Free Secret of Light by K. C. Dyer Page B

lip skeptically. “And that is?”
    He grinned at her, and for a split second she was taken by the charm of his smile.
    â€œWhy, Leonardo, of course.”
    Darrell fled.

C HAPTER S IX
    â€œYou must be joking!” Brodie jumped up from his seat on an overturned wooden pail.
    â€œNo joke.” Darrell paced around the small stall, lit now by the light of an oil lamp set precariously atop a bail of hay. “Besides, everyone knows Leonardo was apprenticed to Verrocchio.”
    Kate rolled her eyes. “Everyone? Sorry, Darrell, most people have trouble remembering all the major figures of the art world, let alone who their teachers were.”
    â€œOkay, okay. It’s an interest of mine, that’s all.” Darrell held out her hands. “I
knew
his notebook looked familiar. And I touched the paper he was sketching on,” she said in a whisper. “Do you know what that means to me?”
    Brodie shook his head. “But why are we here? Is it to introduce Darrell to the greatest artist of all time? After our last visit, it seems a bit...”
    â€œShallow?” interjected Kate.

    Darrell felt a splinter of anger deep in her chest. “What do you mean, shallow?” she said, her face hot. “It’s not shallow to want to meet someone who changed the world — even if he is only a kid.” She gestured angrily. “I wouldn’t call you shallow if you wanted to meet the guy — ah, you know the computer guy...” She looked to Brodie for help. “Bill somebody...”
    â€œBill Gates?” Brodie guessed.
    â€œThat shows how much you know.” Kate’s face went as red as her hair. “Anyone who has any interest in technology knows that Gates has done more harm than good. He’s a lucky idiot who was in the right place at the right time.”
    â€œAll those computer guys are idiots. I’m just trying to make a point.”
    â€œNow, Darrell...” began Brodie.
    â€œStay out of this, Brodie,” Darrell snapped.
    â€œAre you calling me an idiot?” Kate snarled.
    Darrell stuck her nose close to Kate’s face. “My point, before you get all tied up in knots, is that you may want to meet the god of computers someday.”
    â€œGates is
not
the god of computers,” snarled Kate. “And who’s getting worked up here?”
    â€œJust a minute, Kate...” said Brodie, stepping to her side.
    Both girls turned to Brodie. “Will you shut up?” they chorused.
    There was a moment of complete silence...
    ...and Darrell laughed. “I’m sorry, Kate. I didn’t mean to insult the computer god, whoever he is. MeetingLeonardo da Vinci makes this the most amazing thing that has ever happened to me.”
    Kate chuckled, her anger clearly evaporated. “Okay, I get it. I didn’t mean to insult Leonardo, either.”
    Brodie shook his head at the two girls. “I’m glad that’s resolved. But if the purpose of this trip is for you to meet Leonardo, Darrell, then we should try to find our way back before Giovanni discovers I know more about fossils than I do about art.”
    â€œFossils? What are these fossils, you speak of? And what are you saying about art?”
    Darrell spun around. Their conversation had been so heated none of them had heard anyone enter the stable. And standing at the doorway was Giovanni, accompanied by a furious-looking man in clay-spattered clothes.
    Darrell lay on a straw tick mattress across the room from Kate. A single candle burned low.
    â€œI forgot how early they go to bed in these places,” whispered Kate.
    â€œGives us a chance to talk,” said Darrell. “And to figure out what to do next.” She unwrapped the long strip of cloth that bound the uncomfortable wooden prosthesis to her leg with a sigh of relief. Tucking her sore leg beneath her, she shivered a little and pulled the rough woollen blanket close to ward off the chill.