“What was that all about?” Jack hissed at Morgan.
“You mean just now? Nothing. I was just disagreeing.”
“Did you have to be rude?”
“Hey, it’s free speech.”
“It’s stupid. You can’t say everything that pops into your mind. Besides, this is my family. You get my mom upset and the whole thing goes south. If you want to get along with me, you need to learn when to shut up!”
Morgan’s defiance quickly changed to amusement and then settled into what might have been a glimmer of respect. “OK,” he said, nodding. Keeping his voice low enough that the others couldn’t hear, he whispered, “I guess it’s true that every once in a while, I do cross the verbal line. I didn’t think calling the Grand Canyon a hole in the ground was that big a deal, but I stand corrected.”
“One more thing,” Jack said pointedly, “Why don’t you at least ask my mom about the condors?”
Morgan’s thin brows met. “Condors?”
“Yeah. The condors. You know, the reason we’re going.” Jack rotated his hand like a wheel, trying to get Morgan’s mind clicking, but nothing seemed to register. “Remember, she talked about it while we were buying your airline ticket? Weren’t you listening?” It seemed almost unbelievable that Morgan could have inhabited the same space as the Landons while they discussed the mystery of the condors and their strange deaths, and have blocked it out so completely.
“Tell me again,” he said, stretching his legs under the seat in front of him.
“Ask my mom.”
“No, I don’t want her to know I wasn’t tracking. So, what’s the deal?”
“Well, like my mom said, the condors are very, very rare. Almost extinct. They used to nest all through the Southwest and the Grand Canyon during the Ice Age, but they disappeared at the end of the Ice Age. Are you listening?”
Morgan’s lids had drifted shut, but he quickly snapped them open. “Yeah. I’m just thinking with my eyes closed.”
“So then the condors made a comeback to the Southwest and the canyon at the same time the white settlers showed up. The settlers hunted and killed the condors. Now there are fewer than 200 of them in the whole world.”
“Right. I remember that part. Aren’t they giant vultures or something? Their wingspan is, like, nine feet wide. Yeah, they’re these huge, extremely ugly birds that eat dead things.”
Jack nodded. “Anyway, they’re dying, and nobody knows how to stop it. So the people at the Grand Canyon called in my mom to help solve the mystery. She’s a wildlife veterinarian, and my dad’s a professional photographer.”
“Uh-huh.”
“It’s life or death for these birds, Morgan. Ask my mom, and she’ll tell you the whole thing. Say you want to know more about the condors, and the hole-in-the-ground stuff will be forgotten. Guaranteed.”
“If I ask her about the birds, do you think she’ll let me use her laptop?”
“No. Maybe. Probably not.” Sighing, Jack said, “Here—take this,” and handed over his own Game Boy and his new game called Alien Child. That did it. As soon as Morgan switched on the Game Boy, something inside him seemed to shut down. He didn’t so much as look out the airplane window for the rest of the flight to Phoenix. He kept playing the game as they stood in line to rent a car and as they drove, grunting a reply when Steven told him they’d just entered Grand Canyon National Park.
While the Landons strained to see even a shadow of what lay beyond the rim, Morgan concentrated on the Game Boy, its greenish light barely illuminating his face, his fingers deftly punching the tiny controls as his eyes stared, unblinking. Jack had never seen anyone so transfixed by something electronic. It was as if Morgan had fused himself into that tiny screen. He found himself agreeing with Ashley: Morgan really was strange.
“Get up, Jack. You said you wanted to see the sunrise hit the walls of the Grand Canyon. It’s time to rise and shine!”
Jack felt a gentle tug on his covers, but he pulled them close and curled into their protective warmth. “Too early,” he muttered to his mother.
Ignoring him, Olivia gave the edge of his bed a playful bounce. “Come on—up and at ’em! You too, Morgan. Throw on some clothes. You can shower when we get back. And Jack, don’t forget your camera. I’m turning on the light right…now!”
“No—” Jack began, but there was a click and a flood of light stabbed his eyes. His mother stood, fully dressed in stonewashed jeans and a hooded jacket. Although wrinkles lined the corners of her eyes when she smiled, Olivia looked young and trim. And full of energy.
Morgan grabbed a pillow and put it over his face. “What time is it?” he asked in a muffled voice.
“Six o’clock.”
“Six?” The pillow flew off his face as he looked at her incredulously. “Six a.m.? No normal human being gets up this early. I’ll stay here while you Earth people go and do whatever homage you tree-hugging types do. I’m a creature of the night. I don’t do mornings.”
“Nice try. We’re doing this as a family, which now includes you.”
“I don’t wish to be included.”
“I’m afraid it’s not a matter of what you wish.” Olivia’s voice had an edge to it, although Morgan didn’t know her well enough to hear it.
Flopping a long, thin arm over his eyes, Morgan looked as though he were trying to block out the light in addition to blocking out Olivia. “Look, I’ve already seen the Grand Canyon. Virtually. I got a view from the comfort of my own computer, which is the perfect way to experience it—no bugs or heat or fatigue. I don’t need the real thing.”
“Let me assure you that there is absolutely no comparison between the two. Reality will always trump the virtual world. Besides that, I’m not leaving until I see you’re truly up.” She stood over him, her arms planted on her hips, until Morgan gave a loud, long sigh.
“Zealot,” he muttered.
“Guilty as charged. And just one more little thing. I want to ask you a favor.”
“Now what?” Morgan asked, his voice squeaking. “I’m already denying my physical body its sleep. What more can I give up?”
Olivia hesitated for only a moment before saying, “I’d like you to leave the Game Boy here while we go to the rim.”
“Aw, man!” Morgan exploded.
“I noticed that you do tend to get a bit—involved—with that thing. You need to experience the Grand Canyon with your whole being.”
Pulling himself to a sitting position, Morgan swung his legs over the side of the bed. A large, white T-shirt hung on him like an oversize shroud, revealing how thin Morgan really was. Elbows protruded in knots from branch-like arms. His chest was sunken, as if he didn’t have enough muscle to hold his body in anything but a pale question mark.
“I don’t believe this! You’re just like the people at Dry Creek. Why can’t I have the freedom to experience the Grand Canyon in my own way?”
Olivia’s lips pressed together before she finally answered, “Humor me. What do you say, Morgan? Will you leave the Game Boy?”
“Sure. Whatever,” he answered.
Olivia looked both surprised and pleased. “Thank you. You won’t be sorry. And now for you, my son,” she began, turning her gaze on Jack. “I see you’re still in bed. We’ll miss the sunrise—”
“OK, OK,” Jack moaned. “Go back in your room so we can get dressed.”
Stretching