Falling Sky Read Online Free PDF Page B

obvious.”
    Ian took a step toward Wasley and asked, “But why do I have to go by myself?” A palpable wave of panic washed over his body and caused his hands to tremble.
    â€œBecause I have to teach a class at three.” The professor placed a hand on the door knob and was about to turn it before a thought interrupted him. “Have you ever been swimming?”
    The question caught Ian off guard. The tremors in his body momentarily subsided. “What?”
    â€œHave your parents ever taken you swimming at the community pool?” Wasley took his hand off of the door knob.
    â€œNo, I haven’t been swimming or been taken to a pool. Why?” Ian spat the question out, and it sounded harsher than intended.
    â€œOkay.” Wasley laughed. “Well, when I was young I didn’t know how to swim and was afraid to get near the water.” He stepped away from the door and took a seat on the arm of the sofa. “My mom would jump in and float around to show me how easy and fun it could be, but I still didn’t want any part in it.”
    Ian took a seat on the back of the sofa and situated himself so he faced Wasley.
    â€œOne day, I walked to the edge of the pool and looked at my reflection in the water. I remember that it looked so deep, almost bottomless. Of course I knew it wasn’t but still.” He cleared his throat. “I turned around to run back to my mom sitting in one of the chairs tanning, but instead I ran straight into my dad. He grabbed me by the waist and just tossed me into the deep end.”
    Ian smiled as he imagined a young Wasley being tossed into the water. He couldn’t quite imagine his instructor as a child, but pictured a small red-headed child with some freckles. They both shared a laugh before he continued.
    â€œNeedless to say, there was a lot of crying and splashing going on. My dad pulled me out and after some more crying and some coughing I was alright.” He stood up. “The point is that eventually I learned how to swim. If it wasn’t for my dad tossing me in, I don’t think I’d ever have touched the water. If you want to face your problem, you need to jump right in.”
    â€œI thought this was about saving humanity, not my shortcomings.” Ian let himself fall backward. He landed on one of the soft pillows arranged on the sofa.
    â€œIt’s about both. If this whole ordeal turns out to be nothing but a wild goose chase, then at least something good would have come from it.”
    Ian heard the door open and it quietly squeaked on its hinges.
    â€œJust one more thing.” Wasley paused to see if Ian was still listening.
    â€œYeah?”
    â€œWhen you go to bed tonight, don’t use the Somnium. Maybe you’ll dream again.” The door closed.
    Ian sighed deeply and stared at the ceiling for the next half hour.

Chapter Eight
    The wind tore through the field, blew back Ian’s hair and made his entire face numb. He didn’t start out in a black box this time. Instead, he woke up in the field, his face caressed by frantic blades of grass. He sat up and drew his knees to his chest in an attempt to preserve some of his body heat. The man walked up to Ian.
    â€œDid you tell the others?” His voice sounded clear in Ian’s ears. It cut straight through weather and he heard every emotionless syllable.
    â€œAre you Phineas?” His own voice, however, disappeared.
    â€œWho I am is of no importance,” he replied and began to turn around. “We’ll meet under the heavens, before the sky cracks.”
    Ian watched him as he walked away, disappearing into the horizon as he headed down one of the hill’s slopes. As before, the clouds caught fire and consumed everything around him in a blinding flash. He closed his eyes tightly and threw his arms over his face. When his eyes opened a darkened bedroom ceiling greeted him. He turned his head toward his nightstand and noted the