along with Aron and a few of the Black Water leaders. Kasha and Bobby were still fugitives. Boon was too, for having stolen the zenzens. They didn’t want to arrive back in the city only to be arrested, so they returned with an impressive show of force that the klees could not ignore. No less than fifty gars marched on Leeandra. Each rode on zenzens (even Mark), wearing dark cloaks and body armor. They also carried spearguns. They had no intention of using them; they wanted to put on a show that would prove to the klees that they were a force to be reckoned with.
Leading the group were the klees, Kasha and Boon. They boldly led the others into the wippen stadium to demand a meeting with the Council of Klee. What they found was something they never could have predicted.
Leeandra was a city in shambles.
Once the gars fled, the klees discovered how integral they were to running the city. The gars had done all of the menial jobs the klees weren’t interested in. Now that they were gone, the elevators and trams broke down; the flow of water was stopped because the elaborate system of pipes wasn’t kept clean; and worst of all, food was becoming even more scarce because the foragers weren’t willing to risk their lives to go outside Leeandra without the gars to protect them. Leeandra was paralyzed.
It was the perfect situation for Kasha and Boon. Together with Aron, they went immediately to the Circle of Klee to find Ranjin, the former viceroy. Ranjin was quick to grant them an audience. The group learned from Ranjin that after the failure of the attack on Black Water, Timber disappeared. (No big surprise.)
Kasha told Ranjin the truth about the gars. He listened closely as she explained how the gars were actually intelligent beings. She described how the gars had developed advanced farming techniques that could mean the end of the food shortage. Aron made sure that Ranjin understood the gars would help feed the klees, but only if they were treated as equals. The klees would have to put aside all their old prejudices and accept that the gars were not animals.
Ranjin listened to all that Kasha and Aron had to say with keen interest. Kasha said that for the gars to begin helping the klees, they needed a show of good faith. A symbol. Without it, they would leave the klees to starve.
“What is it I can do?” Ranjin asked.
“You must once again become viceroy of Leeandra,” Kasha said. “You have proven to be the lone voice of reason. That voice must be heard again.”
Ranjin agreed to once again wield the staff of viceroy, and do all he could to forge an alliance with the gars.
After that, events happened quickly. Aron and Ranjin spent days talking about the future of their two races, and of Eelong. They found common ground in the technology that each race had created. The link radio would prove to be an invaluable tool to coordinate forages and track the movement of tangs, so the danger of surprise attacks would be diminished. The link could also be used aboard gigs, allowing the helicopters to travel greater distances without fear of losing power, for they could receive information about clouds and storm patterns. Of course, at the center of their plans was the gar invention of virloam. Using this remarkable substance for farming would guarantee enough food to meet the needs of a growing territory. Neither Aron nor Ranjin expected the road ahead to be without bumps, but each felt certain that traveling down that road was in the best interest of all.
Four weeks after the failed attack on Black Water, Eelong was on its way to becoming a safe, peaceful territory with a bright future.
Bobby and the Travelers stayed on Eelong long enough to make sure the healing process began. At first Bobby wanted Mark and Courtney to return home, but they asked to stay. They had risked their lives to help save Eelong and wanted to see the payoff. Bobby didn’t argue. They had earned that right. After the Advent, they first spent two weeks in Black Water, marveling at how the gars quickly adapted to their new lives. Mark was fascinated with the technology the gars had developed, and spent days at the Center, learning about virloam and the link radio. Courtney had a great time teaching the gars how to play soccer. She got Spader involved and the two formed a small soccer league, with Spader and Courtney the captains of opposing teams.
Two weeks later they made the trip to Leeandra for the historic meeting with Ranjin. While the important meeting and negotiations were taking place, Mark and Courtney stayed at Seegen’s house. They explored the town, marveling at the incredible city built in the trees. They did this with no small feeling of pride. Since Bobby first left on his adventure, they had longed to play a more important role in protecting the territories. On Eelong their wishes came true. If not for them, Saint Dane would have destroyed Eelong. Courtney’s self-confidence had returned, and Mark finally got the adventure he had longed for.
But it was time for the adventure to end.
One evening the three visitors from Second Earth were in Seegen’s home, sharing a meal. Mark had appeared nervous all night. When they finished eating, he said what was on his mind.
“Guys,” Mark said, “I think it’s time to go home.”
Courtney hadn’t expected that. “Why? It’s awesome here!” She asked, “What’s at home? School? Homework? Parents ragging about school and homework?”
“Well…yeah,” Mark answered. “I miss that.”
“And what are we going to tell our parents? ‘Sorry we’ve been missing for a month, folks, but we had to flume to another territory with Bobby Pendragon and stop a race of cat people from destroying a secret village in the mountains. Pass the salt.’ I don’t think so!”
“We knew that was going to be a problem when we left,” Mark countered.
“Yeah, but that was before we kicked Saint Dane’s butt!” Courtney shot back. “If it weren’t for us, Eelong would be a giant litter box. The war is just starting. Bobby needs us. Right, Bobby?”
Bobby didn’t answer. Courtney didn’t like that. “You do want us to help, don’t you?”
“You’ve been helping since day one,” Bobby said calmly.
“We’ve been librarians!” Courtney shouted, jumping to her feet. “We can’t go back to that now that we’ve had a taste of the action!”
“But you have to,” Bobby said with no emotion.
This stunned Courtney. “What? Why?”
“Because I need you to,” Bobby said. “You’re right; you saved Eelong. If it weren’t for you guys, I don’t know what would have happened. You were amazing. But I don’t know what I’m going to find next and-” _
“And what? You don’t think we can hack it?” Courtney said, insulted.
“I don’t even know ifIcan hack it!” Bobby barked so quickly that it made both Mark and Courtney jump.
“Something’s been bugging you, Bobby,” Mark said. “What is it?”
Bobby tried to put his thoughts together before answering. “Something’s not right,” he finally said. “Eelong is safe. I believe that. But still, I’ve got this horrible feeling that I’ve missed something. I know that everything you guys have done was to help, and I’ll never be able to thank you enough. But I’m still trying to figure out the rules here, and if they’re really changing, and what the hell I’m even doing here in the first place!”
By the time he finished the sentence, he was shouting. Courtney sat back down, surprised by Bobby’s outburst. They hadn’t realized he was such a raw nerve. He hadn’t shared his worries with anyone since Black Water was saved. He never even told anyone about seeing Saint Dane in the form of the little blond girl. But it had been weighing on him, and now he was letting the emotion spill out.
“Please don’t give me a hard time about this,” he continued. “I’m barely keeping my head above water here. I can’t watch my butt and yours too. So please, go home. I’ll take you to the flume tomorrow.”
Bobby stormed out of the hut, leaving Courtney and Mark stunned. Neither said anything right away; they had to let Bobby’s tirade settle in.
“Well,” Courtney finally said. “That’s pretty ungrateful. We nearly get killed about twenty times over and all he says is ‘thanks’ and then sends us on our jolly way? That’s bull-“
“It’s not,” Mark said forcefully. “He’s right. We’re not Travelers, Courtney. We don’t belong here.”
“Who says?” Courtney argued.
“Well, Bobby’s uncle Press,” Mark answered.
“Press is gone!” Courtney shot back.
“Yeah, but I think Bobby is still hanging on to him. Press was the guy Bobby trusted above everybody. He was the one who brought him up to be a Traveler, and the only one who knew what it all meant.”
“Yeah, I guess,” Courtney said grudgingly.
“Think about all Bobby’s been through. I couldn’t have done it. And I’m sorry if this is an insult, but I don’t
