A New Beginning

very close to where Kyle's legs were hanging out from beneath the car.

Suddenly Kyle didn't care whether or not Gomer thought he had gotten the better of him. Kyle didn't want to spend another second under this car with Gomer up there.

Since Kyle was lying on a wheeled cart, he could roll out in a second or less, if he rolled toward where Gomer was standing.

He couldn't go the other way, because the transmission lift and some other equipment were blocking his way. He could try to angle himself and roll out next to the lift. It would put the car between him and Gomer when he got clear, but that would take several extra seconds at least.

He decided to just face Gomer. Reaching up, he grabbed the underside of the car and pulled, moving the cart and himself toward Gomer.

Then something came down on his leg. It took Kyle a moment to process that fact that it was Gomer's foot.

Kyle's forward motion stopped.

'Where you going, smart guy,' Gomer said.

Kyle felt his heart sink in his chest, but he was surprised by the strength in his voice when he said, 'Let go, Gomer.”

Instead, Kyle felt more pressure on his right ankle.

'What's wrong smart guy? Scared?' Gomer said.

'This isn't funny,' Kyle said.

Then Kyle heard a click and he immediately knew that Gomer had his hand on the lever that controlled the hydraulic lift's up-and-down motion.

'Yeah, I think it's pretty funny. You know, you should be careful under there. I don't think these things are safe. If something happened, you might hurt your smart mouth,' Gomer said.

Then the car lurched down two inches in a sudden motion.

'Ahhhh!' Kyle said, forgetting completely about his dignity. Frantically, he tried to move in any direction, but Gomer kept up the pressure on his leg.

Kyle tried to calculate how much clearance he would have between this car and the floor if it dropped to the ground. How much damage would the car do to him? Would Max be able to fix it? He decided he didn't want to find out. 'Wait. Let's talk about this,' Kyle said.

'I don't want to talk to you, smart guy,' Gomer said, then he laughed. The laugh was low and creepy. Kyle decided he didn't like it at all. Then Kyle heard another click.

11

Michael heard the shouting from inside the garage. Maria’s talk about the kidnappings or whatever was going on in this town had gotten under his skin more than he had expected.

On the other hand, that was true about a lot of things that Maria said and did.

'… much like smart guys…' Michael heard from inside as he passed the entrance to the garage. The words didn't exactly make sense, but the tone was very clear.

Somebody was pretty pissed off.

Michael debated checking around the back to see if the others were all right, but he was confident that Max and Isabel could handle most of the trouble they could find in this town. Then he remembered that Kyle would be work- ing inside the garage. It might pay to check in on him.

Walking through the large door, he didn't see anyone inside at first. Then, three cars down, he saw someone he recognized.

Gomer was standing next to a car, shouting down… at the tire? No, that wasn't right.

Then someone spoke back to Gomer, but Michael couldn't make out the words.

'What's wrong, smart guy?' Gomer said.

Michael decided he didn't like the tone of Gomer's voice and started walking toward him.

Where was Kyle? There was some more back and forth, and Michael thought he heard Kyle's voice. Then Gomer grabbed a lever, and the car seemed to shake in the air.

Then he heard a scream.

Sure that the scream was Kyle's, Michael started run- ning. He saw that Gomer had his hand on a lever. And then he saw Kyle's legs sticking out, one of them kicking at Gomer. When Michael saw the car move downward, he realized instantly what was happening.

When he acted, he did so immediately and without thinking. Reaching Gomer, he reached out with one hand, grabbed the larger man on the shoulder, pulled him back, and then shoved him hard. Michael heard Gomer grunt, then fall backward to the ground.

He was dimly aware of the fact that Kyle was still under the car when Gomer went flying. A moment later, Gomer was sitting on his butt and looking up at Michael in sur- prise. That surprise lasted only an instant and was replaced with fury. Well, Michael knew how that felt.

For someone so tall, Gomer moved quicker than Michael would have guessed. Gomer was on his feet in seconds and was lunging for Michael. Acting on instinct, Michael leaned to one side and grabbed for Gomer's shirt. The larger man hit Michael's hip, and Michael used Gomer's momentum to toss him back to the ground. This time, Gomer went down face first in an awkward dive.

Again, he moved quickly and was soon lurching to his feet.

Too stupid to stay down, Michael thought as a red haze of anger descended on him, drowning out all other thoughts. A moment later, Gomer charged Michael again. This time, Michael met him straight on, launching one punch with each fist. His left hit Gomer low, in the ribs, while his right, then his left hit Gomer squarely in the face.

Gomer staggered back.

A satisfied smile crossed Michael's lips, and he raised his hand almost unconsciously. He felt his powers coalesc- ing and he prepared to…

'Michael,' a voice said from next to him.

Michael ignored the distraction; he was dealing with a threat.

Then he felt a hand on his shoulder. The voice shouted this time, 'Michael!”

Turning, Michael saw Kyle standing next to him. Then he saw Gomer looking at him, fear clearly on his face.

'Don't hurt him,' Kyle said.

It took a moment for Kyle's words to penetrate Michael's red heat. Then he slowly put his hand back down. 'He was trying,' Michael said, not taking his eyes off Gomer.

'I was just kidding around,' Gomer said, raising his hands in a warding-off gesture.

Michael felt himself relax by small degrees… very small degrees. 'You think that was funny?' Michael nearly shouted.

Gomer shook his head. 'I was just trying to scare him,' he said.

Michael balled his right hand into a fist. It was not an act of anger, it was calculated, and by the look in Gomer's eyes, it had the desired effect.

'I'm sorry,' Gomer said.

'Don't apologize to me,' Michael said, gesturing to Kyle.

'I'm sorry, Kyle… I… was out of line,' Gomer said.

'Urn, apology accepted,' Kyle said. Michael noted that his friend was out of breath. Kyle must have been pretty scared.

Michael felt his anger rising again and forced it back down.

'Get out of here,' Michael said. Gomer immediately turned to go, but not before shooting Kyle a look that Michael didn't like.

'Don't even think about it,' Michael said. Then he paused for effect. 'Remember, I'm everywhere.”

'Okay, okay,' Gomer said, walking away.