The Call by Michael Grant Read Free Book Online Page B

last of the snakes went noisily down the disposal.
    â€œYes. I believe he was,” the golem agreed.
    â€œWhy would he be trying to kill me? I just gotStefan and the bullies off my back, and now some guy who looks like he came straight from a Saint Patrick’s Day parade is trying to viper me to death?”
    â€œI don’t understand any of that,” the golem said.
    Mack grabbed the golem’s arm and stared hard into the face that was just like his own. “You need to tell me whatever you know.”
    The golem shrugged. “I was made to replace you.”
    â€œAnd I need replacing why, again?”
    â€œBecause you are leaving.”
    â€œAnd where am I going?”
    â€œEverywhere.”
    â€œAaaarrrgghhh!” Mack yelled in frustration. He had missed his bus. He needed to get to school. He needed to figure out what to do with Clay Boy. He needed to avoid getting bitten to death by snakes. And he was wishing he’d had the Breakfast Pocket because the Toaster Strudel hadn’t really filled him up.
    â€œOkay, look,” Mack said. “I have to go. You stay away from my folks. Go sit in my room. Do not talk to anyone or answer the door. Will you do exactly what I’ve just told you?”
    â€œWould you do what you were told?”
    Mack’s expression darkened. “Oh, it’s like that, is it?”
    â€œI am made in your image,” the golem pointed out.
    Feeling far less than happy, Mack left and headed for school. He slipped in unnoticed just as the bell rang and kids came pouring out of their homerooms on their way to the next stop on the day-long March of Boredom.
    â€œYo,” Stefan said.
    Mack was still not used to the idea that he was now under Stefan’s wing. His first gut reaction was to run. But that would probably have hurt Stefan’s feelings.
    â€œHey, Stefan,” Mack said.
    â€œWhere you going?”
    â€œMath.”
    â€œCool. Let’s roll.”
    Mack frowned. “You’re not in my math class, Stefan.”
    â€œI am now.”
    â€œBut…can you do that?”
    â€œYes,” Stefan said with absolute confidence. And Mack could see his point. Whatever class he wasskipping out on, the teacher would be glad to see him go, while the math teacher was not likely to pick a fight with Stefan.
    â€œFair enough,” Mack said. “I have to take a leak first.”
    â€œBoys’ room? Or you want to use the teachers’ lounge?”
    â€œThe regular boys’ room will be fine,” Mack said, although he was beginning to see that there might be some definite advantages to this new relationship with Stefan.
    They went to the boys’ room, which was moderately full of kids.
    â€œEmpty,” Stefan said to them, and jerked his chin toward the door.
    There was the sound of zippers hastily drawn up and water flushing. In twenty seconds Mack had the boys’ room to himself.
    â€œYou don’t have to do that,” Mack said. But the truth was, he kind of enjoyed it. He disliked doing his business in crowds.
    Then the light in the boys’ room changed.
    â€œWhat’s happening?”
    Stefan shrugged. “Light got weird. Like the other day, kinda.”
    â€œUh-oh,” Mack said.
    The new light seemed to have a more specific source this time. In fact, it came from the shiny chrome pipe above the urinal.
    There was a face in the pipe. The face of the old, old man with the bad smell. It was hard to tell whether he had brought his bad smell with him since this was, after all, the boys’ room and had its own distinctive aromas.
    â€œYou!” Mack said, accusing.
    â€œCan you see me?” the ancient man asked.
    â€œYes, I can see you. Stefan, can you see him?”
    Stefan looked over Mack’s shoulder and nodded. He seemed amazingly calm, as if this kind of thing happened all the time. “You want me to smash it?”
    â€œNo,” Mack said.
    â€œHave