D. MacHale - The Never War

Once Gunny and I got back to the subway platform, we waited for the first train downtown and jumped on board. There weren’t many subway stops in the Bronx that were underground, so we shortly emerged into rainy daylight. As much as I thought Third Earth was a perfect place, I was glad to see the buildings of old-fashioned New York again. Still Gunny and I didn’t speak. We knew what we had to do.

We had returned early in the morning on May 6, 1937. We weren’t too late. Our first goal was to get back to the Manhattan Tower Hotel, find Spader, and tell him what we had discovered on Third Earth. From there, we’d decide on a plan to make sure Winn Farrow destroyed theHindenburg. That was a weird feeling. We had to help make sure that a killer succeeded in murdering thirty-six people. But I couldn’t think of it like that. It was too horrific. I had to keep telling myself that we were making sure that history played out the way it was supposed to, and that Saint Dane wouldn’t change things. That was our mission. That was why we were on First Earth.

As we rode on the subway, I kept my head down finishing this journal. Like I told you up front, this may be the most important journal I’ve written yet. If we fail, and Saint Dane prevents theHindenburgfrom burning, the world will change, and this document will be the only proof of the way things were meant to be.

There’s one last thing that happened that I should write down. It didn’t really affect anything, but it’s worth writing about anyway.

The subway car rumbled toward the bridge that would take us across the East River into Manhattan. But I wasn’t watching. I was too busy writing. That’s when Gunny nudged me. He didn’t say a word; all he did was point out the window of the subway car, up toward the skyline of Manhattan. I didn’t know what he wanted me to see at first, but a few seconds later I caught sight of it-and it made me catch my breath.

It was just coming into view, high above the tallest buildings. It floated there like a quiet, majestic bird, lazily surveying the ground below. It was Luft Zeppelin-129. TheHindenburg. It had arrived in America. I watched the ship in open-mouthed awe. It was way bigger than I had imagined. I also couldn’t help but focus on the bold logos on its tail. There were two giant black swastikas on a red and white background, the symbol of the Nazi Party. Seeing them gave me a shiver.

People pressed against the subway windows to get a look at the impressive blimp. They waved, as if expecting the crew and passengers high above to see them. Cars honked their horns, people cheered, other cars pulled over to the side of the street so their passengers could get out and watch. It was like a joyous celebration. People gazed at the airship in awe. To them it was a mighty symbol of the future.

Gunny and I knew differently. The future of the zeppelin was going to be a short one. It had to be.

We’re almost at our stop, so I’ll end my journal here. It’s a horrible feeling. If we fail, this will be the last time I’ll be writing to you two, Mark and Courtney. I feel like I want to say good-bye. But I can’t think that way. I’ve got to get it in my head that in a few hours, the majestic zeppelin we just saw floating over Manhattan has to crash to the ground in a flaming ball of fire.

That’s our mission. Our future, yourfuture depends on it.

END OF JOURNAL #11

AsI look back on this last, incredible year, I feel like I’ve gone through two huge, personal turning points.

The first was the moment I was pulled into a flume for the very first time. That was when I realized the rules of the universe weren’t exactly what I thought they were. Ever since then I’ve had to struggle to keep my head above water in the scary seas of Traveler world.

The second turning point came in that library on Third Earth. Up until then, the idea of an entire territory falling into chaos didn’t really mean anything to me. It was all just theory. But when I saw the images of what Saint Dane had planned for the Earth territories…man. It was like everything suddenly came into focus. Saint Dane had to be stopped, now and forever. End of discussion.

Before that moment, I knew it in my brain. Now, I feel it in my heart.

The only people who have a chance of ending his evil campaign are the Travelers. It would be nice if we were a race of invincible superheroes with powers far beyond those of mortal men, but we’re not. A stranger group you couldn’t find, but only because we’re all so normal. It’s scary to think that the only force trying to prevent Saint Dane from destroying Halla is a group of regular-old people.

More frightening is knowing I’m one of them.

When I saw those horrifying images of Saint Dane’s Earth, something changed in me. It’s hard to put this into words, because I’m not sure I understand it myself. Call it anger. Call it outrage. Call it fear. Definitely call it fear. But seeing the evil depths of Saint Dane’s vision locked me in. I know I’m in it now, for good. I don’t know if my being on this quest is right or wrong or someplace in between. All I know is, I’m here now, and that can’t be changed. It’s up to me and my fellow Travelers to stop Saint Dane. We’re the ones on the spot. I accept that now. I don’t like it, but I accept it.

I’m writing all this to you so you’ll know where my head is, but also to explain some of the things I did over the past few days. To put it right out there, I messed up. Bad. And the thing is, I’m not so sure that if I had to do it all over again, I wouldn’t do the exact samewrongthing again. That’s what has me so upset right now. Saint Dane must be defeated. Part of that responsibility is mine. But after what happened with theHindenburg, I don’t know if I’m up to the job.

The true events that happened on May 6, 1937, will never be reported in any newspaper. They will not be part of recorded history. They will live only in my journals and the journals of my fellow Travelers.

This is what happened.

It was a gray, cold May day. The sky was full of roiling clouds, rain showers, and occasional cracks of thunder and lightning. TheHindenburgwas supposed to arrive in New Jersey early in the morning, but bad weather forced it to circle the New York area for most of the day. History was playing out the way it was supposed to. So far.

The whole atmosphere had an ominous feel to it. I don’t know if that was because of the weather or because I knew what was going to happen. Either way, there was tension in the air.

Gunny and I got back to the Manhattan Tower Hotel as quickly as we could.

But as soon as we got back to our room on the sixth floor, things began to unravel. Spader was gone. He’d left a note for us.

Pendragon and Gunny,

I’m writing this on the morning of May 6. When you two didn’t return in time, I thought for sure we had failed. But I heard on the radio-talk-thing that the Hindenburg has been delayed. I’m sorry, mates, I can’t wait for you any longer. I’m going to New Jersey on my own. I found out how to take a bus, so that’s what I’ll do. I promise, I’ll do all that I can to save that airship from being destroyed.

Hobey-ho,

Spader

“He’s on his way to New Jersey,” I shouted to Gunny. “Iknewwe should have stayed together!” I threw the note down in anger.

“It’s early,” Gunny said reassuringly. “We’ve got all day to figure something out.”

“Yeah, but do you know what this means? Max Rose knows about Winn Farrow’s plan. Spader told him, remember? History has already been changed. Strike one. Now Spader’s on his own. He’s going after Winn Farrow to stop him too. Strike two. Now we’ve got to stop Max RoseandSpader.” ”There’s a lot that can happen before strike three/’ Gunny said calmly. “I think the first thing we should do is go see Max Rose.”