After a hearty meal prepared by Mum and Fabian, the campers, candidates, and staff trickled from the Mess Hall into the lodge’s Great Room, where bearskin rugs dotted the floors.
Eldon stood in front of the fire that roared in the tall hearth and began his first formal address as director. “Welcome … well, to some of you I say welcome…” His eyes shifted from the fresh faces of new candidates to the cluster of Group-A and Bs. “And to others, I say welcome back. My name is Eldon Waanders, and I’m the new director. I can tell you, the shoes I’m expected to fill … it’s an impossible task. Many of you knew the Old Man. He was our fearless leader and champion. But not only was he the gold standard of Valorians, he was my mentor, my predecessor, and my friend. It’s my greatest hope to do his memory honor by living up to the example he set.”
Eldon paced in front of the group. “For those of you who are new, the next three months will be more challenging than you can possibly conceive. The staff and senior campers surrounding you are here to help. You’ll learn quickly what to do, when to do it, and how to make it through, but if there’s one rule you need to remember, it’s simply this—don’t quit.” Eldon walked over to a nearby table and lifted up a prop. “This, candidates, is the horn. Something you’ll get to know very well. Dorothy may have had her slippers, but here at Valor, there’s no clicking your way out … there is only the horn.” He held the horn out and gave it the gentlest sound.
Everyone jumped. Eyes wide, they listened as he continued. “On any day, during any activity, you have the freedom to take it. But you should know, the moment you sound this horn, you will be removed from the program and sent home. En route, you’ll be given medicine that will wipe your memory of this place and you’ll go back to where we found you, with Valor as nothing more than a vague dream you can’t seem to recall after a deep sleep.
“For those who don’t quit … glory and a new life await you.” Eldon gazed over at his son. Wyatt shifted, wondering if the others would notice that it seemed like his father was talking just to him. Was it possible that Eldon knew Wyatt had been approached by Darsie and that he was considering sounding the horn? For a brief moment, Wyatt despised himself for ever considering quitting.
“Eldon, I’m sorry to interrupt,” Avi said, coming in from the porch holding his iPad. He showed Eldon the screen and the two conferred for a minute.
“Something’s happened.” Eldon looked up, eyes grave. “I think everyone should see this.”
Avi held out the iPad as dozens of campers crowded around the tablet like kids would gather around a radio to hear a ballgame or to listen to news of WWII.
The video loaded slowly, and Wyatt pressed play. “We have breaking news,” the pale-faced reporter said. “At approximately 9:15 this morning there were a series of simultaneous drone attacks on major airports across the U.S. Some twenty-five airports have reported planes downed on landing and takeoff.”
Behind the reporter, a pop-up screen showed shots of dozens of crash sites, holes burning in the ground. “We do not have final estimates, but so far, we anticipate the death toll to exceed three thousand fatalities, which would make this attack the deadliest since 9/11. Based on a video posted to YouTube at 9:30 a.m., the terrorist known as Encyte has claimed credit. If confirmed, this will be his second attack. The video appears to contain images obtained by the drone during the crash. I warn you—this is difficult to watch.”
First was clouds then blue sky as the drone soared majestically through the air, almost floating. The camera tilted up, recording the plane as it flew straight toward it. The plane tried to veer, but the drone cut back, moving closer and closer to the whirring engine before it went black. Then, another shot from a second drone, targeting the same engine, which spewed fire and smoke. Text over the image read: Book of Encyte, Chapter G. 1:26.
The feed cut back to the reporter. “While we at CNN are not aware of a Book of Encyte, it seems the reference mocks the Book of Genesis: ‘And God said, Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of heaven and over the cattle and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth.’”
The reporter stared into the camera. “Encyte, why are you doing this? Are you punishing us for having dominion? What is your intent? You have the world’s attention. We are listening.”
Avi paused the video.
Mum came in from the kitchen, tears streaming. She held a list and began to read from it. “Mark Lemont and LeQuan James, please come see me.”
Two young campers, one from Rovers and one from the Mounties, stood up.
“Is everything okay?” LeQuan asked. “My dad flies almost every week for his job.”
“My mom is a stewardess,” Mark joined in, his lips trembling.
“I don’t…” Mum swallowed. “You both need to go home. Please go into the kitchen and wait for me there.”
The campers stared as two of their own filed out. A buzz of concern went through the lodge.
Can I call home?
My parents fly every day for work.
My cousin’s a pilot.
Mum held her hands out, addressing all the questions at once. “I know we’re all worried. I want to assure everyone here that we are working with our government partners to check on the safety of your loved ones. For now, the two boys I have spoken to are the only ones who need to go home.”
As the group processed this collective tragedy, Eldon cleared his throat. “For many, this is the first time we stand as citizens, united in grief, for people we do not know. And for those we do know, we are but a few degrees separated from the gravest tragedy. Some of us lost more than others, but today we have all lost. Let’s take a moment to pray.” Eldon lowered his head. The children, teenagers, and staff followed. “God, take care of our souls, our nation, and soothe the wounds inflicted today. Amen.”
Tears flowed. Wyatt felt Cody’s arm wrap around him. Wyatt hugged him, and then a voice cut through the sound of mourning.
“Let’s go find this bastard and get him!” Samy slammed the table.
“Hell yeah!” Pierce said, rising to his feet. Rayo behind him.
Eldon stood, arms crossed, his hand holding his chin. “This right here.” He pointed at the screen, the replay of the plane in its speeding, helpless dive toward the dingy water. “This is why we exist. To protect our own against evil. To defend the defenseless. But … we wait until called.”
The campers began to sit.
“Our time will come.” Eldon clapped Pierce on the back. “For now, we train … so we’ll be ready. Avi, Cass, meet me in the Cave Complex. The rest of you, stay here with Viktoria.”
The campers solemnly nodded, unable to break away from the carnage as Eldon and Avi slipped out the door, likely going to call Mr. Yellow.
“This is your 9/11,” Viktoria said to the young faces. She shook her head. “You will remember where you were at this moment for the rest of your life.”