Agents of the Glass Read Online Free PDF

school will call your dad and tell him that, based on some test scores from last year, you were selected for a full scholarship to Wellbourne. How can he say no? It’s a tremendous opportunity.”
    “You really think he’s going to believe it? That’s crazy.”
    “There are three crazier stories every day on the Internet. Before noon. And believe me, whoever calls will be
very
convincing. Oh, I almost forgot. You’re getting a dog.”
    “What? I can’t get a dog. I asked for one last year, and my parents said no way.”
    “Well, you have about a week to convince them that you really
need
this dog. She’ll be done with her basic training by then.”
    “But…why do I need a dog? What kind of training? Is it like a police dog?”
    “It will all be explained.”
    Andy stared out the store window. “A new school. A dog. I don’t know. I’m used to things the way they are. I
like
the way they are. And what about…you know, fitting in? The kids at Wellbourne are all super brainy. Or rich. Or both. I’m not like that.”
    “I think you’ll be surprised at how well you fit in, Andy. Wellbourne kids are just kids. They’re no different from you and your friends at Wagner. Sure, some of them are rich, and there’s a handful of truly gifted students, but in the end, you’re all more alike than different. You’ll be assigned a ‘buddy’—someone from a grade above you to help you find your way around. If you have any questions at all, she’ll be able to point you in the right direction….”
    Silas paused when he realized that he might be losing Andy—that doubt and the fear of the unknown were winning out.
    “Look, I understand what you must be going through,” Silas continued. “It’s been a crazy couple of days, hasn’t it? The bomb, the money, my little morality play, and then, to top it off, I tell you a story full of monks and magical glass and Syngians. Preposterous, right? And if I’m being completely honest, the parts I left out are even more outrageous. The truth is, Andy, that I wish I didn’t have to ask you to do this. I wish that the world was a safe, wonderful place and that there was no longer any reason for my friends and me to be in business. But it’s not, and if NTRP gets its way, it’s going to get a lot worse.”

    Andy asked for a few hours to think it over, which was entirely reasonable under the circumstances. Silas sent him on his way with instructions to wait for a call at six o’clock sharp.
    “Okay,” he said. “My number is—”
    Silas held up his phone. “Already have it.”
    “But I never…Do I get your number?”
    “Not yet. Remember, six o’clock.”
    Andy, well trained by his father, stuck out a hand for Silas to shake. It was Silas’s turn to be caught off guard; he hesitated, then slowly reached for the offered hand, grimacing and closing his eyes as he shook it, as if he couldn’t bear to watch.
    “Are you okay?” Andy asked. “Did I do something wrong?”
    “No, no, it’s nothing like that,” said Silas. “I…have a little problem….”
    “Is it germs? ’Cause I wash my hands a
lot.
”
    “No, it’s not germs. It’s hard to explain. Something I’m working on. Go.”
    Andy nodded, then started for the bus stop. After a few steps, he turned back to face Silas. “What
kind
of dog?”
    “What’s that? Oh, right, the dog. Don’t worry, she’s terrific. You’ll love her.”
    “It’s just that if I’m going to tell my parents, I should know a little bit about her. Like how big she is and where she’s coming from.”
    “Thirty, maybe thirty-five pounds. She’s a mutt—a little spaniel, a little setter, a little…well, who knows? Her name is Penny, and she came from a shelter in Trumbull County, Ohio.”
    “What color is she?”
    “White, with lots of spots about the size and color of a penny, which explains how she got her name. Anything else?”
    Andy shook his head and smiled. “She sounds nice.”
    Got him,
thought