Free Lion by Jeff Stone Page A

cycle into her trunk. Hú Dié, will you help Ryan into her car, then
push
your mountain handcycle up the hill? I don’t want any more accidents. I’ll zip up to the house and pull together bandages, aspirin, and any other things I can think of that Ryan might need.”
    “I can think of a few things you might need,” whispered Hú Dié with a grin as she helped me into the car. “Let’s start with a lesson on how to ride a tricycle.”

    “Your stomach is cramping, isn’t it?” Hú Dié asked.
    I nodded.
    Half an hour had passed, and I was lying on Peter’s living room couch with my stomach still tied in knots. The rest of me was fine. Hú Dié and Phoenix were sitting with me, while Peter and Jake were in the kitchen.
    “Is it bad?” Phoenix asked, his voice low.
    “It’s been worse,” I whispered. “I think it wants to be fed.”
    Hú Dié shuddered. “That is so creepy. Do you need me to get some now?”
    “Yeah. I’m due for today’s batch. I usually take it in the evening.”
    “How much longer before you’re done with it?” Phoenix asked.
    “It could be a couple days, or a couple weeks,” I said. “Your grandfather and Uncle Tí aren’t sure.”
    Hú Dié glanced at my hands. “I hope you get over it soon.”
    “Why?” I asked. “Are you creeped out by my mutant healing powers?” I wiggled my fingers at her.
    She wrinkled her nose. “No, you stink.” She giggled.
    I grinned, despite the painful cramping. She was right.
    “Are you going to tell Peter and Jake?” Phoenix asked.
    “I think I have to,” I said.
    “I’m not sure how I feel about that,” he said.
    “We can probably hide it for a little while,” I said. “I don’t feel like telling them right now, anyway. I feel awful.”
    “I’ll be right back,” Hú Dié said. “I’ll go get the dragon bone.”
    “I’ll come with you,” Phoenix said.
    “Hang on,” I said, “I’m coming, too. Maybe I could help you assemble the bikes after you get the dragon bone. It might help loosen up my stomach.”
    “Sure,” Hú Dié said.
    I stood, and the three of us passed through the kitchen, into the garage. Thankfully, Peter and Jake were busy mixing up some chocolate protein shakes. I was starving.
    Hú Dié opened the large bike frame box and separated the frames. Each one was wrapped in bubble wrap. She cut away the material covering my seat and grabbed a small wrench and a pair of needle-nose pliers. She used the wrench to remove the seat. Then she carefully removed a small bubble-wrapped object with the pliers. She handed it to me.
    I unwrapped it and held it up. It was a stoppered vial of fine grayish powder.
    “Dragon bone, all right,” I said.
    “Dragon
what
?” a voice replied.
    Phoenix, Hú Dié, and I spun around to face the doorway.
    It was Jake.

“I said, dragon
what
?” Jake repeated.
    None of us replied.
    I looked from Phoenix to Hú Dié, then back to Jake, who was holding a tray containing three chocolate protein shakes.
    Peter rolled up behind him.
    “Dragon
bone
,” Peter said. “Ryan said ‘dragon bone.’ What is that in your hand, Ryan?”
    I stood speechless, my stomach cramping.
    Hú Dié came to my rescue. “It is a … uh … type of dry lubricant,” she said. “It is a Chinese product. I put it on all of my bike chains back home. I like it better than the grease most people use.”
    “Oh,” Jake said. “Cool. Anybody want a shake?”
    I sighed, grateful for Hú Dié’s quick thinking. “I’ll take one,” I said. “I’m starving.” I grabbed one of the large plastic cups and casually slipped the dragon bone into my pocket.
    Phoenix and Hú Dié each grabbed a shake, and Jake disappeared into the house.
    Peter rolled into the garage. “From what I can see through the bubble wrap, you guys have chosen some excellent bikes. Let me give you an overview of what we’re going to do tomorrow. I’ve already told Jake. I’m going to teach you a few team drills, and I plan to