Gift of the Kites by Jim C. Hines, read by Cat Rambo for Clark's World Magazine,

Issue 25 October 2008. Gift of the Kites

the Kites. The first time Jesse saw the Black Buka was in the park. He was flying a plastic Superman kite, dueling against his stepfather's rainbow box kite.

Jesse yanked the blue nylon string swooping his kite towards his stepfathers.

Kentaro dodged easily.

Too broad a strike, he called, laughing.

A true fighter kite would loop around and cut your line.

Get him, Jesse, cheered Jesse's mother, sitting in the shade on one of the picnic benches.

At 12 years old, Jesse felt a mix of pride and embarrassment at her enthusiasm.

Flushing, he unwrapped a bit more line, sending his kite higher.

He dove again, missed, then tugged the kite in a tight turn that nearly clipped Kintaro's

kite.

His mother whistled.

Much better, Kintaro said, grinning.

He pulled his kite through a long jay and salute. Amazing control from a plastic store-bok kite.

You're sure you have no Japanese blood? A shadow caught Jesse's attention. A black rectangular kite leaped

from the horizon corkscrewing through the sky.

Jesse ran towards a fence, hoping to glimpse the kite's owner.

His Superman kite followed like an obedient blue and red puppy.

What is it? his mother called.

Higher and higher the black kite flew.

The string was invisible to Jessie's eyes,

...