Story and characters are (c) Lars E Hellberg

Wings

Toying with the pencil, letting it wander between her fingers, Terri looked up from her notebook. Malcolm sat on the floor by the patio door, basking in the warm Sunday afternoon sun. Terri smiled at her brother\x92s contented look, his eyes closed and his mouth half open. Stifling a yawn, she returned to her textbook, quickly growing bored. This is not fair! she thought. Why do I have to keep reading this crap! It\x92s kids\x92 stuff! Unable to concentrate on her Religious Studies book, she returned to doodling in the back of the notebook. If I could choose, I\x92d do maths the whole time! She thought back to the third degree equations she had done the last week, astonishing her teachers. It\x92s so much more fun working with adults. Not having to deal with all these kids. \x91You\x92re just ten years old,\x92 Malcolm had said, when she wanted to skip straight into university. \x91You\x92ve got to finish your elementary school!\x92 Shouting at him hadn\x92t helped, and their parents had been adamant. She was stuck in kiddie school! Her maths teacher, Professor Walker, had called her a genius, and she still had to read about the ridiculous religions. Mind candy, she thought. Sweets to comfort people who are too afraid to face reality without a guardian angel behind their backs. Damn it all!
"What are you writing?" Malcolm asked. She jumped, not having noticed that he\x92d got up. "It doesn\x92t look like your essay on Martin Luther."
"It isn\x92t. I just can\x92t wrap my head around it. How can anybody believe in that dung?"
"Don\x92t mock what others may think, Terri. Just because you\x92ve got a calculator head."
"Thanks for the advice, padre. Well, I\x92m writing a formula that will change the future, if you want to know. Change it, without any divine acts or anything equally dumb."
"Sometimes I just don\x92t understand you, sis." He shook his head, patting hers. "You mock religion, you sneer at the philosophers, and you don\x92t even agree with the old math masters. What do you want?"
"To fly. It\x92s all just a matter of perspective. Perspective, and maths. The formula will make it possible."
"All figures and letters. Looks like deviltry, if you ask me. You should stop this!"
"Oh, lay off your narrow-minded, catholic world-view, brother! Are you really too old for new thoughts? The minute I\x92m eighteen, I\x92ll resign from the church. I never wanted to get dragged into it in the first place!"
"It\x92s gone to your head, all this counting. It can\x92t be good for you."
"Malcolm, did you die when you turned eighteen? Did I miss your funeral? Why won\x92t you understand my dream?" There were tears in her eyes. "Why won\x92t you?"
"Look at this!" He held up the notebook, despite her protests. "It looks like a twisted, sick pentagram or something. What are you trying to do, mathematically open the doors to Hell?"
"We can all fly, Malcolm, even you! You won\x92t stop me!"
"Watch me!" He ripped the book in half, ignoring the shock in his sister\x92s eyes.
"You bastard!" she cried, leaving the table. "Why won\x92t you understand?"

Watching her leave, tears streaming her cheeks, Malcolm turned to look at the torn pages. Looks like some goddamned black mass, he thought, crossing himself. What\x92s wrong with her? For a while he thought to follow her, but decided against it. Maybe she needs some time alone. Instead, he sat down again, sun-bathing. After a few minutes, he fell asleep. When he woke up, the sun had gone from the window, and he felt cold. The notes were gone! So, she couldn\x92t keep away? Getting up, he went to Terri\x92s room, but she wasn\x92t there. Worried, he searched the house, but couldn\x92t find her anywhere.

He opens the door, stepping out on the gravelled path. She watches him, suppressing a giggle at his dumb-struck face when he sees her. Her clothes lie in a heap beside her, and he crosses himself as he watches her naked body. You should have believed in me, brother. You shouldn\x92t have had your faith elsewhere. He shakes his head, now he\x92s the one crying, mouthing a silent \x91Why?\x92 when he fails to find voice. Throwing her head back, Terri doesn\x92t answer as she unfolds her huge black wings.

And takes to the sky.