“I want to say something,” he announced.
The others gathered around, not sure of what to expect.
“None of us want to be here,” he began with a low voice. “If it were my call, we’d all go home and pretend none of this ever happened. But we can’t. Some of us don’t even have homes to go back to. I don’t know about you guys, but the more I learn about this idiotic war, the more confused I get. Uncle Press told me the number one rule was never to mix the territories. He said each territory has its own history and destiny. That’s the way it was meant to be,’ he’d always say, and I believed him. But if that’s true, how come Saint Dane doesn’t know it? Why do we have to play by the rules, if he doesn’t?”
As he spoke, Bobby’s voice grew more assured. The others felt it. Without meaning to, they all stood up a little straighten
“But you know what?” he continued. “We’ve beaten him. More than once. He took away most everything I ever cared about, but we beat him. He killed my uncle, but we beat him. He uses every trick possible to confuse us, but we still beat him. And I’ll tell you what, here on Eelong, we’re going to beat him again.”
Spader smiled at Courtney and winked. Things were getting interesting.
Bobby continued, “If he says the rules have changed, fine. That means they’ve changed for everybody. This may not be the way it was meant to be, but it’s the way it’sgoingto be. We’re not waiting for his next move. We’re taking the fight to him.”
“Yes!” Boon shouted.
“Mark, Courtney,” Bobby continued. “I’m sorry I doubted you. You were right to bring the antidote here. When we save Eelong, it’ll be because of you guys.”
Mark beamed. This was exactly the kind of moment he had been dreaming about since he read Bobby’s very first journal.
“But I want you to go home now,” Bobby added. “This is way too dangerous for you guys.”
“No!” Courtney said adamantly. It was so quick that everybody turned to look at her. “We’ve come too far to wuss out now. We want to see this to the end. Right, Mark?”
Mark gulped. “Right,” he said with a shaky voice.
Bobby nodded and gave them a small smile. “That’s what I figured you’d say. All right, then. I’m glad you’re here. You earned it.”
Courtney beamed. Mark smiled weakly.
Bobby turned to Spader and said sharply, “Spader?”
Spader stood up straight. He nervously said, “Look, Pendragon, I know you told me to go home and wait for you but-“
“Welcome back to the show, mate,” Bobby said with a smile. Spader let out a relieved breath and said, “It is so very good to be back.”
“Tell us about the antidote,” Bobby said.
“With pleasure,” Spader replied. He knelt down next to the three tanks in their black harnesses. “The agronomers tell me the poison may be nasty, but it’s fragile. A single whiff of the liquid in these tanks will make it harmless.”
Gunny asked, “How do you think Saint Dane will use the poison against Black Water?”
“From what I’ve read in Pendragon’s journal,” Spader answered, “Black Water is inside a giant, natural bowl, right?”
“That’s right,” Gunny answered.
“That’s good and bad,” Spader continued. “The poison is a liquid gas that clings to anything it touches. If Saint Dane and his klee wogglies release enough of it into the air of Black Water, the surrounding mountains will trap it. The result? Every living thing inside would die.”
Everyone exchanged nervous glances.
“So what’s the good part?” Boon asked nervously.
“The mountains can help us, too,” Mark answered. “If these canisters of antidote are released inside the bowl, the mountains will help keep it from blowing away and let it do its work against the poison.”
“Right,” Spader concurred. “The tricky part is the timing.”
“Gunny and I have a plan,” Bobby announced. “If Saint Dane is going to attack Black Water, we’ve got to get the antidote there as fast as possible. Boon, can you get five zenzens and more weapons?”
“Say the word,” Boon answered proudly.
“Good,” Bobby acknowledged. “You’re going to Black Water, tonight, with the antidote tanks. Gunny will lead you there, along with Spader, Courtney, and Mark. First thing Gunny will do is try to convince the gars not to make that radio broadcast. If the rest of the gar population stays away, that’s half the battle.”
“Why so many of us?” Courtney asked.
“It’s a long way back,” Gunny answered. “A lot can happen between here and there.”
They all knew what Gunny meant. Eelong was a dangerous place. There was no guarantee they would all get there safely. The more people who went, the better chance they had of somebody arriving with the antidote.
“W-What about the tangs?” Mark asked. “Isn’t it kind of dangerous to travel at night?”
“No,” Kasha answered. “Tangs don’t usually attack at night.”
“Then we’ll get there before daybreak!” Spader offered optimistically.
“What about you, Bobby?” Courtney asked.
Bobby took a deep breath, as if he didn’t like what he was about to say. “Please don’t be ticked,” he said. “But I can’t tell you what I’m going to do. After what happened with Yorn, I can’t be sure that one of you isn’t really Saint Dane.”
The others broke out with surprised responses. “What? Impossible! That can’t be. You’re not serious!”
“Saint Dane can do a lot of things,” Bobby said, trying to restore order. “But I’m pretty sure he can’t split himself in two. That means Gunny and Kasha are clear. But as for everybody else, I just can’t take the chance. I’m sorry.”
Courtney bit her lip. Spader smiled and shook his head. Boon laughed as if it were the most outrageous thing he’d ever heard.
“It’s okay, Bobby,” Mark said. “You’re right.”
“I’ll tell you one thing,” Spader said. “I’m not looking forward to wearing these rags.” He held up one of the smelly, rotten pieces of fabric that the gars called clothes.
“Don’t,” Bobby said defiantly. “If we’re throwing away the rules, we’re throwing themallaway. Keep your clothes from Cloral.”
“Now we’re talking!” Courtney said with relief.
“Are you sure, Bobby?” Mark asked meekly. “Absolutely,” Bobby answered.
“We should get going,” Gunny said. “Time may be precious.”
The group split up, each preparing for the mission in their own way. Spader strapped on his tank with the help of Gunny while Bobby helped Mark and Courtney gear up.
“Are you sure about this, Mark?” Bobby asked quietly. “If you want to go home, no harm, no foul. You’re already a hero.”
This was the moment of truth for Mark. He had wrestled with conflicting emotions since Bobby began his adventure so long ago. Part of him wanted to be right there with his best friend, battling Saint Dane and protecting Halla. It all sounded so exciting. But the practical side of his brain kept reminding him that he wasn’t a fighter; he wasn’t athletic; and he wasn’t particularly brave.
“I’m pretty scared,” Mark said. “But I’m more scared about what’ll happen if Saint Dane comes to Second Earth. One way or another, I’m going to have to face him. It might as well be here. Maybe we can stop him for good, before he gets a shot at my family.”
“Trust us, Bobby,” Courtney said. “We’re going to do this.”
Bobby smiled and said, “I believe you.”
Courtney added, “And neither of us is Saint Dane, you dork.”
Across the cavern, Boon approached Kasha. “Is it true?” he asked. “Is Yorn dead?”
Kasha nodded sadly and said, “Saint Dane changed himself to look just like him. If I hadn’t seen it for myself…” She didn’t finish the thought. “It’s not that I didn’t believe my father, it’s just that, I didn’t want to.”
Boo
n said, “You know what he told me? He said that when Saint Dane made his move, you’d be the one to bring him down.
He told me you’d complain, and argue, and come up with a hundred reasons not to be involved, but he knew in the end it wouldn’t be him, but you who would save Eelong.”
Kasha began to tear up at the thought of her father. She wiped her eyes quickly and took off her necklace. Dangling from the string were two rings. She took one off.
“Yorn’s ring,” she said. “If I’m the Traveler from Eelong, then you’re the acolyte.” She held it out to Boon. Boon took it reverently and slipped it into his tunic.
“I won’t let you down,” he said.
Gunny finished strapping Spader’s tank on his back, making sure it was snug. “How’s that feel, Flash Gordon?” Gunny asked.
“Snappy-do,” Spader replied. “Just like old times, aye, Gunny? It’s good to be back with you.”
Bobby stepped up to the two and said, “I guess I don’t have to say anything. You guys know how important this is.”
“No worries, mate,” Spader said cheerfully. “You’ve got the A team in now.”
Gunny and Bobby exchanged looks, and smiles. They were used to Spader’s cockiness. “Then there’s only one thing left to say,” Gunny announced. “Hobey-ho, let’s go.”
“Hobey-ho!” Spader echoed. He gave Bobby a clap on the back and started for the stairs.
“You be careful now, shorty,” Gunny said to Bobby.
“Yeah, right,” Bobby replied.
Spader called, “Last one back buys the sniggers!”
“You’re on,” Bobby replied.
Gunny followed Spader to the stairs. Mark and Courtney walked up to Bobby. Mark said, “You know I’ve been dreaming about this for a long time.”
“I know,” Bobby said. “But this is no dream, Mark. It’s on. For real.”
Mark gave him a small, unsure smile. “Don’t worry about us,” Courtney said. “Only one thing’s got me nervous.”
“What’s that?” Bobby asked.
“What the heck are we gonna tell our parents when we get home?”
Bobby laughed. Courtney did too. Mark’s stomach flipped.
“Like we don’t have enough to worry about?” Mark said.
Courtney leaned over and gave Bobby a kiss. “See ya,” she said with a wink. She was ready. The two joined Gunny and Spader, and the group pushed through the hanging vines, disappearing up the root stairway, leaving Bobby alone in the cavern with Kasha.
“Well?” she asked. “Are you going to share your big secret plan?”
“Are you in?” Bobby asked with dead seriousness. “I meanreallyin? Because if you have doubts, tell me now.”
Kasha said, “I don’t understand who you are, Pendragon. Or how you got here, or what it means to be a Traveler. But some things are very clear to me. The klees are going to starve. That’s a fact. I also believe the gars deserve better treatment. If the klees can be made to understand that, then I believe the gars of Black Water will share their knowledge and help feed all of Eelong. At least that’s what I hope. It may be our only chance to survive.”
“I think you’re right,” Bobby said.
“I still don’t know what Saint Dane is,” Kasha continued. “But I now believe he’s real too. He killed my father and he killed Yorn. From what I’ve seen, I don’t doubt for a second he’d use that poison to destroy Black Water. So given all that, Pendragon, I can say with total confidence… I’m in.”
“Good,” Bobby said.
“So what’s the plan?”
Bobby smiled and said, “If we’re lucky, it won’t matter if the others get the antidote to Black Water in time.”
“Because?…”
“Because we’re going after Saint Dane.”
EELONG
(CONTINUED)
“I’m not a killer,”Kasha said as they hurried along the sky bridge back to Leeandra. “If that’s your plan to stop Saint Dane, get another plan.”
“Give me a break. I’m not a killer either,” Bobby assured her. “Even if I was, killing Saint Dane wouldn’t stop him.”
“Explain that, please,” Kasha said.
“Uncle Press told me that killing Saint Dane’s body wouldn’t kill his spirit. He’d just show up in another form. I don’t know how that’s possible, but I believe it. You’ve seen the way he can transform himself. He isn’t human, I mean, gar.”
“That I believe,” Kasha said.
“The thing is,” Bobby continued, “when Saint Dane targets a territory, he doesn’t do the dirty work himself. He tricks the people of a territory to do things that’ll bring about their own ruin.”
“And you think he’s going to convince the Council of Klee to use the poison on Black Water?”
“Exactly,” was Bobby’s answer. “So if we want to beat Saint Dane, we’ve got to beat him at his own game.”
“Okay, how?”
“What’s the name of that viceroy guy?”
“Ranjin?”
“Right, Ranjin,”Bobby repeated. “He’s the boss. We’ve got to convince Ranjin it would be disaster for Eelong if they attacked Black Water.”
“So let me understand,” Kasha said. “You want us to sneak into Leeandra-where we’re both fugitives-get an audience with the viceroy, tell him that one of his trusted inner circle is a shapeshifting gar demon who travels through time and space, and convince him that repealing Edict Forty-six and attacking Black Water would be the downfall of Eelong? That’s your big plan?”
“Everything but the demon part,” Bobby said. “I don’t think he’d understand that.”
“I don’t think he’d understand any of it!” Kasha snarled. “We need a better plan.”
“But that’s the way Saint Dane operates,” Bobby argued. “We’ve got to start thinking like him.”
“I am thinking like him,” Kasha shot back. “He thinks he’s beaten us, and if that’s the only plan you’ve got, I’m thinking he’s right.”
“You have a better idea?” Bobby asked.
Kasha thought, then said, “My plan is to hope the others get the antidote to Black Water because we sure aren’t going to be any help stopping the attack.”
While Bobby and Kasha hurried toward Leeandra, the others took a different route back to the city in the trees.
“We’ll enter Leeandra through the wippen stadium,” Boon explained. “There are no games tonight, it will be quiet.”
The whole way back, Mark and Courtney barely said a word. Once again they were seeing the pages of Bobby’s journals come to life around them. Their journey across the sky bridges was lit by thousands of multicolored fireflies that drifted on the breeze, making the jungle sparkle with life.
“Am I dreaming?” Mark asked Courtney.
“If you are, then we’re having the same dream,” Courtney answered.
The trip went quickly, and they arrived at a tree that looked down on a large, grassy field that was mostly surrounded by a tall fence. One side of the fence was much taller than the rest. It was part of the wall that surrounded Leeandra.
“What’s wippen?” Spader asked.
“It’s a game played on zenzens,” Boon explained. “Two teams. Each player has a stick with a net on the end. You have to scoop up a ball and get it in your opponent’s net.”
“Sounds like lacrosse on horseback,” Courtney said.
“It’s tricky because there are also gars on the field,” Boon explained. “They can steal the ball and toss it to their team. Or block the other team.”
“Or get trampled by zenzens,” Gunny pointed out.
“It’s dangerous for gars, yes,” Boon said somberly. “Sometimes deadly.”
“Let’s not play wippen, okay?” Mark said.
Boon cracked open a large, corral-style door, took a peek inside to see if there were any klees around, then led the group inside and across the playing field. They kept close to the fence, trying not to be seen by any klees that might be
out for some evening air, or tangs who might be out for an evening snack. They arrived at the corral gate that led into Leeandra.
“Wait for me here,” Boon instructed. “I’ll bring out five zenzens.”
“What about weapons?” Gunny asked. “If we’re lucky, nobody will hear us and we can go to the forager area and pick those up next,” Boon answered.
“We’re in your hands,” Spader said. “Or whatever it is you call those furry things on the ends of your arms.”
Boon opened the corral gate and crept inside. The others waited outside, trying to be invisible.
“I’ve got a problem,” Mark whispered to Courtney.
Courtney rolled her eyes and said, “If you gotta go, go.”
“No, I don’t have to go to the bathroom,” Mark whispered. “I’ve never ridden a horse.”
Courtney gave him a surprised look. “You’re kidding, right? Never?”
“Not unless you count getting my picture taken on a pony at my fifth birthday party…and I fell off. And now that you mention it, Idohave to go to the bathroom.”
“Guys,” Courtney whispered to the others. “Mark can’t ride.”
Gunny and Spader shot Mark a look. Mark shrugged. If there were more light, they would have seen his face was red with embarrassment.
Spader asked, “You can’t, or you think you don’t know how?”
“What’s the difference?” Courtney asked.
“Well, I’ve never ridden a zenzen, but I’m sure I can do it,” Spader said with confidence.
“And why’s that?” Courtney challenged.
“It can’t be any harder than playing spinney-do on Cloral,” Spader answered. “If I can ride a wild fish, I can ride a trained zenzen.”
“Let’s hope so,” Courtney said. “But what about Mark? I don’t think he’s been doing any wild-fish-riding lately.”
They were interrupted by what sounded like a loud, snarling, catfight inside the gate. But it was louder and angrier than any catfight heard on Second Earth. Something was happening inside, and it wasn’t good. Someone shouted, “Stop! Right there!” An alarm horn tore through the quiet night. The sound of pounding hooves could be heard coming toward the fence. The time for secrecy was over. “Open the gates!” Gunny ordered.
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