The Magical Flight of Dodie Rue (15 page)

Finally he released her. As bad as their situation was, Dodie did not want to move on from this moment with her. If nothing else, it delayed his having to face defeat .
 . .
and the death of his brother.

“Where's
Phoenix
?” asked Zinnia, looking around the cliff top.

“Atallah stole her,” mumbled Dodie.

Zinnia snapped her eyes back to him. “He
stole
her? You're sure?”

Dodie felt slightly annoyed. “Yes! He lost his carpet, so I pulled him onto mine. He shoved me off and sped away on
Phoenix
.”

Zinnia shot to her feet, a new fire in her eyes. “Get up. Let's go.”

“What's the point?”

Zinnia smiled, that fire intensifying. “This race is far from over.”

Dodie furrowed his brow, then his face broke into a wide grin as he caught on to what she was thinking. “You're right! This race is definitely
not
over yet!”

Chapter 15

“Zinnia, what are you doing?” demanded Dodie as he watched her carry her rolled-up carpet over to him.

She dropped her racer rug at his feet. “I'm giving
Amethyst
to you.”

“You don't need to do that.” Dodie rolled his eyes. “I'm not leaving you here.”

“No, we'll both ride her to the Capital.” Zinnia pulled him to his feet.

Dodie yelped in pain, but was able to stand. He hugged his throbbing side and had to take shallow breaths.

“But it's crucial that you own
Amethyst
.” Zinnia gave her rug a nudge with her toe. “I'm
giving
her to you.” She grabbed Dodie's hand and pressed it on top of the carpet. “I hereby give you
Amethyst
, Dodie Rue.”

Dodie held his hand over the rolled up carpet. “
Amethyst,
” he muttered.

The racer rug unrolled itself, her fuchsia and silver swirls looking more beautiful than ever.

Zinnia smiled with satisfaction. “Let's go.” She mounted the carpet, leaving room for Dodie to sit in the front.

Dodie climbed onto
Amethyst
and crouched down with a wince. “We might not be able to outrun Atallah, but we can outsmart him,” he said slyly.

Dodie took them up. He found
Amethyst
to be very speedy and easy to guide, but not nearly as agile as
Phoenix.
He hoped he could reclaim his grandfather's racer rug, for losing
Phoenix
would only add to the shame of losing the Grand Flyer.

They sped toward the Capital that was in plain view ahead. Just outside the front gates to the city was the finish line. Colorful banners flapped in the wind, torches lined the final runway, and masses of people cheered on either side of the torch-lined runway. A tall stand stood at the end of the runway where the judges presided.

“There's Atallah!” Dodie pointed. “He must've gotten slowed down by the storm.”

About twenty yards ahead, Atallah zoomed on
Phoenix.
He was almost to the finish line.

Dodie tried to coax more speed out of
Amethyst
, but it was no use.

Atallah streaked down the runway amidst wild cheers from the crowds. He hovered beside the judges' stand and waved victoriously to the spectators.

Dodie and Zinnia sailed in next and received cheers as well, though they weren't as enthusiastic. Dodie scanned the crowds, hoping to see his family, but there were too many people to distinguish faces. Plus he figured everyone had stayed home with Taj.

The crowd hushed as the Magistrate of the Capital raised his hands to address them.

“Congratulations to all our contestants, and especially to these three who have completed the Grand Flyer!” boomed Magistrate Obenido.

The crowd cheered briefly before the Magistrate continued his speech.

“We have our clear champion here!” He gestured to Atallah who beamed. “Atallah Hadi from Turah!”

Atallah zipped over the crowd, and skimmed their heads and threaded on the city walls. The crowd went wild.

“Get closer to the Magistrate,” Zinnia said behind Dodie.

Dodie glided up to the judges' stand.

“Please, sirs, there's been a mistake,” said Zinnia.

The judges glared down at her.

The Magistrate looked appalled. “You're a girl! Females are forbidden to race in the Grand Flyer! Who are you?”

“That doesn't matter,” said Zinnia, her voice finding strength. “What matters is that Dodie Rue is the rightful winner, not Atallah.”

“How do you figure that?” demanded Magistrate Obenido. “Atallah clearly arrived first.”

“No, sir!” continued Zinnia.

“Atallah won on a stolen carpet!” Dodie jumped in.

The judges murmured together. Magistrate Obenido eyed Dodie and Zinnia with new interest.

“He s
tole
that carpet?” Obenido pointed a chubby finger at
Phoenix
.

By now, Atallah had noticed Dodie and Zinnia conversing with the judges, and he sped over to them.

“Poor loser, eh, Rat Scat?” he sniggered as he stood atop
Phoenix
with his arms crossed.

“That's my racer rug,” said Dodie, glaring at Atallah. “You pushed me off and stole her.”

“That's a lie!” Atallah snarled. “
Phoenix
is and always has been
my
carpet.”

The judges huddled together for a minute, then Magistrate Obenido addressed them. “This is a serious charge, but we must test it. Atallah, dismount your carpet and ignite her again. You must prove she's yours.”

“This is ridiculous!” Atallah screeched, throwing his hands up. “I shouldn't have to prove anything! I'm the Grand Flyer champion, and I won on
my
carpet.”

“I'm sorry, we must be sure. That's the rule.” Obenido's face hardened, and he gestured his hand to the ground. “If you please.”

With a huff, Atallah swooped down to the ground, and jumped off
Phoenix
. Immediately the carpet rolled herself up. Atallah held a hand over her and said, “
Phoenix
.”

The carpet remained rolled up at his feet. The crowd stirred.

“
Phoenix!”
Atallah gave the rug a kick.

But the carpet did not open or even budge.

Dodie landed next to him, held a hand over his racer rug, and said her name.
Phoenix
unfurled herself and dazzled the crowd with her flaming colors and gold shine.

Magistrate Obenido raised his voice and announced, “Atallah Hadi, you are hereby disqualified from the Grand Flyer for finishing on a stolen racer rug!”

“They can't win either!” screamed Atallah, pointing at Dodie and Zinnia. “She's a girl! And that carpet is hers, not his!”

“That's not true!” Zinnia yelled back.

She jumped off
Amethyst
, causing the carpet to roll up.

“This carpet belongs to me, too,” said Dodie. He ignited
Amethyst
, causing the crowd to gasp.

“He can't own
two
carpets!” argued Atallah.

The Magistrate turned his back on the crowd to confer with his judges. The crowd was silent with suspense. Atallah glared at Dodie and Zinnia. Zinnia squeezed Dodie's hand. Dodie's heart pounded in his chest. Finally Magistrate Obenido turned to face the contestants and the crowd.

“There is no rule against a racer owning more than one rug,” stated the Magistrate. “As long as a racer finishes the race on his own rug, he qualifies. Therefore, our Grand Flyer champion is Dodie Rue from Turah!”

The crowd erupted into deafening cheers. Atallah roared. Zinnia threw her arms around Dodie's neck. Dodie felt an overwhelming relief flood his body. He had made it, and he was alive. The best part was his brother would live, and his family would be released from their debt.

Suddenly he felt Zinnia ripped from him. Atallah had yanked her back and thrown her to the ground. Next he tackled Dodie to the dirt. Dodie caught the flash of a knife. The crowd screamed, and Zinnia cried out. Dodie felt a cold blade against his throat.

A troop of guards fell upon Atallah and pulled him off Dodie. They shackled his hands behind his back and dragged him through the city gates.

“I deserve to win!” roared Atallah as he was dragged away. “You're
nothing
! I was the better racer!”

The guards hustled Atallah into the Capital, and the crowd drowned out his cries.

“Dodie Rue!” Magistrate Obenido called from his stand. “Your wish shall be granted tomorrow at dawn, and your treasure will be delivered to you next week. Congratulations to our rightful winner of this year's Grand Flyer—Dodie Rue!”

As the crowd cheered, Dodie turned to Zinnia. He pressed her hand on the rolled up
Amethyst
.

“I hereby give you
Amethyst,
Zinnia,” he told her. “She's yours again.”

Zinnia smiled, but behind her smile Dodie could see sadness in her eyes, and he knew why. Even though she never had a chance to win the wish once she was exposed as a girl, he knew it was still painful for her to lose the hope of seeing her father again.

Dodie and Zinnia were ushered into the city where they were honored with a great banquet of celebration. Dodie's victory was dispatched to all five competing towns through a network of five Wishing Wells. He would have loved to see his family's reaction to the news.

He and Zinnia spent the night in the Magistrate's mansion. Their rooms were across the hall from each other. A hot bath with flower-scented oils was drawn in Dodie's room. As soon as he sank into the water, his body relaxed, and he nearly fell asleep soaking in it. When the water cooled, he got out and dressed in a soft linen robe laid out for him. He attacked the platter of meats, cheese, bread, and fruit, and downed several large goblets of water. He felt so much better. The Magistrate's personal physician attended to Dodie's multiple wounds and bandaged his torso, assuring Dodie his fractured ribs would heal with time. He drank a soothing herbal tea that put him into a deep, restful sleep. He didn't even dream.

Dodie awoke just before dawn feeling completely rested. He lay on the over-sized pillows for a few minutes thinking about the race, about meeting the genie, and about Zinnia. He would make good on his promise to help search for her father, though he had no idea where to start looking for someone who was supposedly
swallowed
up by the desert, whatever that meant. Dodie sat up with a sudden thought. He wondered .
 . .

Two servants entered his room, and brought a royal blue tunic for him to wear and a plate of fruit and yogurt. When they left, Dodie got dressed and ate his breakfast. He was about to leave the room when he heard voices out in the hallway. He paused to listen, and recognized Magistrate Obenido and Zinnia speaking in low tones.

“I had no idea who you were at first,” Obenido was saying. “You have great courage, but it doesn't change the rules.”

“I know, sir. I just want my father back,” said Zinnia.

The Magistrate heaved a sigh. “As do I.”

“But you've given up on him,” answered Zinnia, her voice hardening.

“We searched far and wide for him,” said Obenido.

“He's not dead,” Zinnia murmured.

“I would like to believe that,” muttered Obenido. “After all, he wasn't called the Great for nothing. We've lost a brilliant alchemist, and you a wonderful father.”

Dodie opened the door and met Obenido and Zinnia in the hallway.

She looked rested and as beautiful as ever with her short hair washed and her skin clean. She wore deep purple robes and gold bangles, and smelled like jasmine. She greeted him with a smile.

“I'm allowed to go with you to the genie—if that's okay,” she added hastily.

“Of course you're coming with me.” Dodie couldn't take his eyes off her. “You should've won. I couldn't have—”

“I don't wanna hear it,” she cut him off. “You couldn't let your brother die.”

“But your father—”

“I'll find him some other way.” She didn't sound too confident.

“We both will,” added Obenido. “Now, Dodie, you know the genie's rules on wishes? Good. And you've thought long and hard about your wish? Good.”

Dodie turned to Zinnia and started to ask her the name of her father, but Obenido continued.

“Once we set foot on the mount, we must observe an attitude of silence in reverence to the genie. Do
not
utter a word inside the shrine except for your wish. Be sure to word it very specifically. Follow me.”