Free The Orion Assignment by Austin S. Camacho Page A

lungs.
    â€œLovely,” Sean said, clapping his hands. “Like ballet.”
    â€œThanks.” Felicity had just then become aware of him. “It’s just some basic yoga. I need to stretch in the morning.”
    â€œWhat about him?” Sean asked, hooking a thumb in Morgan’s direction.
    â€œHe wanted me to time him for two minutes.”
    â€œOh yes,” Sean grinned. “Felicity O’Brien, the human stopwatch.”
    A few seconds later she said “Stop,” and Morgan dropped to his knees, taking in deep breaths of the humid air. Sean walked over and bent down, hands on knees.
    â€œWell? How many lad?”
    â€œEighty-four,” Morgan said, still gasping for breath. “I’m getting old.” He flipped over and Felicity sat at his feet. She lifted her left foot onto her right thigh, then her right foot onto her left thigh. Morgan hooked his feet under her legs and lay back, his arms crossed so his hands rested on his shoulders. Felicity said “Go,” again and he pulled his upper body into a vertical position. His back remained straight as he did the crunches, rising and falling like some steam powered piston.
    â€œDo you do this every day?” Sean asked.
    â€œOnly when we’re not near a health club,” Felicity said. “Well, I usually do my yoga routine every day. I’ll do gymnastics three times a week if the equipment’s available. Morgan usually lifts weights the same days I’m in the gym. On the off days we run together. I think he practices the karate stuff every day.”
    â€œNot Sunday.” Morgan grunted the words between his teeth at the top of a sit-up.
    â€œOh yes,” Felicity said. You’ll be happy to know we both rest on Sunday.”
    â€œWhy do it to yourself?”
    â€œWell,” she hesitated for a moment, then asked, “Do you still read the Bible and pray?”
    â€œOf course. Every day.”
    â€œWhy?” she asked.
    â€œBecause I keep on getting closer to God, child. Like you should be doing.”
    â€œWell, that’s your business,” she said. “My business is protecting people and sometimes that can be a rough business. You don’t get to be the best at anything if you don’t keep working at it. Besides, I like to stay in shape. You’ll see when I do my routine in a bit. Coming up on the end Morgan. And…stop.”
    â€œHow many this time?” Sean could not resist asking.
    â€œNinety-three,” Morgan replied. “Enough for one day.” When he stood and moved to the side, Sean could see that he wasn’t finished. He wasn’t sure what was coming but it occurred to him that it might require morefocus than simple calisthenics.
    â€œDoes either of you mind me watching?” Sean asked.
    â€œIt’s your house, Uncle Sean,” Felicity said.
    â€œI most likely won’t even know you’re there once I’m into the kata.”
    Still, Sean kept quiet while leaning against the door. Morgan did most of what he called a kata in one place. It was no more than a choreographed series of movements: punches, kicks, and blocks. Meanwhile, Felicity moved around the lawn in a series of balancing maneuvers and running tumbling passes, complete with somersaults and flips. Sean had not been to a circus in a lot of years, but this was much of how he remembered it. And the two went on for a good deal longer than he expected them to. At some silent signal Morgan switched to stretching and Felicity’s activity became slow pacing.
    â€œStopping for a breather?” he asked.
    â€œActually, we’ll run for a couple of miles now,” Felicity told her uncle. “Two miles is just enough to get your heart going. Do you suppose you could have some coffee ready when we get back?”
    â€œSure, and some of those sticky buns Mrs. Cassidy brought by yesterday. And maybe an egg cream, like you used to