Free Everville: The City of Worms by Roy Huff Page B

the driver took off in the direction of the Easton Falls Memorial Cemetery. They arrived in about fifteen minutes, and after getting out of the car, they scoped out their position behind the people who had come to pay their respects to Professor Samil.
    Owen looked around the cemetery at all the people who had arrived; it was a much larger number than he had expected, several hundred, perhaps more. Drusilla and Owen both spotted fellow Art Club member, Jacob, who was wearing a black suit with a surprisingly showy purple tie. Jacob was with his new family, who were the only people who were not wearing black. Owen and Drusilla then spotted Zee and Anika on the other side of the cemetery. Zee and Anika looked back at them; their eyes acknowledged what they were about to do.
    “Owen, when I give you the signal, we’ll turn around and head back towards the car. I think the best time will be right after Zee makes his speech.”
    Owen nodded his head in agreement. A few moments later, the service had begun, and the priest approached the podium microphone and began to speak.
    “It is with profound regret—”
    Owen did his best not to seem too nervous, but throughout the entire eulogy his fidgeting told another story. Drusilla, Zee, and Anika took notice, and so did Jacob. It wasn’t that Owen was afraid of getting into a scuffle, it was just that he had some reservations about searching someone’s room. It was the tinge of illegality that bothered him.
    A couple of Zee’s family members took to the stage to say a few words about the late Professor Samil, and by that time Owen looked as if he had put his concerns in check. He listened intently to the words they were speaking. He then thought about what Zee said he had seen when he’d tasted the liquid from the containers.
    Zee took the stage and placed his hands on the edge of the podium. He pressed the palms of his hands as hard as could on the corners in an attempt to use the physical pain to keep him from breaking down and crying, which had happened to several of the other speakers who had already come before him. His face was solemn, but his expression was a perplexing mix of emotions that were difficult to read.
    “Professor Samil, my dad, had a lot to be proud of. He was a respected professor, a father, and a man who inspired many. He was an artist, and in my mind, a visionary. I—I don’t think—”
    Zee’s eyes were welling up with tears, and everyone could see that he was trying his hardest not to let them fall.
    Zee continued. “I don’t think that anyone could say that my father did not leave a positive mark on this campus, the students who attended this great university, or the people who he interacted with on a daily basis. I have never known him to do anything other than what he believed and what he thought was best, not only for himself, but also for his students and his family.”
    Owen watched as Anika began to cry. In spite of recent events, she had been moved by the emotion and the words Zee spoke.
    “It has been said that the good is oft interred in the bones of the dead, but I promise you this; my father’s greatness will never be interred in his bones. I will make sure that his greatness, and all that he thought was important, will never be forgotten. I will make sure that his hopes and his dreams live on, and that the positive attributes of the life that he led will continue to be felt as long as the walls of this great university remain standing, and beyond.”
    After Zee spoke his last word, there were a few respectful and quiet claps as he walked down from the podium. Owen was just as stunned by Zee’s words as Drusilla, and he wasn’t quite sure what to make of it. Drusilla tugged on Owen’s sleeve to bring his attention back to what they were about to do.
    “Let’s go,” Drusilla whispered.
    Owen came to his senses and started walking with Drusilla back to the Town Car that had been waiting for them near their position. Just before