“Time... we have that, don’t we?” Zareena leaned her forehead against folded hands.
“Zareena, I need to ask you—can we borrow the roamer? I have something important to do.”
“Of course, Toby, anything we have.”
“What?” Mia turned from her work. “Toby, surely you’re not leaving again!”
“We are going together this time, if you’ll come. I’m not confident in my medical knowledge and we might be flying into a war.”
###
“Those people have chosen to live by the sword.” Gramble Horace’s left eyebrow shot up like it always did when he was making a point. “It’s too dangerous to get mixed up in someone else’s war.”
“Yes, but if they arrive after the battle is over they might be able to still help,” said Gramble Edward.
Gramble Gregory held up vein-laced hands in a shaky surrender. “You young folks do whatever you feel is best. I’m going back to my lab.”
Gramble Lenora shook her head. “Toby, you are giving me more gray hairs than any box of dye can cover! I can’t let you go this time. Captured, attacked by dogs... those people might have killed you!”
“Those people are children like me!" Toby protested. "They might be hurt or dying this very minute!”
Zareena stepped forward. “If I may...”
“What do you want?” Gramble Edward growled.
“I know I have little place to speak,” Zareena said. “But in the roamer, Toby and Mia can observe the situation without being seen. Perhaps if they promise not to interfere unless it’s completely safe...”
Gramble Edward’s face sagged, and he suddenly looked much, much older than he even was. “I have to let you go,” he mumbled. “I would not be a true healer if I didn’t allow you to help where you could.”
The other grambles nodded.
Professor Azareen hunched lower in his chair in the corner of the room. “Thank you,” his words drifted over the aged heads. “If any children survive, I will dedicate my life to their care.”
The atmosphere in the room changed, as though a fresh breeze had blown through to clear away the dust of decades. Toby looked around. Though the man’s speech had not been remarkable, something felt different. Toby couldn’t put his finger on it, but he knew it was the Spirit of his Father.
Gramble Shana walked over to Professor Azareen's chair. "Thank you." She placed her hand on his shoulder.
No other gramble had addressed the old man directly. "You’re welcome. Anything I have is yours."
###
Down by Gramble Edward’s office, Toby waited while Mia gathered supplies. “Please hurry!"
Mia placed a few more bandages in the bag. “I don’t even know what to take. I’ve never dealt with a war before.” Her blue eyes widened. “I’m afraid. This is so much bigger than anything I have ever encountered.”
“You should have seen those children,” Toby shouldered the bag she handed him. “Some of them couldn’t have been more than ten years old. And so hungry, Mia! You remember what it was like to be hungry.”
“Yes I do.” Mia picked up her second bag. “I will be brave. I’m learning, Toby.”
“You’re the bravest girl I know.” Toby stepped out the door.
10
DREAD
The quiet roamer proved to be a nice break from the tension of the caverns. Toby had to remind himself a much greater conflict, perhaps even death and destruction, awaited them.
This time he flew the ship above the trees instead of through them, and used its screen to scan the ground close to the crash site. The land spread out before them like a child’s picture book, with tiny trees, valleys and hills. Toby wanted to dip down and explore each new area. We can go anytime we want, now we have the roamer.
Mia stood beside him, eyes glued to the screen. Every few moments she would gasp and say, “Oh, how lovely!”
In a few short moments they arrived at the crash site. Smoke reached out to them with dark tendrils.
“Dread must have managed to burn up the ship,” Toby pointed to the smoke. “I think it’s for the best, at least the Moddies can't use it.”
“But Toby, now Zareena and the Professor Azereen can’t ever go back to their planet!”
“I know.” Toby turned away from the screen. “They realize it too, the plan was never to return home. They came to Earth to give the rest of their lives and skills back to this world, to make amends.”
Mia twisted her hands. “I don’t know if I could make that kind of sacrifice.”
“Me either.” Toby pushed his hand into the command box and lowered his palm to the bottom.
The roamer settled to the forest floor.
Blackened earth and splintered trees, flattened by the impact of a great explosion, met their eyes.
Charred pieces off hull scattered the ground like a broken Christmas ornament. Flames of blue and green still flickered from the wreckage. “Good thing we had a wet summer or the whole forest could have burnt down,” Mia murmured.
Toby searched the ground. “I don’t see anyone here. Let's fly towards the highway."
On the way to the ancient road, Toby saw what he had been dreading, small lumps dotted the ground in a clearing. He hovered over them for a moment, then brought down the craft.
He and Mia stepped into the fall sunlight.
"I'll check the bodies and see if anyone is still alive," Toby said.
"Thank you," Mia shuddered and looked through her medical bags for the tenth time.
Toby went over to the first body, a member of Dread's gang, and sighed. If only Dread hadn't been so sure of himself. He found three more still shapes, two teens and one Moddie.
"Any hope?" Mia yelled across the field.
"No." Toby clenched his fists to his sides. "Stupid, stupid waste!" he muttered. The anger he had harbored for over two years, once just a tiny seed, sprung vines and began to choke him.
Stifled sobs drifted from the forest, and he stood up to listen. The huge bandage muffled his hearing, so he tore it off and threw it to the ground. He followed the sound to a large clump of bushes.
Mirabella was huddled over a body. Tinga and Jurn leaned against her, tears steaming down their dirty faces.
The brown stain on Dread's shirt was shiny with fresh red. He turned his head toward Toby. “Hey, Cat Kid,” he said weakly.
Marabella didn't even glance up. "He should've rested more." She touched the stain. “He weren't even injured in the fight, this wound just opened up... he jumped in to save me...”
Mia knelt by Toby’s side. She bent down and felt for Dread's pulse.
Tinga looked up through tangled hair. "He's gonna be o.k., right? Dread's always o.k."
Mia bowed her head and clasped her hands.
"Come on! You gotta to do something!" Marabella shouted. "You got everything, everything you could want! You could at least help Dread!"
"Some things are beyond all the powers of this world," Mia said quietly.
"Where's everyone else?" Toby peered into the trees behind Jurn.
"Taken by the Moddies." Jurn spat on the ground. "I guess Leader decided they might have some use after all. Marabella hid with us in the woods. She saved us."
"Oh Dread, what will we do without you?" Tinga clutched the motionless boy’s hand. "You've always taken care of us!" The girl’s wails reached to the treetops.
Dread squeezed her small, brown hand in his large, freckled one. "Don't you worry none. You're better off without me gettin' you into trouble. I'm... I'm sorry."
It took Toby a moment to realize Dread was speaking to him. "What did you say?"
"I'm sorry, Cat Kid. We shouldn't have taken you prisoner. You helped me out for no reason, and I should’ve let you go.”
Toby looked down at his gloves, torn to ribbons around his hands. He had flexed his claws without even noticing.
Mia stared at his hands. "T-Toby?"
"I need to take a walk." Toby spoke through clenched t
eeth. He pushed himself up and walked back towards the roamer in quick, angry strides.
Mia followed him. "Toby, wait! Why are you so angry? I know they kept you prisoner, but surely..."
"He's evil,” Toby growled. “I didn’t tell you before, but he wanted to use me to hurt you, and the Grambles.” I thought it would be enough to come back, to offer help. Dread is obviously dying. Why can’t I get past this?
“I see,” Mia looked back over at the pitiful group. "But Toby, you can see he has very little time left in this world. He can never hurt you again, and he is begging for your forgiveness."
"Have you forgiven him?" The Voice spoke again into Toby’s mind.
“Sometimes,” Mia said quietly, “We cannot forgive, even if we want to. Sometimes, God has to send his Spirit to help us. Trust me, Toby, I know.”
Toby stared at his sister, her earnest eyes full of hope. She’s been through more suffering than I could ever endure. And yet, she forgave.
A tiny crack split the hardened shell wrapped around Toby's heart. It fell into pieces so tangible Toby almost expected to see them land outside of him, in the dirt. He sank to his knees and closed his eyes. “Father, I need you now. Fill me with your love. You have forgiven me, so many times, and I expected the grambles to forgive a much greater offense than Dread has committed against me. Please fill me with love so there is no room for hate and fear.”
It seemed as though time stood still. A slight breeze played with Mia’s curls as she closed her eyes to join in his prayer.
Then... a peace. Toby’s heart, clogged with anger just a moment before, unclenched. His claws retracted back into his fingers and he rose to shaky feet. He walked back over to Dread, knelt and took his hand. "I do forgive you."
Dread smiled through the blood and dirt, and a look of peace washed over his face. His eyes softened, then closed forever.
###
Toby and Mia helped the three forest children to bury the bodies, and Toby said a few words over each grave.
Tinga and Jurn rarely moved away from Marabella's side, their faces were even more pinched and drawn under this new layer of sadness.
Toby handed Marabella a bag of food and supplies. "I hope these will help for awhile," he said.
"Please." Marabella took his hand. "I ain't no mother."
"What?" Toby searched her face.
"These kids, I can't care for them no more. I can barely take care of myself. You have to take them."
"Toby, we must. Look at their faces!” Mia said. “We can't send them back into the world on their own!"
Toby hesitated. Tinga and Jurn's eyes were hollowed, prepared for the rejection they had probably experienced most of their lives.
"Of course you can come with us." He gestured toward the roamer. "How does a warm home and lots of food sound to you?"
"Food?" Jurn's face brightened. "Every day?"
"Every day," Mia laughed.
"What about you?" Toby turned to Marabella. "Will you come with us too?"
Marabella wrapped a tangled curl around her finger. "Naw, I ain't much good with civilization. Rules don't help much neither, and I expect there'd be lots of them."
"Probably," Toby agreed. “But I have friends in the area, so if you need help say my name and you might be able to find me.”
Marabella pushed a few strands of hair from Tinga’s eyes. “You two... do better than me, o.k.?”
The children nodded through their tears as they followed Toby and Mia into the roamer.
In the doorway, they looked back at the lone figure. Marabella waved for a moment and turned off into the direction of the highway.
“She’s gonna save the gang,” Jurn smiled.
Toby’s curiosity got the best of him again, and he banked the craft to the left, in the same direction Marabella headed. The roamer sped over the highway far below.
A semi and another school bus rumbled along with the vehicles he had seen before, all full of gray-suited Moddies. Clouds of dust spewed from the ruptured highway. How had Leader amassed such a power?
Toby flew the ship back towards home. A tiny thought pelted him, over and over. Leader would hear about the 'Cat Kid' and his magical supplies from the captured forest teens. He'd be out looking for him. Toby's family would have to prepare.
###
A merry sound drifted over the hill. Gramble Horace played his ancient bagpipes, accompanied by Zareena on an instrument she called a “wind bowl.” Together they created an otherworldly melody that reached into Toby’s soul.
Mia stepped through an arch of spring roses, lovely in a light blue gown. She reached the front of the group and stopped beside Professor Azereen and Gramble Edward, who faced them all.
After Toby had returned with the children, he had been amazed to find the professor and his daughter already merged into the family. Even Gramble Colleen had been able to allow the past to slide back where it belonged.
As promised, the professor took Tinga and Jurn under his care. Toby could hardly recognize the clean, happy children as they beamed from the chairs.
The small crowd, including Valerie and her family, stood and turned when the music changed into a wedding song.
Gramble Shana came up the aisle in a beautiful old-fashioned dress that matched her rosy cheeks. She passed the smiling faces and Gramble Lenora, who sobbed into her lap-cat’s furry coat.
Gramble Edward stood tall and proud in his doctor’s coat. He reached for Gramble Shana’s hand.
Toby listened to the age-old vows in wonder, since he had never attended such a ceremony. Those vows aren’t just for a husband and wife. For better or for worse... words for anyone in a family to take to heart. His thumb traced the golden circle in his palm while he waited for the cue to hand it to Gramble Edward.
A circle, unbroken and full of promise. A love that would never die.
THE END
Toby the Trilby
and the
Forgotten City
Angela Castillo
Copyright © 2014 Angela Castillo
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 1502767619
ISBN-13: 978-1502767615
To Wes. You are so loved
CONTENTS
1
FLIGHT DREAMS
9
2
ADVENTURING AGAIN
21
3
CITY STREETS
29
4
HELP TO COME
37
5
ROOFTOP REWARDS
47
6
THE PALACE
55
7
UNDERNEATH
63
8
LIGHT AT THE END
71
9
HOPE
77
Thank you to my husband and children for
putting up with your writing wife and momma.
1
FLIGHT DREAMS
Every object in the city made its own sound. Buildings shifted and groaned on shaky foundations never designed to stand so long without repair. Ancient wooden poles stood in rows throughout the city. When the wind changed, they squeaked, and rusted wires grated against their sides.
The creak of the fence was different. It beckoned to Emory, invited him to press in, to pursue adventure. The tight wires held a secret he scarcely dared to fathom: a possible escape.
He pulled the twisted metal apart to create a hole for his small body to squeeze through. Rivers of dirt and sweat streaked down his face but couldn’t cover his grin. Today might be the day his dream came true.
Emory pushed through thorns and brush. Wish I could just make a path. He pulled a twig out of his thick brown hair. A beaten trail might catch someone’s attention. If he was followed, everything would be over.
He reached the warehouse, and his hand brushed against the side. “Ouch!” Though the sun drifted below the tree line, the metal was still hot.
The boy skirted the building until he reached a sliding door. Using all his body weight, he forced the panel sideways.
A padlock hung from the hasp in two jagged pieces. For forty years the warehouse had been left untouched. Emory spent days filing down the lock in the hope he’d find a treasure inside. He had not been disappointed.
Slats of light rested on hundreds of dumpster-sized objects, covered by layers of dust. Earth moving vehicles, known as ‘tanks,’ were still lined up and ready to fight in the ancient wars. Emory couldn’t imagine a world with enough humans to drive them all at once.
Now the hulking beasts slept, useless and frail. Even if they could be powered up again, they could never push through the dense forest surrounding the city. Animals and desperate people lurked in the darkened woods, waiting for easy prey.
Emory turned a crank and gear teeth caught on a chain. A giant panel in the roof yawned open to usher in precious light. Only half an hour remained before darkness fell. Maybe enough time. He was so close.
Dust motes patterned the light. Rays fell on the machine and highlighted the areas he had been able to reach and polish. Even after months spent with her gigantic form, her beauty still took his breath away.
She towered over his head. Her thick metal blades, though covered in dust and cobwebs, begged for motion.
Emory smiled at his reflection in the smooth, black side of the machine. The storage area only held a single flying craft, and this was probably the last type created before the disaster. Any other vessel would have depended on fuel impossible to find, but not this model.
Emory tugged a thick manual out of his pack. “TEK-CONDOR.” He traced the faded block letters. Creases and smudges filled each page. Night after night, he had poured over every word. He’d searched dozens of rooms in the warehouse to find the equipment and parts detailed on each page.
The Toby the Trilby Trilogy Boxed Set Page 12