D. MacHale - Raven Rise

Patrick told Alder and me about Alexander Naymeer and his Ravinian cult. He explained how Second Earth had changed, and how Naymeer used your ring, Mark, to introduce the reality of Halla to the people of Second Earth. Talk about mixing territories! Iwanted to scream.

He told us how Naymeer created a cult that is all about molding a superior society while eliminating those who don’t contribute. He explained how the United Nations was about to vote on whether his Ravinian cult should be considered the spiritual leader of the world. Maybe most shocking of all, he told us of the changes that happened on Third Earth. That was the ultimate proof that Naymeer’s cult would drive Earth toward disaster.

The only good news he had was that you two were back home together, Mark and Courtney. And Mark, you’re okay. I wished that were the only news he had to give me.

“So it’s true,” I said once Patrick finished.

“What is?” Alder asked.

“It’s about Earth. Saint Dane has influenced this Naymeer guy and his followers into putting Earth on a path that will divide everyone into two groups. The haves and the have-nots. It’ll be great if you’re a ‘have.’ If not…yikes.”

Alder asked, “What of the other territories?”

“The same thing,” I exclaimed. “Why not? Look at Quillan. There’s Blok and then there’s everybody else. Right here, the Milago and the Bedoowan have formed a supertribe that’s going to march on Denduron. The same could happen on Zadaa. The Rokador are a more advanced tribe than the Batu. Now that they’re aboveground, who knows how their influence will spread? And on Eelong-the gar may have won a victory, but the klee are still way ahead of them intellectually. With the right influence, the klee could turn on the gar in a heartbeat. It’s a reverse revolution. Instead of the oppressed people rising up to tear down the elite, the elite of each territory are gathering their resources to wipe out the lower classes. Earth will be the model for others to follow.”

Patrick added, “And with each territory, Saint Dane is influencing the elite. They will have total power over their world, and Saint Dane will have total power over them. He will rule Halla.”

“Can a society exist like that?” Alder asked. “Not everyone can be a leader.”

“Of course it can’t,” I shouted. “You heard what Patrick said about Third Earth. Earth evolved into a world that was in perfect harmony with the people and the environment. Now it’s a mess. That’s what Saint Dane’s influence led to. That’s what’ll happen on every territory.”

I paced the cave nervously. “Saint Dane always said that in order to build Halla up, he would first have to tear it down. I always thought he planned some kind of superbattle with armies and bombs and whatever. It’s much more devious than that. He’s been inciting social revolution all over Halla. It never mattered that we won a battle or saved a culture, it was all about creating the environment where these revolutions could begin.”

Patrick said, “That’s exactly it. This Naymeer fellow is a revolutionary in the guise of a prophet.”

Alder asked, “He said he was the Traveler from Second Earth?”

“That’s what Saint Dane said,” Patrick answered. “So then, what am I?”

Patrick looked to the ground nervously. “You quit.” I wanted to shout in anger. I might have, but I thought it would attract a few nosy quigs. “Now Saint Dane’s using

Travelers to influence the people of the territories,” I said angrily. “First Nevva, now this Naymeer character.”

Patrick added, “I believe the turning point of Second Earth is the vote at the United Nations. Perhaps if that vote goes against Naymeer, his cult will not be handed enough influence to do any more damage.”

I looked between Alder and Patrick. My blood was boiling. “Okay, so I’m not the Traveler from Second Earth anymore? Too bad. I’m still the lead Traveler.” I walked to the quig carcass, grabbed a dado-killing rod and yanked it out of the ick. It made a sucking sound. Patrick cringed. I was beyond that.

“Here,” I said, tossing it to Alder. I grabbed the second rod, that had gone through the quig’s eye. No, that I had jammed through the quig’s eye. It came out easily, though I think that turned Patrick’s stomach again. Like I said, I was beyond that.

“Patrick, go home,” I commanded.

“What? No! I want to be where-”

“You should be on your own territory. Third Earth hasn’t hit its turning point yet. That’s where Alder and I were headed before we found you. Learn what you can about the history of Ravinia and Naymeer. A perspective from the future might help.”

“But the computers no longer exist!”

“Then research the old-fashioned way, with books and newspapers.”

“I do not believe they exist either.”

“Find them,” I snapped. “There have to be more people around like that Richard guy. You might come up with the one piece of information we’ll need to derail this whole thing.”

Patrick frowned.

“What’s the matter?” I asked, maybe a little too impatiently.

“It’s unnerving on Third Earth” was his answer. “It’s like, every time I close my eyes, the entire world changes.”

“I know. Chances are it’ll happen again. No, it better happen again.”

“Excuse me?” Patrick exclaimed, horrified.

“It’s the whole point. Once we start causing trouble on Second Earth, it should change things on Third Earth. For the better.”

Patrick wasn’t happy.

“I’m sorry, man,” I added with sympathy. “It’s where you can be the most help.”

Patrick nodded. He knew. He didn’t like it, but he knew. He looked me right in the eye and said, “Promise me one thing. When it’s getting near the end, call for me. I don’t want to be watching from the sidelines anymore.”

I had to smile. Patrick may have been a neurotic intellectual, but he was a Traveler. The good kind. He wanted to stop Saint Dane as badly as any of us. Alder and I each hugged him good-bye and watched as he stepped into the flume for his journey home.

“Third Earth,” he called out, and waited for the flume to take him. Before the light enveloped him, he looked back and said, “Remember. I want to be there at the end.”

I nodded. Though the truth was, I had no idea if I’d be able to call for him. I had no idea what to expect at home. I had no idea about anything. But I made him a promise. If I could, I would get him into the game. A moment later he was gone.

“We should get out of these bloody clothes,” Alder suggested.

I looked down at my filthy leather and fur clothes that were spattered with quig blood. Actually, it was more like they were drenched in quig blood.

“Nah, Ithink we should show up like this.”

“They will think we are savages.”

“Maybe they’re right,” I said slyly. “Let’s go make a house call.”

Iclutched my blood-encrusted dado weapon, stepped into the flume, and called out “Second Earth.”

Alder stepped next to me as the flume went hot. “I have never been to your territory,” he said. “What can I expect?”

“Iwish to heckIknew,” I said, and we were off.

The trip through the flume was jarring. The ride itself was the same as always, but the images of Halla floating in space were so dense, it was hard to make out any one vision. The truth was obvious. Halla was in chaos. Faces jumbled on top of animals on top of buildings on top of armies. It was frightening. The destinies of the territories had been mixed, that much was clear. The question was, would we be able to do damage control? As I looked out onto that horrifying show, to say that I had doubts would be a huge understatement. I didn’t think we stood any chance at all.