Vega Jane and the Rebels’ Revolt

by David Baldacci

  Except in my mind.

  As I soared along, I cried. I sobbed. I called out to the sky the names of Wugs I had known all my life. I cursed the Maladons. Poor Harry Two howled in misery. I drew my wand, took aim and blasted a large rock to smithereens.

  When I reached the Quag, I had no idea if a great storm would blow up to prevent my flying over. Part of me wanted that to happen.

  Because I deserved to die too. For what I had done.

  But nothing happened. It seemed that the magical force of the place had been extinguished.

  Should I try to find Astrea and her son, Archie? Had the Maladons found them already? I couldn’t bear to find out.

  I flew through the opening in the dome.

  When my boots hit the dirt, I knew that I would never cry again, no matter what else happened.

  I pointed my wand and a beam of black light heated the seam. Soon there was no longer a seam. Yet I kept my wand pointed and the light going for so long that I thought I might ignite the entire wall around the Quag.

  I wanted to use my magic to accomplish something.

  Something permanent.

  I moved the wand around, spelling out the words.

  When I lowered my wand, my chest was heaving; my lungs felt scorched.

  I looked down at Harry Two. He was looking at me in a way he never had.

  He was looking at me in a way that told me my dog was seeing me differently than he ever had before.

  Harry Two’s senses were spot on.

  Because I was different. My trip back to Wormwood had been unlike anything I had ever imagined, even in the worst of my nightmares.

  It had changed me.

  I was not the Vega Jane of barely sixty slivers ago.

  I turned away from the wall and kicked off.

  We were sent soaring into the air.

  I looked down. The words I had seared into the wall were plainly visible from here.

  THIS TIME WE WILL TRIUMPH

  I could feel every muscle in my body begin to harden as I turned and headed back to Empyrean.

  It was not just my sinew growing in resolve.

  It was also my heart that had turned to stone.

  I was changed forever. I was the leader. And leaders could become close to no one.

  I gripped my wand loosely as we flew along. I wanted to run into a Maladon. I wanted to run into an army of them. I wanted to kill them all.

  As I flew back to the safe embrace of Empyrean, I swore to myself that I, Vega Jane, would destroy them all, even if it cost me my life.

  A WUGMORT’S GUIDE TO WORMWOOD AND BEYOND

  adar

  A beast of Wormwood often used as a messenger and trained to perform tasks by air. Although they appear clumsy on the ground, adars are creatures of grace and beauty in the sky, owing to their magnificent height and wingspan. Most remarkably, adars can understand Wugmorts and can even be taught to speak.

  Adder Stone

  A stone known to possess healing powers, capable of erasing all traces of a wound when held over the injury.

  alecto

  A lethal creature in the Quag characterized by serpents for hair and blood-dripping eyes. The hypnotizing sway of the serpents atop the alecto’s head can drive its prey to its death.

  amaroc

  A fierce and terrifying beast of the Quag, known to possess the ability to kill in many ways. Amarocs have upper fangs as long as a Wug arm and are rumoured to shoot poison from their eyes. When captured, their hides are used in the production of clothing and boots in Wormwood.

  attercop

  A type of venomous spider indigenous to the Quag.

  Bimbleton Station

  A ramshackle station where people wait to take a train to what they think will be a better life.

  Bowler Hats

  The most elite fighters the Maladons have. They wear three-piece pinstripe suits and bowler hats, hence the name.

  Breath of a Dominici

  A long-stemmed flower with a fist-size blood-red bloom that gives off the odour of slep dung. The Breath of a Dominici grows only in viper nests.

  Campions

  The insurrection focused on causing as much strife as possible for the Maladons.

  Care, the

  A place where Wugs who are unwell and for whom the Mendens at hospital can do no more are sent to live.

  chontoo

  A flying beast in the Quag comprised only of a head, the chontoo is said to wildly attack its prey in the hopes of using its body parts for itself. Spawned over the centuries by the intermingling of different species, the chontoo is characterized by a foul face with demonic eyes and jagged fangs, and flames for hair. The chontoo is primarily found in the Mycanmoor.

  colossal

  An ancient race of formidable warriors, of an origin largely unknown to the average Wugmort. The average colossal stands about sixty-five feet tall and weighs nearly seven thousand pounds.

  Council

  The governing body of Wormwood. Council passes laws, regulations and edicts that all Wugmorts must obey.

  creta

  An exceptionally large creature used in Wormwood to pull the plough of Tillers and transport sacks of flour at the Mill. The creta weighs well over one thousand pounds and is characterized by horns that cross over its face and hooves the size of plates.

  cucos

  Small birdlike creatures that inhabit the Third Circle of the Quag. Brilliantly coloured as if small bits of the rainbow are embedded in their feathers, the cucos are best known for glowing wings that can illuminate their surroundings.

  Dactyl

  A Stacks worker whose job entails shaping metal with hammer and tongs.

  dopplegang

  A dangerous creature in the Quag, marked by hideous rows of blackened, sharp teeth, that morphs into whatever it sees. The power of the dopplegang lies in its ability to trick its unsuspecting victim into injuring or even killing itself, since striking the beast in its altered form is tantamount to striking oneself.

  dread

  A black flying creature in the Fifth Circle created by Jasper Jane. About the size of a canine, dreads are characterized by their screeching cries and clawed wings that they use to cut their prey to pieces.

  Duelum

  A twice-a-session competition occurring outside of Wormwood proper that pits strong males between the ages of fifteen and twenty-four in matches against one another. Viewed by many Wugs as a rite of passage, Duelums can often be brutal.

  ekos

  A small creature in the Quag, exceptional for the mats of grass that grow on its arms, neck and face, and sprout from its head. The ekos have small, wrinkled faces and bulging red eyes.

  Empyrean

  The ancestral home of Vega Jane. Once the residence of Alice Adronis, it has remained safely under a spell that has rendered the grounds undetectable by Maladons over the years.

  Event

  A mysterious occurrence in Wormwood that has no witnesses. Wugmorts presumed to suffer from an Event disappear entirely, body and clothing, from the village.

  Excalibur

  A rare type of sorcerer born with extraordinary magical powers already intact and a profound knowledge of Wug history embedded in their mind. It may take years for an Excalibur to become aware of their innate abilities.

  Finisher

  A worker tasked with ‘finishing’ all objects created at Stacks. Finishers must show creative ability at Learning, as the requirements for the job range from painting to kiln-firing items intended for the wealthiest Wugs of Wormwood.

  Finn, the

  A magical element consisting of twine knotted in three places and looped around a tiny wooden peg. The untying of one knot brings a force of wind powerful enough to lift objects off the ground. Untying the second knot produces gale-force winds. Untying the third brings a wind of unimaginable strength, with the ability to level everything in its path.

  firebird

  A huge flying creature in the Quag known for its
colourful plumage and sharp beak and claws. It’s said that the firebird’s feathers are so brilliant they can be used to provide light and warmth. A firebird can be a harbinger of tragedy.

  frek

  A huge, fierce beast of the Quag characterized by an extensive snout and fangs inches longer than a Wug finger. The bite of a frek has been known to drive its victims mad.

  Furina

  A Wug-like race indigenous to the Quag, made nearly extinct because of continuous attacks from beasts. The Furinas are descendants of a group of Wugs and Maladons who became trapped in the Quag while migrating from the great battlefields to the village of Wormwood.

  garm

  A large beast of the Quag, thirteen feet in length and nearly one thousand pounds in weight. The garm is a hideous creature, its chest permanently bloodied, its smell odious and its belly full of fire that can cremate its victim from several feet away. Wormwood lore maintains that the garm hunts the souls of the dead or guards the gates of Hel.

  gnome

  A creature of the Quag known for long, sharp claws that allow it to mine through hard rock. The gnomes are characterized by deathly pale and prunish faces and yellowish-black teeth.

  Greater True

  The land of the elites. Many of the people living here have slaves to serve them. The Maladons regularly patrol here as well.

  grubb

  A peaceful creature that lives primarily in tunnels beneath the Quag and can eat through rock faster than most any other species. Twice the size of a creta, the grubb is known for its strong, expandable hide; long slithery tongue; enormous, jagged teeth; soft, slippery body; and eye colour that differentiates males (blue) from females (yellow).

  high street, the

  A cobblestone street in Wormwood proper lined with shops that sell things Wugmorts need, such as foodstuffs, clothing and healing herbs.

  hob

  A creature in the Quag about half the height of an average Wug, characterized by its thick frame, small but powerful jaw, stout nose, long, peaked ears, spindly fingers and large hairy feet. Hobs are typically amicable creatures that speak Wugish and make themselves of assistance in exchange for small gifts.

  hyperbore

  A blue-skinned flying beast indigenous to the Quag characterized by a lean, muscled torso and lightly feathered head. More closely related to Wugs than any other creature, the hyperbore may serve as an ally or enemy and responds favourably to respect and kindness. Hyperbores set on their prey quickly, using their compact wings and sharp claws. The hyperbores live in nests high in trees.

  inficio

  A large fiendish beast indigenous to the Quag that can expel poisonous smoke potent enough to kill any creature that breathes it. The inficio has two massive legs with clawed feet; a long, scaly torso with powerful webbed wings; a serpent-like neck and a small head with venomous eyes and razor-sharp fangs.

  jabbit

  A massive serpent with over two hundred and fifty heads growing out of the full length of its body. Although jabbits rarely leave the Quag, little can halt their attack once they are on the blood scent. Jabbits can easily overtake Wugs and have fangs in each head full of enough poison to drop a creta.

  Learning

  The institution youngs attend until the age of twelve sessions. It is at Learning that youngs gain skills necessary for work in Wormwood.

  light

  The time of sunlight between one night and the next. What we would call a day.

  Loons, the

  A boarding house on the high street.

  lycan

  A beast of the Quag covered in long, straight hair, whose bite turns its victims into its own kind. The tall, powerfully built lycan walks on two legs and wields its sharp fangs and claws to attack its prey.

  Maladon

  From the Wugish word for ‘terrible death’, an ancient race whose highest calling is to inflict terrible death on others. A sessions-long war between the Maladons and Wugmorts forced the Wugs to found the village of Wormwood, around which they conjured the Quag for protection.

  Maladon Castle

  The headquarters of the Maladon race. It is here that Necro dwells, and also where the Maladons torture and enslave their enemies.

  maniack

  An evil spirit that can attach to a body and mind, driving a Wug irreversibly mad with every fear they have ever had.

  manticore

  A swift, treacherous beast indigenous to the Quag with the head of a lion, the tail of a serpent and the body of a goat. Over twice the height of an average Wug and three times the width, the manticore’s most formidable features are its abilities to read minds and breathe fire.

  Mill, the

  A place of work in Wormwood where flour and other grains are refined.

  morta

  A long- or short-barrelled metal projectile weapon. What we would call a gun.

  Noc

  The large, round, milky-white object in the heavens that shines at night. What we would call the moon.

  Ordinaries

  Those who do not possess magical abilities.

  Outlier

  A threatening two-legged creature that lives in the Quag and can pass as a Wugmort. Outliers are believed to be able to control the minds of Wugs and make them do their bidding.

  Quag, the

  A forest that encircles Wormwood and is home to all manner of fierce creatures and Outliers. It is widely believed among Wugmorts that nothing exists beyond the Quag.

  remnant

  A collection of memories from an assortment of Wugs; an embodied record of their remembrances.

  Saint Necro’s

  The church in True where the people come to worship. It is named after Necro, the leader of the Maladons, who insists on being worshipped by all.

  Seer-See

  A prophetical instrument used by sorcerers to view other places. The Seer-See consists of sand thrown into a pewter cup of flaming liquid, the contents of which are then poured on to a table to display a moving picture of a distant location.

  session

  A unit of time equal to three hundred and sixty-five lights. What we would call a year.

  slep

  A magnificent Wormwood creature characterized by its noble head, long tail, six legs and beautiful coat. It is said that sleps were once able to fly, and that the slight indentations noticeable on their withers now mark the spot from which their wings grew. What we would call a horse.

  sliver

  A small unit or brief period of time, a bit like a minute.

  Stacks

  A large brick building in Wormwood where items for trade and consumption are produced.

  Steeples

  A place the majority of Wugmorts go every seventh light to listen to a sermonizer.

  True

  The first town that Vega and her friends encounter. It is seemingly filled with happy people, but has sinister secrets.

  unicorn

  A noble and gentle beast characterized by a brilliantly white coat and mane of gold, with shiny black eyes and a regal horn the colour of silver. The soft horn of the unicorn is known to defeat all poisons, but can only be obtained by convincing the unicorn to surrender it freely or by killing the beast outright.

  Valhall

  The prison of Wormwood, set in public in the centre of the village.

  Victus

  The name given by the Maladons to those they enslave.

  wendigo

  A malevolent spirit that can possess whatever it devours. This ghastly, quasi-transparent creature lives throughout the Quag but is predominant in the Mycanmoor. Signs that a wendigo is nearby are a vague feeling of terror and a sense that the facts stored in your head are being replaced by residual memories of the prey the wendigo has devoured.

  whist

  A large, domesticated hound of Wormwood known for its impressive speed.

  Wugmort (Wug for short)

  A citizen of Wormwood.

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

 
In writing the third instalment of the Vega Jane saga, I had a tremendous amount of support that made the story far better. To the folks listed on this page, Vega and I thank you!

  To Rachel Griffiths, David Levithan, Mallory Kass, Julie Amitie, Charisse Meloto, Dick Robinson, Ellie Berger, Lori Benton, Dave Ascher, Elizabeth Parisi, Gabe Rumbaut, Evangelos Vasilakis, Rachel Gluckstern, Sue Flynn, Nikki Mutch and the whole sales team at Scholastic, for helping me send Vega and her friends headlong into yet another world.

  To Venetia Gosling, Kat McKenna, Catherine Alport, Sarah Clarke, Rachel Vale, Alyx Price, Tracey Ridgewell, Lucy Pearse, Trisha Jackson, Jeremy Trevathan, Katie James, Lee Dibble, Sarah McLean, Charlotte Williams, Stacey Hamilton, Geoff Duffield, Leanne Williams, Stuart Dwyer, Anna Bond, Jonathan Atkins, Sara Lloyd and Alex Saunders at Pan Macmillan, for always being so wonderfully enthusiastic and supportive.

  To Steven Maat and the entire Bruna team, for introducing Vega and Company to Holland.

  To Aaron Priest, for two decades of great advice and counsel.

  To Arleen Priest, Lucy Childs Baker, Lisa Erbach Vance, Frances Jalet-Miller, John Richmond and Matt Belford for allowing me to focus on the books.

  To Kristen White and Michelle Butler, for keeping Columbus Rose and me going strong.

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  David Baldacci is one of the world’s bestselling and favourite thriller writers. With more than 150 million copies in print, his books are published in more than eighty territories and forty-five languages, and have been adapted for both feature-film and television. Together with his wife, Michelle, David established the Wish You Well Foundation® to promote family literacy. David and his family live in Virginia, USA.

  VEGA JANE’S BATTLE WITH THE MALADONS HAS JUST BEGUN . . .

  THE FINAL THRILLING ADVENTURE IS COMING SOON IN

  VEGA JANE AND THE END OF TIME

  Turn the page to read an extract.

  AT LAST

  I heard a knock on my door.

  It was Delph.

  ‘Pillsbury told me you were back from the Maladon attack last night, but I wanted to let you sleep.’

  ‘How many did you get?’ he asked.

  I sat up, resting my back against the enormous wooden headboard. ’Five,’ I replied tersely. ’Why?’