7

A New Chance

F or two more days Jake found himself practically an invalid. The venom of the serpent had been worse than he had imagined, and he was so weak that he could barely feed himself. Lareen kept close watch over him, and her father, Sure Flight, stopped by from time to time to inquire in a kindly fashion about his condition.

On the third day, Jake managed to get to his feet and take a few tottering steps. He was dizzy, and his legs felt as though they were made out of rubber. Just as he was about to make his way back to his bed, a young man came through the cave opening and startled him.

“Who are you?” the young man demanded. He was no more than seventeen or so, trim and wearing the wings of a raider. His eyes were dark, as was his hair, and there was a look of authority about him.

“My name's Jake Garfield. Who are you?”

The question seemed to irritate the young man, but he answered, “I am Swiftwind, son of Chief White Storm.” He examined Jake with a rather suspicious glance, then demanded, “Where is Lareen?”

Jake's legs were getting even more shaky, and his dizziness increased. “I don't know where she is,” he muttered.

The young man called Swiftwind seemed to take his mutter as an insult. He reached out and struck Jake across the chest. Ordinarily the blow would not have disturbed Jake, but in his weakness it was enough to drive him backward. He sprawled on the hard stone floor, and his head rapped the surface. It sent stars flashing across his eyes, and for one moment he seemed to lose consciousness. When he awoke, it was only a few moments later, but he heard voices and felt hands on his head.

“Who do you think you are?”

Jake opened his eyes and saw Lareen, bending over him and holding his head off the floor. She was glaring at the young man Swiftwind and proceeded to give him a dressing down. “If you can't behave any better than that, Swiftwind, you can just take yourself out of here!”

The young man looked sheepish. “But, Lareen—”

“Never mind.” Lareen helped Jake get to his feet, and he slumped over on the couch that was built into the wall. “Are you all right, Jake?” she asked anxiously.

Jake felt the back of his head, which had a slight swelling, but nodded. “Yes, I'm all right. Not much stronger than a baby though.”

Lareen turned to Swiftwind, her eyes flashing. “I suppose you're proud of yourself, pushing an invalid around. You're a real son of a chief, you are! Why don't you go out and find some babies and whip on them?”

“Wait a minute,” Swiftwind protested. “I didn't hit him that hard—and I didn't know he was sick. Who is he anyway?”

“He's one of the captives that Darkwind brought in five days ago. I was about to be bitten by a snake, and it was Jake who jumped between me and the awful thing. He took the bite in his leg that would have been mine.” She glared at Swiftwind and snapped, “I'm not sure anyone else would have done that.”

Jake watched as they faced each other. It occurred to him that perhaps Swiftwind had come courting Lareen. He wanted to make no trouble. “Wait a minute, Mistress,” he said. “I'm sure Swiftwind didn't mean any harm, and he didn't really hit me that hard. I'm just not very strong yet.”

Eagerly Swiftwind said, “That's right. Sorry about that.” He glanced at Lareen and laughed sheepishly. “I never thought I'd hear myself apologizing to a slave—but sometimes my temper does get away from me.”

Lareen seemed to relent. “All right,” she said. “Now, sit down and tell me everything you've been doing.”

Jake listened carefully as Swiftwind began to describe his adventures. He was seventeen years old, as Jake had suspected, and was beginning his training with the more adventurous arm of the Raider branch. They made long sweeps over the desert, looking for plunder and slaves. As he spoke he grew more excited. Finally he looked at Jake and asked, “Why are you so white? You look like you'd burn up out in the sun.”

Jake, who did as a matter of fact burn easily, nodded. “That's right, but in the country I come from the sun isn't as hot as it is here. As a matter of fact, some places are covered with ice.”

“What is 'ice'?” Swiftwind asked curiously.

Jake tried to explain ice, but to the two young people who had never seen anything like that, the explaining was a total failure.

“You mean you're telling me you can actually walk on water?” Lareen asked, doubt in her eyes.

“Well, it's just not like it is here,” Jake said. “I know it sounds like a big lie, but that's the way it is in part of this world.”

As the three young people were talking, Lareen's father walked in through the opening of the cave.

“Well, you're back from your mission, Swiftwind,” he said. “I hope it went well.”

“Very well.” Swiftwind nodded. He hesitated, then said, “We saw some of the Shadow Wings in the sweep over to the south.”

At once Sure Flight's face clouded. “Did you talk with any of them?”

“Darkwind did. He was leading the mission.” A frown came to Swiftwind's face, and he shook his head. “He had a parley with their leaders, but I don't know what they said.”

At once Jake thought of the conversation he had heard between Darkwind and the other raider. He thought to mention it but didn't want to appear to be a spy.

The two men talked for a while, and from their conversation Jake learned they were very suspicious of the Dark Lord. Finally Sure Flight turned to Jake and said, “I've been thinking much about your leader, Goél. Tell me more about him.”

Eagerly Jake began to explain the powers of Goél. It was difficult for him, because he could not say for certain that Goél had sent them here. But the best he could, he told some of their past adventures, how Goél had led them to defeat the powers of the Dark Lord and of the Sanhedrin. At last he said, “All of Nuworld is under some kind of attack, sir. Everywhere we Sleepers go, we find some who believe in Goél. But others have become slaves to the Dark Lord.”

“That's what I've always felt.” Swiftwind nodded. “I think we ought to be more careful.”

“I've tried to talk with your father,” Sure Flight said slowly. “He's coming around, but he still listens to Darkwind.” Then he turned to Jake and seemed to put the matter away. “I have good news for you.”

Jake grinned suddenly. “Well, I could use some, sir. What is it?”

“I went to the chief and told him what you did for my daughter. He was quite impressed, and he was feeling very lenient, I think. So I asked a favor of him.”

“What was it, Father?” Lareen asked eagerly.

“I told him that by your act of courage you had merited some reward, and he agreed. We talked for a long time, and finally I persuaded him to do something that has never been done.”

For one instant Jake thought that Lareen's father had negotiated freedom for the Seven Sleepers. But then he knew that that could not be true. “I'd appreciate anything. All of us will,” he said quickly.

“Well, I persuaded him that it would be good to treat all of you better. So what we're going to do is let you learn how to fly.” He continued quickly, holding up his hand, “The chief said at once that it can't be done.”

“I think he's right,” Swiftwind said slowly. “Most of us start when we're four or five years old. They may be too old and their muscles too weak to control the wings.”

“That may be,” Sure Flight said, “but in any case, the chief agreed to let them try.” He looked at Jake and studied him carefully. “If any of you do learn to master the wings, it may be that we can admit you to the fellowship of the Raiders. That too has never happened before,” he observed, “and I think it unlikely, but at least you have a chance.”

Jake thought about launching himself off a cliff such as the Citadel with nothing but a few feathers and had to swallow hard. He was not particularly fond of heights in the first place. However, he saw at once the possibilities of escape. If we had wings, he thought, we could get away easily. Aloud he said eagerly, “Thank you, sir. We'll do our best.”

Sure Flight left soon afterward, taking Swiftwind with him.

At once Lareen said, “Oh, that's wonderful, isn't it, Garfield! And I can teach you so much. We'll start as soon as you're strong enough.”

Jake managed to smile. “I hate to tell you this, Mistress, but… well… I never was good at getting up on high things.”

“That's because you never had wings.” Lareen nodded. “You were afraid you'd fall, but with wings you can soar like a bird.”

“Well,” Jake said slowly, “I'm willing to try if you'll help me.” He looked over at the young girl and asked, “You like Swiftwind pretty well, don't you?”

Lareen shot him an embarrassed glance, and her face turned red. “He thinks he's really somebody,” she muttered.

“Well, he is somebody! He's the chief's son, isn't he?” Jake teased her a little. “I bet lots of young girls would be tickled pink if he would come courting.”

“What is courting?” she asked.

“That's when a young man comes calling on a young girl. Sometimes he brings her flowers and candy.”

“Candy? What is candy?”

Jake spent the next half hour trying to explain courtship to Lareen, but in the end she shook her head. “The first thing is to teach you how to fly, Garfield. Come on, let's go pick out a pair of wings for you.”