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70 Anitra Lynn McLeod
for him.
Tears gathered in his eyes, blinding him to everything around him.
Silently, Danny moved to the seat beside him, cupped Phillip s head
to his shoulder, and held him. Phillip wasn t sure how long he sat
simply holding Danny s hand and absorbing his calm strength. Again
he realized Danny was a true and valiant leader. Exuding tranquil
power, Danny refused to let Phillip isolate himself or wallow in his
pain.
 Misery shared is misery lessened.
Across the table from them, Danny s twin, Matthew Edwards,
nodded his agreement with what Danny had said. The linebacker s
enormous body barely fit in the luxury seat, but Matthew didn t seem
to care. Matthew seemed far more concerned with helping Danny help
him. Phillip sensed their commitment, although new, was incredibly
strong. And if anyone understood his fears, Danny and Matthew
would. Danny had been attacked by a mysterious group of men and
killed. It was by twinning their souls and shifting into bear form that
Matthew had been able to save Danny. Phillip was hoping to duplicate
their success.
Brandon and Derek seemed just as committed to one another, but
they had not shifted into bear form. Phillip knew by the way their
energy resonated with his body they were untried. Some twins only
discovered their shifting power when one was threatened, some twins
were able to shift on a whim, and some couples never shifted at all
even though the ability was there. Phillip had never uncovered the
reasons for the variations. He might have, if his original sloth had not
spread far and wide across the United States. Although, that curious
question hardly mattered now. Phillip sensed he was only focusing his
attention there to keep from falling into crushing despair over Ryan.
 We ll get through this. Danny released his hand and handed him
a tissue.  You re not alone this time.
After wiping his face, Phillip looked up.  How did you know?
He d never told anyone about losing Richard. Not even Ryan knew.
Tight End 71
 I can feel your hurt. Danny placed his hand on his chest.  Right
here in my heart.
 Richard was everything to me.
 What happened? Danny shook his head.  Never mind. You
don t have to talk about him if you don t want to.
 No, it s all right. I think that s part of why my fear with Ryan was
so intense. I never told anyone after Richard was gone. Well, frankly,
there wasn t anyone to tell. No one who would believe me, at any
rate. Phillip took a moment to compose himself.  Richard and I met
at Rutgers. He was simply stunning, like Ryan. Intelligent, athletic,
and so driven. Richard wanted to do something with his life,
something beyond what we had with the sloth.
 You had a sloth similar to what we re building now? Danny
asked, clearly intrigued.
 Yes. But after college, the members of the sloth separated. We
saw each other occasionally, and then I lost track of them. None of us
really knew what the purpose of our group was. When I took the time
to look them up, I found out Richard and I were the only pair left.
That had been a tremendous shock.  We had grown so far apart that I
sensed nothing when they passed.
 I m sorry. Danny offered him a bottle of water, which Phillip
gratefully took.
 Thank you. Phillip opened the water and drank about half before
he continued.  Richard and I traveled all over the world doing
whatever we could to bring educational opportunities to
underprivileged students. Richard was always a teacher at heart. And
he cared so much.
Danny didn t ask the obvious question, but Phillip answered
anyway. He had never told anyone about that day. Phillip kept it all to
himself, ashamed that he d been unable to save his twin.
 Richard and I were at the Thammasat University in Bangkok in
October of 1976. Students from all over Thailand were demonstrating
against Field Marshal Thanom Kittikachorn, a former military ruler,
72 Anitra Lynn McLeod
returning to Thailand.
 I m sure that didn t go over well with the powers that be.
 Not at all. The deputy director of the national police ordered an
assault and authorized free fire on the campus, including students and
protesters. By the official count, forty-six people died in the attack.
People were shot, beaten, and their bodies mutilated.
 My God. Danny s face blanched.  They had no protection?
 None. It was one-sided, vicious, and completely unnecessary. I
knew Richard was hurt, I felt him dying, but in the chaos, the
confusion, I couldn t get to him. I couldn t shift with him. Just
speaking of that day brought everything rushing back.  I found him,
what was left of him, three days later.
 I am so profoundly sorry for your loss. Danny wrapped his arm
around him, and Phillip was amazed how much that simple gesture
comforted him.
 Since that day I vowed to never, ever feel that impotent again.
Everything I ve done, the world that I ve built, has been about
protecting myself. And then I realized what I had in fact done was
isolate myself. I knew I couldn t live alone anymore.
 That s why you bought Twin Pines College. Danny s fingertips
smoothed soothing circles on Phillip s shoulder.
Phillip nodded.  So many wonderful minds have been educated in [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]