Part 18 (2/2)

”So how do you get around if you can't use skimmers and speeders?” he asked.

”Well, we have carsa vehicles that can go long distances on land, and big trains that travel on rails. And, oh yeaha we can fly.”

”What?” he asked in shock. ”You can fly?”

I laughed. ”Sort of. We have vehicles that fly. Some are small and hold only two people, others are big enough to carry four hundred.”

”Hobey, that's magic!” Spader said in awe.

I guess to someone from another territory that didn't have airplanes, the power of flight was pretty amazing. It was almost as amazing as being able to breathe underwater with plastic globes that molded to your head. Every territory was unique in its own way and believe it or not, I was beginning to like the idea that I was going to see more of them.

”And you have a family?” he asked me.

”Yeah. Mom, Dad, and a little sister named Shannon.”

We both fell silent for a while. We knew what we were both thinking. What had happened to our families?

”You know something, Pendragon?”

”What?”

”I believe Press,” he said with confidence. ”We're going to see them again. But not before some amazing adventures come our way.”

I had to smile. Maybe he was beginning to accept our fate.

For the rest of the night Spader and Yenza took turns at the controls and keeping watch. We all tried to get some sleep, but it wasn't easy. We went below to the cabin, where there were some bunks. As excited as I was, I really needed some sleep, and konked out as soon as my head hit the pillow. I planned to sack out for only an hour or two, but as it turns out I slept through the entire night!

What finally woke me up was the sound of the engines slowing. I immediately sat up in the hammock, banged my head on a beam of course, swore to myself, then headed topside.

Uncle Press, Spader, and Yenza were already standing on deck. We must have made some pretty good time because the sun hadn't come up yet. It was still pitch dark and the stars still shone off the water. It was very quiet, especially now that the engines were killed and we weren't moving. I did a complete three-sixty and saw nothing but water.

”Are we here?” I asked.

”Right on the spot,” answered Spader.

”It's strange,” Yenza said. ”According to the charts we're over a huge trench, one of the deepest on Cloral. But my instruments show it to be fairly shallow. I don't understand.”

”Could we be in the wrong spot?” I asked.

Spader answered the question. ”Not a chance.”

I walked up to the bow of the speeder and looked out onto the water. It was so calm that it was tricky to find where the horizon stopped and the water began. Especially since the stars reflected off the water.

The stars. The stars reflected off the water. That's when it hit me.

I ran to the others and shouted, ”Give me the map!”

Spader had it. He had glued it together using some kind of, well, glue. I held it up toward the horizon. Then I slowly turned, still holding the map out in front of me until everything lined up and - ”That's it!” I exclaimed.

”What's it?” asked Uncle Press.

”Look,” I said, pointing to the map. ”The horizontal line represents the horizon. And all these dots above it are - ”

”Stars!” shouted Spader. ”Hobey-ho, look!”

It was incredible. The dots on the map lined up perfectly with the constellations in the night sky. There was no mistaking it. We were in the right spot.

”Good thing we got here at night,” Uncle Press added.

”So then what's this big half circle below the line?” I asked.

I think it hit all four of us at the same time because we all looked at one another cautiously. We knew exactly what that semicircle was supposed to be. If the straight line was the horizon, then anything below it was water. And there was only one thing that was supposed to be below the water in these parts.

”Could it be?” Spader asked in awe.

”I've heard about Faar since I was a girl,” said Yenza with reverence. ”It's supposed to be the most wonderful place that ever was. It's where Cloral was born. To think that it could be reala” She couldn't finish the sentence. The idea was too incredible to her.

”One way or another, we're going to find out,” said Uncle Press.

I could tell from his tone of voice that he wanted to treat this as any other expedition. He probably wanted Spader and Yenza to get rid of any childhood fantasies and fears that might get in the way of our solving this mystery.

”Let's all eat something,” he said. ”Then get ready to dive. As soon as it's light enough to see, we'll have a look at what's down there.”

There was a stock of dried fruits and vegetables on board. The thought crossed my mind that these might be poisoned like the rest of the food on Cloral. But since they were dried, they had probably been here for a long time and were safe. So we all sat on deck and ate breakfast. To be honest, it was disgusting. That stuff tasted like shoes. Not that I've ever eaten shoes before, but if I had, I'm sure they would taste like this. But we had to eat something so I pretended like they were Pop-Tarts. Shoe-flavor Pop-Tarts.

Gradually, the sky grew brighter and then the sun began to peek up on the horizon. Soon we were bathed in its warmth and light.

It was time to start our mission. Since this was an aquaneer speeder boat, it was well equipped. There were air globes and spearguns and water sleds. It was decided that Yenza would stay on board while the three of us went sunken city hunting. So Uncle Press, Spader, and I got geared up. We each popped on an air globe and strapped on spearguns.

I didn't have my watch, but I was pretty sure we were past the twenty minutes that you're supposed to wait to go swimming after you eat. I had to laugh to myself. Here I was about to search for a mythological underwater lost city on the other side of the universe, and all I could think about was some old wives' tale my mother told me about getting cramps at a picnic. It was times like this that I really missed her.

”If we see something, we'll surface and let you know,” Uncle Press said to Yenza. ”But understand one thing. Zy Roder has the same information we do and I guarantee he'll be headed this way. Whatever you do, do not take him on yourself, understand?”

”You're talking to a chief aquaneer, Press,” said Yenza with a little bit of an att.i.tude. ”I can handle things.”

Uncle Press smiled in apology. ”Sorry, my bad. Just be careful. Please.”

”I'll say the same to you,” she said with a little smile.

I was beginning to think that Yenza was developing a ”thing” for Uncle Press. Bad idea for her. He wasn't the kind of guy you'd want to start a relations.h.i.+p with. He was on the road a little too much.

”Spader, take the lead,” Uncle Press said. ”We'll follow on either side of you.” He then smiled and said, ”Look for a really big city.”

”Hobey-ho,” said Spader with a laugh.

”Hobey-ho,” I echoed.

<script>