03 The Fate Of The Muse - Marina's Tales Read Online Free PDF Page B

poisonous.”
    “Not when the cause is just,” I spat out
bitterly, thinking about how anger gave me the strength to overcome
Peter, “Sometimes it gives us the will to change things.”
    “Ah,” he said, “But it is a fire that can
consume even the vessel that holds it.”
    “Don’t worry about me,” I said, patting him
on his hand, “I can handle it.”
    I went back to Ethan’s stand to find Abby
engrossed in conversation with Ethan, her hands on her hips.
Clearly, I wasn’t the only one who was angry.
    I kissed Ethan goodbye and drove Abby home.
She was fuming, seeing the government’s plans to seize Lue Khang’s
land as a personal assault on all that she held dear. The farmer’s
market was Abby’s favorite place, and she loved visiting all the
local organic farmers, many of whom were her friends. She wasn’t
about to take the news lying down. By the time we got home there
were big plans in the works. We were going to stage a protest.
    “What if we made it a fund-raiser?” I asked,
“For Lue Khang’s legal defense?”
    Abby smiled brightly and I could see the
wheels turning, “Yes! We can have entertainment… and speakers, and
food.”
    “Megan could sing!” I added.
    “We could get the local news to send a
reporter… When people find out what’s going on they’ll be shocked!
Maybe Congressman Hill will pull his support if the public turns
against him.”
    Abby and I spent the rest of the afternoon
coming up with names of community leaders we’d want to speak at our
rally. By the time Ethan and Dutch showed up for dinner, the date
was set and some phone calls had already been made. We’d have the
event a week after school got out, the day before I had to leave
for Paris, which would give us two weeks to get the word out and
organize.
    Dutch and Ethan took over the kitchen duties
while Abby and I made to-do lists. She was on fire, full of
creative energy and enthusiasm. By the time we sat down to eat she
had turned her attention to where we should hold the event.
    “What about the park?” asked Cruz, “You could
fit a lot of people out there.”
    Abby looked thoughtful, “We might not be able
to get a permit for that.”
    “What about Lue’s farm?” I asked, “There’s
plenty of parking, and people could see what they’ve come to help
defend.”
    Abby smiled broadly, and it was a plan.
    Ethan was touched that we were all getting
involved, and his outlook grew a little less gloomy, “I’ll check
with Lue tomorrow,” he said with a grateful smile. We finished
dinner, with everyone excitedly brainstorming different ways to get
publicity for the event.
    Finals week was going to keep us on our toes,
and I could see that Ethan was tired, worn out from a long day at
work. He also needed to study, so I took him firmly by the hand and
led him out the door. He wanted to stay, but I insisted.
    “I’m fine,” I said, “You get some rest.” He’d
been working after school every day lately, and I was worried about
him. All he’d been doing was working and watching over me, and as I
slowly came out of my funk I realized just how hard he was driving
himself. He hardly ever went surfing anymore, and I knew it was all
my fault.
    Before he got in the truck he embraced me,
“Did it occur to you that you were, uhm… inspiring Abby?” he
asked.
    It had, but it was starting to bother me less
and less. She wanted our plan to succeed as much as I did, and I
didn’t care if I had an unfair advantage. I’d do whatever it took
to protect Ethan; I loved him more than anything else in the world.
The situation with the land had exposed my mercenary streak, and I
began to understand the way Evie operated a little better.
    “If I’m encouraging her, good ,” I said
defiantly, “That land is rightfully Lue’s, and after you pay it
off, you’re going to build a beautiful house and an amazing nursery
on it.”
    He chuckled, “I’ll make sure it’s a big
house.”
    “We don’t need a big