Courtney always made me laugh. She put her arm around me and said, “It’s all right. To be honest, I’m not sure if we’d even want to go home. We’re different people now, Bobby. What would we do? Go back to Davis Gregory High? Play volleyball? Watch TV? It’s kind of hard to go back to that after you’ve helped alter the course of the universe.”
Mark said, “Though I could sure go for some Garden Poultry fries.”
“You could always start a volleyball team here,” I offered.
“Sure,” Courtney said. “That would be a fun break from reconstructing civilization. Nice.”
We all laughed again, then fell silent. We were goofing around, but the situation was serious.
“There aren’t any words that can express how great I think you guys are,” I said. “I want to say that I’m sorry for getting you involved in this, but I’m not. If not for you, we wouldn’t be sitting here right now. You guys beat Saint Dane.”
“We all beat Saint Dane,” Mark corrected.
“But we did help a little,” Courtney added.
“All I can say is… thank you and I love you.”
The three of us shared a group hug. It was a sad and beautiful moment.
“There’s another question,” Mark said. “What are you going to do, Bobby?”
“Really,” Courtney said. “Starting a new life here is one thing, but I can’t imagine doing it without you.”
I had the answer. At least, I thought I had the answer. It wasn’t one they wanted to hear.
“Truth is, I don’t know,” I said. “But I can guess, and my guess is that I won’t be here much longer.”
That was it.
The impossible happened. Courtney Chetwynde cried.
JOURNAL #37
(CONTINUED)
THE END
We were gathered together for what we expected to be the last time. The ten Travelers and Uncle Press. Our final meeting took place in the same spot where I had said my good-byes to Mark and Courtney. We were in the center rotunda of the Taj Mahal. Uncle Press had called us together, and we knew why.
It was time to move on.
We stood in a circle, much the same way we had come together after the flumes collapsed. Uncle Press stood in the center, walking over the Ravinian star. The feeling was much different than when we had last gathered. Back then, we feared that all was lost. There was still fear present, but now it was the fear of the unknown. Not one of us knew what the future would hold.
“So many things have happened,” Uncle Press began. “The most important of which is that the positive spirit of mankind has triumphed. We played a role in that. We had to. Saint Dane gave us no choice. But ultimately, the battle was won by the people. And that is the way it was meant to be.”
“What about the other territories?” Gunny asked.
“Not territories, worlds,” Uncle Press corrected. “Have faith in the power of the human spirit. Without Saint Dane’s influence, they will return to the natural path. They are the masters of their own destiny once again. Change won’t happen overnight. Ravinia still exists in many places. But it will happen. I believe that, and once you all return to Solara, you will too.”
There it was. He said it. We were going back to Solara. For good. I felt a nervous ripple move through the group, and through my stomach. It was Aja who dared ask the question that was bothering us all.
“So what happens to us?” she asked. “Do we lose our personalities? Am I no longer Aja Killian? Will we even remember who we were?”
“You will,” Uncle Press answered. “And you will remember all the other lives you’ve lived and things you’ve seen. Please, don’t be afraid. I know that you’re still looking at this through the eyes of the physical beings you’ve become. But that will change. Don’t lament the loss of this life. Rejoice in the many lives you’re going to experience.”
“I kind of like this one,” Spader said, chuckling nervously. “I’m going to miss it.”
“That’s just it, you won’t,” Uncle Press said. “Trust me on this. You’re not losing something, you’re gaining.”
Alder asked, “Will we know one another? Will we be able to communicate?”
“It is a good question,” Loor added. “We have forged many strong bonds. To think that those would dissolve is disrnrhino.”
“Those bonds won’t be broken,” Uncle Press answered. “I promise. You are one. You are part of the spirit of Solara. You will always be with one another.”
I think that made everybody feel better. None of us knew exactly how it was going to work out, but we trusted Uncle Press. If he said we’d still be together, I believed him. The fact that we had all seen our loved ones made it that much more believable. The sense of relief was obvious.
“You have all done well,” Uncle Press said. “But your job isn’t complete, and never will be. As with all the spirits of Solara, you will continue to guide the physical beings of Halla. You won’t walk among them, but you will be with them. It’s a wonderful experience. It is why we exist. Don’t be afraid, be excited.”
I was feeling less apprehensive, but I couldn’t shake the sadness. I liked being Bobby Pendragon. I felt I was going to miss him in spite of Uncle Press’s assurances.
“It’s time,” Uncle Press said.
He looked to Elli. She never looked better, and I knew why. In spite of all that her daughter, Nevva, had done to help Saint Dane, in the end she played a major role in the salvation of Halla. For that reason, Elli was at peace. She looked around to each of us, smiled, and vanished.
Uncle Press turned to Siry.
Siry asked, “Will I ever see the Jakills again?”
“Whenever you like.”
He was satisfied. He gave me a nod, and disappeared. Uncle Press looked to Patrick.
“I won’t lie,” Patrick said. “I’m crushed over what has become of my world. Of all the territories of Halla, it has fallen the farthest. It was so… perfect.”
Uncle Press said, “There is no such thing as perfection. I have faith that it will rise again, and you should too.”
Patrick nodded, and disappeared. I hoped he felt better.
Aja was next. “I’m actually looking forward to this. I like the idea of being all knowing and all seeing.”
“Then you’re going to the right place,” Uncle Press said with a chuckle.
Aja couldn’t vanish fast enough.
Kasha took a step forward and said, “I fear for the gars.”
“Don’t,” Uncle Press said quickly. “They came a long way before Saint Dane interfered. They’ll find their way again.”
I called out, “I’m sorry, Kasha.”
“For what?” she replied.
“I promised I’d return your ashes to Eelong.”
She shrugged. “I understand, Pendragon. Maybe in another life.” With that, she smiled, and was gone.
Next was Spader. “It’s been quite the adventure!” he said with a laugh.
“Hey!” I called to him. “Maybe they have sniggers in Solara!”
Spader’s eyes widened. He hadn’t thought of that. “Last one there buys!” he exclaimed, and was gone. Uncle Press turned to Gunny.
“I’ve lived a long life here,” he said. “Longer than any of my young friends. And you know something? I’m looking forward to seeing what’s next.”
