The Soldiers of Halla (44 page)

I shifted my weight and peered over the side of the gig. The derelict buildings were proof that we were hovering over the city. We had made it. We were on Third Earth. Directly below us was a large, cleared, square space. Many of the buildings surrounding it had been laid to rubble. One structure stood out because it was in the cleared square, untouched. It was a large, marble archway. I recognized it. It was the arch in Washington Square Park.

“Can you believe it?” Boon laughed.

He wasn't talking about the buildings. Or the archway. Or the fact that we had made it to Third Earth in one piece. He was laughing giddily about something else that was down in that park. Actually, it wasn't just in the park. It also spilled out along adjoining streets. The sight made me laugh too. What we saw below were people. Thousands of them.

The exiles had come home.

With them looked to be every last gar from Black Water. I'd never seen so many people in one place before. They filled the park and the sidewalks and most of the streets. In the dead center of the square was the flume we had just flown out of. The mystery of where the gars and exiles had gone was solved. They had made it to Third Earth. They had escaped.

They were safe.

I hoped they were ready for a war.

B
oon put the gig down right next to the flume.

A large area was cleared near the arch. People were pushed back to make room. We touched down in the center of a group of thousands…who were all cheering. Seriously. All eyes were on us for as far as I could see. They were applauding for us, though I wasn't sure why.

I looked to Boon and said, “I guess they liked your flying.”

Boon didn't know what to make of it either. His cat eyes were wide with wonder.

Uncle Press was the first to reach us.

“What's going on?” I asked.

“Can you feel it?” he exclaimed with a big, broad smile.

“I don't know what I feel, except a little airsick,” I said as I crawled out of the gig.

“Their spirit. It's already re-energizing Solara.”

I looked around at the cheering crowd. I saw both exiles from Earth and gars from Eelong. Their excitement and enthusiasm was overwhelming. I couldn't imagine what was
going through their heads. I didn't even know how they'd ended up here.

I suddenly felt arms around me, squeezing me in a big hug.

“We did it!” Courtney exclaimed.

Yes, Courtney was there too. As we spoke, the rest of the Travelers gathered around us.

“What happened?” I shouted to her. “I don't get it.”

“The gars and Yanks had voted to join us even before I got back to them!” she shouted above the cheering. “They'd already begun to mobilize when you returned to Solara to create the flume. They completely evacuated Black Water. When they saw the flume you made, every last doubt was erased. Isn't it amazing? They're with us, Bobby. They're with
you
.”

I took another look around at the cheering mass of humanity. Their enthusiasm had nothing to do with our trick gig flying. It was a show of support. For us, and for the chance to strike back at Ravinia. It was more than we could have hoped for. No, I take that back. I also hoped that these people would be just as happy when the sun set on that fateful day. On Eelong I had barely missed the evacuation. The entire population must have been moving to the outskirts of the village as I was running into the center. Incredible. I wanted to revel in the moment, and the applause, but we weren't even close to being done. Our plan was working, but barely.

As the applause died down, I said to Uncle Press, “We dodged a bullet. Saint Dane has made his move. He created a flume. The entire dado army is in Black Water.”

The Travelers exchanged nervous looks.

“Hobey,” Spader gasped. “That was cutting things a might close.”

“Where is the flume?” Uncle Press asked.

“On Eelong it's on the exact opposite side of Black Water from ours. Here, I don't know.”

“I do,” came a familiar voice. Mark Dimond stepped up through the crowd. He had an earth-style walkie-talkie pressed to his ear. “It's directly in front of the Ravinian conclave…just as we thought.”

So far things were working out the way we expected. More or less.

“The clock's ticking,” Mark cautioned.

There was no time to second-guess and fine-tune. Now that the dados had moved, we had to put our plan into action.

“You ready?” I asked Mark.

“Waiting on your word,” he answered with a clear, strong voice.

Courtney put her arm around him and beamed. “Can you believe how this guy turned out?”

It was an awesome moment. We were back together again. The three of us. We'd been through this entire adventure together in spirit; it was fitting that we were together, for real, at the end.

“We've got to go,” Uncle Press said, all business.

“Is Aron here?” I called out.

“Here, Pendragon,” the gar leader replied as he made his way toward us.

Aron and all the gars wore their dark brown clothing. Here on Earth they looked like dwarfs. He joined us, along with the Yank leaders we'd met with earlier.

“I shouldn't have doubted you, Pendragon,” Aron said. “Forgive me.”

“No, I should be thanking you,” I said. “I wish you
could understand the importance of what your people are going to attempt today.”

“We do,” Aron assured me.

Courtney said, “Between the Yanks and the gars, there are roughly forty-five thousand who are able to fight. They've been positioned front and center. The young, the sick, and the elderly have been moved to the side streets.”

I looked around at the crowd. The task suddenly seemed overwhelming. Impossible, even. How could we mobilize so many people and get them all moving in the right direction, let alone wage a war? For a second my brain froze at the enormity and, yes, idiocy of what we were about to undertake.

“You look worried, Pendragon,” Aron said. “Do not be. Our fighting force is trained. It does not matter what the battlefield is. We are organized and we are disciplined. There are twenty smaller units, each with its own leader. They in turn have their own subdivisions.” Aron held up a link cube. “We are all in contact. I will remain with you. When an order is given, it will be relayed instantly.”

Gunny asked, “Gars and Yanks? Together?”

Aron said, “We are one. The Yanks have protected our home. Now they have returned to reclaim theirs. The gars will be by their side. There is no other way.”

I couldn't come up with the words to express to Aron how incredibly brave and selfless his people were. I wanted to tell them that they embodied the spirit of Solara, but he wouldn't have understood. Or maybe he already did without realizing it.

The gar leader could see that I was overwhelmed. He smiled. “You needed an army to defeat Ravinia? Pendragon, you came to the right place.”

I glanced to Uncle Press. He smiled. He knew. Maybe he always knew.

Mark added, “I assigned five of my guys to each of their groups. They'll all have somebody with them who has knowledge of the city. And the target.”

“What about the radio cannons?” I asked.

Aron answered, “The evacuation was quick. We weren't able to bring as many as we'd hoped, but we are armed. Just as you asked.”

Mark added, “We've got transportation waiting to bring equipment to the site. But that's it. I'm afraid the people have to walk.”

I looked to Aron. “You'll have to move out right away.”

He nodded and said, “We are ready and waiting.”

My mind raced. Had we thought of everything? No, that was impossible. The plan we concocted was incredibly complicated. Anything could go wrong, and if it did, we would fail. But it was the only plan we had. All we could do was move quickly, and hope.

“Maybe you should say something,” I said to Uncle Press. “To these people. Most have no idea what they're getting into.”

“You're right,” he replied. “Something should be said. But not by me.”

All eyes were on me. Oops. I suddenly wished I hadn't come up with such a brilliant idea. Still, I couldn't argue. This was my show. I had to take responsibility. The job of addressing this army would have to be mine.

“We don't have loudspeakers, Bobby,” Mark said. “You can't talk to this many people.”

Aron said, “But you can.” He held out a link radio cube. “Most all of us have a link. Whoever doesn't, can listen to another's.”

I wasn't sure of what to say. Many of these brave people would not live to see another day. They deserved something, if only to hear that whatever the outcome, they had made the right choice. I reached for the cube. My hand was shaking. Aron placed it in my palm. I looked to him and nodded. He activated the link. The amber material glowed.

“Does this work?” I said. “Can you hear me?”

A cheer went up from the crowd. They heard me. It was such a surprise that I nearly dropped the cube.

“Easy there, cowboy,” Courtney said. “You want me to hold it for you?”

I shook my head, gathered my thoughts, and spoke. “You don't know me. My name is Bobby Pendragon.”

The crowd erupted in cheers again. Maybe some of them
did
know me. I waited for them to quiet down and continued.

“For many years now, my friends and I have been battling a force I think you are all familiar with. Ravinia.”

The crowd booed. They knew. All too well. I looked up at the group of Travelers who surrounded me. They all gave me nods of encouragement.

“You know of Halla and the worlds that exist around us. What happened on Eelong has happened on each of those other worlds. Look around you. This is the home of the Yanks. It's not the world they knew. Ravinia has destroyed a once-mighty city. A once-mighty world. We here, today, are the last hope. Not only for this world called Earth. But for Denduron. Zadaa. Quillan. Veelox. Cloral. And for Eelong.”

I kind of expected a cheer after I said Eelong, but the crowed remained silent. Eerily so. There were tens of thousands of people, yet it sounded like the streets were
empty. It was a reminder that they all knew exactly what we were up against. This was not a game. It was deadly serious business.

“The future of all those worlds will be determined by our actions here today. A few miles from here is the Conclave of Ravinia. It is the center of Ravinia on this world, and for all of Halla. Our goal is to seize it and make it our own.”

This time the cheers came. I glanced around at the Travelers. They too applauded. It made my confidence grow and my words come easier.

“Our battle today is not about taking back a piece of land. Or hurting those who have chosen to side with Ravinia. Or even revenge. It is about fighting for what is right. Those of you who were sent through the flume in Yankee Stadium were there because you saw the truth. You knew the dangers of Ravinia and dared to speak out against it. For that you were punished. Exiled. It is your spirit that has kept the hope alive. You being here today, along with the gars, proves that there are those who want sanity restored. I have to believe that we cannot lose. Just by fighting back, we will lay the foundation for generations to come. Our battle today, no matter what the outcome, will begin the process of making Halla right again. The way it was. This is the beginning of a new history…the way it was meant to be. Good luck to us all.”

The ovation was instant and thunderous. I was overwhelmed by the show of enthusiasm. Courtney leaned on Mark. I saw tears in her eyes. The Travelers stood together as one. They too were ready. I handed the cube back to Aron, who patted me warmly on the shoulder.

Uncle Press leaned down to whisper in my ear so he could be heard through the cheering. “I told you a long time ago
that some people needed your help. This is what I meant. You've carried the burden of every last soul in Halla and could not have done a finer job. I'm proud of you, Bobby.”

He put his hand on my shoulder and added, “One other thing.”

“What's that?”

“Saint Dane thinks he's won.”

“I know,” I said with a smile.

I looked to Mark. He stood up straight and said with total confidence, “Give me the word, Bibs.”

He used my sister's pet name for me, which he hadn't done since we were little. It was perfect. It made me think of my family, and my past life. We all had families. We all had better lives. Every last person there. It was time to fight for them. It was time to get dangerous. I took a breath. It was the last moment before the final battle. I wanted it to last, because I knew that once I pulled the trigger, nothing would be the same. Anywhere. Ever again. Time would tell if that was a good thing. I took one last look around at all the Travelers, drawing strength from their looks of confidence.

“Okay,” I announced. “Bring 'em in.”

Mark instantly lifted his walkie-talkie and barked, “Let's go.”

The wheels were set in motion. There would be no turning back. I looked at the Travelers and said, “Elli. Aja. Gunny. Patrick. I want you to stay back.”

They all made grumbles of protest, but they knew it was futile. They weren't prepared for a fight. Their roles were critical just the same.

“Help evacuate this area. We don't want anybody near this flume once the dados discover the other end on Eelong.”

Mark stepped up to say, “There's sanctuary all over
Manhattan for those who are staying back. We need all the help we can get to divide them up and get them moving.”

The Travelers nodded in understanding, and acceptance.

“We'll do everything we can,” Gunny assured me. It wasn't necessary. I knew they would.

“Do me a favor?” Aja asked.

“What?”

“Think of us when you take him down.”

I nodded.

Uncle Press said, “The rest of us will make the journey on foot with the exiles and gars.”

“Boon!” I called. “You up for this?”

“Do you have to ask?” the klee replied.

“Good. Stay with the Travelers,” I commanded.

“Understood,” he answered enthusiastically.

I was glad he was there. We needed all the help we could get.

“What about me?” Courtney asked.

“Courtney and Mark are with me. Kasha, I need you with us too.”

Kasha bristled. I actually saw the fur go up on her back. “What? No. That is not the plan. I am to be with the others.”

“Sorry,” I said. “No arguments.”

Kasha fumed but didn't fight it. The train was on the tracks, and she knew enough not to get in the way.

I turned to Uncle Press. Beside him stood Siry, Alder, Spader, and Loor. Unlike the other Travelers, this group
was
prepared to fight.

“This day has been a long time coming,” Alder said.

“You are ready, Pendragon,” Loor said. “We all are.”

“You know something?” I said. “We
are
ready.”

“Then let's go!” Siry called out impatiently.

“We'll be right behind you,” Uncle Press said to me.