Flight of the Phoenix by R. L. Lafevers Page B
Authors: R. L. Lafevers
Tags: Fiction, General, Science-Fiction, Children's Books, Fantasy, People & Places, Action & Adventure, Family, Juvenile Fiction, Action & Adventure - General, Magic, Fantasy & Magic, Ages 9-12 Fiction, Social Issues, Readers, Animals, Girls & Women, Adventure and Adventurers, Mythical, middle east, Myths, Fables, Parents, Self-Esteem & Self-Reliance, Emotions & Feelings, Boys & Men, Animals - Mythical, legends, Chapter Books, Children: Grades 3-4, Orphans & Foster Homes, Birds, Animals - Birds, Phoenix (Mythical bird), Readers - Chapter Books, People & Places - Middle East
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sleep."
"Sorry," Nate mumbled. He kept his mouth firmly closed while his mind worked furiously to come up with a plan.
115
***
Chapter Fifteen
When the morning of the third day dawned, Nate still didn't have a plan. The Bedouin period of hospitality would soon be over and Aunt Phil would be tried for trespassing.
Discouraged, he fed the last cinnamon twig into the ash just as the sun rose over the ridge. He turned to watch the gold and pink rays shoot out across the oasis.
There was a crackling sound behind him, drawing Nate's attention back to the nest.
116
It glowed bright red now and was definitely a lump. As he watched, the lump began to grow. It stretched up and up and began to fill out.
The snowy ash that clung to the shape shifted, fluttering in the morning breeze. Nate blinked. It was no longer ash, but tiny white and gray feathers. The body of the phoenix--for that's what it was--began to glow brightly. Colors spread out from the body to the ash, until all of it was bright orange and red.
Two small black eyes appeared next. The phoenix turned its head and met Nate's gaze. A wondrous feeling shot through him. A feeling that he could do anything in the world, if only he set his mind to it.
The phoenix opened its beak and melodious notes floated into the morning air. If hope and joy had a sound, Nate thought, it would be just like that. At his feet, Greasle sat up to listen.
Without any warning at all, the phoenix raised its wings and rose from the nest. Orange and gold tail feathers unfurled behind it like a glowing shower of sparks.
Nate watched the phoenix's first flight. As it circled the
117
oasis, it began singing again, the pure, joyous notes filling the air.
Greasle sighed. "That really is the most lovely sound."
The phoenix circled the oasis one last time before coming in closer to Nate. As it drew near, it thrust out its clawed feet. Nate flinched, afraid for a moment that the bird was attacking him.
Instead, it landed on his shoulder, so gentle he barely even felt it. Nate froze, afraid to move and disturb the magnificent creature. It weighed hardly anything, as if it were truly nothing but ash and smoke. It reached out and nibbled gently at Nate's ear with its beak.
"I think it likes you," Greasle said.
Nate felt himself blush with pleasure. "Maybe." He risked turning his head so that he could look into the phoenix's eyes. The bird tilted its head and their gazes met. It was as if the phoenix were looking deep inside him, taking his measure. Nate felt naked, his every secret hope and fear painfully laid bare before the phoenix's knowing gaze.
But as he continued to stare into the phoenix's eyes, Nate noticed something else.
118
[Image: Nate and the phoenix.]
119
His hopes began to grow, filling up and spreading out until there was hardly any room left over for fear. His exhaustion and discouragement were burned away, like clouds before the sun, leaving only his possibilities behind.
As if satisfied, the phoenix broke eye contact and trilled one final note before launching itself back to the nest. Unable to look away, Nate followed, standing on the saddle to get a closer look.
The phoenix was doing something with all the leftover ash in its nest. As Nate watched, it gathered it into a tidy little egg-shaped pile. As the ash and embers cooled, the egg hardened. The phoenix grabbed it in its claws, then rose up into the air and held the egg out to Nate.
"For me?" Nate asked, unable to believe he was being given such a precious gift.
The phoenix ducked its head, as if nodding, so Nate took the egg. "Thank you," he said, cradling it in his palms. The phoenix let out a burst of song, circled the oasis twice, then disappeared over the eastern horizon.
The egg in Nate's hand was smooth and glossy and still slightly warm. Small clumps of ash clung to it in places. Colors swirled deep inside it. As he stared at the egg in his
120
hand, a plan began to form. Miss Lumpton had been very
"Sorry," Nate mumbled. He kept his mouth firmly closed while his mind worked furiously to come up with a plan.
115
***
Chapter Fifteen
When the morning of the third day dawned, Nate still didn't have a plan. The Bedouin period of hospitality would soon be over and Aunt Phil would be tried for trespassing.
Discouraged, he fed the last cinnamon twig into the ash just as the sun rose over the ridge. He turned to watch the gold and pink rays shoot out across the oasis.
There was a crackling sound behind him, drawing Nate's attention back to the nest.
116
It glowed bright red now and was definitely a lump. As he watched, the lump began to grow. It stretched up and up and began to fill out.
The snowy ash that clung to the shape shifted, fluttering in the morning breeze. Nate blinked. It was no longer ash, but tiny white and gray feathers. The body of the phoenix--for that's what it was--began to glow brightly. Colors spread out from the body to the ash, until all of it was bright orange and red.
Two small black eyes appeared next. The phoenix turned its head and met Nate's gaze. A wondrous feeling shot through him. A feeling that he could do anything in the world, if only he set his mind to it.
The phoenix opened its beak and melodious notes floated into the morning air. If hope and joy had a sound, Nate thought, it would be just like that. At his feet, Greasle sat up to listen.
Without any warning at all, the phoenix raised its wings and rose from the nest. Orange and gold tail feathers unfurled behind it like a glowing shower of sparks.
Nate watched the phoenix's first flight. As it circled the
117
oasis, it began singing again, the pure, joyous notes filling the air.
Greasle sighed. "That really is the most lovely sound."
The phoenix circled the oasis one last time before coming in closer to Nate. As it drew near, it thrust out its clawed feet. Nate flinched, afraid for a moment that the bird was attacking him.
Instead, it landed on his shoulder, so gentle he barely even felt it. Nate froze, afraid to move and disturb the magnificent creature. It weighed hardly anything, as if it were truly nothing but ash and smoke. It reached out and nibbled gently at Nate's ear with its beak.
"I think it likes you," Greasle said.
Nate felt himself blush with pleasure. "Maybe." He risked turning his head so that he could look into the phoenix's eyes. The bird tilted its head and their gazes met. It was as if the phoenix were looking deep inside him, taking his measure. Nate felt naked, his every secret hope and fear painfully laid bare before the phoenix's knowing gaze.
But as he continued to stare into the phoenix's eyes, Nate noticed something else.
118
[Image: Nate and the phoenix.]
119
His hopes began to grow, filling up and spreading out until there was hardly any room left over for fear. His exhaustion and discouragement were burned away, like clouds before the sun, leaving only his possibilities behind.
As if satisfied, the phoenix broke eye contact and trilled one final note before launching itself back to the nest. Unable to look away, Nate followed, standing on the saddle to get a closer look.
The phoenix was doing something with all the leftover ash in its nest. As Nate watched, it gathered it into a tidy little egg-shaped pile. As the ash and embers cooled, the egg hardened. The phoenix grabbed it in its claws, then rose up into the air and held the egg out to Nate.
"For me?" Nate asked, unable to believe he was being given such a precious gift.
The phoenix ducked its head, as if nodding, so Nate took the egg. "Thank you," he said, cradling it in his palms. The phoenix let out a burst of song, circled the oasis twice, then disappeared over the eastern horizon.
The egg in Nate's hand was smooth and glossy and still slightly warm. Small clumps of ash clung to it in places. Colors swirled deep inside it. As he stared at the egg in his
120
hand, a plan began to form. Miss Lumpton had been very
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