D. MacHale - The Merchant of Death

“Hey there,” came a familiar voice from behind them.

Everyone spun to see Uncle Press standing on the sidewalk. He was once again dressed in his jeans and long leather coat. Behind him was a small, black sports car he had just arrived in. A Porsche. Uncle Press always traveled in style.

“It’s okay, Bobby,” said Uncle Press softly. “Try to breathe.”

Mark and Courtney took a few steps out of the way. Whatever was about to happen, it was between Press and Bobby. They saw that Bobby’s eyes were red. He had started to cry. But the sad look turned to one of fury when he saw his uncle.

“Where are they?” Bobby said through clenched teeth. “And don’t tell me this is the way it was meant to be. I don’t want to hear that.”

“They’re fine, “Press said soothingly. “They’re all fine.”

Bobby took a few steps toward Press. He was angry, sad, confused, and scared. But most of all, he wanted answers. “Then why aren’t they here?” he demanded.

“This is the toughest part,” said Press. “It was tough for me, it was tough for Alder and for Loor, too, but we all had to go through it. I would have told you on Denduron, but you had to see for yourself.”

“See what? What is happening?” Bobby demanded.

Courtney reached out and grabbed Mark’s hand for support. Mark didn’t resist.

“Bobby, your family is gone because it was time for you to leave,” said Uncle Press. “They raised you to be the person you are today, but it’s time to move on.”

Bobby took a few steps back as if Press’s words had physically hit him. What was he saying? Was it planned for him to go to Denduron from the day he was born? Did his family know about this all along? How could that be? His life had been so…normal. Then a realization came to Bobby.

“You’re not my uncle, are you?” he asked.

“No, not in the traditional sense,” answered Press. “But I’ve always looked out for you and I always will.”

Bobby turned back to the empty lot and ran to the center. He wanted to find a splinter of wood, a piece of glass, maybe even a piece of an old Wiffle ball. There had to be something that said he had passed through here. But there was nothing. Then Bobby heard something that came as another surprise.

“It will be all right, Pendragon,” said another familiar voice.

Bobby spun back toward the sidewalk to see that standing next to the car was Loor. She was dressed in denim overalls and a tight pink sleeveless shirt that showed off her powerful shoulders and arms. She even had on Doc Marten black boots. Her long black hair was braided down her back and she wore a necklace made of small shells. She could have easily passed for a student at Stony Brook High. No one would ever guess that she was actually a warrior from a far-off territory.

Courtney looked at Loor and sized her up, head to toe. Mark saw this and made a mental note to give Courtney a hard time later for being jealous. But who could blame her? Mark thought that Loor was even more strikingly beautiful than Bobby had described. She may have been dressed like a suburban girl, but she had the powerful presence of a warrior. Courtney Chetwynde had finally met her match.

Bobby walked to Loor. If anyone could tell him the truth, it would be her.

“Does this make sense to you?” he asked.

“It is starting to,” was her answer.

“What about your mother?” he asked. “Was Osa your real mother?”

“No. I was told the truth before I first went to Denduron,” answered Loor. “Osa raised me, she taught me all that I know. She was my mother in every sense, except that she had not given birth to me. But that did not stop me from loving her.”

Bobby looked down, letting this sink in.

“On the mountain,” continued Loor, “I did not say good-bye to you because my mind was elsewhere. Osa’s body was already back on Zadaa. I had to return for the burial ceremony. It was difficult for me. I hope you were not offended.”

Bobby shook his head. He understood all too well because he now knew what it was like to lose your mother. He looked to Press and asked, “So that’s it? Travelers don’t have families? They don’t have lives? They only bounce around the universe looking for trouble?”

Press smiled and said, “You trust me, Bobby, don’t you?”

“I think so,” said Bobby skeptically. “But I’m losing faith fast.”

“Don’t,” said Press quickly. “Believe me when I tell you that as time goes on, this will make sense to you. And I’ll make you a promise. You will see your family again. You’ll see your mom and your dad and your sister, Shannon, too.”

“What about Marley?” Bobby asked.

“You’ll run with your dog again too,” said Press. “But not today.”

“When?” asked Bobby.

Press gave this thought. He may have had all the answers, but this one eluded him. “That’s one I can’t answer,” he said.

Bobby looked to Loor who gave him a slight nod of encouragement, then back to the empty lot. He took a long time to collect his thoughts. Finally he said, “You asked me how I felt before. You want to know how I feel right now?”

“How?” asked Press.

“I feel like I just found out there’s no Santa Claus,” he answered. “It’s not a good feeling.”

“It’ll get better,” said Press.

“So what happens now?” asked Bobby.

“Now you come with us,” answered Press.

Bobby walked over to Mark and Courtney. He looked at his two friends and the memories of his life in Stony Brook came flooding back. He wanted nothing more than to turn around and see his house standing there so he could go back to the way things were before. But that was not meant to be.

“I…guess I’ve got to go,” said Bobby.

“We’ll always be here for you,” said Courtney as tears began to well in her eyes.

Bobby leaned forward and grabbed the two of them in a hug. He tried hard not to break out in tears. He didn’t want to do that. Not in front of Loor. But he didn’t want to let go of his friends, either, because as soon as he did it would be the final act of letting go of his life here on Earth. Second Earth.

“Time to go, Bobby,” prodded Press gently.

Bobby pulled back from his two best friends and looked them in the eye. Mark wiped away a tear, smiled and said, “Hey, don’t forget to write!”

The three of them laughed at this. That went without saying.

“Are you sure?” asked Bobby. “Will you keep my journals?”

“I’d be pissed if you sent them to anyone else,” Mark replied as he held up his hand to show Bobby the ring that Osa had given him.

Bobby gave a smile of thanks and fought back tears to say, “See you guys soon.”

“Good-bye, Bobby,” said Courtney. “Good luck.”

Bobby nodded, then turned and headed toward the car. He stopped in front of Loor and looked at the warrior girl who was destined to be his partner.

“I know you do not want to hear this, Pendragon,” she said. “But this is the way it was meant to be.”

“Yeah, we’ll see,” said Bobby with skepticism. He gave one last look to the empty lot where his house used to be, then slid into the back of the Porsche. Loor looked at Mark and Courtney. Courtney stood up a little straighter. Loor chuckled, then she too got into the car.

“Keep his journals safe,” Press said to Mark and Courtney. “He may need them again someday.”

Mark and Courtney nodded a promise. Press then jogged around the car and hopped behind the wheel. With a roar of the engine, the little sports car blasted away from the curb and flew down the street, headed for…somewhere.

Mark and Courtney watched it until it was out of sight and the sound died away. They stood there for a long time after, not sure of what to do next.