THE BLARE OF a truck’s horn made Steven jump, pulling him from the walking reverie he’d been in for the past half-hour. He’d stopped running as soon as he reached the nearest main road to the Freleng house. Without any guidance from Marty, but by his own instincts, he’d followed the darkened streets until he came to the main highway. It had taken him over an hour to get this far, and weariness was taking its toll. Steven had begun to daydream, thinking of Rachel and Eric’s argument. He’d lost track of both time and direction, but the rambling eighteen-wheeler had set him back on the right path.
He realized that the sky wasn’t quite as dark as it had been when he left the house. He also knew that he couldn’t stay well hidden once the sun came up. He moved into the shadows created by the trees alongside the road, and began to walk in double-time. He didn’t let himself think again how tired he was. There was no time for that.
Despite the predawn hour, there was a lot of activity on the highway. Steven knew that he had to get across it to reach the airport, and so he began to watch for a break in the traffic. When he found one, he raced as fast as his legs could carry him to the other side. Then he followed the road until he reached the entrance to the airport.
I’m here now, Marty. What do I do?
But Marty did not answer him. Steven wondered if his mysterious friend was sleeping.
Huge signs offered directions to the main terminal. Steven followed them, finally coming to the front entrance. Business people in dark suits hurried by him, briefcases firmly in hand. A few other people had also arrived for early-morning flights. Steven noticed there were no children. He followed a group of people inside, walking close to a black man so that anyone who looked at him would think he was with his father.
The airport was relatively quiet. Only the restaurant and newsstands had opened. Steven could smell something cooking. He thought of the wonderful breakfasts Helga had made over the last few days and began to feel hungry. His stomach growled. But there was an even more urgent pressure in his bladder. He looked around, finally locating a sign for the men’s room. Steven went inside, relieved himself, then freshened up by splashing water on his face.
When he came into the lobby again, he could see the sky was as bright and blue as midday. The sun seemed to have come up virtually instantaneously, although Steven knew the light had taken eight minutes to get here. The sudden appearance of morning helped push away the last vestiges of weariness he felt. It was a false energy that overcame him, but he didn’t realize this. Steven didn’t worry that he’d probably collapse from exhaustion. He could only think about how hungry he was.
He reached into his pocket and took out the roll of bills. Satisfied he had not lost it, he went into the restaurant. There were some businessmen sharing a preflight breakfast at one table. Steven sat as far away from them as possible. As a result, it was nearly fifteen minutes before the waitress even realized he was there.
“Oh, my goodness,” she said with a Midwestern twang. “You must think I’ve been ignoring you. Well, I don’t suppose you want a cup of coffee?”
Despite his nervousness, Steven couldn’t help laughing.
“No,” he said. “Could I have a cup of hot chocolate, please? And then I’d like a stack of pancakes.”
“You bet,” the waitress said. “Are you travelin’ all by yourself?”
Steven nodded. His explanation came so quickly it surprised even him.
“Mom and Dad work all day,” he said. “They couldn’t get off. So they dropped me off. I’m taking a flight into Newark to see my grandma.”
He leaned forward and spoke in quasi-conspiratorial tones.
“See, if I had to wait for my folks to get a vacation,” he said, “I’d only see Grandma once a year. But this is my fourth visit.”
The waitress’s eyebrows went up.
“Well, a frequent flier! You just wait there and I’ll be back with your breakfast in no time flat.”
It wasn’t exactly that fast, but Steven took the time to try to call Marty. He still didn’t answer.
“Here you go,” the waitress said, setting Steven’s breakfast in front of him. “Enjoy. You need anything, you holler.”
“Thanks,” Steven said.
He searched a rack of syrup bottles for one marked “Strawberry,” then drowned his pancakes in the red liquid. As he ate, he thought how nice it would be if everyone on his journey was as accepting of his story as the waitress had been. When he finally finished his meal, he did some lightning-fast mathematics in his head and left her a little bit more than the average tip. Then he went up to the register to pay for his breakfast. He handed the man behind the counter the exact change.
“But we haven’t handed you the check yet, young fellow,” the old man said. “How did you know the right amount?”
“I’m good at math.”
“Well, that’s an understatement if I ever heard one,” the man said.
He watched Steven return the rest of the money to his pocket.
“Listen, you shouldn’t be flashing twenties around like that,” he said. “I mean, this ain’t New York, but there’s bad types everywhere.”
“Oh,” Steven said. “I’ll be careful.”
“You got your ticket in a good safe place?”
Steven’s heart skipped a beat, but before his face could react with a stricken expression, he swallowed and said, “Safe and sound. G’bye!”
“So long,” the old man said. “Nice flight!”
Steven hurried from the restaurant. The lobby was five times more crowded than it had been forty-five minutes ago. Steven hoped no one would see the look of panic on his face.
A ticket! How could he have forgotten about a ticket?
How could Marty have forgotten?
I can’t afford a ticket! he thought. What am I going to do?
Everything will be okay. Just sit down in one of those chairs and wait.
Marty! Where’ve you been?
I was sleeping. Sorry, but they were doing so many . . . I was working so hard I was just exhausted.
Marty, I forgot to get enough money for a ticket.
Don’t panic. 1 told you to trust me. Just go sit down and leave everything to me.
Steven found a comfortable seat in the waiting area. He placed his suitcase on his lap and rested his elbows on it. His chin dropped into his hands. He didn’t have any idea what Marty was going to do, but he knew he had to trust him.
Around a corner, where Steven couldn’t see, a ticket clerk was preparing herself for the start of a new, busy day. Janie Barkley, late of the Summersun Travel Agency, had been on the job only six months. She worked with eager efficiency, always ready to do her best for her customers. Most days the job was enjoyable, even those days when overbooked flights or bad weather brought countless people up to her desk. She could change a flight or issue a ticket with her eyes closed.
I’d like a one-way ticket to Newark.
“Of course, sir,” Janie said, flashing a smile that hung like a hammock between two apple cheeks. “Will that be . . . ?”
She realized there was no one in front of the counter.
Jamie, do as I tell you.
Jamie felt an icy cold draft winding around her body. Instantly she was transfixed by the computer terminal in front of her. Its screen had changed without any human interference.
Type up a ticket for Steven . . . Steven Frelong. A oneway ticket to Newark. First class.
Without protest, Jamie did as the voice in her mind commanded. Then she leaned into the microphone on her desk and began to page Steven.
It took a few calls before Steven realized he was Steven Frelong. He felt himself fill with an overwhelming sense of panic. They’d found him! Eric and Rachel had come after him!
“Please pick up your ticket at the Mattituck Airlines counter.”
Steven sighed with relief. Now he understood what Marty had been up to. He wasn’t sure how he’d gotten hold of a ticket, but he didn’t ask. He simply walked until he found the desk and took the folder from the clerk.
She was smiling, but her eyes had a weird, glassy quality about them. Her “Have a nice flight, thank you for flying Mattituck Airlines” was unusually forced.
The moment Steven walked away from the counter, Jamie snapped to. She blinked a few times, looking around herself. A feeling that she’d lost some time came over her, but she couldn’t explain it. Then someone came up to her counter and the incident was completely forgotten.
Steven opened the folder and read the information about his flight. He gasped, realizing he was to take off in twenty minutes.
I saw no need to waste time.
Boy, you sure didn’t Are you sure this will work?
Just tell them the story you told the waitress. The one about your parents working.
You were awake! Steven’s tone was accusatory.
Sort of. Go on, they’re calling your flight.
Steven hurried to find the right gate. He followed a line of passengers, mostly business people, through a safety check-in. He held his breath as he passed the security guard, certain the man would reach out and grab him and make him explain what he was doing there all by himself.
But as he boarded, the flight attendant gave him the same friendly greeting as everyone else. He found his seat and tucked his bag in the overhead compartment. The big comfortable seat made him realize how tired he was. He took off his jacket and rolled it into a pillow. Lifting the armrest, he laid himself down as best as he could. He felt a tap on his shoulder and sat up to see the stewardess smiling at him.
“Here’s a pillow, honey,” she said. “Is your seat belt fastened?”
“Uh-huh,” Steven said groggily.
The stewardess smiled again. If she had any questions about him traveling alone, she didn’t voice them. Steven didn’t know if it was because she’d seen many children travel alone or if it was Marty’s influence.
He closed his eyes and listened as the captain welcomed them aboard Mattituck Airlines flight 6072 to Newark. By the time the plane was taxiing into position, he was nearly asleep.
But he came awake very suddenly.
Marty!
I’m here! Why are you yelling?
Steven quieted the voice in his mind.
Marty, you made Tatiana see something in the woods, didn’t you?
Go back to sleep, Steven.
Didn’t you?
But either Marty wasn’t answering or Steven really did fall asleep, because there were no more thoughts in his head.