The Next Step
"What side did they enter the city from?" Mr. Houchens asked once they were safely inside his room.
"East. I saw I-67 in the background," Elizabeth recalled.
"Tell me about the clearing that they were in," Mr. Houchens said.
"It was grassy and there were trees al around. A path led into the clearing. That's all I remember," Elizabeth said.
"A forest on the east side, with paths. Hmm, Bently Woods perhaps. Yes, yes, I do believe that there is a clearing there that fits your description. It is no too far from here. You could walk there," Mr. Houchens said.
"I could go after school, but we still have an hour left. What can I do until then?" Elizabeth asked.
"You can start by writing down every thing you know," Mr. Houchens suggested. "That way you have all of the facts in front of you and they'll be organized."
"I'll give it a try," Elizabeth replied. She took out a pad of paper and began writing. Her notes looked like this:
Anthony Patrick (?) around 5'4' blonde, blue eyed, buzz cut and braid behind the right ear (Jedi padawan braid ?) Jedi padawan of , blue lightsaber age aprox. Fifteen
Man Name? 5'5' brunette, brown eyed, Jedi Knight/Master of Anthony Patrick(?) lightsaber color ? age thirties?
Crash landed (?) on Earth, cannot leave b/c space ship is in need of repairs.
In Bently Woods (?)
Saw in a dream and meditation session
"Done,' She said after fifteen minutes.
"Let me see," Mr. Houchens said taking the pad of paper. "Good, good. That looks like every thing."
"Now what?" Elizabeth asked.
"Let's plan a route to Bently Woods," Mr. Houchens suggested.
He pulled out a map of the city and showed her how to get t Bently Woods. He then pulled out a map of Bently Woods and showed her how to get to the clearing.
Studying the maps, Elizabeth asked, "What about the hole?"
"What hole?" Mr. Houchens asked.
"The hole Anthony made with his lightsaber. It's kind of noticeable," Elizabeth explained.
"If I rearrange in here a bit, which I have been meaning to do, I can cover it from the inside. I think I can put the cut out part back in the wall and maybe cover it from the outside," Mr. Houchens said.
"I'll help," Elizabeth replied cheerfully. They worked together and had a pleasant conversation of no relevance. The hole was covered on the inside by a filing cabinet. The outside was cleverly covered by artwork.
When the task was done, Elizabeth said, "Wasn't it great the way Anthony used the Force to pick up speed?"
"What do you mean?" Mr. Houchens asked.
"Couldn't you feel the Force rippling out from him and-" Elizabeth said. "You didn't did you?"
Mr. Houchens shook his head no.
"This is interesting," she said. "Another puzzle. It seems we are getting more questions than answers." She sighed.
Elizabeth rearranged the notes and maps on the desk into neat little piles. She carefully lined up the edges, wishing that she had something more productive to do. She didn't notice Mr. Houchens moving around the room and taking stuff out of the filing cabinets, his desk and the closet. He sat down at the desk next to hers and dropped the stuff on it.
