“Good point. See ya back in Deer Park. Take care, okay?”

“You, too.”

Mr. Chu hesitated, sharing a long look with Tick, then left with Sato, who closed the door behind him.

“Right, then,” Master George said, clapping his hands together. “Atticus, I’ll put all of your study materials, this binder, and your other belongings in a suitcase of sorts and wink it straight to your room. I’m quite good at that by now. I promise not to destroy any more walls. As for you—your parents are waiting for you to appear in the forest near your home. Near the heavy Chi’karda spot we’ve used in the past.”

Tick blinked. “Right now?”

The old man nodded. “Right now.”

Despite everything, a laugh croaked out of Tick’s parched throat. “Sweet. I’m ready.”

Master George’s face grew serious. He came closer and sat back down in his chair, leaning in toward Tick. “Atticus, my dear young friend. I just don’t know what to think. There has to be some secret about you we’ve yet to discover, some . . . well, something, anyway. Your abilities and influence over Chi’karda are just mind-boggling, and there has to be an explanation. I give you my word, we’ll not rest until we figure it out.”

“I know what it is,” Tick whispered. “I’m a freak. Mistress Jane only tried to help me because she wanted my freak-boy powers.”

Master George’s face reddened, his lips trembling. Then he composed himself before speaking again. “Listen to me, young man, and listen to me well. Though I fully expect to discover something uncanny about you and your relationship to Chi’karda, I also know this: a large part of it has to do with you, and the kind of person you are.”

“What do you mean?”

Master George leaned forward even more. “You, my friend, have an incredible amount of conviction. Courage. A sincerity of belief and principle. All of those things that make up the very essence of the power of Chi’karda. In other words, a considerable portion of your extraordinary gift comes from the simple fact that you very much want to do good. And for that, I’m proud to call you my friend.”

Tick wasn’t sure what he felt at that moment, but he knew if he tried to talk, it would come out sounding like a frog.

“And now,” Master George said, patting Tick’s hand, “off you go. I suspect your parents are quite anxious to have you home.”

Chapter

52

~

One Week Later

Touchdown!”

Tick’s dad leapt off the couch, dropping his game controller onto the floor as he started doing a horrific dance, waving one arm about like an elephant’s trunk as he shimmied back and forth.

“Tippy toe left, tippy toe right,” Dad sang. “Our team’s the best, we’re outta sight!”