10 The Climb

Ten, the climb, ZEKE AND PAUL STARTED CLIMBING. They both moved quickly up the tree. This would be so much easier if I could just use my powers, Zeke thought. Harris really wanted to climb the tree, but he just couldn't seem to make himself walk over to it and begin.

Zeke glanced down and saw that Harris was still standing on the ground. He looked up at Paul, who was reaching for a branch high above him.

Zeke climbed back down. "Let's climb together, okay?" Zeke asked. Harris took a deep breath and stepped onto the lowest branch. "Just go slowly, Harris," Zeke said. "I won't let anything happen to you." Harris nodded and slowly made his way up the tree. He had only gotten a little way up when he heard Paul's voice from above.

"I beat both of you! Look at me!" Paul shouted from the highest branch. "I'm king of the tree!" Paul raised his arms to the sky in victory, but somehow lost his balance and fell. He plunged toward the ground below.

"Aaahhh!" he cried. Harris looked up helplessly and winced. There was nothing he could do to help. Zeke closed his eyes and focused on Paul. He had to use his powers, but he couldn't be too obvious about it. Zeke slowed Paul down a bit until he was just two feet from the ground, then he let Paul hit the ground at normal speed.

Climbing down quickly, Zeke and Harris rushed to Paul's side and helped him to his feet. Are you all right?" asked Harris. "Yeah," said Paul, dazed. "It was weird. As I was falling, I felt like something was holding me, even slowing me down. I'm not sure exactly what happened. It's kind of a blur."