Seated in the copilot’s chair, Billy turned toward them. “We’d better be on the lookout for fighter jets. They might be talking to each other.”
“I can’t evade military fighters.” Marilyn pointed at the dashboard map. “We’re coming up on a big forest. We could land and hide under trees.”
Billy rose and limped down the aisle, his head low. “If we hide because something might hurt us, we’ll never stop hiding.”
“How far from here to the portal?” Bonnie asked.
Marilyn touched the GPS. “Forty-three miles. We’ll be there in a few minutes.”
Bonnie looked out the window. Reddish clouds floated in towering formations, rising from a floor of lower clouds—plenty of hiding places for other aircraft. “Maybe they’re just staying out of sight till we get there.”
“Let them.” Billy took an adhesive bandage from the first-aid kit on a vacant seat and returned to the copilot’s chair. “If they’re tracking us, we’ll have to face them eventually.” He peeled a bloody bandage from his forehead and applied the new one. “Besides, we’re cutting it close on fuel.”
“You got that right.” Marilyn leaned back in the pilot’s chair. “Just keep me up to date.”
While they continued flying, Lois and Larry provided updates. The amount of chatter elevated, though their decryption efforts had not yet succeeded. They also combined the plant data and concluded that the offloaded piece needed a decryption key. Everyone agreed that Mardon likely had it, and there was no use asking him for it.
Moments later, the jet descended through the lower clouds and broke into the clear. Far below, houses and lawns snaked around schools, parks, and playgrounds. The suburban area soon gave way to a rural landscape where a two-lane road ran alongside a stadium.
“What was the city we passed?” Bonnie asked.
Billy turned from his seat in the cockpit. “St. Louis. We’re west of it now.”
“So we flew a round-trip.”
“Pretty much. I just had coordinates. I didn’t know we’d come right back here until I plugged them in.” Billy pointed at the jet’s GPS screen. “It looks like we’re supposed to go to that football stadium.”
“Does the highway look long enough to land on?” Marilyn asked.
Billy leaned forward. “I think so. We need four thousand feet, but we have a drag chute, so let’s go for it. We’ll taxi to the stadium’s parking lot.”
“Will do.” Marilyn began a wide turn. “I’ll circle back to get enough highway space. Fortunately, no one’s on the road, but there’s a neighborhood close by. We’ll be seen.”
“I thought the portal would be in an uninhabited area,” Bonnie said. “If it’s open, anyone could just walk through it, couldn’t they?”
Lois spoke through the lapel speaker. “It is not normally open. Elam and Sapphira planned their portals carefully. As you might know, it takes great effort to move a portal from one place to another, and it is exceedingly difficult to create a new one. Elam brought warriors through one portal that led to a remote mesa, which they kept open by a fire in Second Eden, but an event occurred that caused the fire to go out.”
Bonnie looked at Carly. “The event Lois is talking about was Mount Elijah’s eruption.”
“Got it.” Carly tapped Lois’s sphere with a finger. “Please continue. I need to get up to speed on this.”
“Certainly. That portal’s closure and Elam’s inability to return to Second Eden through it led to government authorities finding the portal, killing Legossi, and capturing Sapphira. The closure also prevented those authorities from exploiting the portal for their purposes, but they are certain to be monitoring it.”
“Which is why we’re not flying to that one,” Carly said.
“Correct. Elam has always had a secret portal that he has never used. Since adversaries expect portals to be located in remote areas on Earth, it stands to reason that the most secret one would be somewhere they do not expect. Elam never stored the coordinates anywhere. He provided them verbally when needed.”
“That sounds like Elam,” Bonnie said. “He’ll do anything to keep Second Eden safe.”
Carly gazed out the window. “It looks … deserted.”
Bonnie joined Carly, the sides of their heads touching. The stadium appeared to be significantly smaller than a professional-league complex, though the parking lot was big enough to hold hundreds of vehicles. A set of high-rise bleachers made of concrete and metal ran along one sideline, and collapsed bleachers lay piled along the other. With no goalposts on the field, it looked like it had been abandoned long ago, though some of the lines and a faded logo were still visible on the grass.
At field level, a human figure ran through an open gate that led to a passage within the undamaged bleachers. “I saw someone,” Bonnie said. “Whoever it was took off like a shot.”
Billy turned toward her. “Could you tell who it was?”
“No.” Bonnie looked toward the field again, now out of sight as the jet banked sharply. “It was too far away. I couldn’t even tell if the person was male or female.”
“White hair or wings?” Billy asked, playfulness in his tone.
Keeping her gaze through the window, she smiled. “I would recognize Sapphira or Gabriel even from this far.”
“Let’s hope we’re being watched by friendly eyes,” Billy said. “Soon we should have dragon allies to counter whoever’s tracking us.”
Bonnie leaned back in her seat. Makaidos, Thigocia, and Roxil. Maybe the stadium included an overhang or some other shelter under the concrete section that prevented an aerial view of dragons hiding underneath.
As they descended to within a few hundred feet of the ground, the line of flight paralleled a straight portion of highway. The painted stripes down the middle zipped by faster and faster, and the stadium came back into view about a mile ahead.
“We might shoot past it,” Marilyn said.
Billy pointed forward. “See where the pavement turns darker? Let’s touch down there and brake hard. A curve is coming up.”
“Deploy the chute?”
“No. We have room.”
Marilyn set a hand on one of the controls. “Everyone check your belts.”
Carly unplugged Lois from Larry and set her in her lap. Bonnie tightened her belt and braced Larry between her feet.
The jet descended sharply, then leveled out and touched down. The screech of tires skidding on pavement filled the cabin along with a whoosh of air. Bonnie’s waist pressed against her belt until the momentum eased.
“The parking lot’s gate looks wide enough,” Billy said as he pointed out his side window. “Let’s take her right in.”
Bonnie looked through her window. The stadium lay in an east-west configuration parallel to and north of the highway with a parking lot in between. A side road and open gate led to the lot where two cars sat near the perimeter fence—Ashley’s solar-powered car and the Mustang that transported Elam, Sapphira, Thomas, and Mariel here. Grass grew through cracks in the pothole-scarred pavement, and faded white paint marked parking-space lines here and there.
The jet bounced on the bumpy road, jostling everyone. After a few seconds, Billy called out, “That’s good.” When the wheels stopped, he threw off his buckle and leaped into the aisle, Excalibur glowing in his grip. “Okay, let’s try to get out as fast as possible.”
Bonnie unbuckled, grabbed Larry, and stepped into the aisle behind Billy, a hand on his shoulder as she followed him toward the door.
“Carl,” Marilyn called from the cockpit, “I’ll get Jared.”
Billy opened the door, deployed the airstair, and hobbled down to the pavement. He spun back and extended his free hand to Bonnie. “Let’s go, everyone. Careful on the steps.”
When Bonnie reached the bottom, she set Larry on the pavement and whispered to Billy, “I’ll be the lookout.” She leaped and flew toward a tall lighting pole. At the top, four square lamp sh
ields protruded outward from the central pole, the shields’ protective glass parallel to the ground. She alighted with each foot on a shield and crouched. Her perch provided a westward view of the highway, a forest to the north beyond the stadium’s wrecked bleachers, and a partly cloudy sky, reddened by the scarlet sun.
The overhang at the closer set of bleachers shadowed a perimeter walkway that ran parallel to a pair of restrooms and a concession stand embedded in a concrete wall. A crinkled square of greasy paper blew by one of the restrooms, the only movement in the stadium.
Bonnie searched every visible nook and cranny. Maybe Elam, Gabriel, and company were hiding and would soon send someone to greet the new arrivals. Below, the other passengers continued disembarking. Billy, still holding Excalibur, scanned the area while Catherine helped Carl descend the steps and Adam followed with the wheelchair. Then Mardon glided down and marched away from the jet. Within seconds, he faded and disappeared.
Bonnie scanned the path the ghostly scientist seemed to be taking, a course to her right that led to the stadium. There, a human-shaped shadow moved behind a column supporting the bleachers. The person who cast the shadow remained out of view, too far away to contact by voice.
“Bonnie!” Billy shouted as he looked up at her. “I sense danger! Do you see anything?”
She pointed toward the stadium. “I saw a shadow over there. Mardon went that way, but I don’t think he’s had time to get there.” She turned her head and looked down the highway to the east. Above the city skyline, a tiny object appeared, growing larger as it followed the highway. The distinctive whipping hum of helicopter blades rode the air.
With one hand braced on the light pole, she cupped her other hand around her mouth and called, “A helicopter is coming!” She pointed to the rear. “From that direction!”
Three people ran from the bleachers—a man, a woman, and a petite, white-haired female dressed in a Second Eden battle uniform. Bonnie blinked. Sapphira! And who were the others? Yes! Walter and Ashley!
The whipping blades grew louder. The helicopter’s frame took shape, growing as it zoomed closer.
Walter, Ashley, and Sapphira stopped at Billy’s side and watched the helicopter’s flight. Bonnie strained to listen over the growing din. “It’s been patrolling,” Ashley said, “but we’ve kept out of sight.”
Billy squinted toward the east. “Any idea what it’s capable of?”
Walter pulled a handgun from behind his belt. “It’s a Cobra. Rapid-fire guns and missiles. I don’t know if they’re air-to-air or air-to-surface. Maybe both. Either way, Elam and Gabriel are keeping the dragons out of target range. They’ll attack if they have to, but Elam has them on a tight rein. You know. After what happened to Legossi.”
“Just so you’re aware,” Ashley said to Billy. “I haven’t had a chance to check the blood you collected in the abyss. I need a lab to do a DNA match.”
“No worries. Bonnie and I are pretty confident Matt survived.”
“Good. Keep the faith.”
The helicopter slowed somewhat, now less than a mile away. Bonnie hunkered low. Would she be more valuable here as a lookout, or might it be better to join the others?
Sapphira extended a hand. A small fireball sizzled in her palm. “I came in the dragons’ place. I won’t be an obvious target like they would, and they don’t know what I’m capable of doing.”
Billy raised Excalibur. “Any idea if that bird has organic components?”
Walter’s eyes widened. “Cool! Excalibur’s back!”
“Yeah. Long story. And I don’t know the half of it.”
“Whatever. We can sure use it.” Walter gave the helicopter another look. “The military knows what Excalibur can do. They probably protected all their equipment and the uniforms, but it won’t hurt to send them a laser love letter to light their fire.”
Ashley stared at the oncoming chopper. “I’m reading thoughts. Two crew members. They sound inexperienced. They plan to fly close to indentify targets and then destroy anything they believe to be the enemy.”
The chopper accelerated, now only seconds away. The blades sounded like rapid gunfire.
“Here we go.” Billy set his feet. A laser beam emanated from Excalibur’s tip and shot into the sky. “Bonnie! Take cover!”
She launched from the pole and flew down to Billy’s side. The moment she landed, Billy swiped the beam across the helicopter, now only a hundred feet away. The armor sizzled. Sparks flew, but the chopper continued forward, though much more slowly. It halted and hovered within fifty feet. The nearly invisible blades sent windy pulses that beat against hair and clothes. Inside, the forward pilot wore metallic-looking gloves and a helmet with a dark visor, making him look like a faceless robot. A second pilot sat behind him, visible only when the helicopter turned a bit. He wore the same robotic uniform.
“The pilot radioed a count of the targets,” Ashley said as she pulled her denim jacket closed. “They want to kill us all.”
“Everyone duck!” Billy waved Excalibur around. “Now!”
Sapphira crouched low. Walter grabbed Ashley, and they dropped to their knees. Bonnie spread her wings over Carl and Catherine. Adam pulled Carly down and hunkered with his arms over her back while Marilyn stooped with the plant tucked under her body.
The beam expanded overhead and created a radiant shield. Bullets fired. Sounding like a thumping buzz, they slammed against the shield and ricocheted off at a hundred angles. A few bounced backwards and clanked against the chopper. It ceased firing and reeled in reverse. When it stopped, it hovered, as if contemplating its next move.
“The pilots are getting ready to fire a missile,” Ashley called over the noise, “but they’re arguing over the target. I can’t figure out what their options are, but they’re saying that they know the dragons are around here somewhere. They’re the real trophies. We’re small potatoes.”
Billy kept swirling the beam. “They’re probably threatening us to bring the dragons out of hiding.”
“Uh-oh,” Ashley said. “They’re tired of waiting.”
The helicopter turned toward the football field. A missile shot out from the underside and blasted toward the stadium. A storage building exploded in a ball of flames. The metal roof flew away in a rapid spin, while strips of aluminum siding peeled out and scattered all around.
“Oh, they’re so proud of themselves,” Ashley said with a huff. “These guys aren’t soldiers. They’re show-off punks out for a joy ride.”
“Any idea what their next move might be?” Billy asked.
Ashley gulped. “We’re the target. Another missile.”
The helicopter turned toward them and slowly backed away.
Ashley’s eyes narrowed. “Now they’re radioing our descriptions. Apparently someone wants to make sure one or more of us doesn’t get killed, so they have to get approval to fire.”
Billy nudged Walter with a knee. “Get everyone ready to run. I don’t want to test this shield against a missile.”
Walter shot to his feet. “I have an idea.” He whispered to Sapphira. When she nodded, he grasped Billy’s wrist. “Turn this bubble off for a split second and give Excalibur to Bonnie. You, Sapphira, and I will run out, and Bonnie’ll fire the shield back up.”
“What do you have in mind? A distraction?”
“Yep. Your jet is a Lear model thirty-five, right?”
“Yeah. So?”
“Just trust me.”
Billy rolled his eyes. “Then it must be dangerous.”
“And standing here isn’t?”
“Good point.” Billy turned toward Bonnie. “Can you take over?”
“Sure.” Bonnie lifted away from the Foleys and set her hands next to Billy’s. “Ready.”
“Okay. Here goes.” Billy stilled his arms. The shield vanished. He pushed the hilt into Bonnie’s hands and ran with Walter and Sapphira outside the shield’s range.
The chopper approached ag
ain. Bonnie waved Excalibur above her head. The shield formed in front and spread to each side. Bullets strafed the surface again. The target point shifted, following the shield’s expanding edge faster than it could congeal. Bullets zinged past it and ripped into the pavement next to Adam and Carly.
Adam pulled her away and rolled with her on the pavement. The shield grew to block the new attack and coalesced into a full, protective bubble. The strafing ceased, and the chopper backed away again.
Still waving her arms, Bonnie blew out a sigh. “I’m sorry. I’m not as fast at shield making as Billy is.”
“Fast enough.” Adam sat up with Carly. “No harm done.”
“They wanted to keep Sapphira alive,” Ashley said. “The pilot’s asking for the go-ahead to fire a missile at us now that she’s gone, but they’re still arguing about one of us, something about telling Bonnie apart from Shiloh.”
Bonnie folded in her wings. “It’s pretty obvious that I’m not Shiloh.”
Ashley huffed. “And it’s pretty obvious that these guys are as dumb as dirt.”
“That could be good or bad.” Bonnie looked around. Billy and Walter leaped into the Learjet. Seconds later, the airstair disappeared, and the door closed. “C’mon, Billy,” she whispered. “We need that distraction.”
Sapphira halted at the center of the highway and stood facing eastward. Her white hair tied back in a ponytail, she raised her hands high.
The jet taxied to the road, accelerated, and took off westward at a sharp upward angle.
“Missile strike countermanded,” Ashley said. “They’re going after the jet. They don’t want anyone to have an escape aircraft.”
The helicopter banked to the side and zoomed away in pursuit.
Bonnie shut off the beam and lowered Excalibur. The shield vanished in a shower of sparks. “Now’s our chance! Get under cover!”
Ashley waved an arm. “Everyone follow me!”
“I’ll guard your backs!” Bonnie set her feet and lifted Excalibur again. “Go!”
In a mad rush, Ashley guided everyone toward the stadium. Marilyn carried the plant, Catherine pushed Carl in his wheelchair, and Adam and Carly carried the computers.