Those questioned seemed to agree on only three facts, the first imparted with jubilant admiration – Link had somehow cleared the space from the top of the courtyard stairs to the stranger on the path in one jump. Dropped his books and was gone, they said excitedly.

Why? Well, they didn’t know, did they? Since no one exiting the building could see through the after school crowds.

The second fact was that Link had beaten the holy hell out of that jock. He seemed intent on murder, though that couldn’t really have been the case, now could it? If it were then the guy would be dead, everyone knows that. Even so, he was vicious. Scaaaarrrrry. They called an ambulance and everything. Weird, then, huh, that Link didn’t put up a fight when the teachers drug him back inside?

Sheeba? Yeah, yeah, she was there. Crying, maybe. Maybe clutching her face. Maybe she tried to separate them? Not too sure. She wasn't doing much, sitting there when they saw.

The third? That Link’s in serious trouble, obviously. He did just get back from some home or juvi or something, didn’t he? Barely even made it a week. Geeze.

What’s his deal?