The Never War

by D. J. MacHale

  Bobby looked at Courtney, but she shook her head. “Mom’s home. I don’t think I could explain this to her.”

  Bobby thought fast, then an idea came to him. “Where are you, Gunny?”

  “New York City.”

  “Then here’s an address. It’s in my hometown of Stony Brook. It’s Two Linden Place.”

  Mark and Courtney looked at each other. They knew exactly where 2 Linden Place was. They had been avoiding it all week. It was the address where Bobby grew up. Now it was an empty lot. It had been empty ever since everything that had to do with Bobby Pendragon had mysteriously disappeared.

  “I’ll find it,” Gunny said. “Meet me there in an hour.”

  “You sure everything’s okay?” Bobby asked.

  “See you there,” Gunny said, and hung up.

  “You sure that’s a good idea?” Courtney asked. “I mean, isn’t it gonna be tough for you to go back there?”

  Bobby shrugged. “I can’t pretend like things haven’t happened.”

  Two Linden Place was only a short walk from Mark’s house, so they had some time to kill before meeting Gunny. They didn’t want Courtney’s salami sandwiches to go to waste, so they sat at Mark’s kitchen table and scarfed them down. They did their best to talk about anything other than what was really on their minds. But it was all just blah, blah. Their minds were elsewhere.

  Finally Bobby stood up, saying, “Time to go.”

  Mark and Courtney weren’t sure what to do. Was this it? Was it time to say good-bye?

  Mark said, “Make sure you tell us what Gunny had to say in your next journal.”

  “Why?” Bobby asked. “You’re coming with me.”

  Mark’s heart swelled.

  “You sure?” Courtney asked.

  “Absolutely,” Bobby answered. “I’ve got no secrets from you guys.”

  The three left the house and walked through the quiet suburban neighborhood toward 2 Linden Place. The last time they had done this, Bobby was expecting to be reunited with his family after his adventure on Denduron. It was a gut-wrenching moment when Bobby first realized his house, and his life, were gone. Everyone knew that going back again would be tough.

  It only took them five minutes to get there. Nobody said a word as Bobby stood in front of the empty lot. Grass and weeds had taken over since the last time they were there, making the empty space look all the more forlorn. Bobby started to walk onto the lot, but stopped himself and stayed on the sidewalk. Mark and Courtney shared a look. They saw a tear in Bobby’s eye.

  A car horn sounded a short hello, and the three turned to see a long, black limousine pull up to the curb. The three exchanged curious looks. This was the last thing any of them expected. But when a back door opened, sure enough, out stepped Gunny Van Dyke. He wore a plain, dark suit and tie that could have been in style any time since 1937.

  “Morning, folks,” Gunny said with a big grin as he strode over to meet them.

  Bobby began to introduce his friends, saying, “Gunny, this is—”

  “I know who they are,” Gunny interrupted with a warm smile. “Courtney Chetwynde and Mark Dimond. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance.”

  They all shook hands.

  “You’re my hero,” Courtney said in awe.

  “I am?” Gunny asked with surprise.

  “Hey, anybody who saves Earth from annihilation is a hero in my book.”

  Gunny laughed.

  “Is it okay that we’re here?” Mark asked. “I mean, you guys have business and all.”

  “No, it’s good you’re here,” Gunny assured them. “This involves you too.”

  Mark and Courtney exchanged glances. That was weird. What could Gunny have to say that would involve the two of them?

  “What’s up? You win the lottery?” Bobby asked, pointing at the limo.

  “Don’t I wish,” Gunny chuckled. “Back on First Earth, shortly after you left the hotel, a fella came by looking for you. Said he had something important to tell you and wanted to give you something. I told him you were gone, but that I could get it to you.”

  “Who was it?” Bobby asked.

  “Don’t go jumping ahead, shorty,” Gunny chastised. “Let me tell the story. Anyhow, he wouldn’t give up. Said he wanted to talk to you himself. When he finally told me what it was all about, I understood why he wanted to see you so bad. I told him I wasn’t sure if you’d ever be back and promised to give you the package as soon as I saw you.”

  “So what is it?” Bobby asked.

  “Hang on. So I went to the flume to come looking for you. But when I arrived here on Second Earth, I got an idea. I wondered if the guy who wanted to see you so bad back in 1937 was still around. I did a little snooping and sure enough, he was still alive and living in New York.”

  “You’re kidding? How old is he?” Bobby asked.

  “Must be in his nineties, near as I can tell,” answered Gunny. “I looked him up and introduced myself.”

  “Didn’t he wonder why you hadn’t aged a single day since the last time he saw you?” asked Courtney.

  “He thinks it was my granddad who worked at the hotel back then,” Gunny answered. “I told him Granddad never again saw the bellhop called Pendragon, but he never forgot. I said how he handed the package down to his son, and then to me, and I finally tracked down the grandson of that bellhop. That would be you, Bobby.”

  “And he believed you?” Bobby asked.

  “Why wouldn’t he? It made sense. A lot more sense than the truth,” Gunny added with a chuckle.

  “So who is the guy?” Bobby asked.

  “Ask him yourself,” Gunny said, and motioned toward the limo. “That’s his car.”

  “He’s here now?” Bobby said in surprise.

  “Go on,” Gunny directed. “Talk to him. Just remember, you’re not you. You’re your grandson.”

  “Uh…yeah,” Bobby said, and walked tentatively toward the car.

  A driver wearing a black suit jumped from the front seat, ran around back, and opened the rear door. He reached inside and helped his passenger get out. Bobby saw that the guy getting out of the back was indeed very old. He looked a hundred if he looked a day. He was wearing a cream-colored suit and a bright yellow tie. Whoever this guy was, between the limo and the nice clothes, he had some bucks. The driver gave him a cane to lean on. But once he was out of the car, he didn’t want any more help. This guy may have been old, but he still had some life in him.

  Once he was firmly on the sidewalk, he looked over at Bobby. When their eyes met, the old man actually stood up straighter. Bobby could tell this was a proud man who didn’t care much for being trapped in an old body. Bobby didn’t recognize him, but then again, he didn’t expect to. Yet, as they looked into each other’s eyes, Bobby felt something strangely familiar.

  “What’s your name, son?” the old man asked in a raspy, yet strong voice.

  Bobby glanced to Gunny, who nodded encouragement. “Bobby Pendragon,” he answered.

  “Just like your grandfather,” the old man said. “My name is Peter Nelson, though I don’t suppose that means anything to you.”

  “You came a long way to see me, Mr. Nelson,” Bobby said with respect. “Do you have something to tell me about, uh, my grandfather?”

  Nelson looked away for a moment. He was spinning the memory wheels to get back to 1937. “I’ve been very successful, young Pendragon,” he began. “With business, with family, and with life in general. But I didn’t start out that way. In my youth I did some things I wasn’t proud of. Things I’m too ashamed to speak about even now. But those were different times, and I was able to put it behind me. I have one person to thank for that…your grandfather.”

  Bobby had no idea what this guy was talking about. He tried to remember something he might have done on First Earth to help somebody out, but came up empty.

  “You see,” the old man continued, “your grandfather saved my life.”

  Now Bobby was really confused. />
  “I was headed down a very dark path,” the man said. “Your grandfather gave me a second chance.”

  “Excuse me,” Bobby interrupted. “My grandfather told me a lot of stories, but he never told me about saving anybody’s life.”

  “I’m not surprised,” the man responded. “I think that’s the kind of person he was. But he saved my life, all right, sure as I’m standing here before you.”

  “How?” Bobby asked. This was making him crazy.

  Mr. Nelson thought for a second, then said, “I don’t know how much I should be telling you, but I guess it’s all water under the bridge now. Your grandfather saved two lives that day. One was mine, the other was a very powerful man named Max Rose. You see, I tried to kill Max Rose, but your grandfather stopped me. Then Max Rose ordered your grandfather to shoot me, but he didn’t. He had my life in his hands and gave it right back to me. I ran off and never looked back. Coming that close to dying, well, it changed my life. I have your grandfather to thank.”

  It all came flooding back to Bobby. He took a closer look at the old man, and now recognized the thin nose and sharp eyes. Could it be? Yes, it was Mr. Nervous Gangster. He was a million years older, but it was definitely him. This was the guy who attacked Spader and him in the subway and tracked them down to the hotel. As Bobby stood there, the memory of looking into this guy’s frightened eyes returned as clearly as if it had happened yesterday. He had held a gun on the gangster while Max Rose ordered him to shoot. He remembered the feel of the pistol and knowing he was close to taking a life. But Bobby dropped the gun and the gangster ran.

  Now the guy was here, thanking him, sort of. The old man raised his hand to shake Bobby’s, saying, “I wanted to thank him personally, but it didn’t work out that way. Thanking you is the closest I’m going to get.”

  Bobby didn’t take the guy’s hand.

  “I remember now,” Bobby said to him. “I mean, I remember the story from my grandfather. Can I ask you a question?”

  “Of course,” the old man said while dropping his hand.

  “My grandfather told me about the first time he saw you. It was in a cave off a subway station in the Bronx.”

  Nelson dropped his head. “I’ve tried to forget that,” he said.

  “Yeah, well, try to remember,” Bobby said sharply. “What were you doing there?”

  The old guy squinted, trying to bring back the memories. “What I remember doesn’t make a whole lot of sense. There were three of us. Me and my partner, Tony, and a third guy. A strange fella. Real persuasive, if I remember. He wasn’t part of the gang very long.”

  Bobby figured this must have been Saint Dane.

  “This guy brought us to that cave with the tunnel,” Nelson continued. “He walked up to the tunnel and said something. What was it? Oh, right. I think it was Clorox…you know, like the bleach.”

  Bobby knew exactly what was said. It was Saint Dane, all right, and he had said “Cloral.”

  “Then the damnedest thing happened. The tunnel started lighting up like the Fourth of July. The guy told Tony to take his tommygun and shoot into the tunnel. Tony was a wild guy. He didn’t have to be convinced to shoot his gun at anything, so he shot right into the lights. A second later, the lights went out. None of it made any sense.”

  It made sense to Bobby though. Those were the bullets that were fired through the flume and killed Uncle Press.

  Nelson continued. “Then the guy took off. He told us to stay there for a while and if anybody came through that tunnel, to scare ’em and tell ’em to stay away from Winn Farrow. Does that answer your question?”

  “Almost,” Bobby said. “So you’re telling me it was your partner who fired the gun into the tunnel? It wasn’t you?” Bobby asked.

  “Not a chance,” he said adamantly. “I remember that very clear. I didn’t see the point. Tony fired the gun.”

  Bobby took a breath, then held out his hand and said, “Then on behalf of my grandfather, I’ll accept your thanks.”

  The old man shook Bobby’s hand. It was a shake that was as strong and sure as if he were twenty years old. Bobby saw the joy in his eyes because in some small way, he was able to thank the man who saved his life. Of course, the guy would never know that he was actually shaking the hand of the real guy, not his grandson.

  “Thank you,” Nelson said. “Thank you so much.”

  He let go of Bobby’s hand and started back for the car, when he remembered something.

  “Oh, one more thing,” he said. He reached into his jacket pocket and took out a small package, wrapped in brown paper. “This is something I wanted to give to your grandfather as a small token of my gratitude. I’m sorry I never got it to him, but I hope you will appreciate it.”

  “Thanks. I’m sure I will,” Bobby said graciously.

  Nelson handed the package to Bobby, then looked at Gunny. “Mr. Van Dyke,” Nelson called. “Do you need a lift back into the city?”

  “I do, Mr. Nelson,” Gunny answered. “Can I have a few moments?”

  “Take all the time you need,” answered Nelson, and walked back to his car, where his driver helped him get inside.

  Bobby walked back to the others. They’d heard the whole conversation.

  “Unbelievable!” Mark said.

  “What did he give you?” Courtney asked.

  Bobby looked to Gunny. Gunny had a big smile on his face. “Open it,” he said.

  Bobby shrugged and tore at the brown paper. “It doesn’t look very old,” he said.

  “It isn’t,” Gunny said. “I only got it yesterday.”

  Bobby laughed. Of course. Yesterday Gunny was back in 1937. Bobby pulled off all the brown paper to reveal a small, square black box. He looked at Gunny. Gunny winked. Bobby opened it and…

  “Oh, man!” Mark yelled with surprise.

  Courtney laughed.

  Gunny said, “Now you know why I came all the way here to get you this.”

  Bobby couldn’t believe his eyes. Sitting in the box was his ring—his Traveler ring.

  “He told me he got it back from his partner after the guy took the fall from the tower,” Gunny explained. “He figured getting it back to you was the least he could do, seeing as you saved his life and all.”

  “Excellent,” Courtney said. “We’re back in business.”

  Now Bobby could send his journals back to Mark and Courtney the old-fashioned way. Bobby couldn’t stop smiling. In some ways, things had come full circle. He took the ring out of the box and slipped it on his finger. As soon as he did, the ring began to twitch. Bobby held his hand out quickly.

  “What’s the matter?” Mark asked.

  “It…it’s activating,” Bobby said.

  “Really? You mean there’s a gate around here?” Courtney asked.

  The answer came quickly. The gray stone in the ring began to glow, then sparkle. A second later a single beam of light shot from the ring, projecting an image in front of them. There, floating in the air before them, was a girl. Actually, it was a girl’s head. She had blond hair pulled back in a ponytail and wore small, yellow-tinted glasses.

  “Whoa,” said Courtney.

  “Yeah, whoa,” added Mark.

  “Aja Killian,” whispered Bobby in shock.

  “Who?” Gunny asked.

  “The Traveler from Veelox.”

  “Where have you been?” demanded Aja’s image. “I’ve been trying to contact you for ages!”

  “Long story,” Bobby answered.

  “I don’t want to hear it, Pendragon.” Aja shot back. “You’d better get back to Veelox.”

  “Why?” Bobby asked.

  “I’m not saying I made a mistake,” Aja’s head explained. “This may be a total false alarm, but—”

  “Just say it!” demanded Bobby.

  “All right!” Aja snapped. “Saint Dane may have slipped through my security system. He is here on Veelox.”

  Bobby smiled and said, “You’re telling me your perfect security system
isn’t all that perfect?”

  “Are you coming or not?” Aja snapped angrily.

  “On my way,” Bobby answered.

  “Don’t take your time,” Aja said snottily. Her image shot back into Bobby’s ring and everything went back to normal.

  “Well,” said Courtney. “That was…strange.”

  “I guess I’m going to Veelox,” Bobby said. Then looked to Gunny and asked, “Want to come?”

  “Wouldn’t miss it,” Gunny answered with a smile. “We’ll have Mr. Nelson drop us off in the Bronx.”

  Bobby turned to face Mark and Courtney. “This has been the best week of my life,” Bobby said sincerely.

  Courtney then walked up to Bobby and before he realized what was happening, she grabbed him and planted a serious kiss on him. Bobby didn’t mind. Once the shock was over, he wrapped his arms around Courtney and held her close.

  Kissing Courtney was even better than he remembered.

  Mark and Gunny turned away, totally embarrassed. “So?” Gunny asked Mark. “How ’bout them Yankees?”

  Courtney and Bobby finally unlocked lips. Bobby’s eyes were a little watery, but Courtney’s gaze was razor sharp.

  “Let’s not wait another year before the next one, okay?” she said.

  “Uh…sure. Sounds good,” Bobby said, trying to keep his knees from buckling.

  Mark and Courtney each gave Gunny a hug, and the two Travelers started for the limo.

  “Remember what we talked about, okay?” Mark called to Bobby.

  “I will,” Bobby said.

  As he and Gunny walked toward the car, Gunny asked, “How are you feeling, shorty? I mean…where is your head, you know, with things?”

  Bobby didn’t answer right away. He wanted to make sure he used the right words.

  “I feel like Saint Dane got the better of me on First Earth,” Bobby said. “And I’m not gonna let it happen again.”

  Gunny chuckled.

  “What’s so funny?” Bobby asked.

  Gunny broke out in a big smile and said, “Shorty, you’re starting to sound just like your uncle.”

  Bobby smiled too. Then he and Gunny got into the back of the big car. Bobby opened the window so he could get one last look at his friends. As the car pulled away from the curb he put his arm out and waved to them.