We’re not tied up, so that means we don’t scare them. And whoever they are, they’re not lowlifes, because we’re riding in a limousine. On top of all that, my head hurts and I’m still wearing your mother’s goofy freakin’ clothes.”
Mark stared at her. “Yeah, I guess that about sums it up.”
Courtney leaned forward and banged on the smoked glass that separated the rear seat from the front. “Hey!” she called out. “Where are we going?”
No answer. Courtney banged again. “Open up! At least talk to us.”
Nobody did. Courtney sat back in her seat and huffed. “That’s all I had. Your turn.”
“The guys who grabbed us had that star tattoo,” Mark said thoughtfully.
“So we’ve been kidnapped by people from the star cult,” Courtney concluded. “Why should they care about us?”
“I don’t know,” Mark answered. “It’s obvious that Saint Dane has to be involved. Maybe he’s afraid we’ll mess something up for him. It’s happened.”
Courtney chuckled. “Yeah, it’s happened.”
The two gazed out at the buildings flashing by.
“My parents are part of this,” Courtney said softly. “They had the star over the fireplace. They can’t be bad guys. My parents can’t be bad guys.”
“I don’t think they are. Or maybe they don’t realize they are.”
“What does that mean?” Courtney demanded.
“Saint Dane influences people. They think they’re making smart choices when he’s actually pushing them toward disaster. What if the star cult or Ravinia or whatever it’s called is something Saint Dane has been pushing people toward?”
“So then what’s the turning point of Second Earth? The Convergence?”
“No,” Mark said quickly. “The Convergence is bigger than that. At least I think it is. There has to be something happening on Second Earth that would naturally happen, and Saint Dane is trying to influence it. Maybe he’s doing it through this cult.”
Courtney thought about that. “This cult didn’t exist on the old Second Earth. Something changed in the past that allowed it to be created.”
“That’s the mystery,” Mark said.
“That and about a million other things,” Courtney added. She glanced out the window again and announced, “We’re in the city.”
The car sped off the highway onto a wide street in New York City. It moved quickly through traffic, headed across town. They soon reached an intersection that was loaded with people. More than normal.
“What’s all that about?” Courtney asked.
Mark joined her at the window to look out onto a crowd that was gathered along the sidewalk. Traffic was so heavy, the limo had to slow to a crawl. It gave them a chance to get a closer look at what was happening.
“Looks like a protest,” Mark guessed.
“Looks more like an angry mob,” Courtney corrected.
It was a raucous crowd, carrying signs that read, we’re all created equal, truth will prevail, andwe the people. They were waving their fists in the air and chanting a phrase over and over again.
Mark said, “Sounds like they’re saying ‘Stop them here.’”
Courtney listened and replied, “I hope they’re not talking about us. Those people look pissed.”
“I wouldn’t worry about it,” Mark said, pointing.
He was looking at several people who were carrying signs with the green star symbol. Each star was surrounded by a red circle with a line slashed diagonally through the center. It was the classic symbol that meant no.
“I guess not everybody is part of the star cult,” Mark observed. “Look at that guy.”
He pointed to a man who stood on a ladder so he could be seen by the crowd. He was a dark-skinned guy, possibly of Asian Indian background. He wore a dark suit with a blue bow tie, looking very official next to the people who swirled around him. He held up a bullhorn through which he chanted, “Stop them here! Stop them here!” while punching his fist angrily toward the sky. The crowd responded, waving their signs and punching right along with him.
“He looks more pissed than anybody,” Courtney commented. “He’s got them pretty worked up.”
The limo slowed and was instantly rushed by a group of people that started to rock it.
“Whoa!” Courtney yelled. “You sure they’re not after us?”
“Maybe they think we’re part of it.”
“Great,” Courtney said sarcastically. “We’re being attacked for something we don’t know anything about.”
The limo lurched forward. There were a few thumps, making the car jolt.
“Did we just hit somebody?” Mark asked, aghast.
They looked out the back window to see three people lying on the road, hurt.
“Are you crazy!” Courtney yelled at the driver while slamming on the glass.
“No wonder they don’t like us,” Mark said soberly.
The car took an abrupt right turn, throwing Mark and Courtney into each other. It quickly descended into an underground garage. The two looked out the back window again to see a group of security people quickly closing a metal fence behind them. Protesters rushed the fence and pounded on it, still chanting, “Stop them here! Stop them here!”
“What the hell?” was all Courtney could say.
The limo sped through the underground parking structure, taking a few quick turns with its wheels squealing on the cement. It suddenly screeched to a stop next to a group of people who seemed to be waiting for them.
“Uh-oh,” Mark uttered.
There were five people. Four of them wore the same dark red clothes and short-brimmed caps that were worn by the men who attacked them at Courtney’s house. They stood there expressionless. The fifth person looked nothing like the others. He was a man who looked to be in his thirties. He was exceptionally clean cut, with short blond hair and a big, inviting smile. He wore a short-sleeved dark red polo shirt and black pants. In one hand was a clipboard, which made him look official. With his other hand, he waved warmly to Mark and Courtney, who peered out from the backseat.
“Who’s the dork?” Courtney asked. “Looks like he’s getting ready to play golf.”
“At least he’s smiling.”
The car doors automatically unlocked with a loud click. The smiley guy leaned down and opened the rear door, making a big, sweeping gesture of welcome.
“Hello! You are right on time!” the man said with enthusiasm. “Mark and Courtney, right?”
Mark and Courtney looked at each other in surprise. They didn’t move. Or speak.
“Welcome!” the man added.
“Welcome?” Mark echoed. “You kidnapped us.”
“Oh, that,” the man said, scoffing. “We were afraid you wouldn’t make it in time. That’s all. But you have! Sorry for the inconvenience.”
Courtney erupted. “You broke into my family’s house and gassed us. You call that an inconvenience?”
The young man looked at Courtney, still holding the smile. “Yes.”
“Oh. Just checking.” Courtney banged on the glass separator again and shouted to the driver, “Keep moving!”
The young man reached out his hand in a welcoming gesture. “Please,” he said warmly. “Join me.”
The two didn’t have a choice. In spite of the friendly welcome, the sober-looking guys who stared them down made that pretty clear. Mark got out. Courtney followed.
“That’s better!” the man with the big smile exclaimed. He held out his hand to shake. “My name is Eugene. I’ll be your escort.”
Mark didn’t take it. Neither did Courtney. Eugene took his hand back, but didn’t drop his smile. He didn’t seem bothered by the snub. “All right then. Let’s not dawdle. Wouldn’t want to miss anything.”
He hurried off past the other four men. Mark and Courtney didn’t move. Eugene turned back and gave them a
