Hurricane Power by Sigmund Brouwer Read Free Book Online Page A

but I saw enough. He pulled a switchblade from his pocket and held it beneath Carlos’s chin.
    The bigger guy, standing tall, made a quick slitting motion across his throat with a finger.
    â€œDid you see that?” Jennifer said.
    â€œNo,” I said, “I did not see that knife. Knives are not allowed in the school. Remember, that’s why they have metal detectors here. Therefore, what I saw could not have been a knife.”
    Jennifer knew I was being sarcastic. “What are you going to do about it?” she asked.
    Carlos stood up.
    â€œDo about what?” I replied, although I knew exactly what she meant.
    â€œYou can’t let them threaten Carlos.”
    â€œYou mean if I ask them nice,” I whispered, “maybe they’ll just go away and leave him alone?”
    The smaller guy tucked the switchblade into his back pocket. They started to lead Carlos away from the window.
    â€œIf you’re not going to stop them,” Jennifer whispered, “then I will.”
    â€œSure,” I said. “Let me hold your purse while you beat them up for me.”
    She took a step toward them.
    I groaned. I grabbed her arm as she tried to walk away.
    â€œWait here,” I said. “Get ready to call nine-one-one. I’ll need an ambulance.”
    I walked toward the small group.
    All three turned their heads toward me.
    â€œHey, guys,” I said.
    â€œBeat it,” the bigger guy said.
    â€œI can’t,” I said. I spoke to Carlos. “You okay? You need help?”
    He shook his head.
    â€œYou sure?” I asked. “I saw that guy pull a knife on you.”
    Both of the tattooed guys stepped toward me.
    â€œListen, jerk,” the smaller one said, “we’ll take you down right now. It’ll happen so fast we’ll be out of here before anyone notices your guts on the floor.”
    I was scared. But I was in this too far to back down.
    â€œJust leave him alone,” I said.
    â€œOr what?” the big one sneered.
    I didn’t have a good “or what” to give him as an answer. I did my best to stare him down and show him I wasn’t afraid. Although I was.
    He took another step closer. I held my ground. I didn’t look away.
    He was so close that we could have bumped heads. His shiny brown eyes looked like snake’s eyes.
    Then, without warning, he stepped back.
    â€œOkay,” he said. “You win this one. But we’ll be looking for you.”
    I hid my surprise, hardly able to believe that my tough guy act had worked. Especially since I’d never tried it before.
    â€œYeah?” I said, feeling braver. “Anytime you want, bring it on.”
    He didn’t answer. He and his friend walked away.
    Leaving me and Carlos, with Jennifer somewhere behind me.
    I let out the breath I’d been holding.
    Wow, I thought, I hope Jennifer caught all of that. Forcing those two to back down had been kind of impressive, even if I did say it myself.
    â€œHi,” I said to Carlos, “glad we could help. It looked like you were in trouble there.”

chapter fifteen
    â€œYou guys gone crazy?” His eyes were wide.
    â€œThey pulled a knife on you. What else were we going to do?” I was more than a little proud that they had just backed off. I wasn’t going to mention that Jennifer had made me stand up to them. “And I wanted to talk to you.”
    â€œMan, you got any idea who they are?”
    His words had this fast, cool rhythm.
    â€œNo. I’m new around here. My name is David Calvin.”
    Jennifer stepped up beside me.
    â€œAnd this is Jennifer Lewis,” I said.
    I stuck out my hand, waiting for him to shake it and introduce himself, even though I already knew his name.
    He ignored my hand. He didn’t introduce himself.
    Instead, Carlos Pelayo groaned. “Watch your back. That’s all I can say. Watch your back. Nobody messes with those guys and gets away with