Infinite Testament Read Online Free Page A

the game and it appeared
to be Paul Higgins. Paul strutted around the table as his opponent stayed
silent. His cocky prance irritated Stephen. He didn’t just beat his
opponent, probably some average Joe trying to impress a girl, he berated him.
    “In my last life, I was the pool champion of the world!”
Paul proclaimed.
    Campbell sighed, “What a tool.”
    Stephen nodded. “Agreed.”
    Paul took a shot and nailed it. He was just the
8-ball away from victory. The crowd roared with applause.
    “What is that? Six wins in a row?” Paul asked,
continuing his show. He twirled the stick around his body and above his
head like a baton.
    Stephen’s goal for the night revealed itself: he was going
to teach Paul Higgins a lesson in humility.
    “Follow me, Campbell.”
    Paul Higgins sunk his final shot and the game was
over. Stephen wormed his way past the tightly woven throngs of applauding
people, determined to face Paul before anyone had the chance to beat him to
it. Stephen emerged and stood at the end of the pool table, staring down
Paul. He didn’t say a word. It was like a western shoot-out.
Paul stared back. It would be seconds until one of them would draw.
The crowd quietly listened.
    “Another challenger? How much money do you want to lose?” Paul taunted.
    The crowd simultaneously turned their attention to
Stephen. There wasn’t a trace of fear in his body. He threw down
twenty $100 bills on the table. Draw.
    Stephen declared in a Clint Eastwood-like tone, “I hope
you’re as good you think you are.”
    Campbell slapped his head in disbelief. The crowd
turned their attention to Paul.
    Stephen grabbed a pool stick and waited.
    Paul Higgins was stunned. He didn’t know if this
mystery fellow was bluffing or if he should be worried. He stood and
pondered, knowing he couldn’t let the crowd down. He visibly regained his
composure.
    “Deal.” Paul’s guard emerged from the shadows and
took the scattered money off the table. Stephen quipped, “Make sure you
don’t lose that. I’ll need it back in five minutes.”
    Campbell squeezed his way through the crowds and came to
the aid of his boss. “Why are you carrying that much money?”
    Stephen shrugged.
    “Are you any good at pool?”
    Stephen whispered, “Just watch this.”
    Lisa Binsby was both impressed and touched. Stephen just cleared the whole pool table and won her a giant stuffed
animal. This was reputed as one of the hardest carnival games in
existence and Stephen just dominated it. The game started with six pool
balls in the center. The goal was to knock all six balls into the pockets
using only four shots. Since this feat was typically impossible, the
prize was a monstrous stuffed pink dog that was almost as tall as Lisa.
It dawned on Stephen that he would have to carry the dog through the fair for
the rest of the day. Perhaps he should have waited to play until they
were on the way out.
    Stephen and Lisa had recently graduated college. It
was June and St. Joseph, Michigan was having its annual fair. Lisa was
leaving for Los Angeles in a few weeks and Stephen would soon be starting his
entry-level job. All they had was today. Tomorrow was more than an
uncertainty; life was at a crossroads for both of them.
    Stephen and Lisa held hands as they strolled through the
rides, games, food stands, and crowds of people. The fair had a rural
feel to it and the sun was out in full force. Summer had officially
arrived and was blessing the people of Michigan with comfortable weather.
    Stephen and Lisa wandered past a little burger stand.
    “Wanna get a burger?” Lisa asked.
    “Sure. I’m always up for a burger,” Stephen said with
a giant pink dog over his shoulder.
    They walked toward the burger stand when they were
interrupted by a female voice. “Hey guys!”
    The voice was sharply recognizable. At first, Stephen
couldn’t match it to a face. Then he saw Kristen waving her hand in the
air running toward them. “Oh great,” he mumbled to himself.