Free Gatekeepers by Robert Liparulo Page A

the person downstairs actually turned out to be a pirate.
    â€œI know about the portals,” the shaky voice continued.
    â€œSee?” Xander said. “Has to be one of Taksidian’s men.”
    â€œI know that one of you saved a little girl in World War II.”
    Xander’s eyes flashed wide. He gaped at David.
    David’s lips moved, but they found no words. Finally he said, “How . . . ?”
    â€œHuh?” Toria said. Her face reflected complete bafflement.
    â€œWhat little girl?”
    David started for the grand staircase.
    â€œDae, no!” Xander grabbed his arm.
    â€œTaksidian can’t know that,” David said. “Only you, me, and Dad.”
    Xander thought about it. He released David’s arm and stood.
    David took a step, and his brother grabbed him again.
    Xander said, “Be ready to run.”
    David said, “Straight upstairs, right?”
    â€œRight.” Xander gave Toria a firm look.
    David walked slowly, willing that ferret in his chest to settle down. He took a deep breath and stepped up to the banister that overlooked the foyer. A big black man stood, staring up at him. He was standing behind an ancient geezer in a wheel-chair. The old man was mostly bald, except for a cloud of white hair circling around from one temple to the other. He had a thick silver mustache and eyes so blue David could see them sparkle, even from a floor away.
    The old man spotted him and squinted. His lips pushed into a radiant smile.
    David felt hope rush through him, as though his blood had warmed by a couple degrees: the man had the kindest face he had ever seen.
    â€œI should have known,” the old man said. He shifted in his chair to smile up at the guy standing behind him. “I should have known.” He started coughing. It was a wheezy, raggedy sound.
    The other man put his hand on the old man’s back. He leaned around to watch his face as he coughed. He said, “Jesse? Jesse, you all right?”
    The old man—Jesse—fluttered a scrawny hand in the air. When he looked up at David again, his eyes were wet. He said, “I can’t tell you how wonderful it is to see you again . . . David.”
    David took a step back and bumped into his brother.
    â€œAnd you ! Xander.”
    David said, “How do you know us?”
    The wrinkles on Jesse’s face rippled and hardened in a posture of concentration. He said, “Let’s just say that I have met you .”
    Toria stepped up to the banister.
    Jesse said, “Oh . . . and who is this?” He wheeled his chair back for a better look. One of the wheels creaked. Eeek-eeek .
    Toria told him her name.
    Xander said, “How do you know David and me, but not our sister?”
    â€œIt’s a long story, and I hope to have the time to tell it.” He glanced around. “Please tell your parents I’m here.”
    â€œThey—” Xander started, then stopped. “What are you doing breaking into our house?”
    â€œI’m sorry about that,” the old man said. “We wanted to call, but information gave us a 626 area code. That’s not around here.”
    â€œThat’s our old number,” David said. “In Pasadena. We just moved in.”
    The old man nodded. “Information didn’t give a new one. We drove straight from the airport. I . . . I wanted to get here as soon as possible.”
    Xander said, “So you just barged in?”
    Jesse looked up at them sheepishly. “Keal did knock.”
    â€œWell, you can just wheel yourself right back—”
    David elbowed his brother in the ribs. Hard.
    Xander yelped.
    David whispered, “There’s something about him, Xander, can’t you tell? I think he’s on our side.”
    â€œDae, they broke in !”
    The two boys looked over the handrail. Jesse was grinning as though he was the guest of honor at a surprise party.
    â€œWho are you?” Xander