“Do you have equal trouble allowing the destruction of the klee race as we know it?” Timber countered. “The gars are planning a revolution. If we don’t act quickly, we may soon see an animal on the Council of Klee wearing the blue robe of viceroy.”
The klees in the crowd erupted with howls and shouts of anger.
“He really is a demon, isn’t he?” Kasha gasped.
“The time is coming!” Timber shouted to the crowd. “We can rid ourselves of the gar menace with a single strike. If we take this positive action, our children will never again be hungry, or live in fear.”
The crowd screamed its approval. Timber turned his back to them and looked to Ranjin, expecting a response. Ranjin took a few steps toward the edge of the stage and looked out on the frenzied crowd as they chanted, “Lee-an-dra! Lee-an-dra!” Ranjin lifted his wooden staff and the crowd quieted.
“I have ruled the Council of Klee proudly for longer than any other viceroy in the history of Leeandra,” Ranjin began. “I am proud of the work I’ve done, and I am grateful for the confidence you’ve had in me. However, I cannot give my blessing to this course of action.”
The crowd murmured its disapproval.
Ranjin continued, “I feel that the mass slaying of living creatures, no matter how low a life-form, goes against the very nature of a civilized society. But it is clear to me from your reaction here today, my opinion is not a popular one. It makes me feel that perhaps I’ve grown too old to make the difficult decisions necessary to lead the klees. Times are changing, and I’m afraid I cannot change with them. That is why I am stepping down from the position of viceroy.”
Bobby and Kasha exchanged nervous looks.
Ranjin held out his long wooden staff, the staff that represented the power of the Council of Klee…and handed it to Timber, saying, “I am passing it to the next generation of leaders, and to Timber. I can only wish that the course you choose is the wise one.”
The crowd went berserk, cheering and screaming its approval. Timber took the staff, barely able to contain a smile. He grasped the staff with both hands and held it over his head in victory. The crowd was in a frenzy.
“No!” Bobby hissed and moved to jump out onto the stage.
Kasha held him back. “Don’t be foolish,” she whispered. “They’ll tear you apart.”
Bobby pulled away from her and said, “Don’t you realize what happened? Ranjin just handed Saint Dane his next territory!”
Kasha pulled Bobby away from the window. “We’ve got to go,” she ordered. “Before the Council of Klee comes back here and-” She turned for the door and walked straight into… Durgen.
“I’m speechless, Kasha,” Durgen said. “I was told you were seen coming in here, but I didn’t believe you would be so foolish. Imagine my surprise to find it was true. And with your pet gar as well.”
“Durgen, please listen to me,” Kasha pleaded. “Timber must be stopped. The gars of Black Water are civilized. They have the ability to end our famine.”
Durgen stared at Kasha, dumbfounded. He laughed, “You can’t expect me to believe that.”
“You’ve known me forever,” Kasha continued with passion. “We’ve fought side by side more times than I can count. I’m begging you, forget what happened the last few days and listen to me. Timber is evil. If he goes through with his plan to destroy Black Water, it’ll be disaster for the klees and all of Eelong. He must not be allowed to rule the Council.”
Durgen shook his head sadly and said, “I used to know you, Kasha. It pains me to see how you’ve been duped by these revolutionary gars.”
“Revolutionary gars!” Bobby shouted. “Wake up! If Timber wipes out the gar population, the klees will be next!”
“Security!” Durgen yelled.
Instantly four klees pounced into the room. Kasha tried to bolt for the door, but three of them caught her and held her down. It only took one to hold Bobby.
“I know how impatient you are, Kasha,” Durgen said. “Your trial will be quick.”
“Don’t do this!” Kasha shouted.
“You have such sympathy for these animals,” Durgen said with a touch of venom. “I think it’s only fitting that you spend your last days among them.”
He nodded to the security force. They dragged Bobby and Kasha out of the room.
“Please, Durgen,” Kasha begged. “Timber isn’t who he claims to be. It’s going to be a disaster.”
“If it is,” Durgen replied, “you won’t be around to see it.”
Bobby didn’t argue. He knew it was useless. The security force dragged them out of the tree, across the jungle floor of Leeandra, and brought them to the absolute last place on Eelong where Bobby wanted to be.
The gar stable where he had been held prisoner.
He and Kasha were thrown in among several dirty gars who huddled in the corners. For Bobby, being back in this putrid prison slashed open all the emotional wounds from his previous stay. He fell to his knees in defeat.
“Welcome back, Pendragon!” came a voice from above.
Kasha and Bobby looked up to see a dark brown cat with black spots looking down on them through the grid. It was Timber. It was Saint Dane. It was a nightmare.
“It seems as though revealing my plans to you made no difference,” Saint Dane chuckled. “The only question now is what will happen first? The destruction of Black Water, or your execution?”
EELONG
(CONTINUED)
“You’re making this far too easy, Pendragon,” snarled the cat who was Saint Dane. “It’s almost no fun anymore. Almost.”
Kasha leaped at the stone wall, desperately trying to climb and get at the villain. The gars cowered in fear. They weren’t used to being trapped with an angry klee. Kasha got halfway up the wall, but gravity took over and she fell to the stone floor, landing on her feet.
“What are you?” she shouted at Timber. “Why are you doing this?”
Timber shook his head like a disappointed parent. “I sympathize with you, Pendragon. This new generation of Travelers certainly isn’t helping you much. Then again, Seegen wasn’t much help either, except to me. His map to Black Water was exactly what I needed. I wish I could thank him. It was such a pity I had to feed him that poisoned apple before he left for Second Earth.”
Kasha let out an anguished howl and jumped at the wall. Her claws scraped the stone, but once again, she fell. This time landing on her back with a sickening thud.
Bobby knelt by her and put his hand on her back. “He’s trying to get to you,” he said softly.
“He’s right, my dear,” Timber said. “I always know what you Travelers are thinking. It must be quite unnerving.” The klee rolled over on his back and licked his paw in a very catlike manner. He was totally relaxed and enjoying himself. Bobby thought he could hear the demon purring, which totally creeped him out.
“Don’t listen to him,” Bobby said to Kasha calmly. “He doesn’t know as much as he pretends to.”
“Oh?” Timber said. “Was I right about your friends from Second Earth? I’m sure they’re on Cloral right now, searching for the antidote.”
Bobby and Kasha exchanged quick glances. Saint Dane may have known about Mark and Courtney, but didn’t know how far they had gotten.
“They’ll be too late,” the demon klee added. “By the time they bring the antidote here, Black Water will be a graveyard and the second territory of Halla will be mine. After that, there’s only one thing left for me to worry about.”
“What’s that?” Bobby asked.
“I’ve got to decide which territory to visit next! Perhaps I should go to Quillan. It’s such an amusing place. Or maybe it’s time to drop in on Zadaa so we can be done with that Traveler you have such affection for…Loor.” Timber rolled over and looked down on Bobby, saying, “I don’t suppose you’re having second thoughts about joining me?”
