The Gravity Keeper by Michael Reisman Page A

slipped forward, fell onto his stomach, and started belly-sliding in the same direction as Alysha.
    â€œI’m coming, too!” Simon yelled. He used the formula on himself but gave his toes a bit of friction so he could use his feet to push off and pick up speed. While Alysha and Owen were slipping, he could actually dirt-skate. “Yeaahhh! Just like ice-skating!” he yelled.
    Simon zoomed after Owen and Alysha as they slid toward the clearing. Owen was moaning loudly, while Alysha was now shouting with delight.
    â€œThis is awesome!” she cheered. “Way better than skating!” She streaked along effortlessly, laughing as she zoomed through the clearing. Fortunately, there were no tree stumps in her way.
    Owen whimpered as he sped headfirst. He was like a puck whizzing along the ice in a hockey game, only there was no net to catch him.
    Simon pumped his feet, speeding forward so he could catch up to Owen. He looked down and waved. “So what do you think?”
    â€œPlease-please-please-make-me-stop!”
    Alysha’s scream yanked Simon’s attention away. “Simon! Help!” She was past the clearing. Up ahead was the ravine that had formed during the Order’s meeting…and Alysha was seconds away from going over the edge.

CHAPTER 13
G RAVITY I S FOR S UCKERS
    â€œDon’t worry, Owen,” Simon shouted, “I’ll figure this out before you get there.” He sprint-skated toward Alysha, the trees blurring as he rushed by. He was starting to get winded; even without friction, it was tiring to run that hard.
    Simon passed Alysha. “I’ll save you, just hold on!” he yelled.
    â€œHold on to what?” Alysha yelled back.
    Although the woods, as Ralfagon had predicted, was slowly fixing the gap on its own, the space was still close to thirty feet across. Simon would have to reverse the friction formula and fast.
    In his hurry, Simon bobbled the Book. Since he had canceled friction while holding it, it was as friction-free as he was. It wasn’t slippery to him, but it kept going when it hit the ground, sliding at matching speed. He couldn’t bend over to grab it without falling, and he couldn’t remember the formula’s language to stop.
    â€œSimon! Turn it off!” Alysha screamed from dozens of feet behind him.
    Simon groaned. “Stupid, stupid, what are those words?” He was nearing the edge of the ravine. It was about twenty feet deep, and he had no doubt that falling down it would either kill them or at least hurt a whole lot.
    He got an idea. It was going to take excellent timing: he’d only have one chance. He sprint-skated even faster so he was ahead of the Book when he reached the gap. Then he spoke his gravity formula.
    â€œSimon, no!” Alysha cried out, but she was too late. Simon sailed over the edge of the gap. Only he didn’t fall.
    Simon had canceled the gravity right over the gap; instead of falling, he launched across it. He spun in midair so his hands were where his feet should have been, and he managed to grab the Book as it went over the edge.
    His momentum kept him going; he spun as he soared, weightless, through the air. But Simon knew that Alysha and Owen weren’t used to moving in zero g ; they could collide with each other or drift back into the regular gravity zone and fall. He held the Book tightly. “Show me the friction-reversal formula!” he said.
    The Book opened to the right page, to the exact words Simon needed to fix things. Simon twisted in midair and saw Alysha coming up to the edge. He waited for the precise moment and multiplied her friction to fifty times more than normal so her momentum wouldn’t carry her into the chasm.
    Alysha was jolted to a halt with only her rear end still on the ground. She was literally hanging on to the edge by the seat of her pants.
    Simon continued spinning through the air to the other side of the gap. He used his gravity formula