Above World (32 page)

Fathom was imprisoned in a stasis pod, just like the ones the Dome Meks used for extended sleep periods. Hoku had voted for a more painful and humiliating incarceration, but in the end, logic won out. If Fathom was a genetic copy of Karl Strand, then there was a lot they could learn by studying him, both mentally and physically. Not to mention his access to Strand’s tactical information. Aluna was right. They’d be foolish to destroy him.

“Hey, look, there’s Dash!” Aluna said.

Hoku watched Aluna jog ahead, content to stroll more slowly with Calli. The three of them joined Dash under the shade of a huge tree. The horse-boy was squeezing an apple with his new mechanical hand. The goal was to squeeze it as hard as he could without completely pulping it. The medteks had tried to save his mangled hand, but it had taken too much damage during his fight with the Upgraders.

Next to Dash, Zorro sat behind a pile of smushed apples, happily gorging himself.

“Zorro is going to get fat eating all of those!” Aluna said.

“Zorro saved my life,” Dash said. “He gets as many apples as he wants.”

“Well, then Calli gets an apple, too,” Aluna said. “I’ve lost track of how many people she’s saved.”

Calli blushed and stuttered, “Then you and Hoku and Dash should get a whole orchard!”

Hoku grinned and motioned to a spot under the tree. He and Calli sat side by side, a little closer than they used to, but still not as close as he’d like. Aluna sat next to Dash and reached a finger toward his new arm.

“Does it hurt?” she asked.

Hoku could tell that she still felt guilty about breaking it back in the SkyTek dome. If it hadn’t been so useless during the fight, Dash might have been able to defend himself longer.

“I cannot feel much with it,” Dash said, shrugging. “But it is strong, not so easily broken. I will grow accustomed to it.” He smiled at Aluna. It was a very different sort of smile from the one Dash used with Hoku.

Aluna blushed and didn’t take her hand off his arm.

“So, when are we leaving for the desert?” she asked.

The Equian woman they’d saved, Shria, had relayed some terrible news. Another of Karl Strand’s clones — Sand Master Scorch — had been seen in the desert. If they stood any chance of rallying the Equians against him, they needed to move fast.

“We leave tomorrow, early, if that is acceptable,” Dash said.

“And I’m going with you,” Hoku blurted out. He’d wanted to tell Aluna sooner, when they were making plans, but he’d never found the right time. “I know I should go back to the Kampii, but I can’t. Not yet.”

She looked up at him, her eyes wide with surprise. He rushed on.

“I’ve always needed you, Aluna. You’ve looked out for me and taken me on amazing adventures,” he said. “But it’s all different now. I’m not the same. Nothing is the same. I’m figuring things out, more every day. Maybe now . . . I can help in ways that you can’t. And besides, this is my fight, too.”

“It’s
our
fight,” Calli corrected him.

Hoku looked into Aluna’s eyes, and suddenly her arms were around him. She hugged him tight, hugged Calli, and laughed her big belly laugh.

“I promise not to send you away again, or to leave either of you behind,” she said. “I used to think I could do everything myself, but I can’t. Not in the Above World. You’ve all saved my life, and I won’t forget it. You make me stronger than I am by myself.” She smiled grimly. “What did Sarah Jennings say? The world needs us, and we need each other.”

Hoku had said that nothing was the same, but he knew he was wrong. Aluna was still his best friend, and he was still hers. Underwater or above it, they were in this fight together.

First of all, thanks to Stephanie Burgis and Christopher East. They read each chapter of
Above World
as I wrote it and made me keep going. They are both incredible writers, cheerleaders, and unconditional friends. Thanks also to Sarah Prineas and Greg van Eekhout for almost daily support and inspiration on a whole heap of levels. Great friends do more than help you with your book — they help you with your life.

Thanks to my agent, Joe Monti, for believing in me and this story, and for encouraging me to include even more martial arts. Thanks also to Barry Goldblatt for creating a family, not just an agency.

Thanks to Sarah Ketchersid, my wonderful editor, for loving the book even more than I did most days. Her insights made
Above World
the book I wanted it to be. The whole Candlewick team has my gratitude, including Liz Zembruski, Kathryn Cunningham, Rachel Smith, Hannah Mahoney, Maggie Deslaurier, Martha Dwyer, and everyone in sales and marketing.

I have some of the best friends in the world, and they give me some of the best critiques. Thanks to Sally Felt, Michael Jasper, Samantha Ling, Eugene Myers, Tim Pratt, Erik Ratliff, and Shelley Stuart.
Above World
also went to the Blue Heaven novel workshop with Paolo Bacigalupi, Tobias Buckell, Sarah Castle, Deb Coates, Charles Coleman Finlay, Daryl Gregory, Sandra McDonald, Paul Melko, Sarah Prineas, Catherynne M. Valente, and Greg van Eekhout. These guys kept me from looking like an idiot (at least with regards to this book).

Thanks to my World of Warcraft guild. (Don’t laugh!) They’ve been with me on this journey from the beginning, particularly: Andrea, Andrew, Andy, Bill, Brenda, Danielle, Erin, Jamie, Leslie, Lisa, Mike, Mikiel, Paul, Rachel, Rob, Roe, Shelley, Steven, Tom, and Tommy.

Thanks to my martial arts family at White Lotus Kung Fu: Master Douglas Wong, Master Carrie Ogawa-Wong, Master Phil Jennings, and the rest of my brothers and sisters.

For all-around awesome advice, support, and friendship, I want to thank Christine Ashworth, Claudia Hoffman, Heather Shaw, and my buddies at SAGE and Cosmic Toast Studios.

And last, thanks to my family: Mom, Jeff, Jason, Maya, Griffin, and Cassell. I love you.