Dome Nine
Page 38
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A few minutes later, we were back on Route 295 North, galloping toward Route 695. This leg of the trip was notable for what didn’t happen. We were halfway to Baltimore now and there were no LobeBots to be seen anywhere.
True to his word, Humphrey wouldn’t go an inch past 695. He brought the moon buggy to a halt just before the overpass. I hopped off, almost forgetting my new ax. Once Humphrey was sure we had everything, he tipped his cap, made a U turn, and sped away. We stepped into the shadow of the overpass and watched him disappear. No one said a word.
With nothing ahead for us but a long, hot march into the unknown, I was concerned morale might be dropping. It seemed like a good time to go over the plan.
As I laid it out, spirits lifted. Once the Three had details to focus on, they began to feel a sense of control. When I’d finished, I said, “Any questions?”
Luma said, “How will we know which LobeBot is Thomas?”
“He’s dressed as a JaniTron.”
Luma narrowed her eyes at me. “I know that. What if some other JaniTron comes along?”
“Thomas’s failsafe button doesn’t do anything. Moto will bite the ankle of any LobeBot that comes near. If it doesn’t drop, it’s Thomas.”
“Okay, but Queen Scarlett will be watching us the whole time, right? Will she really believe we’re being captured?”
“She doesn’t know about Thomas and we’ll dirty up Moto to look like her other iPups. If we’re lucky, she’ll think it’s real enough.”
Dogan said, “Do you really have to black out her building?”
I said, “Of course. The whole plan depends on it.”
He turned to Luma. “Can I have your flashlight?”
She rolled her eyes.
I said, “Sorry, Dogan, I’ve already put it in my backpack. I’m going to need it.”
“What for?”
“I just need it. Any other questions?”
Dogan turned on his heels in anger and stalked off toward the far side of the underpass.
Luma said, “I’ll go talk some sense into him,” and hurried away.
Bim said, “We should look at this from Queen Scarlett’s point of view. She knows we’re coming for Dogan’s father, correct?”
“Cassius said as much.”
“That’s entirely to her advantage. All she really cares about is your skull and now you’re coming right to her.”
“But Cassius also said she’d bring the battle to us. Does that mean she won’t wait for us to get there?”
Bim thought for a moment. “I don’t think she’s coming for you herself.”
“Why not?”
“We defeated her on the Abraham Lincoln. If she hadn’t fast-talked you, she’d be dead now. I think it scared her.”
“Okay, but why send spiders?”
“I think she senses the same thing Luma does. The four of us together are smarter and stronger than she is.”
“So she was trying to pick off the three of you?”
“That’s my guess. The spiders were a joke, but we may not be so lucky next time.”
I said, “I haven’t spotted a single LobeBot, have you?”
“No. We can be pretty sure they’re next.”
“She’s been training them to work in teams. There must be a group of them waiting for us somewhere.”
“Probably a large one, otherwise you and Moto could drop them all.”
Luma and Dogan were coming our way.
Luma said, “Dogan gets it now.”
Dogan didn’t look angry anymore, just glum. “I’m not afraid of the dark! I just don’t like it very much!”
I said, “You’ll be fine, Dogan. Come on, we're still a long way from Baltimore.”