Black Water tpa-5

by D. J. MacHale

  They soon arrived at Spader’s small apartment that was right on the edge of the city, looking out over the ocean. “Make yourselves comfortable, mates,” Spader said cheerily. The furniture was all made from some kind of molded material. There were no cushions, but it was comfortable just the same. “I hope you’re hungry. I made some cooger fish for the occasion.”

  “And sniggers?” Mark asked.

  “Sniggers too,” Spader answered with a chuckle.

  “I’m starved,” Courtney said.

  Neither had thought much about food since they left Second Earth. But now that they were relaxed, dinner sounded pretty good. Spader brought them plates heaped with the white, flaky fish. It was served cold, which was kind of weird, but delicious just the same. Spader presented a tall glass of dark red sniggers to Mark. Mark took a big, thirsty gulp of the frosty brew and experienced the horrible, sour taste that Bobby had warned of. His eyes went wide and he nearly gagged.

  “Ride it out!” Spader said, laughing.

  Mark held the foul, bubbly liquid in his mouth and a second later he was rewarded with a wonderful, sweet nutty taste that stayed in his mouth long after he swallowed.

  “Awesome!” Mark declared with a big smile.

  They all had a laugh over it and finished the meal. The trip had been a fantasy come true for Mark and Courtney, but always tugging at the corner of their minds was the real reason they were there. It wasn’t to race skimmers or chug sniggers.

  “There’s something that needs saying,” Spader said, turning to business. “You’ve read Pendragon’s journals, so you know how he feels about me.”

  “What do you mean?” Courtney asked. “He says you’re one of his best friends.”

  “That’s saying a lot,” Mark chimed in quickly. “I know. I’ve been his best friend since we were kids.” Mark wanted to establish the best friend hierarchy right away.

  “Pendragon’s like my brother,” Spader said. “But I’m afraid he’s lost faith in me, after what happened on First Earth.”

  Mark and Courtney knew what Spader meant. Saint Dane killed Spader’s father and Spader wanted revenge. Badly. His hatred of the demon Traveler was so intense, it often made him lose control of his emotions. On First Earth Spader was so blinded by hate he wouldn’t listen to Bobby or Gunny and almost caused a disaster that would have led to the destruction of all three Earth territories. After that Bobby asked Spader to return to his home on Cloral until he could learn how to better control his anger.

  “Be honest,” Courtney said. “Was Bobby right? I mean, by asking you to go home?”

  Mark shot Courtney a quick look. It was a pretty bold question to ask somebody they hardly knew. Spader thought for several seconds before speaking.

  “Yes,” he finally said. “I nearly made a natty mess of things. But coming home and pretending everything is normal hasn’t been easy. I’ve done it though, just as Pendragon asked. I hope I’ve grown up some along the way. But I’m a Traveler. I’d be lying if I told you I wasn’t living for the day when I can jump back into the flume and rejoin the fight.”

  “I think that day is today,” Courtney said.

  Spader couldn’t help but break out in a wide grin. “I’ve been waiting to hear those words! Whatever Pendragon needs, I’m there.”

  Mark and Courtney exchanged nervous looks.

  “Well,” Courtney said. “It’s not exactly like that. He doesn’t know we’re here.”

  Spader blinked once, then twice, as if Courtney’s words didn’t make sense. “I don’t follow,” he said. “Pendragon didn’t send you?”

  “It’s worse than that,” Mark said. “If he knew we were here, he’d be really angry. He thinks it’s wrong for the acolytes to travel. He said it might somehow help Saint Dane.”

  “But we’re not sure he’s right,” Courtney added quickly. “Saint Dane may have tricked Bobby into thinking that.”

  “And we took the chance in coming because Eelong is in trouble, and we’re the only ones who know the real reason why,” Mark explained.

  “We talked to the Traveler from Eelong,” Courtney said quickly. “His name was Seegen. But now he’s dead and he gave us some information that we have to share.”

  Spader kept looking back and forth between Mark and Courtney, trying to understand it all. He finally couldn’t take it anymore and jumped to his feet. “Stop!” he shouted. “This is all coming a bit fast. Let me understand. Pendragon told you not to use the flumes, but you did anyway because of something another Traveler told you?”

  “Yes,” Courtney said. “But it’s more than that. The Traveler died. Right in front of us. It was the poison from Cloral that killed him.”

  Mark added, “We know you’re not supposed to mix things between territories, but it looks like Saint Dane has done exactly that. He’s somehow brought the poison that nearly wiped out Cloral, to Eelong.”

  Spader paced nervously. “This isn’t right, mates,” he said worriedly. “Keeping the territories separate is almost as important as stopping Saint Dane. The territories are different worlds, in different times. If they start to mingle, well, it would be the biggest tum-tigger there ever was. At least that’s what I’ve been told.”

  “But Saint Dane isn’t playing by the rules,” Courtney argued.

  “Are you sure?” Spader questioned.

  Mark grabbed the watertight pouch that contained Bobby’s latest journal and took out the plastic bag with Seegen’s fur. “This is a sample of the fur from Seegen’s mouth,” Mark said. “Take it to your agronomers. I’ll bet they can test it and see if it’s the same poison.”

  Spader gave the bag a confused look and asked, “Seegen had fur around his mouth?”

  “The beings on Eelong are big animals. Cats,” Courtney answered. “Or maybe you don’t have cats on Cloral.”

  Spader stared at Courtney, trying to make sense of what she was saying. “I’m sorry, mates, this is making me uneasy. I’m already on Pendragon’s bad side. If I help you, he might never trust me again. Why don’t I get you back to the flume, and you can go home before Pendragon finds out you’ve been-“

  “No!” Courtney shouted and jumped to her feet. She got right in Spader’s face and said, “Seegen died before he could tell Bobby about the poison. But he told us. We’re theonlyones who know what’s going on. If we don’t do something, then Eelong is doomed. You’re worried about Bobby trusting you? How do you think he’ll feel when Saint Dane crushes another territory and he finds out you could have stopped him?”

  Spader and Courtney stood nose-to-nose. Neither blinked.

  Mark looked back and forth between the two, not sure of what to say.

  “Pendragon was right,” Spader said. “Youarea handful.”

  “I’m just getting started,” Courtney shot back. “Are you going to help us or not?”

  Spader didn’t back off. “Let’s give that journal a look, Mark,” he said, still staring at Courtney. “I want to learn about this cat world called Eelong.”

  JOURNAL #17

  EELONG

  I’ve lost all track of time. How long have I been on Eelong? Days? Weeks? It could be months. I don’t know for sure. Did I have a birthday? Am I sixteen? Who knows? Time means nothing to me anymore. Sorry if I sound so glum, but things haven’t been going well since I wrote my last journal. Some things happened to me that I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy. Okay, maybe I’d wish them on Saint Dane, but that’s about it.

  Now that I got some food and a little rest, I’m starting to feel human again. Though on Eelong, that’s not such a good thing. Tomorrow we’re taking a journey that I’m hoping will lead us to some answers, and a way to stop Saint Dane and his insane plan to wipe out the gars. There’s a good chance that if this trip is successful, I’ll find Gunny. I can only hope that he’s still alive. We’re not leaving until the morning, so I’ve got a little time to write my journal. Let me go back and get down everything that happened since I wrote last. It’s now, or maybe neve
r. Ileft off when I had just gotten back to Eelong from seeing you guys on Second Earth. Istood at the mouth of the flume, staring at a huge jet-black cat named Kasha.

  “So,” she said with a superior air. “You’re not whatIexpected.” She sized me up and down. Ihoped she wasn’t wondering whatIwould taste like.

  “Really?”Isaid, trying to be casual. “What did you expect?”

  “Idon’t know,” Kasha replied. “Someone more…interesting.”

  Gee, thanks. Iwanted to act all insulted, butIneeded to be careful. Kasha may have been the daughter of a Traveler, butIsaw how she handled that tang in the jungle. She was tough, and fearless…and ate meat. I let the insult go without comment.

  “Where is my father?” she demanded.

  “You tell me,”Ishot back.”Ihaven’t met him yet.”

  “Aren’t you the leader of these so-called…Travelers?” she snarled, taking an aggressive step toward me. “Shouldn’t you know these things?”

  Itook a step back into the flume. Icouldn’t help it. Iwasn’t used to having a man-eating cat make a move on me. Kasha cocked her head curiously.

  “DoIscare you?” she asked.

  Ididn’t want to show her thatIwas weak and frightened, but the truth was, Iwas weak and frightened. “On Eelong, I’m a gar,” I said, trying not to let my voice crack. “But come to my home territory. It’s different there.” Truth be told, it isn’t different at all. I’d be just as scared of her on Second Earth as I was here, but I had to say something to keep a little dignity.

  Kasha took another step toward me. This time I didn’t back off, but man, I was scared. She put her nose in my face and stared me down. I tried not to blink.

  “If something happened to my father because of this silly game you all play”-she seethed intensely-“I will personally tear you apart.”

  Gulp.

  “This isn’t a game,” I told her. “And you’re insulting your father by calling it that.”

  Her eyes grew sharp and angry. I feared I had played this totally wrong and was about to get sliced. But what else could I do? She had dissed everything we Travelers were doing to save the butts of people like her. Or cats like her. Assuming cats even have butts.

  “You think this is a game?” I said. “Look at this.” I held up the dirty bag I had carried back from Second Earth that held the grisly gift from Saint Dane.

  “Hey, what’s in the bag?” came a welcome, friendly voice. It was Boon. The brown cat padded up behind Kasha and stood at her shoulder. “Did you catch up with Saint Dane?” he asked me.

  “Not exactly,” I answered. “But he gave this to my acolytes. It’s a small sample of what he’s capable of.”

  I held the bag out for Boon. He took it, reached in, and pulled out Gunny’s hand. I expected them to be all sorts of repulsed, but they looked at the hand like it was no big deal. I guess they were used to seeing dismembered body parts here on Eelong. But me? I had to turn away. The sight of Gunny’s hand made me want to cry.

  “It’s got a Traveler ring,” was all Boon said.

  “Take it off for me, please,” I asked Boon. Boon took off the ring and handed it to me. I quickly tied it around my neck, along with my own ring.

  “Is it the hand of the tall, dark gar? The one you called Gunny?” Boon asked.

  “Yes.” I looked to Kasha and said, “Still think this is a game?”

  She didn’t answer. Seeing a dismembered hand didn’t faze her. How twisted is that?

  “Will you bury it for me?” I asked Boon.

  “We have to burn it,” Boon answered. “That’s what we do here. We can’t take the chance that a tang might dig it up and…” He didn’t finish the sentence, but I knew what he meant. He reverently placed Gunny’s hand back in the sack.

  “Throw it away!” Kasha demanded. “It’s a gar.”

  “But he’s a Traveler,” Boon argued. “He deserves better.”

  “Thanks, Boon,” I said. I was really beginning to like this cat.

  Kasha shot me an intimidating look. I didn’t blink.

  “You’ll come with me now,” she said abruptly. “Tomorrow you’ll help find my father.”

  “Fine,” I said. “That’s exactly what I want to do.”

  Kasha turned away, annoyed. She didn’t like being stood up to by a gar.

  I asked Boon, “Why didn’t you tell me Seegen was missing?”

  “I didn’t know,” Boon said defensively. “Last I saw him he was leaving Leeandra with Yorn.”

  “Yorn? Who’s Yorn?”

  “Seegen’s acolyte. Do you think they’re okay?”

  “How should I know? I’m new here, remember?”

  “Right,” Boon corrected himself. “Sorry.”

  Before leaving the flume I grabbed another pair of raggy shoes off the clothing pile. I took my sweet time tying them on, making Kasha and Boon wait. Kasha didn’t look happy about it and that was okay by me. Hey, maybe I was being petty, but it was the only chance I had to have a little bit of control. Pathetic, I know, but I was floundering. When we got outside I saw that the zenzen horse was long gone, so we climbed up through the tree and walked the sky bridges back to Leeandra.

  “When was the last time you saw your father?” I asked Kasha as we walked.

  “Three days ago,” she answered coldly.

  “What makes you think he’s missing?”

  “Because we were supposed to meet this morning, after I got back from the forage,” she said. “He never showed up. That’s not like him.”

  Kasha’s answers were clipped. I got the feeling she didn’t like being questioned but hey, tough. This was important.

  “What’s a forage?” I asked her.

  “It’s what I do.”

  “Me too,” Boon added with a little more enthusiasm. “We travel in packs on the jungle floor to hunt or gather fruit or chop trees for building materials or anything else that’s needed in Leeandra. It’s a dangerous job, and very important.”

  I asked Kasha, “How much do you know about the Travelers?”

  It was one question too many. Kasha stopped short and turned to me, growling. I could see the anger in her eyes. “I’ll tell you what I know, gar.” She spat out the word “gar” like it was a bad taste in her mouth. “My father was a visionary who helped build cities. Now he’s become a silly old klee spinning fantasy stories of time-traveling animals battling an evil gar. He says it’s all very dangerous. You want to see danger? Come on a forage. I’d like to see you stand up to a rampaging tang. Then you can tell me you’re more afraid of a gar named Saint Dane.”

  She growled at me, her anger barely contained. I figured it would be a bad idea to argue, seeing as she’d probably bite my head off. Literally. I kept my voice totally calm and said, “If it’s all a fantasy, how do you explain me?”

  This threw her. She turned away, saying, “You’re a freak. When we find my father, I’ll prove it to him.”

  She continued walking. Boon shrugged and followed. We were getting off to a bad start. I didn’t know what to make of Kasha. If something tragic happened to Seegen, she’d be the Traveler from Eelong. I didn’t look forward to that. On top of that, she’d hold me responsible. I looked evenlessforward to that. All I could hope was that Seegen would turn up okay, and Kasha would only be a minor pain.

  I really, really hoped that we’d find Seegen back in Leeandra.

  JOURNAL #17

  (CONTINUED)

  EELONG

  Bythe time we reached the portal into Leeandra, the sunbelt had dropped below the horizon. Night had settled on Eelong. I looked up through the thicktree canopy and saw stars. Fireflies were everywhere, just like on Second Earth. The small flying bugs would light up for a few seconds, then go dark. But unlike the boring old fireflies on Second Earth, these lit up with every color you could imagine. There were reds and greens and purples and blues, and yes, even some yellows like at home. It was stunning. As I gazed out to admire the light show, Boon stepped in front of me and
gave me a sheepish look. I knew where this was going. I put my hands together and held them out.

  “Thanks, Pendragon,” he said gratefully as he slipped another restraining leash around my wrists. As horrible as this was, I knew I was safer this way. Kasha barely stopped long enough for me to be hooked up. As we followed her into the city, she made a point of staying in front of us. There was no way she was going to be seen walking with a gar. We followed her across several sky bridges and took a few elevators until we reached our destination…Kasha’s home.

  She lived inside a huge hollow tree, but unlike the others I had been in, this home had partitions that separated the space into rooms. We first stepped into the largest room that had a table and chairs for meals, low wooden benches for furniture, and even sculptures hanging on the walls that were made from twisted branches. Unbelievable. This cat had artwork! An archway led out onto a balcony where there was a large stone oven for cooking. Kasha didn’t give me a tour of the rest. I think she hated the fact that I was there at all. Maybe she was afraid I’d pee on the furniture or something.

  “Gars sleep in the pen out back,” she said coldly.

  “He’s not an ordinary gar,” Boon complained. “You can’t make him-“

  “Yes, I can!” Kasha snapped. “Unless he wants to sleep on the jungle floor with the tangs, he’ll sleep in the gar pen.”