Courtney left the vault room.
“Let’s take this to Gunny’s apartment,” Dodger said. “It’s private.”
Courtney walked the rest of the way to Gunny’s door and used the key that was hidden overhead. Before going in, she said teasingly, “I thought it was wrong to go inside a lady’s boudoir unless it’s official business.”
Dodger answered without a trace of humor, “This is official business.”
Courtney’s smile dropped. She had never seen Dodger so serious. Courtney closed and locked the door behind them, while Dodger put the strongbox on Gunny’s kitchen table.
“So?” Courtney asked curiously.
“You said you wanted to tell me the truth. I figured I’d save you some breath.” He reached under his shirt and pulled out a chain. Hanging from it was a silver key that he used to open the strongbox. “Thing is, I already know the truth.”
Dodger opened the box and took out a handful of papers. Some were rolled up and wrapped with twine. Others were typed sheets bound into leather volumes. Courtney stared, not sure what she was seeing.
“I know it all, Courtney,” Dodger said. “Or at least, as much as Gunny does. These are the journals of the Traveler from First Earth. I told you, I’m Gunny’s acolyte.”
Courtney was stunned. “Gunny’s been sending these to you through the ring?”
Dodger nodded. “I know it all. Pendragon, Third Earth, the Hindenburg. I gotta keep that one pretty quiet. It wouldn’t do no good for the cops to find out Gunny was responsible for bringing it down. I know about Eelong and Spader and the poison from Cloral and Black Water, and even about how Kasha died. It’s all here.”
Courtney was reeling. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
Dodger chuckled. “Hey, I had to be careful. You weren’t sure if I was Saint Dane? I wasn’t sure if you were.”
Courtney punched him in the arm.
“Ow! What’s that for? It works both ways, you know!”
“I guess,” Courtney said insincerely. She didn’t like the idea that anybody could think she was Saint Dane.
Dodger pulled a single sheet of folded parchment out of the box. “Now that I know you’re legit, I can deliver this.”
Dodger held out the sheet to Courtney.
“For me?” Courtney asked, numb.
“Straight from Eelong, from Gunny and Spader… to you.”
EELONG
Dear Mark and Courtney,
I’m sending this note to my acolyte, Dodger, on First Earth in hopes that he can deliver it to you. You can trust Dodger. He’s a good man. If you’re reading this, you already know that. I think it’s important you learn some of the things that have happened since you left Eelong.
First off, Spader and I are doing just fine. We’re living in Black Water. It’s not First Earth, and I sure do miss the food and the friends back home, but it’s good enough. So if anybody out there is worried about us, don’t be. Until we find a way off this territory, we’ll be fine.
As I’m writing this, I’m guessing that Spader and I have been here about two years. You might say the changes we’ve seen are pretty spectacular. Edict Forty-six was defeated. The klees will not be hunting gars anymore. But that was just the beginning. There is a spirit of cooperation between the two races (or is it species?) that has turned this territory completely around. Black Water has become a center of technology and education. Their radio invention is now used throughout Eelong, and they’ve even started figuring out how to send out pictures. That’s more advanced than that television thing they’re talking about on First Earth. Isn’t that just amazing? Now there are regular gig flights between Leeandra and Black Water.
They’re about to finish a permanent railway line that will
214 connect the two cities. In return, the klees provide security for the gars, which mostly means keeping the tang population down.
Farms are secure now that the tangs are under control, so food is no longer a problem. That’s mostly thanks to the klees. The two groups have formed a joint government The Circle of Klee was renamed as simply the Circle. There are now two viceroys sitting on the Circle-one from Leeandra and one from Black Water. A klee and a gar. The gars are given full voting rights. It certainly is a sight to see.
I won’t kid you, there is still prejudice. Old habits die hard. Many klee still consider the gars to be an inferior race. But that’s only because the gars have only recently been given the opportunity to thrive. I believe that will change in time. Gars are now routinely sent to Black Water for education. Gars who leave Leeandra as slaves or family pets, return as vital citizens. For some klees that’s hard to accept, but more walls are breaking down each day. It’s truly miraculous.
I’m telling you all this for two reasons. One is to let you know that Spader and I are fine. We’re both teachers now! I can’t begin to describe the feeling of meeting a gar who can barely speak and eats his food from the ground, and working with him to bring out the intelligent person within. It isn’t a rare occurrence. We are personally helping to change the lives of hundreds of gars. As much as we both want to be back with Pendragon and our mission to stop Saint Dane, until that day comes, we feel that we are doing a lot of good here on Eelong. Who knows? Maybe that is the way it was meant to be.
The second reason is I want to say something about what happened at the flume when you two left with Bobby It was a tragedy that Kasha was killed. No question. But her death was an accident. Nobody is to blame. After what we all went through on Eelong, it’s a miracle that any of us are still alive. I hope you two believe that. Her death was not your fault
Though it’s unfortunate Spader and I are trapped here on Eelong, that too was an accident I won’t lie to you. As much as things are working out here, we’d both rather be with Bobby But our being here is a small price to pay for the good you two did by coming to Eelong. I know you weren’t supposed to travel. The territories are not supposed to be mingled. But if you hadn’t come, I can’t imagine the state that Eelong would be in right now. If you could see the wonderful advances that have been made, you’d agree with me. By your coming to Eelong, the turning point of this territory most definitely went the right way.
Nobody can replace Kasha. She was a wonderful klee and Traveler. If she were alive to see the Eelong of today, she would be thrilled. We’re all thrilled. As for Spader and myself, we’re proud of you two for making the tough decision and saving Eelong. Things don’t always turn out exactly the way we’d like them to, but in this case, I believe it was worth the price.
I’ll finish by saying I hope to see you again someday With any luck, it will be at a time when Saint Dane is finally done causing mischief. That’s a time we all look forward to. Until then, be well, remember us, and always follow your instincts.
With all best wishes, Gunny
P.S. This is from Spader, mates. Tell Pendragon that I’ve thought long and hard about the things he’s said to me. I guess you might say I’ve done a little growing up here in the jungles of Belong. Tell him I’m ready. I’m with him. And when the time comes, I’ll follow him to the ends of Halla.
After that, the last one to Grolo’s buys the sniggers.
Hobey-ho,
Your mate, Spader
(CONTINUED)
Courtney read the letter once, then twice. When she got through it a third time, she put it down and closed her eyes. She wasn’t sure if she should cry, or laugh. She had been beating herself up over what happened on Eelong for a long time. For years. After reading Gunny’s letter, she didn’t feel any better about Kasha having died, but she felt a little more secure in knowing the decisions they’d made were smart ones. Eelong was a very big victory and that helped to ease the pain a little. Maybe more than a little.
