DISCLAIMER: This story is based on characters created by Alexander Key and
owned by Walt Disney Pictures. This is fan fiction, and not endorsed by
Mr. Key, his estate, or the Walt Disney Company. No copyright infringement
is intended, and no money is being made from this story. It is based on
plot elements used in the books Escape to Witch Mountain and Return from
Witch Mountain, as well as the movies of the same name, although the books
and the movies differ extensively. Please direct all queries, comments,
etc. to kevinpkhaynes@yahoo.com. It is my sincere desire that you enjoy
the story as the pure entertainment it was intended to be. Your feedback
is welcome as well!
LIFE ON WITCH MOUNTAIN
By Kevin Haynes
CHAPTER 36
Truck was shocked. He had never meant to kill anyone. In all his life, as violent as he had been, he had never killed anyone. But his shock and grief at shooting Dr. Gannon turned to anger. He slowly moved his arm so that the pistol was aimed at Tony's head.
"This is all your fault, Malone! I'd never be in this stinking mess if not for you and your freak sister! I've already killed someone now, so I guess a second one won't matter.
"Goodbye, Malone."
Truck's finger squeezed on the trigger . and suddenly the gun was gone. It had been knocked from his hand by an unseen force. Immediately, Truck flew to the ceiling. It was as if his back was glued to it. He yelled, "Hey, Malone! Put me down!" Tony, exhaling slowly in relief, looked up and shrugged his shoulders.
"I'm not doing anything, Truck! I think it's my freak sister!"
He turned toward the row of windows where he sensed his family. He smiled at them, and with his mind opened the large windows completely. He then effortlessly cut a hole in the screen, and they all floated in. As an afterthought, he also turned and locked the door leading into the room from the rest of the house - he didn't know if anyone would respond to the sound of the gunshot, but he didn't want to deal with anyone else at the moment.
Tony then quickly knelt next to the doctor. He was lying facedown on the floor. He was still breathing, but Tony was concerned.
Tia knelt beside Tony and said silently, "He's OK, Tony. I deflected the bullet when the gun went off. It actually hit the wall behind him . he reacted to the sound, I think."
Tony felt a mixture of compassion and revulsion. Lying before him was the man who would have subjugated him and his whole race for his own selfish pleasure. And yet . he was hurt and old and frail, and Tony couldn't help but want to do something. He said, "Doc, you didn't get shot. You're OK."
Victor Gannon struggled to speak. He looked up as best he could and said, "Tony . we could have . made a great . team. We . could have had . the world." He coughed and acted as if he were in pain.
Tony said, as gently as he could, "Doc, I already have the world! I live in a place where I am part of my surroundings - the animals and the trees and my family! I have everything I want!" Sensing something in his fallen foe, Tony added, "But you don't. You have never had a family, and never felt a part of anything. I just wish you would have let me show you my world, instead of trying to make me fit into yours."
The doctor began breathing heavily and clutching his chest. He looked dazed, but still tried to speak. "Oh . Tony . I have been so selfish . but . I just wanted to be . important. Can't you . see that?" He paused, and almost collapsed, but went on. "Thank you . for not .hating me. . Maybe . I should have . tasted your world . first!" He tried to smile, but fell unconscious.
Sensing Blair nearby, Tony called out to her, "Blair, what's wrong? Can you help?" He looked up and saw that she was next to him, standing and watching what had happened. She looked sad and shook her head no.
"But why?!" Tony cried out. He was sorrowful that this evil man was dying, and he didn't know why.
Blair answered, gently, "He has been mistreating his body for a long time, Tony. When I help someone, I enable the body to heal itself. It can do that on its own over time, usually . I just hurry it along. He had nothing left to heal with. His heart would not have lasted much longer anyway. And when he realized that he could never control you, and then when he felt such guilt that he had wanted to control you in the first place, his heart could not stand the strain.
"He is dead, Tony. But he learned - from you - compassion right before he died. He is truly at peace now, because of the gift you gave him. Not submission, but forgiveness. Let his spirit rest now."
Not knowing why, Tony began to cry. Tia wrapped her arm around his shoulders and cried, too. Ty didn't understand what was happening, but he knew his big brother was upset about something. He sat next to Tony and grabbed his hand. He squeezed it and said silently, "I'm here for you, big brother." And he began to cry, too.
LIFE ON WITCH MOUNTAIN
By Kevin Haynes
CHAPTER 36
Truck was shocked. He had never meant to kill anyone. In all his life, as violent as he had been, he had never killed anyone. But his shock and grief at shooting Dr. Gannon turned to anger. He slowly moved his arm so that the pistol was aimed at Tony's head.
"This is all your fault, Malone! I'd never be in this stinking mess if not for you and your freak sister! I've already killed someone now, so I guess a second one won't matter.
"Goodbye, Malone."
Truck's finger squeezed on the trigger . and suddenly the gun was gone. It had been knocked from his hand by an unseen force. Immediately, Truck flew to the ceiling. It was as if his back was glued to it. He yelled, "Hey, Malone! Put me down!" Tony, exhaling slowly in relief, looked up and shrugged his shoulders.
"I'm not doing anything, Truck! I think it's my freak sister!"
He turned toward the row of windows where he sensed his family. He smiled at them, and with his mind opened the large windows completely. He then effortlessly cut a hole in the screen, and they all floated in. As an afterthought, he also turned and locked the door leading into the room from the rest of the house - he didn't know if anyone would respond to the sound of the gunshot, but he didn't want to deal with anyone else at the moment.
Tony then quickly knelt next to the doctor. He was lying facedown on the floor. He was still breathing, but Tony was concerned.
Tia knelt beside Tony and said silently, "He's OK, Tony. I deflected the bullet when the gun went off. It actually hit the wall behind him . he reacted to the sound, I think."
Tony felt a mixture of compassion and revulsion. Lying before him was the man who would have subjugated him and his whole race for his own selfish pleasure. And yet . he was hurt and old and frail, and Tony couldn't help but want to do something. He said, "Doc, you didn't get shot. You're OK."
Victor Gannon struggled to speak. He looked up as best he could and said, "Tony . we could have . made a great . team. We . could have had . the world." He coughed and acted as if he were in pain.
Tony said, as gently as he could, "Doc, I already have the world! I live in a place where I am part of my surroundings - the animals and the trees and my family! I have everything I want!" Sensing something in his fallen foe, Tony added, "But you don't. You have never had a family, and never felt a part of anything. I just wish you would have let me show you my world, instead of trying to make me fit into yours."
The doctor began breathing heavily and clutching his chest. He looked dazed, but still tried to speak. "Oh . Tony . I have been so selfish . but . I just wanted to be . important. Can't you . see that?" He paused, and almost collapsed, but went on. "Thank you . for not .hating me. . Maybe . I should have . tasted your world . first!" He tried to smile, but fell unconscious.
Sensing Blair nearby, Tony called out to her, "Blair, what's wrong? Can you help?" He looked up and saw that she was next to him, standing and watching what had happened. She looked sad and shook her head no.
"But why?!" Tony cried out. He was sorrowful that this evil man was dying, and he didn't know why.
Blair answered, gently, "He has been mistreating his body for a long time, Tony. When I help someone, I enable the body to heal itself. It can do that on its own over time, usually . I just hurry it along. He had nothing left to heal with. His heart would not have lasted much longer anyway. And when he realized that he could never control you, and then when he felt such guilt that he had wanted to control you in the first place, his heart could not stand the strain.
"He is dead, Tony. But he learned - from you - compassion right before he died. He is truly at peace now, because of the gift you gave him. Not submission, but forgiveness. Let his spirit rest now."
Not knowing why, Tony began to cry. Tia wrapped her arm around his shoulders and cried, too. Ty didn't understand what was happening, but he knew his big brother was upset about something. He sat next to Tony and grabbed his hand. He squeezed it and said silently, "I'm here for you, big brother." And he began to cry, too.