Him Standing Read Online Free Page A

look in her eyes.
    â€œYou haven’t been eating,” she said. “There’re no dirty dishes and your garbage is the same as the last time I saw it.”
    â€œNo time,” I said. “All I’ve been doing is working. Sleeping. Dreaming. Working.”
    â€œDreaming about what, Lucas?”
    â€œDon’t know. Can’t find the legend. Only got a face.”
    â€œWhat face?”
    â€œThe painted man. That’s all I got. Painted man’s face.”
    â€œCan you show me what you’ve done so far?”
    I got up sluggishly. My body felt that same odd heaviness, and I couldn’t get my feet to move. Finally I summoned enough strength to walk slowly over to the work table. The mask was covered with a black cloth. I didn’t know where the cloth had come from. We stood side by side looking at it, and I could feel Amy’s worry.
    â€œThat’s it,” I said. “The mask. The mask of the painted man’s face.”
    â€œIs it finished?” Amy asked.
    â€œNo,” I said. “It seems to be taking a really long time.”
    â€œHave you heard from Gareth Knight?”
    â€œNo. But he’ll be pleased that I’m working.”
    â€œEven if it’s going as hard and slow as you say?”
    â€œYes.” I said it in the dreamy, detached voice she had heard on the phone.
    She looked at me. Then she reached out and slowly pulled the black cloth from the carving. I heard her moan. I heard a sob in her throat. She looked at me with eyes brimming with tears.
    â€œLucas,” she said shakily.
    When I looked at the carving, I was staring at a blurred outline of my own face.

CHAPTER SEVEN
    I sat there in disbelief. I’d worked so hard. It felt like the hardest work I had ever done. Now, there was just my face. I thought I was carving the painted man. I thought I was entering the dreams and coming out with a better idea of how to bring him to life in the wood. Amy and I sat there not knowing what to say. I felt beaten. I felt terrified. The week had been one long blur, and this was all I had to show for it. Amy looked scared. Plumb scared. She put both hands to her face and stared without blinking at the mask.
    â€œI don’t understand,” she said quietly.
    â€œMe neither,” I said.
    â€œI don’t think you should do this anymore.”
    â€œI can’t stop now.”
    â€œWhy? It’s not good for you, Lucas.”
    â€œThere’s too much on the line,” I said.
    â€œIt’s just money. You’re a talented artist. You’ll get more work. This is just weird, and it’s not affecting you in a good way.” She reached out and touched me lightly on the arm.
    What happened next shocked both of us. I pushed her arm away with a sweeping motion and reached out and grabbed her by the shoulders. I stared hard into her eyes. The muscles in my face tightened so hard, I thought they would snap. I scowled. I shook her hard. There was a cold hardness in my chest. I was shaking. The voice that came out of me wasn’t mine.
    â€œThe doorway is open. It will stay open, girl child. When I emerge, you will see real power!”
    Amy scrambled out of my grip. She backed into the corner and stared wide-eyed at me. When I took a step, she held both hands out in front of her to ward me off. My feet were heavy, bulky. My arms and shoulders were tight. The scowl was still on my face. I put my hands up to my face and clutched both temples. I was terrified and sick and suddenly very weak. Before I knew what was happening, I had collapsed onto my knees in the middle of the room and was shaking violently.
    â€œWhat’s happening to me?” I howled.
    â€œNot exactly feeling like yourself, Lucas?” I looked up. Gareth Knight stood in the doorway. We hadn’t heard the door open. He was still dressed in black. The room felt colder all of a sudden. Amy strode over to kneel beside me. “The work is