“Don’t touch me,” Brendan said evenly, grateful that his voice didn’t crack.
“Lugh! Maya!” Pukh’s voice intervened. “Don’t be rude. These are Brendan’s people, though why he should consort with People of Metal when he is a Prince of the Fair Folk is quite beyond my understanding.”
Brendan ignored the comments, though inside he seethed with anger at the insult to his friends and family. “Why are you here?”
The Faerie sauntered around the desk toward Brendan. “Why, to see you, of course. You are the talk of the Faerie world, young Brendan. Everyone wants to know about you. Even I, in the Hidden Kingdom of Tir na nOg, have heard of you. The Faerie who prefers the People of Metal to his own Folk.”
“You shouldn’t be here. My Human friends and family are off limits.”
Pukh’s eyes darkened. For an instant, Brendan saw something reptilian stir behind the beautiful mask of his face. Just as quickly, Pukh composed himself, and the darkness passed. “You really can’t expect to tell me what to do, Brendan. I am quite simply beyond your ability to command. But you needn’t be so angry.” The Ancient Faerie smiled and chucked him under the chin as if he were a little child. “I merely wished to see what you found so attractive in this Human world. Frankly, I understand how a sentimental attachment might develop, but look at these creatures.” He threw out an arm to encompass the school. “You aren’t like them. As I said, I don’t know how you can bear the smell.” Pukh laughed lightly.
Brendan clenched his fists in rage. Pukh was one of the most stunning people he’d ever seen. His presence inspired awe. When he’d first entered the room, Brendan had been tempted to fall to his knees like a supplicant. Yes, Pukh was beautiful, but his words sickened Brendan.
“I’ll say this again because you didn’t seem to hear me the first time: they aren’t pets. They are people. My people.”
Pukh laughed again. “Then why am I here? I have come to judge you at your Proving. I thought this meant you wanted to be a member of your true family and a part of the Faerie world. Am I wrong?”
Brendan didn’t know what to say. Pukh was right. The Ancient Faerie smirked, seeing he’d scored a hit. Pukh opened his mouth to speak but was interrupted by the arrival of Greenleaf and Kim.
They barged into the outer office ready for a confrontation. Lugh and Maya instinctively interposed themselves between the new arrivals and Pukh.
“Leave Brendan alone,” Kim snarled, her stick levelled.
“This is an outrage,” Greenleaf spat. Brendan had never seen his teacher show such strong emotion. He looked ready for physical violence, his grey eyes alight with fury. “Release these people immediately.”
“No need for hysterics,” Pukh tutted, leaning back against the desk and crossing his arms. “They aren’t in any discomfort.”
“You know this is not permitted, interfering with Humans in any way. Even you in your isolated little princedom are aware of the Pact and the rules we must follow if we are to survive.”
“I was there when the Pact was struck, lest you forget, Greenleaf. We fought on different sides on that day, but I hope you’ll let those old grudges rest. Just as you and your sister have set aside your differences.”
Greenleaf didn’t answer. With a barely perceptible nod from Pukh, Lugh and Maya stepped aside, allowing Greenleaf and Kim to join Brendan.
Kim turned to Brendan. “Are you all right?” Her face was full of concern. Brendan was reminded of the kiss last night and blushed.
“I’m fine. We were just talking.”
“Good.”
“Disperse this glamour immediately and get away from here,” Greenleaf demanded.
Pukh stood up to his full height and his head seemed to brush the ceiling. Underlying the exquisite face was dire threat. The temperature in the room dropped as if a window had been opened onto the frigid winter. “You have no power to tell me where to go or what to do,” he said, his voice heavy with menace. Brendan took an involuntary step back, disgusted by his own cowardice.
Pukh seemed to sense he’d tipped his hand a little too much. The darkness faded from his face and the atmosphere lightened. In the blink of an eye, the cheerful smile returned to his perfect mouth. “Let’s not fight, my friends. I beg your indulgence. I am not accustomed to the Human world and perhaps I overstepped my bounds. This Clan Gathering is a happy occasion. Let’s not spoil it with recriminations, hmmm?”
Pukh casually stepped between Kim and Greenleaf and walked out of Ms. Abernathy’s office. “Come along.” He gestured and his mismatched companions fell in behind him. Maya brushed past Kim and sneered. Kim returned the sneer with interest. Kim and Greenleaf followed the trio warily with Brendan bringing up the rear.
Out in the main hall, Pukh paused and looked about him at the students standing looking blankly into space. He shook his head. “So this is where the People of Metal teach their children? A school they call it. How can they have such places and still remain so ignorant of the world all around them? They know enough to destroy the Earth but not to sustain her.” He sighed theatrically and strolled toward the doors at the end of the hall.
Brendan looked around at the people in the hall and felt something nagging at the edge of his perception. Something was different. He scanned the hallway but couldn’t figure it out.
Pukh reached the doors and turned. He smiled at them and sketched a bow. “Lovely to see where you spend your days, Brendan. Most enlightening, if not inspiring. I shall see you all later at the Gathering. I look forward to judging your Proving.” Opening the door, he let Lugh and Maya pass through. Then, he casually spoke a word Brendan didn’t understand and passed an open hand before his eyes as if waving away a fly.
Immediately, everyone began to move and talk, picking up conversations in mid-sentence. The entire school came to life without any awareness that they’d been standing in a daze for the past quarter hour. Brendan stood dumbfounded as the students went about their business, girls in giggling groups, boys trying as always to look as cool as possible and failing, all of them completely unaware that their lives had been interrupted.
“No sporting equipment in the halls.” Ms. Abernathy’s brittle voice jarred Brendan out of his thoughts. The viceprincipal stood in the doorway of her office, hands on hips. “I have warned you before. Don’t think because it’s the last day of school before the holidays I won’t keep you for detention tonight.”
Kim lowered her stick. “Yes, Ms. Abernathy. I’m sorry.”
Ms. Abernathy nodded curtly and retreated to her office.
“That guy, Pukh,” Brendan said, “he’s a piece of work.”
“He’s always been what we call a Rogue Spirit,” Greenleaf said mildly.
“He’s what I would call a psychopath,” Brendan remarked.
Kim stuffed her stick into her backpack with practised ease. “He has no respect for authority.”
“In Tir na nOg, he is the authority. He answers to no one,” Greenleaf explained, his eyes on the door where Pukh had disappeared.
Brendan suddenly didn’t want to be in school or anywhere near other people. “I’m going home.”
“They won’t be back, Brendan.” Kim looked concerned.
“I’m not worried about that,” Brendan said.
“You’ll miss the Christmas assembly,” Greenleaf pointed out.
“Well, much as I’d like to hear some Christmas carols sung by the Robertson Davies Academy Glee Club,” Brendan announced, “I think I may just go home early.”
“I’ll tell Ms. Abernathy you were feeling a little under the weather,” Mr. Greenleaf offered.
“You won’t be lying,” Brendan said with a pained expression. “See you tonight.”
Brendan headed for the door. Passing the library, he suddenly realized what had been bothering him.
What happened to Chester? He was standing right there when I went into the office, but he wasn’t there when I came out. That’s weird.
He shrugged and pushed his way through the doors and into the cold. Just one more thing that I can’t explain or do anything about.
He headed for home.
^ 51 On a side note, I wonder why UFOs always appear to people of doubtful credibility-drunk men, the insane, hillbillies, etc. If aliens really wanted to abduct humans and experiment on them, why wouldn’t they abduct articulate people who might elucidate them on the finer points of humanity? Why not abduct authors, scientists, or (yes, it must be said, though I disdain the limelight) narrators like myself? I would like nothing more than to be abducted by interstellar travellers and spend some idle hours shooting the breeze with them telepathically. Let this be your invitation, Starpeople! I will be waiting in an empty field just outside of Poughkeepsie, New York, after 7
