10

Jalor Has a Plan

As the days passed and turned into weeks, the Sleepers began slowly to learn the difficult task of flying. All of them had difficulty, none more than Wash. The smallest of the Sleepers found himself having nightmares, for he had a deep fear of high places.

He said nothing to his friends, but Reb, who knew him better than any other, said one day, “It's gonna be all right, Wash. Goél doesn't want us to lose.” He grinned, and the sun caught his sandy hair, and his blue eyes glowed. “Far as I know, Goél don't sponsor no losers.”

Wash was dusting himself off. He had just taken a hard fall after coming in for a landing. “There's two things about this here flying I don't like,” he said mournfully.

“What's that, Wash?”

“Going up—and coming down.”

Reb laughed and slapped the smaller boy on the shoulder. “You're gonna love it before it's all done. Come on, let's go see how the girls are doing.”

They made their way to another part of the plateau where they found Abbey and Sarah taking an advanced lesson from Lareen. The girls had been at it for more than three hours.

* * *

Lareen was giving them a pep talk. “It's a chance for us girls to catch up with the men,” she told them. “I want to show everyone that girls can fly just as well as men and boys.”

Abbey shook her head. “I don't think that'll ever work,” she said. “Even if we did learn to do all this flying, we still wouldn't be as good with a bow, and we couldn't fight like the men.”

But Lareen was adamant. “I'm going to prove you wrong, Abbey,” she said. “Now this time, come on, and let's try a little formation flying.”

“Look! Here comes Josh and Dave,” Abbey said. “Maybe they want to go with us. And look! There's Wash and Reb.”

“That's all of us except Jake,” Sarah said. “No, here he comes.” She motioned over to where Jake was approaching, and soon all seven of the Sleepers were gathered.

Lareen said, “This time we're going to try something fun. Have you ever seen a group of ducks when they fly in formation?”

“I have,” Reb said. “Sometimes they make a V.”

“That's right,” Lareen said. “Now, I'll be the point of the V, and you line up on each side of me. Josh, you and Sarah and Reb get on one side. Dave, you get on the other side with Abigail, Jake, and Wash.” She got them lined up and cried out, “Come on, let's go!”

Josh had learned to like flying, something he never thought he would. When he launched out, he watched the earth fall away. It was a wonderful feeling. The wind was whistling, blowing his hair back. He managed to spread his wings just right, and now all eight of them soared upward.

Lareen called out commands, and soon they had reached a current of air and formed a V. Far below Josh could see some of the tribe looking almost like ants. Far away he saw a river curling in long serpentine coils. There were spots of green in the various oases, and Josh thought, If the people of the desert had a scout that could fly, they could always find water. Some of them have died of thirst just because they couldn't see it. Now that's an idea.

Finally the lesson was over, and they came back to earth.

Afterward they went to have a meal, and Josh noticed that Swiftwind didn't get too far away from Lareen.

“You know what I think?” he said to Sarah, who was sitting beside him.

“Of course I know what you think,” Sarah said calmly. She bit into a piece of freshly made bread, chewed on it thoughtfully, and said, “You're thinking that one of these days Swiftwind and Lareen are going to get married and live happily ever after.”

Josh stared at her in astonishment. “How did you know I thought that?”

Sarah laughed. “Josh, your face is just like a book. You can't cover a thing that you feel. You've always been that way, even when we were growing up.”

Josh stared at her solemnly. “I haven't thought about growing up in a long time.” He ran his hand over his hair and looked at Sarah. “You're a lot different, Sarah.”

“Different from what?”

“Different from the little girl who first came to live with us back on Oldworld. You're almost a woman now.”

Sarah flushed and shot a quick glance at him. She was a graceful girl with bright, alert, brown eyes and very black hair that she had tied in a ponytail. She had changed, she knew, and so had Josh. He had always been very tall, but before he had been gangling and awkward. Now, at fifteen, he was filling out and with his auburn hair and almost electric blue eyes was turning into a fine-looking young man. She did not say so, however, but shrugged and said, “Well, we've come a long way since those days.”

“What do you think is going to happen here?” Josh asked. He picked up a stick and drew a picture in the dirt. “Flying is fun, but I don't see how we're making any headway.”

“Why, Josh, that's not so!” Sarah said quickly. “We're not slaves anymore, and the chief is listening to us about Goél's ways more than I'd ever expected.”

“Yes, but there's still a lot of people who don't believe in him.” He had gotten a little discouraged. “I don't trust Darkwind. He smiles a lot, but have you ever noticed that his smiles don't go as far as his eyes?”

“Yes, I've noticed, and he's having more influence than he did when we first came.”

“Come on, let's go talk to Jake. Maybe we can get Lareen convinced about Goél. Then she can convince her father.”

The two went on their way—and were totally unaware that they had been watched by two figures.

* * *

Far above the plain where they had sat, Darkwind was talking with Jalor. Jalor turned now and said, “I have been commanded to destroy the Sleepers.”

“Good!” Darkwind said. “I can see that they are going to be trouble.” He moved restlessly and fingered the knife in his belt. It had a silver handle, and he was fond of pulling it out and testing its keen edge with his thumb. He did so now and said, “I will take care of them myself.”

“No, it will not be that way,” Jalor said. He was smaller than Darkwind, but there was a power in him that gave the younger man pause. “We need to do more than kill the Sleepers, although that is part of our task.”

“Do you have a plan?”

“Yes, the Shadow Wings must take over this tribe. There's been too much time wasted trying to convert White Storm. He will never change.”

“Then he must die too.” Darkwind hesitated, then added, “That would put Swiftwind, his son, in as chief, and he's no better than his father.”

Jalor turned his dark face toward the younger man. “If you will be obedient to me, you will be the chief of the Winged Raiders.”

Instantly Darkwind nodded. He had a sinister face, and there was cruelty in his dark eyes. “I will do as you say. What is your plan?”

“Come, we will go on a little trip.”

“Trip? Where will we go?”

“We will go to the Shadow Wings. Only a few of us have infiltrated White Storms band, but we have done so without raising anyone's suspicion. The foolish White Storm thinks I am his loyal warrior! There is a way to accomplish our purpose. Come.”

Jalor sprang into the air and was followed by Darkwind. The two soared high, headed toward the north where the Shadow Wings had their camp. As they went, both were thinking of what was to come.

Darkwind was thinking, I will be chief. Then we shall see.

But Jalor had only one thought: Let Darkwind be chief if he pleases, but he will always bow his knee to the Dark Lord and to me.