When everyone was settled, Babel and Quentin joined Jims and the other officials to discuss their strategy. “The Klopph are close and we need to lose them.” Jims started.
“Agreed.” said Quentin, “We will not outlast them to the fortress if we don’t.”
“How? The land is barren with nowhere to hide. They are moving too fast for us to outrun them.” Babel asked.
“The same way you handled the Pishacha in the cemetery.”
“A fire.”
“Yes, a fire. If you haven’t noticed, it’s the dry season. We chose the Valley of Stones because it is filled with deadwood which will burn quickly. The fire will spread rapidly through the area.”
“You want me to light the land on fire? What about the people?”
“We’ve been traveling for nearly a week. How many people have you seen?”
“These lands are called the Great Waste.” Jims added. “No one lives here. The ground is sour. Only the most stubborn of grasses and trees survive here. That is why we came here.”
“Okay.” Babel agreed. “When?”
“Just before first light.” Quentin answered. “You can control the fire?” Babel nodded that could. “That’s good. That’s really good. You are starting to realize your inner-power. Now, you will set the fire just after we depart. Push the wall of flame towards the direction we came. Nature will take care of the rest.”
“How long to the fortress after that?” Babel asked.
“About five days.” Jims answered.
“We’ll need to move quickly.” Quentin said. “The fires will delay them but they will not deter them. We will need to be vigilant.”
“After we reach the fortress, what then?”
“Then it will be your time. I will show you the secrets of the Chokka. Then it will be up to you to rally the people against the Keeper.”
CHAPTER THIRTY FIVE
“How is he?” the Keeper asked. He had joined the Klopph after a call from the Cancellarrii explaining their setback. The man in question was covered in white wrappings; tubes came from his arms filled with a blue liquid.
“He may live. He may die. He has third degree burns to most of his body. If he lives, it will take months for him to recover fully, if that is even possible for him. The Kaptajn is a good man. He will be difficult to replace.” The Cancellarrii looked gravely at the charred body of the Kaptajn. “Because he cannot, I will take vengeance on his behalf.”
“I am sure you will. Do you know what exactly happened?”
“We were in the Great Waste, about a mile east of the Valley of Stones when a fire came rushing towards us. There was little we could do. There was nowhere to take cover. I was able to activate my body shield, as were several others. The Kaptajn was not as lucky.”
“What of the flames?”
“It is they dry season but there had been no lightning. The fire was manufactured.”
“The amazing part is that it came directly towards you.”
“What are you saying? It is obvious the fire was started by those with the Chokka, but are you saying perhaps the fire was controlled?”
“Many of the Chokka possessed the ability to start fires and control those fires by thought.”
The Cancellarrii inhaled, taking in the Keeper’s comment. They had underestimated the Chokka.
The Keeper leaned into the Cancellarrii. “How are you, old friend?”
“Some minor burns. It appears I wasn’t quite quick enough with my body shield. The wounds are clean and there is no infection. I am ready for duty.”
The Keeper nodded. “Very well. Do we know where they are headed?”
“We are patrolling the area. We will find their trail again.”
“Where do you think they are headed?”
“Part of me thinks they will turn and head to the Far East Region. There people there are full of unrest and we have only a few Klopph in that area. If they were given an opportunity to support a return to a Chokka government, I believe they would follow. But another part of me thinks that they will come to Orleans.”
“What makes you say that?”
“The Chokka have many secrets that I have no doubt we have yet to discover. There is no telling what the Chokka’s father told him. Plus, he is with the son of the Minister of Science. He will know secrets that may be hidden within the city. We can’t rule out their return. Either way, we will be ready.”
The Keeper placed his hand on the Cancellarrii’s shoulder. “We will talk more on this later. Keep me apprised.”
“We will need to replace the Kaptajn. I have someone in mind.”
“I’m sure you do. I’ll see you later.”
After the Keeper departed the makeshift shelter, the Cancellarrii regarded the damaged Kaptajn. Within the hour, he would be transported back to the city for surgery. Rage filled him. “They will pay for what they have done.”
CHAPTER THIRTY SIX
From the outside, there was no evidence of a fortress. The land was full of vegetation, fashioning a lovely setting.
Babel simply stood and admired the beauty. He could see why his ancestors had chosen this location as the place to build their hidden fortress. Babel imagined his ancestors finding this spot among all the possible choices in the world and declaring that, “This is it.”
The Chokka that came here came because their situation was dire. They were faced with the death of their world, as well as their own death. Babel could imagine no more beautiful final sight before death.
“Are you sure this is it?” Babel asked Quentin.
“I am sure of it.”
“Good. You don’t happen to also be sure of the location of the doorway, do you?”
Quentin smiled. “I was hoping you would.”
Babel couldn’t
