I have to admit, I was nervous about what we would find on Third Earth. Had history played out the way it was supposed to? By allowing theHindenburgto be destroyed, had we kept the territories on track? Or did we change something else that might have allowed Max Rose’s gang to continue their spy operations?
The moment we stepped out of the gate, I had my answer. The subway was exactly as I remembered it. So was the massive underground mall. When we took the escalator up to the surface I saw the rolling, green hills of the Bronx. What a huge relief.
I’m sure you can imagine the wonder Spader felt as we walked through the territory. He looked every bit as stunned and impressed as I was when Gunny and I first came here. He started to ask me questions, but all I said was, “Ask Patrick.” I didn’t feel like being a tour guide. Not today.
It didn’t take long for Patrick to arrive at the green kiosk that led from the subway. He pulled his small car up to us and gave me an expectant look.
“It’s done,” I said.
Patrick exhaled with relief.
“Let’s celebrate!” he shouted.
Spader and I both got into the car without saying a word. Neither of us were in the mood to celebrate.
“Take us to the library,” I said flatly.
Patrick knew something was wrong. He didn’t press though. We drove the same route into Manhattan as last time. I asked Patrick to explain to Spader how the Earth territories had come this far. Patrick gave him pretty much the same story he had given me. This was good. I wanted Spader to know just how special a place Third Earth was.
At the library Patrick gave Spader a quick lesson on their computer system and its amazing capacity for information storage. He gave another quick demo, this time bringing up a holographic image of the Beatles singing a song called “She Loves You.” Not exactly my kind of music, but it was pretty cool to see four famous guys standing there singing.
As you might imagine, Spader was blown away. It was then time to see what we came for.
I asked Patrick to explain theHindenburgVariation. Patrick first showed Spader history the way it actually happened, with theHindenburgbeing destroyed. The only thing that had changed from the last time I saw this was that there was no information about Max Rose being killed in a car accident on Toms River Road. This time it showed that Max Rose had mysteriously disappeared on May 6, never to be seen again. Of course, we knew what had really happened. Max Rose died in the wreckage of theHindenburg. History would never know that.
Patrick then took Spader through the alternate scenario, step by step, showing him what would have happened if theHindenburghad arrived safely. He showed Spader Rose’s spy network, and the atomic bomb the German scientist Dani Schmidt would create to help the Nazis win the war. He also showed Spader frightening scenes of Third Earth the way it would have existed if theHindenburghad arrived safely.
This is a strange thing to admit, but seeing these horrifying images actually made me feel better, because I knew this was a future that would never be. I would never feel good about the fact that theHindenburgcrashed, but any doubts about Gunny having done the right thing were now gone. All we did was keep history on track.
This was the way it was meant to be.
Spader didn’t say much during the demonstration. It was a lot to understand. The two of us walked out of the library and sat down on the steps where Gunny and I had sat earlier. It was only yesterday. A lifetime ago.
“I’m sorry, mate,” Spader said. “I don’t know how else to say it. But look at it through my eyes. I hadn’t seen all that stuff back there. I didn’t know the same things you did. Hobey, if I had seen what was going to happen if we saved theHindenburg, I never would have done the things I did.”
“If we had stayed together,” I said. “Youwouldhave seen all that.”
Spader fell silent. I think he was beginning to realize just how badly he had screwed up.
“You’re my mate, Pendragon,” he answered. “Mates forgive each other.”
I didn’t say anything at first. In some ways, dealing with Saint Dane was easier than this. With Saint Dane there was good and there was bad. Not a lot of room in between. But this was different. Spader was my mate. He was a Traveler. We were on the same side. That’s what made saying what I had to say so tough.
“I want you to go home, Spader,” I said.
“What?” he shouted in surprise.
“Go back to Cloral, to Grallion,” I continued. “Get back to being an aquaneer.”
“But I’m a Traveler now,” he protested. “My place is with you.”
“Your place is to help the Travelers protect the territories,” I corrected. “Until we can trust each other, you can’t do that.” “But Idotrust you, Pendragon,” he said sincerely. I took a breath and said, “But I can’t trustyou.” Spader looked shocked. No big surprise, these were strong words.
“This isn’t about you,” I continued. “This isn’t about getting revenge on Saint Dane. It’s about saving the territories and protecting Halla. I don’t think you get that. Until you do, you’re better off at home.”
There it was. I had laid it flat out. Spader was a good guy. A great guy. But he didn’t get it. I didn’t pretend to have all the answers, but there were some things I knew for sure. One of them was that the Travelers had to support each other. It was the only chance we had against Saint Dane’s evil. Spader had shown that he didn’t have that faith. More than once. Together we could stand up to Saint Dane. Scattered, we were lost. Gunny’s selfless act at the critical moment was proof of that. I felt so strongly about it that I was willing to turn my back on a guy who had become my best friend. At least my best Traveler friend, anyway.
Spader looked down. I knew he hated hearing this. But I needed him to understand. He was a Traveler. Someday he would play a role again, and when that day came, I wanted him to be ready. His reaction to what I said would be critical to the future of the Travelers, our battle with Saint Dane, and his part in all of it.
“Let’s go back to the flume,” was all he said. Then he stood up and walked off.
Nothing was resolved.
As Patrick drove us back uptown to the subway in the Bronx, I could only hope that Spader was trying to understand. I didn’t push. I didn’t want to sound like some kind of parent. Spader had to work this through for himself.
Patrick dropped us off at the green kiosk, and after saying our good-byes, Spader and I made our way back down to the gate and the flume. Still, nothing was said. I worried that Spader would take off on his own without a word. I couldn’t let that happen. We had to settle this.
When we got inside the gate, Spader stepped up to the black mouth of the flume. If he had called out a territory, I would have pulled him away.
But he didn’t. He turned his back to the flume and faced me. We stood there for a second, then finally he said softly, “I’m with you, mate.”
“Are you?” I asked.
“I said it to you before,” he continued. “However this natty-do is going to play out, I believe it’s you who will bring us through. If you want me to go home, then it’s back to Cloral for me.”
I was relieved and saddened at the same time. This meant we were officially going our own ways.
“Spader, you’re like my brother,” I said.
“I feel the same about you, Pendragon,” he said with a small smile. “That’s why I’m listening to what you say. It’s true, I’ve been wanting to crush Saint Dane since my father died. I’ve tried to put it out of my head, but it’s always there. I’ve got to find some way to deal with that, and if it means going home and taking time to think things through, that’s what I’ll do.”
Spader then added, “I want you to promise me one thing though.”
“What’s that?”
“When you find yourself in a tum-tigger, and I know you will, come get me.”
That was what I wanted to hear. Spader was the Traveler from Cloral. His spirit and talent had gotten us through in times when I was ready to give up. However this war with Saint Dane was going to play out, Spader would have to take on a major role.
“Bet on it,” I said.
That was whathewanted to hear. The two of us hugged. I didn’t want to let him go. I didn’t want to be on my own again. Especially now, when I was doubting my own worthiness as a Traveler. For a brief second I thought it would be better to deal with Spader’s unpredictability than to let him go. But I had to be strong.
He held me at arm’s length and said, “I’ll be ready.”
