“You mean I know your name and you don’t know mine. Lian.”
“A pleasure,” he said, bending slightly. He resisted the urge to kiss her hand as he might have done back in London. She looked as if she knew what he was about to do. She seemed disappointed when he did not follow his instincts.
“I am so happy to finally meet a Dolphinback!” she said. “I love the Dinotopians, but it’s not the same as a newcomer like you.”
“Really?” he asked. “You do know that I’m considered a troublemaker.”
“Of course! That’s also why I wanted to meet you. Mind you, I’ve created my fair share of mischief, too. I’m leaving camp today, but I hope to see you again.”
“You do?” he asked with happy disbelief.
“Sure,” she said. “Why not?”
Hugh paused a moment, then looked away. “See that boy?” he asked, indicating the child standing on the stage at the center of the fairgrounds. The Skybax and rider who saved him stood at his side. “If that Skybax and rider hadn’t arrived when they did, that child wouldn’t be alive right now.”
“I know all about it,” Lian said, eyeing Hugh carefully.
Hugh was about to say something when Lian spoke again. “Will you do something for me?”
“Maybe.”
“It won’t be difficult, I promise. I would tell you to look to the future, but first you must accept the present,” said Lian.
“I don’t understand.”
“Close your eyes.”
“Don’t argue,” she said.
Sighing, Hugh did as he was told.
“Now don’t say anything,” Lian whispered into his ear. “Just listen. Be calm. Take it all in. The heat upon your face, the soft breeze, the sounds of the crowd. Listen.”
Hugh wondered what magic this young woman possessed. He obeyed her every command.
“Breathe deep,” she said softly. “Seek peace.”
For the first time since the near accident, Hugh felt calm. He heard the distinctive cry of a Skybax in the distance.
His mind reached back to the high wire. He had heard a Skybax then, too. It had been circling above, then it had vanished.
It had vanished for a long time, now that he thought about it. Several minutes had ticked by before the Skybax dived down to save the falling child.
The cry of the Skybax on the stage came again.
Suddenly, Hugh understood the mistake he had made. His eyes flashed open. “Lian!”
She was no longer beside him. Jasmine, the fragrance she had worn, lingered in the air. Of the young woman herself, there was no trace.
Hugh had no time to worry about Lian’s magical disappearance. He had something more important to deal with.
As the ceremony proceeded, Hugh cut through the crowd and found Raymond.
“There were two Skybaxes,” Hugh said.
Raymond looked at him strangely. “Pardon?”
“When I was on the platform I heard a Skybax. I looked up and saw one circling. Then it was gone.”
“I don’t see—”
“Windchaser! The Skybax I heard the first time sounded nothing like the one who saved the boy. Listen to it!”
Raymond nodded and listened to the caw made by the Skybax on the stage. “He doesn’t sound a bit like Windchaser.”
“That’s right. But I wasn’t thinking about that before. Windchaser must have been worried that he couldn’t fly well enough to save the child on his own. He went and got help.”
Raymond shook his head in wonder.
“I understand why I’m not being honored,” Hugh said. “But Windchaser should be. That Skybax and rider didn’t just show up. Windchaser brought them!”
Stunned, Raymond swore he would help Hugh reveal the truth. Together they made their way through the crowd and found Hikaro, who was standing close to the stage. He listened as Hugh spoke.
“Yes, we know about this,” Hikaro said as he took the boys aside. “These honors were offered to Windchaser. He refused them.”
“Why?” Raymond asked.
“I do not know,” Hikaro said. “When I saw him playing with the children, I was encouraged. I thought he might be finding acceptance of his new life. Now, I am not so certain.”
Hikaro was called back to the ceremony. Raymond and Hugh watched the conclusion of the honors.
“This isn’t right,” Hugh said.
Raymond nodded. “No, it isn’t.”
“What do you think we should do about it?”
“The only thing we can do,” Raymond said. “Talk to Windchaser.”
CHAPTER 13
Late that night, the boys made the journey to Windchaser’s lair. As they had feared, Windchaser’s home was deserted.
“Nothing’s left,” Hugh said, holding his lantern high. “He took everything that belonged to that other boy you told me about.”
“Daniel.”
“Even the picture on the wall has been obscured. It’s as if he couldn’t stand looking at it any more.”
Raymond shook his head, desperate to force away the tears threatening to fall. “I still don’t believe it. He wouldn’t have just left like this. Not without…”
“Not without saying good-bye?” Hugh asked.
“Yes.”
“Don’t be so sure. I wasn’t going to.”
Raymond looked stunned. “What do you mean?”
“I didn’t want to stay here after what happened. I thought I would do what I always do—run away.”
Raymond was silent. He did not look at his friend.
Hugh put his hand on Raymond’s shoulder.
“I’m sorry,” Hugh said.
The younger boy shrugged off Hugh’s hand and said, “Come on. We’re wasting time here.”
Suddenly, Hugh saw a glint of light in the corner. Crouching down, he saw the crystal that had belonged to Daniel. The pocketwatch Raymond’s father had given him lay beside it.
“Look at this,” Hugh said, picking up the crystal.
Raymond bent low and picked up the pocketwatch. He felt thoroughly rejected.
“This is an odd shape,” Hugh said as he handled the crystal shard. “Like a teardrop.”
“What difference does it make?” Raymond said, swatting the crystal from Hugh’s hand. It fell against a rock and shattered.
Raymond ran to the lip of the cavern’s entrance and whipped his hand back, ready to throw the pocketwatch into the ravine. But there was nothing in his hand. Turning, he saw Hugh holding the watch.
“I told you I was the best pickpocket in all of London,” Hugh said. “If you want, I’ll hold on to it for a while.”
“I don’t care what you do with it. You were right. Everyone goes away. Everyone.”
“I’m still here,” Hugh said. “Does that count?”
Raymond frowned and hung his head low. With a wordless apology, he reached out and took back the pocketwatch. The moment it was in his hand, he felt as he always had when holding it—as if a part of his father was still with him.
They returned to camp in silence.
The next day, Bix approached Raymond as the boy walked back to the dormitories after class.
“He’s been seen,” Bix said.
“Windchaser?”
“Yes. But it was far from here, and he’s not likely to return.”
“Tell me where,” Raymond said. “Please.”
The Protoceratops lowered her head. “I cannot. I have not forgotten what happened the last time. Where he has gone, you may not follow. It is a special retreat. The way is far too dangerous. I am so sorry.”
Raymond pleaded with Bix to tell him, but the dinosaur’s resolve was firm. Soon they parted. Raymond felt crushed.
As he walked to the dormitories alone, he thought about the previous night. He had to figure out where Windchaser had gone. Maybe there was some clue sitting in Windchaser’s lair.
He pictured everything he and Hugh had seen. That’s when he thought of the crystal. He had seen a crystal like that
once before. But where?
The answer came to him at once. He turned and ran back to the training area.
He found Hikaro wading through a mountain of scrolls. His instructor seemed grateful for the interruption.
Raymond talked with Hikaro about everything except what was on his mind. He didn’t want anyone to guess he was going after Windchaser, no matter what. After nearly twenty minutes had passed, he casually mentioned the tear-shaped crystal that Hikaro kept on his desk.
“This?” the instructor asked as he picked up the crystal. “They are sometimes given as tokens of achievement when one becomes a Skybax Rider.”
“It doesn’t look so special,” Raymond said.
“Perhaps to you, but on Dinotopia there is only one place that has such crystals. Once a crystal is given, the Skybax and his rider must make a pilgrimage to that place. It is a special retreat called the Sky Galley Caves.”
A retreat—exactly what Bix had described! Surely he could find Windchaser there. Rather than shouting in triumph, Raymond simply shrugged and carefully changed the subject. Raymond knew that Hugh himself would be impressed with this artful performance!
Soon, Hikaro begged Raymond’s forgiveness and said he had to return to his work.
“Arigatoo gozaimashita,” Raymond said, conveying a proper thank-you in Japanese. He had learned it secretly to please his teacher. It worked.
“Doomo arigatoo gozaimashita,” Hikaro replied, with a look of happy surprise.
Raymond left the training buildings and raced to the dormitory, where Hugh was waiting.
“The Sky Galley Caves!” Raymond said. “That’s where he’s gone.”
“In the Forbidden Mountains?”
“Yes!” Raymond delighted in explaining how he had acquired the knowledge.
“If one didn’t know better, one might think you’ve been cavortin’ with a bad sort,” Hugh said with a laugh. “You’re becoming a regular dodger!”
“He’s there,” Raymond said. “I know it!”
A ragged breath escaped Hugh. “Then I suppose we have seen the last of him.”
Raymond’s eyes widened. “You’re joking, right?”
“No,” Hugh said.
“But we can’t give up.”
Hugh swallowed hard. “Raymond, I know this means the world to you, but let me just say two bleedin’ words: Tyrannosaurus rex.”
Raymond spun on his friend. “Really? Well, let me say two bleedin words: Who cares? Windchaser’s my friend, and I’m not giving up.”
Hugh stared at Raymond, startled by the force behind his words. Hugh allowed a wicked smile to spider across his face. “Tell me somethin’. If it had been me that had run off, would you risk being eaten by a bleedin’ Tyrannosaurus just to know I was safe?”
Raymond answered without hesitation. “Yes.”
“Well,” Hugh said with a sigh. His smile had not faded. “That does make things interesting, now, doesn’t it?”
“I suppose.”
“So you want to break the rules,” Hugh said, his eyebrow arched. “Just run off without telling anyone? Forget the consequences?”
“Yes,” Raymond said.
Hugh laughed. “There may be hope for you yet, dodger. When do we leave?”
CHAPTER 14
“Tell me again,” Hugh said as they climbed a series of rocks.
“Tyrannosaurus rex isn’t evil,” explained Raymond. “They’re just hungry.”
“Right,” said Hugh.
“They’re also not stupid. Far from it.”
“That part I could live without hearing over and over,” said Hugh.
“You can negotiate with them if need be.”
“Really?” Hugh sighed. “I suppose it might help if we had something to negotiate with.”
“I’m not worried,” said Raymond.
“I am!”
The boys were two days into their journey. They had stowed aboard a supply wagon headed north and were now well on their way to the Forbidden Mountains.
“It’s getting colder,” Hugh said, almost out of breath. “And it shouldn’t be so dark.”
“Storm clouds,” Raymond said a bit nervously.
“They’ve been following us.”
“Oh, good,” Hugh said. “That’s bloody wonderful.”
“I’m not worried.”
“You said that.”
Raymond shrugged. He had read about a way to make a safe crossing through the Forbidden Mountains. There was a land bridge the carnivores avoided. The author of the scroll Raymond had found guessed that Tyrannosaurus rex avoided the bridge because of their own superstitions.
Ahead lay a rocky vista—gray stone slabs, sharp rises, and twisting paths that sometimes led in great circles. Raymond and Hugh had packed provisions to last them a week. As night fell, they began to wonder if they should have brought more.
Hugh built a small fire, and they huddled before it. The rain was still a ways off, but the cold was now upon them. They had taken no sweaters or coats.
Hugh was shivering as he said, “You realize what we’re doing is beyond stupidity. I mean, we don’t know for certain that Windchaser is at the Sky Galley Caves. Or what to expect when we get there.”
Raymond raised one eyebrow. “What’s your point?”
Before Hugh could respond, a crackling came from the darkness behind them.
“What was that?” Hugh demanded.
“Probably not a carnivore. We won’t have to worry about them until we cross the bridge tomorrow.”
“Comforting,” Hugh muttered.
Another sound came—a twig being broken much farther away.
“Whatever it is, it’s moving off,” Raymond said.
“Or going back to get the rest of the dinner party.”
Yawning, Raymond said, “Well, if that’s your attitude, maybe you should take the first watch. I’m going to sleep.”
“You can’t sleep now! We might be in danger.”
“If we are, we’ll deal with it,” Raymond said as he brushed away a handful of stones from the ground and lay down.
“How?”
“By running for our lives, probably,” Raymond said as he turned over and immediately drifted off to sleep.
Hugh was dragging himself the next morning. The sky was steel gray, and winds hissed through the narrow passages between the great stone walls surrounding the boys. They were moving slower now. The path had become more dangerous.
The two made their way along a ledge overlooking a ravine. Both knew very well that laziness could get them killed. They tested the path ahead with extreme care, securing each handhold with serious concentration.
Hugh’s nerves were becoming frayed. “You know,” he said, “Laegreffon had a saying. ‘There is always more than one road to any given destination.’ What I mean, Raymond, is that there might be an easier way than this.”
“Fine. You take us there!”
“I’m just saying…”
“I know, Hugh, I know.”
“You don’t think it was a sabertooth, do you?” asked Hugh. “If they still exist.”
Raymond shook his head. “I doubt it. On both counts.”
“So what did we hear last night?”
“I don’t know. It could have been anything. All that matters is that it didn’t want to have anything to do with us. Now keep quiet. I can’t concentrate.”
That afternoon, the rain began. At first it was a mild drizzle, then it turned into a torrent. They had navigated past the most dangerous paths on the cliff-side. Turning a sharp corner, they saw safety looming fifteen feet away. The ledge ended just ahead and a clearing was in plain view.
An unspoken agreement passed between them. They could dig in where they were and hope the winds would stop soon. But both of them knew that the storm was growing stronger. Their situation would get worse before it got better. They had to keep moving.
The rain seemed to slice through them. Thunder rumbled and lightning flashed. Sudd
enly, a sound ripped across the mountain pass, echoing from one wall to the other.
Hugh saw it before Raymond did. A boulder was falling ahead of them. First it struck the ledge, then it slid into the wide space separating their path from the one on the cliffside opposite. The gap was no more than twenty feet across.
Neither boy could hear the boulder strike the turbulent channel below. The wail of the storm muted the sound of the rocks landing.
Hugh reached out and put his hand on Raymond’s shoulder. Then he leaned in close so he could scream in Raymond’s ear. “This is crazy! We’re going to get ourselves killed!”
Raymond turned and shouted into Hugh’s ear, “I can see the clearing again! The storm’s lightening up!”
Hugh noticed that the rain was lessening slightly. “So let’s wait!”
“No!”
Raymond yanked himself away from his friend, his arms suddenly pinwheeling in the air. He steadied himself and took another step.
Hugh saw a clump of roots jutting from between two great stones. He grabbed them for support and moved to follow his friend.
A blinding light filled his vision. Heat struck him. A sizzling engulfed him.
Lightning!
The brilliance faded, and Hugh saw Raymond staring at him. Raymond’s eyes bulged. His face was ashen.
“That hit too close!” Raymond said. “If we were in the clearing, it might have gone for the tallest object. Us!”
“So we stay?”
“You bet we stay. I haven’t seen a gale like this one since the night my father—”
A loud cracking noise suddenly sounded from above. Instinctively, Hugh reached out for Raymond, but the boy twisted and looked up.
A mass of debris had come loose from the high rocks. Both boys watched as a monstrous shape moved swiftly past them. Hugh had his hand on Raymond’s shirt as the gnarled branch of a falling tree reached out and hooked itself around Raymond’s left arm.
Fear tore through Hugh as he watched Raymond lose his footing and start to fall. The former thief held on to his friend’s shirt, but the fabric ripped and Raymond was carried from him, down into the crevasse.
Hugh screamed, but the sound was swallowed up by the storm.
CHAPTER 15
I haven’t seen a gale like this one since the night my father—
Dinotopia: Windchaser Page 8