Buried Fire by Jonathan Stroud Read Free Book Online Page B

think?"
    There was a long silence. A door slammed somewhere below. Michael was motionless, propped up in the bed. From along the landing corridor came footsteps. The door opened, and Sarah looked in, her face lined and heavy. She had put her shoes on, and was carrying her work bag.
    "How are you, Michael?" she asked, and her voice was toneless.
    "I'm fine. Really, I'm fine." He leaned forward urgently. "Sarah, I'm sorry about last night. I know it's strange and I don't understand it myself; but I swear to you I haven't . . . taken anything. I swear it. Stephen told me you stood up for me. Thanks."
    Sarah looked at him for a moment. Then she turned to Stephen, who was standing mute against the window.
    "I'm going to Stanbridge. The number's on the table. I've several tours to make, so I may not be back till six. Dr Pandit's number's there as well. Will you need anything else?"
    "No. That's great," said Stephen. "Thanks."
    "Right." Sarah went out. They heard her footsteps recede, and presently the front door close. The car started and pulled out into the lane, its busy noise quickly fading into the silence. Michael had slumped back on the pillow. Stephen was staring at an un-preposessing bit of wardrobe. Somewhere in the centre of the room, their gazes bisected each other and went on.
    "Open the other curtain, please," said Michael.
    The room was filled with light. Michael flinched, but he didn't move. His face was clear again, the redness had faded, and he looked well.
    "I'll tell you what happened," he said, looking at his brother for the first time. "But you must promise not to tell anybody."
    Stephen shrugged. "All right. But I'm not the only one you're going to have to convince."
    "Maybe. The point is though, something strange has happened to me, and you're the only one I can trust to tell. I have to be able to trust you."
    Stephen slapped his hands against the edge of the windowsill. "I've said yes, haven't I? Get on with it."
    "OK." Michael breathed out hard. "The first thing is, it was like I said. I went up on the Wirrim to read. I didn't go anywhere else. I just climbed up the Burrway to the top, walked along till I got to the Pit and sat down there. Then I read the book for an hour or so until I got to the bit with the sauna."
    "What does that prove?" Stephen was aware that his hostility was increasing all the time that Michael was speaking. It did so because he did not expect the truth, and that pained him and fuelled his anger.
    "Just listen. I read up to there, and then since you said that was the only bit worth reading, I lost interest, and felt a bit sleepy. So I settled back for a nap."
    "In the sun?"
    "Yes, that's why I thought I had sunstroke when I woke up."
    "The doctor said—"
    "I know what the doctor said. I've got ears, haven't I? I know it wasn't sunstroke now, but at the time, it was the only obvious thing. Something happened to me while I was asleep, Stephen."
    "What?"
    "I don't know. But I can tell you the result. Something's happened to my eyesight. There's nothing else wrong with me, and even my eyes feel fine this morning, but that's where the change is. The only difference is that I can control it this morning."
    "Michael, you're not making any more sense than you were last night. What happened to your eyes?"
    "Looking at you now, like this, there's no problem. Nothing wrong. But if I do this—" He paused. "God, Stephen, you should see yourself. You look beautiful, out of this world."
    "Right, that's it." Stephen straightened himself. "I'm going to beat a little sense into you, you drugged-up little rat."
    "And if I do this," Michael continued, uncomprehending, "you're back to normal again. Your ordinary self. It's wonderful." And Stephen, in his uneasiness and disgust, saw that tears were running down his brother's smiling cheeks. He cursed and dropped into the bedroom chair.
    "Tell me," said Michael, "was there any change in me just then?"
    "No, you seemed quite continuously mad," replied