Black Water

EELONG

(CONTINUED)

The formation of gigspassed high, flying directly over Black Water.

“We’re done,” Bobby said, defeated.

“Not yet,” Kasha said. “They won’t spray the poison from that far up, the wind would take it away.”

“They must be flying over to scout the place,” Gunny suggested.

“Or waiting until the first bunch of gars arrive,” Boon said ominously.

“Whatever,” Spader said quickly. “It means we’ve still got time.”

Bobby looked to Mark and asked, “Can you keep going?”

Mark stood up straight and said, “Absolutely.”

They started back to the Center, but the gars stood in their way, holding up their spearguns.

“Stop!” the gar commanded. “Until we hear from Aron, you are all being held in confinement.”

“You are going to hear from Aron right now!” Aron and a few more gars walked quickly along the path. “Gunny! What is happening here?” he demanded.

“Aron, those flying machines are going to drop a poison on Black Water. We can stop them, but we’ve got to get back to the Center.”

“I told you!” Mark added, pointing to the tank on his back. Aron frowned. “But the Advent-“

“The Advent is what they’ve been waiting for,” Bobby interrupted. “They want you all in one place.”

“Please, Aron,” Gunny begged. “You’ve got to let us go back.”

The gars looked nervous. They shuffled back and forth, not sure of what to do. Hearing that Black Water was about to be poisoned wasn’t exactly a comforting piece of news. They looked to Aron, waiting for his response. Aron looked to the sky, watching the gigs disappear in the distance.

“They’ll be back,” Gunny said. “And they’ll rain death on Black Water. The Advent will forever be known as the day that gars became extinct.”

Aron shot a look at Gunny. “I have trusted you from the moment I met you, Gunny,” he said. “Do not make me regret it.”

“You won’t,” Gunny said with absolute confidence.

“Then go,” Aron said. “Escort them back, hurry!” he ordered the gars.

The gars went from pursuers to protectors. They sprinted back along the path, running interference for the band of Travelers and acolytes who now had their last chance to save Eelong.

They ran quickly through the village, back toward the Center. Each stole nervous glances to the sky, expecting to see the gigs flying on their final, deadly pass. When they were nearly at the Center, they heard a huge cheer go up in the distance.

“It has begun,” Aron announced with pride. “The first gars have arrived.”

It was a moment of triumph. The gars had come home.

Generations of horror and oppression were at an end. No one yet knew how final that end was going to be.

Outside the Center, Courtney paced anxiously while Fayne relaxed against the building.

“You’re making me nervous,” Fayne said.

“That’s the least of your problems,” Courtney said.

Before Fayne could ask what she meant, the others ran up. Gunny quickly took the tank from Mark and handed it to Fayne. “Hook it upnow!”he ordered.

Fayne looked to Aron. Aron nodded his approval. Fayne shrugged and headed inside. Courtney followed her, just to be sure nothing went wrong.

“Look!” Mark said, pointing toward the side of town that held the entrance to Black Water. In the distance they saw a steady stream of gars emerging from the tunnel. They were getting their first look at Black Water. Home. Greeting them were the gars of Black Water, cheering them like conquering heroes. It was a triumphant sight. Bobby stole a quick look at Aron to see his eyes were tearing up.

“Hobey!” Spader shouted. Everyone looked to him. Spader pointed to the sky. “Here they come!”

They all turned their attention to the mountains above the tunnel entryway to Black Water. Like an ominous dark cloud, the formation of gigs appeared. They were much lower this time, barely clearing the craggy peaks.

“We’re too late,” Boon cried.

“No we’re not,” Kasha declared. “They’re still too high. And they’re flying with the wind. They’ll pass over once more then turn and head back. That’ll be the killer run.”

“Then let’s be ready for ‘em,” Gunny declared, and led them all inside.

Inside the greenhouse Fayne was quickly and expertly hooking up the third and final tank of antidote. The others stood watching. The tension was enormous, but nobody said anything for fear of distracting Fayne. The woman finally looked up at them and frowned. “You’re all making me nervous, you know,” she said shakily. “I don’t usually work with an audience.”

“You’re doing fine,” Gunny said. “Do we know if this tank is full?”

Fayne threw a lever on the control panel and one of the gauges shot all the way from left to right.

“To the top,” Fayne answered. “I can’t believe it’s so light, but it’s full.”

Everyone let out a relieved breath.

Courtney put her arm around Mark and gave him a quick hug. “You did it, man,” she said.

Fayne reached for the lever that would release the antidote into the system and said, “Should I?…”

“No!” everyone shouted at once.

Fayne jumped back in surprise. “All right, all right!”

“We have to wait until the right moment,” Gunny explained.

“And when is that?” Fayne asked.

“Very soon,” Kasha said, pointing up. “They’re coming back.”

Through the crystal ceiling they could see all the way to the mountains on the far side of Black Water. The formation of gigs had returned once again. They were so far away that they looked like flying ants. But there was no mistake. This time, when they cleared the mountain top, the angels of death dipped down into the valley. At the same time, they spread out quickly, opening up huge gaps between each gig to cover as much ground as possible.

“This is it,” Kasha announced. “This is the run.”

“Do it!” Courtney shouted.

Fayne reached for the lever and was ready to throw it when…

“Stop!” Bobby shouted.

Everyone whipped a disbelieving look at him.

“Shorty, it’s now or never,” Gunny warned.

Bobby walked to the irrigation control and stood by the lever.

“What are you doing, Bobby?” Courtney asked nervously.

Bobby looked at the group and said, “I don’t believe this was the way it was meant to be. But it’s the way it is. This may be the totally wrong thing to do, but since it’s going to happen, I’ll be the one to do it.” He reached up for the lever and wrapped his fingers around it. He looked back to the group and said, “I don’t think the rules have changed. But we have.”

Bobby pulled the lever.