The TALONS Files: the chronicles of telepathic agent Ryan Dart

Jumping From Trouble

9

Damon was heading for the fifty foot tall observation tower, which was situated at the edge of the bluff. 

Ryan yelled at Damon, "Where the heck are you going?!"

"Up the tower.  I can show you my invention!"

"What?  Not now!  They're going to catch us and throw us off!"

"Damn Right, we are!"  One of the Caleb's friends snarled.

"No they're not!"  Damon implored,  "Just watch!"

They reached the tower, climbing the narrow wood staircase frantically. Adrenaline surged as Ryan followed his tight lipped friend, wondering what Damon was thinking.  Damon's long legs glided over the staircase, stretching over two steps at a time.  Ryan, on the other hand, took every step in double time.  The two thin boys were putting distance between their pursuers.

Ryan yelled, as he panted, "I hope you know what you're doing!" 

Damon shouted back, his breaths short from exertion, "Trust me... I've already... tested this!  Not on... two people... but if... my math... is correct... it should.... hold two people... just fine."

"What?  Ryan's heart, which was already pounding from the insane climb, skipped a beat.  'We're doomed' You don't really know?"

"Trust me..., It'll be fine!"

The words, as Ryan's legs were starting to burn, were somewhat reassuring.  When Damon said something would work, it did.

They made it to the upper platform, chests heaving.  Atop the tower, you could see for miles, as lake Winnebago stretched into the horizon. Bordering the lake's fairly narrow body and blue waters were homes, dormant trees, and farmland, appearing as life like Lego toys from this distance.  

Usually, the platform incited a big breath and admiration of earths natural beauty, but not this day.  The footfalls of three menacing bullies clamored just below them, gaining towards the top of the tower. 

Damon grasped Ryan, and pulled him face to face, as he stretched a constricting band around both of them.  They were pressed chest to chest, as both were still heaving from the climb.

"OK... I don't know... what you're planning... but... this is way uncomfortable."  Ryan gasped.

Damon ignored the comment, "Climb the rail."

"What?...  No way!"

"Trust me!"

Ryan could hear Caleb's gang scrambling up the stairs.  As the snotty brat yelled, "Ohhh...boys, you have nowhere to go."  Breathless laughter followed.

Damon urged, "Look... we jump... or they push us off... your choice."

Ryan breathlessly complained  "I wish.... you'd tell me.... what you're.... up to." 

The two awkwardly climbed the small three foot wall, struggling mightily to gain footing on the narrow top rail, as Damon breathlessly mused, "Maybe... we should have strapped... each other together... after we made the climb."

As they nearly completed the feat, Ryan could see their chasers emerging on the platform.  The bullies' eyes were full of malice, as they climbed the few remaining steps.  Finally, Ryan and Damon very awkwardly set their feet on the rail.

Ryan feared what was next, they seemingly had no chance.  "Jump on the count of three." Damon ordered. 

Both Ryan and Damon counted in unison. "ONE...TWO...

The rabid looking trio sprawled towards Ryan and Damon, as the scrawny boys finished their count.  ...THREE!!!

Ryan leaped fiercely,as a bully's hand swung just under his feet.  Closing his eyes, Ryan wondered how long before he would feel the impact of the ground. 

Instead, to Ryan's surprise, a large glider popped straight from the back of Damon's hoodie.  The wind caught the glider and they soared out of reach from Caleb's gang. 

The duo swept through the air, dangling as they passed over the bluff, and floated towards the lake.

"Whoa!"  Ryan said, his grin as big as a billboard.  "This is crazier than your first demonstration."

They were gliding, the tower becoming smaller, as the winds blew in Ryan's ears.  He looked down towards the earth as they passed over trees then the old Post Office, which was now a museum, and landed in the grassy clearing by the lake shore.