Children of the Knight by Michael J. Bowler Read Free Book Online

questioningly.
    “Yeah, ya know, dope?” When Arthur gazed blankly at him, Lance tried again. “Drugs, man. Ya know, they mess up yer head, make ya act crazy and shit. Meth is hot these days. Always weed. So’s smack. It ain’t fer me. Gotta keep my head clear for skating.”
    Arthur stared at Lance in horror. “Why hath no one stopped this?”
    Lance merely shrugged. “How? It’s everywhere, man.”
    Arthur turned and observed the dealer melt into the shadows of an alley as the shaggy-haired blond pocketed his purchase and sauntered off down the street, disappearing into the crowd. He shook his head in dismay, realizing anew the enormity of the task before him. How had humanity come to such a state?
    They continued walking until Arthur stopped at an electronics shop with several flat-screen TVs on display in the window. The TVs were running different movies and stations. Arthur’s lower jaw dropped open at the images. What manner of sorcery is this? he thought. Merlin, my old friend, if thou couldst only see the marvels of this world! Thine own magic shouldst seem quaint by comparison!
    Unable to pull his gaze away, he noted that one screen displayed a young couple preparing to have sex, while another showed a violent program with fighting and shooting, and the third presented some teens having fun smoking pot.
    Finally finding his voice, Arthur asked, “What be these images, Lance?”
    Lance finished a flip on his board and stepped to the window beside Arthur.
    “Oh, that’s just TV,” Lance said matter-of-factly. “It’s mostly for kids, to keep us busy. It’s cool, I guess. Me, I’d rather skate, you know?”
    Arthur looked askance at Lance and indicated the TV sets, his brow furrowed with dismay. “These images doth be for thine entertainment? For the entertainment of youth?”
    Lance shrugged. “Yeah, so?” He looked at Arthur in confusion.
    Arthur frowned and spoke his thoughts. “And if thou or other children do these things the images doth be doing, art thou punished by thine elders or the authorities?”
    Lance considered a moment, and then realized what Arthur was saying. His mouth dropped open in surprise. “Yeah, we are,” he said, shaking his head. “I never thought about it like that before. They either punish us or put us in jail.”
    Now it was his turn to look thoughtful as they moved away from the window and continued up the boulevard toward the Chinese Theatre. But now, as they walked, Lance began to see the world around him, his world, through Arthur’s very-foreign eyes, and suddenly it didn’t look so great anymore, all that street life and freedom he’d embraced for so long. Now, suddenly, it all looked pretty sad and sorry and… empty.
     

     
    T HEYended up at Eucalyptus Park in Hawthorne later that night because Lance wanted to show Arthur some of his skating moves. Even though the skate park was closed, Lance knew how to sneak in, as did all the neighborhood kids. It was well after midnight, and the area was deserted. It was a small skate park, no really big or daring ramps, but it was good enough to hone his skills on, and Lance had used it often.
    He regaled the delighted Arthur with a series of flips and spins and ollies, ups and downs on the various ramps, high-flying stunts, heel flips, calf wraps, space walks—Lance’s repertoire seemed endless. He always landed clean, always completed his moves with ease. Arthur found himself clapping with joy, much as he had as a child when Merlin used to do magic for him.
    Finally tired and sweaty, Lance skated over to Arthur and plopped down beside him. “What’d ya think?” he asked, breathless, pushing matted hair off his face.
    Arthur grinned at him. “I think ye be a marvel, young Lance. In my day we had jousts and swordplay and feats of strength, but nothing to equal the grandeur of thy movements. Ye soared like a majestic hawk.”
    Lance beamed with pride and flushed with embarrassment. “Thanks, Arthur. Nobody