LU AND LAURIE.

Lawrence makes a friend

Lawrence III was holidaying on Shamouti. The natives had warily allowed him to come as long as he was not out to capture the birds or Lugia. As his machine was now scrap, after it was salvaged from Fire Island, he was able to assure them that relaxation was all he was after. It was now late in the day, and the sun had begun to set.

Hello? came a voice. Lawrence sat up and looked around, expecting to see another boat, but there were none.

Hello? Is anyone about to talk to me? I'm bored. came the voice again, and Lawrence realised the voice was inside his head. He's had an ESP test some years ago, and it had been worked out that he had some sort of latent psychic ability, but nothing definite had been suggested. Lawrence now knew that part of that ability was telepathy. He could receive, at any rate. Could he send? He decided to try.

Hello? he sent back.

There is someone there! Hello! came back an immediate reply. The 'voice' sounded young-a child?

What's your name? Are you a boy or a girl? asked Lawrence.

I am male. My name's Lou. What's yours? asked Lou.

Lawrence was surprised by the gender classification from one who sounded so young. 'Male', not 'Boy.' Intelligent child, obviously.

Lou? That's L-O-U isn't it? he said.

No, Lu. No 'O' sound. Lu.

Okay, Lu.

What's your name? asked Lu.

Laurie. said Lawrence.

Lawrence really hated being called Lawrence III. He'd only been given the name to carry it on, and it felt inferior somehow being the third of something. It was as though he was just a body to carry the family name and for some reason the first name of Lawrence was being passed on as well. It wouldn't have helped to have had the Americanism, and called Lawrence Junior. That was just as bad! From very early he had vowed that if he had a son, it would not be called Lawrence IV. He wasn't inflicting that upon any child! In fact, nowhere in its name would the name Lawrence appear. To hell with family tradition!

Laurie. repeated the young think-voice. It sounded nice like that. What do you do?

I collect things. Lawrence said.

What sort of things? asked Lu. I collect too. Pearls, feathers, and shells.

Lawrence thought a bit before answering. He didn't want this child, who was probably an islander, to realise he was talking to the man who had caused so much trouble with the birds. It would put him off before he'd even met him, and he'd rather the child judged him on his character and not on what he'd heard from others.

Stamps. he replied. Trading cards, and I like shells, pearls, and feathers too, but I've never thought to collect them. Perhaps I should collect them too?

I can get you some really nice shells. I dive down to collect them from the sea floor. said Lu.

" Would you? But what could I do in return for you? asked Lawrence.

Could you try and find me some nice feathers? asked Lu. They don't have to be particularly rare, I just like them.

Okay, I should be able to do that. he said.

Oh, my mother's telling me to sleep. Better go. Bye! Lu abruptly fell silent.

Lawrence didn't hear from Lu for a couple of weeks, but collected feathers from various places on the island, and also wrote to all his friends who lived or visited exotic places, and asked them to send him feathers. He put aside one of each type for Lu, and used the doubles as the start of his own collection. Lu contacted him again early one morning.

Laurie?

Lu, it's good to hear from you! I got you some feathers!

I got you some really nice shells, and a pearl! said Lu. I'm going to talk to my parents about meeting you. But they're very protective of me, so we'll have to wait till I can approach them. Till then, we'll talk every week. OK?

OK. said Lawrence.

For weeks and weeks they talked, finding out things about each other. They found out they were both the only child in their family, though Lu said his mother could if needed still have another child. Lu often dived for shells, and said holding his breath was no difficulty, so Lawrence guessed that his parents had taught him to swim and dive from a young age. For three months they had their weekly chats, and by then Lawrence felt that he almost knew Lu as well as he knew himself. Lawrence had almost forgotten about Lu's promise to ask his parents, until Lu contacted him about it.

My parents are still protective of me, and don't want me to meet with someone they don't know, but I want to anyway. Tomorrow. Where shall we meet? Lu sounded rebellious.

Um, how about at Slowking's shrine? asked Lawrence, hearing from Lu's 'voice' that he wasn't going to be talked out of it. I just hope your parents won't be mad at me when they find you out.

Oh no, they won't be mad at you. said Lu cheerfully. It'll be me they'll be mad at. Bring the feathers when the sun is directly above in the sky. I'll tell them I'm diving for shells. They won't expect me for hours. I'll bring the shells and we can swap them over!

Okay. said Lawrence.

The next day, Lawrence was at the shrine, looking landwards, as that was where he expected the boy to come from. He was wondering where he was when he heard Hello? from behind him. He turned, and stared.

Beside the boat, looking up at him with it's dark blue eyes, was a small Lugia!

Laurie? came Lu's think-voice with a note of uncertainty. Is that you?

Lu? asked Lawrence. His thoughts were whirling. Here was a Lugia, whose parents didn't know it was seeing him. He could take it and put it in his collection! But he pushed the thought aside. This was his friend! He looked at the trusting look Lu was favouring him with. He couldn't betray that trust!

Laurie? Is that you? Lu's voice sounded just as surprised as Lawrence felt. Your thoughts are agitated. What's up?

I'm just surprised. said Lawrence, firmly squashing any further thoughts of capturing Lu. I thought you were a human boy!

And I thought you were a Lugia! Said Lu. Lu flapped it's wings, and as it started rising out of the water, Lawrence saw for the first time it had a net in it's mouth, which was going into the water. Judging by the tautness of the net, there was a heavy load in it.

Here, let me take that. said Lawrence, reaching out and helping to pull the net into the boat. The net, containing a heavy load of shells, was pulled into the boat by Lawrence, and Lu scrabbled at the side of the boat with its feet, trying to get in. The sides of the boat were high, however, and Lu couldn't gain purchase on the slippery sides. Lawrence reached gently under Lu's wings, and lifted the two metres or so of wet Lugia into the boat. He was surprisingly light for his size. He rested his head in Lawrence's lap, looked up and said Those are shells for you. Have a look! Go on!

Lawrence opened the bag, and drew out some shells. Some were sea-polished, some were rough, some were large, some were small, some were common, and some extremely rare. But all were in good condition and anything any collector would be proud to have in his or her collection.

Lu, these are beautiful! he said. Here, these are for you. He brought out a metre-long box and put it by Lu's side. Lu used his mouth to open the box. Inside were feathers of all shapes, sizes and colours. Lu lifted them up one by one, admiring them.

Thank you, Laurie! These are beautiful!

I got some doubles, and I kept them for a collection of my own. Lawrence said.

You have a feather collection too? asked Lu. Lawrence nodded. Lu spread a wing, and tugged on a few feathers until one came out. He proffered it to Lawrence.

Here, another one for your collection. Lu said. Lawrence took the feather gently, and placed it in a locker on the boat.

Thank you, Lu! I'll treasure it, not just as something to collect, but as a sign of our friendship.

I'd better head back now, or my parents will wonder where I am. Lu said. Lawrence carefully emptied the shells from the net, and helped Lu wrap the net firmly round the box. Then Lu jumped off the side of the boat into the water, and Lawrence lowered the netted box down to where Lu could grasp it.

Same time, same place next week? Lu asked.

Okay. said Lawrence. I'll bring any more feathers I get.

I'll bring any more shells. said Lu. Then he dived under the water.

Lu and Lawrence met for several more weeks without Lu's parents suspecting. They exchanged feathers and shells, and often lay in the boat together talking about the things they'd found. One particularly hot August day, however, while talking, they dozed off in the heat.

Both were woken by a psychic shout. Lu, get out of there now, quickly! The voice was clearly frightened. Two pairs of eyes snapped open, and the pair found themselves looking at two full-sized Lugias hovering over the boat

Mum! Dad! Meet my friend Laurie! said Lu. He gave me all those feathers!

Out, quickly, He's dangerous! came another psychic shout, different in a subtle way from the first.

But this is my friend, Laurie! Lu protested.

Remember what we told you? About the human who tried to capture the birds and I? He caused us so much trouble, and he's probably planning to capture you! Lu looked at Lawrence with widening eyes.

What? You mean-that's him? One of the hovering Lugias nodded it's head.

I would never do anything to deliberately hurt or upset you, Lu, I promise! said Lawrence. He looked at the parents. And that includes capturing him! He's my friend and I wouldn't do such a thing!

You seemed very determined to capture me last time we met. said one Lugia. I believe your main purpose in capturing the birds was to bring me out, as I was more valuable to you than they.

I see what I did then was wrong, and I apologise. Lawrence said. I would never try to capture Lu! He's my friend! Anyway, I have no machine now, and there is nothing in this boat I could use to capture him!

Mum, Dad, if he's wanted to capture me, he could have done it earlier! We've been meeting now for weeks, because you wouldn't let me otherwise!

With good reason, especially considering the company you've been keeping. But you do have a point. You have returned to us each time unscathed. I will allow you to see him. Then he directed his thoughts at Lawrence You are being trusted where no trust is deserved. But be aware, we will be watching and listening. Harm Lu, and we will both come after you to make you pay! If any harm comes to Lu, you will wish you had never heard of Lugia, or Moltres, Articuno, Zapdos, or Shamouti island! Lawrence nodded.

Thank you, I promise I will never knowingly or deliberately harm Lu. At that point, the radio in the boat came to life.

"Lawrence, are you there?" Lawrence answered.

"Hello? Who is this?"

"Hello, how are you Lawrence? This is your old friend Cyrill……"