The Pilgrims of Rayne (14 page)

IBARA

I
followed Siry on a twisted route through the tropical village. He didn't say a word the whole way. The few times I asked him a question, he ignored me. I was exhausted, but there was no way I'd show weakness. We took some turns around huts that made me feel as if we were walking in circles. At first I thought he was testing me, or trying to wear me out so I'd give up. It was neither. He was leading me on a route so impossible to follow, I'd never be able to find my way on my own. It got more complicated when our journey took us away from the populated village and into the jungle. The huts became fewer and farther between. The jungle grew thicker. The path grew narrower.

I was lost.

As we moved deeper into the jungle, the creepy thought hit me that maybe this wasn't so much about my not finding my way here again. It might be about my not finding my way back. Alarm bells started going off in my head, but I didn't know what else to do but continue following. He was the Traveler from Ibara! Never mind that he was some kind of juvi
who hated his father's guts and probably hated mine and was leading me into a trap. I had to go. Just another day in my twisted life.

The path narrowed to a single track. Thick brush whipped at my arms. It had gotten long past old.

“How much farther?” I asked.

No answer. I was getting dizzy. My scabs were burning. I didn't want to show weakness, but this was just dumb. The path opened up to a small clearing, and I put on the brakes.

“That's it,” I declared. “You gotta tell me where we're going.”

Siry turned around. He had a knowing smile on his face. I hated knowing smiles. Almost as much as I hated smirks. I've mentioned that, right?

“Getting tired?” he asked snidely. I didn't care much for snide, either.

“I trusted you,” I gasped between breaths. “I followed you to wherever the heck it is we are, and I want to know why.”

I got my answer. It wasn't the answer I wanted.

The jungle came alive. Before I could react, I was tackled by three guys. I hit the ground. Hard. Yes, it was a trap. They'd been waiting for me. They quickly tied a blindfold around my eyes and pulled me to my feet. I stood there, dazed, being held by several strong hands. They didn't have to try so hard. I had no strength. Not a word was said. It all happened quickly and efficiently.

“Are you afraid?” Siry whispered in my ear. He was so close I could feel his breath.

“Terrified,” I answered, trying to sound bored.

“I could have you killed,” he hissed. “Nobody would know. Nobody would miss you. Nobody would care.

“That would be a mistake,” I said calmly.

“Why is that?”

“Because you're a target, and I'm the only one who can help you. Without me, you're done.”

Siry gave no comeback. I hoped my words hit home, or at least made him think. I sensed him move away. I tensed up. Would he be crazy enough to kill me? I had to be ready. It didn't matter how exhausted and weak I was, I had to defend myself. I couldn't see a thing. For all I knew, death was seconds away. I had had enough. I took a breath and summoned what little strength I had left. I was about to lash out and start kicking some Ibara butt, when Siry barked out an order.

“Bring him,” he commanded.

I stopped. They weren't going to hurt me. At least, not right away. The guys who held me started to walk, and I was once again dragged along to an unknown destination. At least it was unknown to me. These guys knew exactly where they were going. We walked quickly through what felt like dense jungle. All I could do was go along and hope they didn't run me face-first into a palm tree. Things were not going well. My one ally on Ibara was a thieving kid who'd just threatened to kill me, and had a bunch of friends to help him. I had to go along with whatever game he was playing. At least for a while.

Our trip ended when I was roughly pushed down into a seat. My arms were rudely pulled behind my back and tied together. These guys weren't pros like the security drones who worked for the tribunal. They may have tied me up, but I felt as if I could break free pretty easily. Their last act was to yank off my blindfold. I squinted, and got my first look at Siry's world.

It looked like a jungle junkyard.

We were in a clearing that had been hacked out of dense
foliage. The surrounding growth was a thick wall of vines and vegetation that looked too tangled to walk through. The trees overhead formed a canopy that blocked out the sun. A quick scan showed only two paths out. Or in. There were bamboo platforms built everywhere. Some were at eye level, others on the ground. Two structures rose high up toward the canopy of trees, with several levels from the ground to the top. There were lots of makeshift ladders and bridges, tying the structure together. The whole thing was lashed together by rope and twine. It was impressive and crude.

The place was outfitted with an odd assortment of junk. Wooden and bamboo furniture was randomly scattered. Tables held dirty bowls and cups, along with the remnants of half-eaten fruit. This wasn't a neat bunch. I saw several large, wooden chests tucked under platforms. Clothes were hanging all around, giving the place the appearance of a messy bedroom. There were books and drums, baskets and tools.

It wasn't all a random mess. I saw a few beautiful sculptures made out of black rock. There was the head of a girl, a hand, a man's torso. Very cool and probably very stolen.

Most everything I saw looked as if it could have come from the village. A few things didn't. There were large chunks of sheet metal being used as roofing over some huts. High up on one of the platforms was a brass telescope on a tripod. There was a picture frame dangling from one platform. It was golden and intricate, with no picture. One thing stood out that I had no explanation for. It was a metal sign hanging between two vertical poles. It was about two feet square and looked as if one side had been eaten away, leaving only the left half. The sign had been white at one time, with faded black letters that now read:

 

FOURT

BR

T

RU

CI

 

It looked to me like a chunk of an old traffic sign. But there was no such thing as traffic on Ibara. It made the mystery of this territory grow deeper. This clearing looked like it was home to a bunch of castaways who had to make do with bits and pieces left over from their wrecked ship, while using whatever else the jungle provided to make shelter.

The people who hung out in this odd little oasis completed that image.

I counted fifteen people. They all looked to be in their midteens, the same as Siry. There were mostly boys, but a few girls were mixed in. They all had the same grungy look. Their clothes were worn, and nobody seemed to be too concerned about taking a bath. They all looked pretty healthy though. They weren't out here in the jungle starving. Most hung out on the various levels of the bamboo structure, looking down at the new guy. Me. The group that had ambushed me stood on the ground, circling me. I looked into each of their eyes. They all had the same look as Siry. It was an odd mixture of boredom and anger. Not a good combination.

A thin girl with long, stringy, blond hair jumped at me to see if I'd flinch. I didn't. She laughed and got right up close, nearly putting her nose on my cheek. She sniffed, then giggled. “Scared,” she said playfully. “I can smell it. Yes I can.” She gave me a quick kiss on the cheek and scurried away.

A big guy walked up to me, holding out a cup of liquid. “Thirsty?” he asked.

My answer was to stare at him.

“Me too,” he said, and drank it himself. Most of it ended up spilling down his cheeks. He let out a belch and dropped the cup. The others laughed. Another little guy, who had the pointed nose and tiny eyes of a rat, skittered up and pulled the top of my shirt aside to look at my back.

“Bee stings,” he snorted. “Lots of 'em. Do they hurt?”

“No,” I said.

The little ferret slapped me on the back with his open hand, hard. “How about now!” He cackled out a laugh and scurried away. Creep.

This was a real fun bunch. Siry was beginning to seem like the normal one. I looked beyond the group that was having fun annoying me to see Siry with the blond thief who had escaped from the security goons earlier. They were looking through the sack the blond thief had gotten away with. He pulled out two small saws and a hammer. Siry patted the blond guy on the arm, as if to say, “Nice job.”

“Hey!” I shouted to Siry. “I'm hungry.”

Siry gave the tools back to blondie and walked slowly toward me. He had a cocky air about him. He was completely in charge and knew it.

“I'm sorry,” he said sarcastically. “You expect me to care?”

“No,” I said. “I expect you to give me something to eat.”

Siry snorted, as if to say, “You're dreaming.” But he waved at the girl with stringy hair and said, “Twig, get him something.”

“Get it yourself!” the girl named Twig shot back.

Siry gave her a withering look. She backed off and left the group. It was pretty clear that Siry was the boss here. A moment later the girl came back with half a piece of fruit that looked like a pear. She held it out to me. I looked at it, then to the girl.

“Untie me,” I said.

The girl hesitated, then made a move for the chair. I think she was actually going to do it until…

“Stop,” Siry commanded. “Feed him.”

The girl shrugged and held the pear up to my mouth. The fruit looked like it had been sitting in the sun too long. I didn't care. I was hungry. I took a big bite. It was mushy and sweet. It was delicious. I needed the energy.

“Thank you, Twig,” I said sincerely.

The girl softened. She smiled, then jammed the rest of the fruit into my mouth.

“Feed yourself,” she said snottily, and walked off as the others laughed. I closed my teeth, took a big bite, and let the rest fall to the ground.

Siry stood in front of the group, facing me. “You asked me what I believe in. I believe in the Jakills.”

The group erupted in spontaneous cheers. “Yeah! The Jakills!” they shouted.

When they calmed down I said sarcastically, “Cute name. What does it mean?”

“It means the tribunal hates us, because we stand for everything they fear.”

Several of the others grumbled in agreement, including the Jakills peering down from the platforms above.

“Like what?” I asked.

“Like change,” Siry said. “And truth. The leaders of this village won't face the truth. They won't let anyone face the truth.”

“What is the truth?” I asked.

Siry looked around. Every last eye was on him. He was their leader, no question.

“The truth is,” he said, playing out the drama, “the truth is we're the future of Ibara.”

The group cheered. It was the most sincere thing I'd heard from him. Siry was pretty charismatic. He knew how to play to his people.

He went on, “The tribunal fears us because they know we're going to take away their power.”

“Yeah?” I laughed. “How? By hanging out in the jungle and eating rotten fruit?”

Everyone fell silent. The kids hanging off the platforms leaned down a little closer. I had challenged Siry and insulted all of them. It might have been a dumb thing to do, but I had to be just as bold and confident as they were. I had to prove that I was a match for Siry.

He stared at me with dead eyes. That was worse than looking angry. Angry is predictable. Siry took a step toward me and said in a low voice, “You told me my father died willingly for something he believed in. Would you?”

“Willingly?” I scoffed. “Nobody dies willingly. Your father didn't. He fought for what was right.”

“And what exactly was that?” Siry asked. “Tell me. Tell us all!” He threw his arms out and walked around the group, saying, “We all want to know, Traveler man! You say my father was a hero who battled an evil demon? Who is this demon? What does he want? Bring him here, I want to see him.”

Everyone laughed at his cocky posturing.

“He's already here,” I said coldly.

That made everybody quiet down real quick. Siry hesitated. A few threw him questioning looks. Siry reloaded and continued the performance. He called out to the jungle, “Hello? Demon? Where are you? I'd like to see the man who killed the great Remudi.”

Some of the kids laughed. Others glanced around nervously, as if a demon might actually show up. Siry waited for dramatic
effect then stalked back toward me. “If you want to find true evil, you don't have to look any further than the tribunal of Rayne.”

“What are they guilty of?” I asked.

“They've committed the worst crime of all,” Siry said through gritted teeth. “They've stolen our souls.”

Tweeeeee!

A harsh whistle pierced the jungle. Everyone looked up in surprise. Suddenly two more boys blasted into the clearing from the jungle. One was blowing the whistle. They were out of breath and sweating. They looked scared.

“They're coming,” one gasped.

“Here?” Siry shot back.

“No,” the other boy said. “Rayne. They're moving toward the village. We saw them in the jungle. It's hard to tell how many. More than ever.”

The others grumbled nervously. Siry stared into space, calculating. The blond thief ran up to him.

“What do we do?” he asked.

Siry looked around, making quick eye contact with each and every kid. They all looked squarely back at him. I'd seen that look before. Whatever he was going to ask them to do, they were ready.

Siry shot me a look and said, “You think we're criminals, and maybe we are. But it doesn't mean we're wrong.”

He grabbed the blond kid by the shirt and commanded, “Let's go.”

An excited buzz went through the crowd. That's what they wanted to hear. The blond kid smiled and ran across the clearing with two others. They went right to the wooden chests, threw them open, and pulled out armloads of the same short, wooden weapons I'd seen on the hips of the security
force. I heard a steady buzzing sound and looked up to see several kids sliding down zip lines from the higher platforms. They hit the ground running and joined the others. Their excitement was growing. They were getting ready for a fight.