOmi found a seat in the
bleachers–off towards the far side –for the choosing ceremony.

Twelve horses stood in a semi-circle in the
coral at the gate opening. There was another horse off to the side
prancing back and forth in the sun light, making tight little
circles, impatient for the ceremony to begin.

Gerod Hudson, the same Magi who had ridden
out to meet her and Fireball stood up to begin the ceremony. His
long blonde hair and green eyes demanded silence from the
crowd.

He introduced Theresa Shadowitz, the school’s
chief elder.

“Today is Day Four. The Day of Choosing. It
is a very important time for each and every one of the students
here at Seventh Mountain. You each probably know that horses are
excellent judges of character and motives, the underlying reason
that a person acts. No one can fool a horse.”

Mrs. Shadowitz continued by introducing tribe
leaders. “I will begin with myself, Theresa Shadowitz, Commander of
Jasper Tribe.

“Mr. AlHufus Diefenderfer, as the Emerald
Tribe Commander.

“Mr. Harmonious Thorpe is the Commander of
the Onyx Tribe. Ms. Joramina Vanmie, Commander of Diamond
Tribe.

“Mrs. Julia Diefenbuacher, Commander of Ruby
Tribe.”

As she called out the Commander of the Ruby
Tribe, LeOmi saw Slone and his side kicks already sitting amongst
the Ruby section.

“Mr. Barnabus Lawrence, Commander of the
Topaz Tribe. Mr. Terrance Burke, Commander of the Turquoise Tribe.
Mr. Daniel Williams, Commander of the Sapphire Tribe. Ms. Fiona
Maven, Commander of the Amethyst Tribe. Mr. Louis Dervante,
Commander of the Jacinth Tribe. Mr. David Giancoli, Commander of
the Beryl Tribe and Mr. Quintus McGraw, Commander of Agate
Tribe.”

Each teacher was positioned in the bleachers
so that tribe members could take their places behind them after
being chosen.

“Each tribe represents one of twelve
motivations, which is how each tribe member thinks about things and
therefore how they respond. There is Motivation and Method.

“Later you will find out what your basic
Method is. Method is defined as your way of doing things.

“Motivation is represented by your primary
color. As an example, if the Emerald Tribe horse chooses you, your
color is green and your method will be represented by your
secondary color. That you will learn later on. Let us proceed.”

Mrs. Shadowitz motioned for the caller to
begin. He called out, “David Adams,” loud and clear.

“After a horse chooses a tribe for a student,
the caller, who in this case is Mr. Quintus McGraw, Commander of
Agate Tribe and the Keeper of Artifacts at the Museum…” Mrs.
Shadowitz gestured to Mr. McGraw and he bowed his head. His cheeks
were red where the rest of his exposed skin was white. He was a
tall thin man with thick black hair. He wore black and silver robes
of the school staff.

LeOmi watched as he placed a small stool
about two feet away from where the students would stand for their
choosing.

Mrs. Shadowitz continued, “He will wait for
the student to stand just inside the gate, and a horse to approach.
At this, we will all quietly pause as Mr. McGraw calls out…”

She paused as a horse gently strolled over to
David Adams.

Mr. McGraw said, “Selah.”

As he did, Mrs. Shadowitz and the other
teachers and counselors bowed her head and paused.

Mr. McGraw said, “David Adams, Topaz.”

She then resumed. “We will all remain quite
while the information is tallied and the student may take a seat
with his or her Tribe.”

The Topaz now gently nudged David’s arm as if
to remind him that it was time to move on.

David Adams turned and proceeded to the Topaz
Section.

“There are over two hundred students, so this
will take a good portion of the morning. Get yourselves comfortable
until your name is called. Quintus, carry on.”

Mr. McGraw called out, “Ricky Barns.”

Ricky’s beady eyes focused on LeOmi as he
walked to the gate. His long and lanky body was obviously anxious
about the choice a horse would make. He had been seated in the Ruby
section beside a group of students that included Slone Voif, Ralph
Lawrence, Keith Richards, Adolph VonBruin and Bruce Spencer, and
there were others closely gathered together that she did not
recognize.

Ricky walked into the semi circle and the
Ruby Tribe horse came over to him immediately. It did not nudge
him. It simply stood in front of him and shook its head up and
down.

Mr. McGraw called out “Selah.” Everyone was
silent then the horse turned and went back to its position in the
line. Ricky also turned and walked back towards his seat but Mr.
Diefenderfer grabbed Ricky’s shoulder as he walked by.

Mr. McGraw called out, “Ricky Barns. Ruby
Tribe.”

Ricky tried to break free but Mr.
Diefenderfer held him and whispered something that only Ricky could
hear.

Then Mr. McGraw called, “Chenoa Day. Then he
said Emerald Tribe. Selah.”

Mr. Diefenderfer held Ricky’s shoulder so
that he had to stand still until the next name was called.

“Cindy Dabney.”

A girl with long dark hair stood and made her
way to the semi circle. She had been sitting beside another girl
who looked like her twin. When she stopped both the Onyx horse and
the Emerald horse came forward, but the Emerald waited as the Onyx
nudged the girl’s hair. At this, Mr. McGraw called out “Selah.”

After a pause, the horse turned and stood
beside the Emerald.

Mr. McGraw called out, “Cindy Dabney, Onyx
Tribe.”

Cindy turned and proceeded out the gate.

Mr. McGraw called out, “Dawn Dabney.”

Dawn passed her sister as the Onyx horse
passed the Emerald that was waiting for the other twin.

The choosing continued.

Daniel Forsythe, Emerald

Carol Ford, Agate

Tab Freeman, Emerald

John Griffin, Emerald

Judd Jenkins, Ruby

Mr. McGraw called out, “LeOmi Jones.”

She looked entirely out of place with her
black tank top black knit pants milky white completion and her hair
was a mass of black and white spikes.

The Emerald horse captain met her before she
had even entered the coral gate. He nudged her and she hugged
him.

Mr. McGraw called out, “Selah” and at that
time, it seemed like everything stopped. As if the world had indeed
quietly paused. There was no sound except from her breathing and
the horse’s breathing. LeOmi and the horse stood until Mr. McGraw
called out, “LeOmi Jones, Emerald.”

As soon as she turned and left the semi
circle that the horses made in the coral, it seemed as life
returned to normal and the universe began to turn again. LeOmi
turned and left the ceremony.

* * *

At The Quarters, LeOmi ate a dinner of pasta
and green peas. There were fresh pears for dessert, sweet and
juicy. It was lonely without Bekka.

After dinner, LeOmi gathered her trunk and
her new purchases together and set them out to be transferred to
her new lodgings in Emerald Tribe Dormitory. She went to the place
marked on the map, the alcove she had seen Emerald Tribe students
entering and exiting. Huge wooden double doors with decorative
sashes, lights and lentils marked the entrance to the Emerald Tribe
section. The doors had an intricate carved design from the top
borders to the bottom borders. The design was of Magi on Emerald
Tribe horses. The Emerald Army depicted in the carving, was arrayed
in armor and the blazon tabards of Emerald Tribe Magi. The Seventh
Mountain was carved in the background of the doors and there were
wooden sentries carved into the lights at either side. The forward
most Magi and horses were like giants in the huge doors, and then
vast number of troops progressively were carved smaller and
smaller, fading into the distance. The doors were obviously
hundreds of years old and they smelt of linseed oil and cedar.