as far as she was concerned. She went and sat down with crossed arms, determined not to enjoy this.
Phos strapped on a padded vest and gloves. Then he mounted the gray bull. This one was just not having it. Even in the narrow space, he jumped and got his front hooves over one of the lower bars on the chute. The handlers eased him back into place.
Phos had apparently given the announcer a phony name, which he bellowed into the speaker. Then, the air horn sounded, and the gate flew open.
The bull raged out onto the field. He twisted and snapped about with such force that he looked like he would break himself in half. Wild snorts and clods of dirt flew. Mary swore that fiery breath came from his mouth.
Phos held on. With all the bucking and snapping and twisting, he managed to hold onto the reins. The seconds on the clock ticked down. The crowds went ballistic.
The air horn sounded again. Eight seconds had passed. Phos had done it! Even the announcer cheered with the audience as clowns ran out to distract the bull so that Phos could jump off unharmed.
Mary slumped in her seat and breathed the biggest sigh of relief she had ever breathed. Down in the rink, Phos looked at her and waved excitedly. She shook her head and couldn't help laughing.
The clowns were getting the bull back through the gate when he suddenly stopped and turned his massive gray head around. He eyed Phos and charged.
Mary jumped. "WATCH OUT!"
Too late.
Phos still had his back to the bull when it struck. It grabbed him with its blunted horns and tossed him into the stands like a toy.
"Phos!" Mary tripped and stumbled down the steps into the crowd of people swarming around him. Someone called for the medics, who came immediately.
"Let me by!" she cried as she shoved her way through. Panic welled up in her. All she could think about was if he was injured, paralyzed, or even dead. She hadn't even considered the fact that he was her only way home.
As if on cue, the crowd cheered and Phos stood on his feet. He looked a little dazed. But mercifully, he seemed all right.
"Mary!" he said as he made his way to her. "Did you see that? Did you see me?"
She stared at him.
"Mary?" Phos asked, his smile fading.
She said nothing. Suddenly, Mary balled up her fist and punched him. Pain surged through her hand.
"Ooo!" the crowd gasped.
Shaking the soreness from her hand, Mary stormed out of the stands. She was walking into the parking lot when Phos caught up with her.
"You're upset," he remarked.
"Really, Captain Obvious?" she said. "I hadn't noticed."
"You're also crying," he added.
"That's stupid," she said. "I can't cry."
Phos took her arm gently but firmly so that she would stop walking. He touched her face with his feverish hand and showed her a tear on his fingers. Somehow, it had found its way out of her tiny tear ducts.
Mary stared at her tear on his hand. She touched her own face and felt the wet trail it had left.
"I frightened you greatly," Phos said. "Didn't I?"
Mary looked in his eyes and nodded.
Phos wrapped his arms around her. "I'm sorry."
But Mary pulled away and wiped her eyes on her sleeve. "No. This doesn't make what you did okay. You could've died!"
"Mary," he said calmly. "I was never in any danger. I told you before. I can't be killed. I'm not made to die."
Mary wiped her face again. "What are you saying? You're indestructible or something?"
"Well, not exactly," he said. "But my energy is constantly regenerating Carter's body. I'm healing all the time and very quickly. Look." He raised part of his shirt, revealing a disgusting bruise on his torso.
She wrinkled her face. "Ew."
"Three of my ribs are broken," he explained.
"Omigosh!" she cried. "We need to get you to a hospital!"
"Just wait for a minute and watch," he said.
Mary stared at him. But she did wait and watch. The bruise was quite large and had different shades of black, blue, and some red on the edges. Suddenly, the bones slowly moved under his skin. They made all kinds of sickening noises as they went back to their proper places. The colorful hues on his skin began to morph, like someone was pushing paint around with a brush. Then, the bruise started to fade.
Mary didn't even blink for fear of missing something. In just over a minute, the broken bones and bruise were completely