The Other
Author: K. A. Applegate
Date: 2001-01-01 05:00:00+00:00
Keywords: Juvenile Nonfiction; Extraterrestrial beings; Juvenile Fiction; General; Science fiction; Human-alien encounters; Fiction
Description: From Wikipedia The Other is the fortieth book in the Animorphs series, ghostwritten by Gina Gascone (as K. A. Applegate). It is narrated by Marco. In the article: Product Description Ax, who has always believed that he is the only non-infested Andalite on Earth, discovers that there are others trying to survive until help finally comes.
Publisher: Milwaukee, WI : Gareth Stevens Pub., 2001.

Who am I?

Marco.

Not Tuan or Kevin or Rasheed.

You know, "Hi, I'm Marco."

If you yell out, "Hey, Marco!", chances are good

I'll turn around. Respond. "What?"

You could also say that who I am is far more
than a name. That who I am depends on your
perspective. On where you're standing when you
yell out to me.

Like, if you're standing out in the everyday
world — in Red Lobster on all-you-can-eat shrimp
night, on a downtown street corner, or in the
mall — you'll see that I'm a slighty less than tall,

All of which makes that "who are you" ques-

Bottom line — we're here to serve. It's not
tion a whole lot more complicated for me than for
only about us. It's about you, too.

say, about 99.9 percent of folks on this planet.

That's why, every once in a while, it's real nice

That remaining .1 percent — those would be
to be alone. Shut out the world and do something
my friends. The other Animorphs. Jake. Cassie.

just for me. Something totally and completely

Rachel. Tobias, the guy who lives as a hawk. Ax,
self-indulgent and soul-numbing. Something that

Elfangor's younger brother.

requires almost no effort, physical or intellectual.

Obviously, there are a lot of issues we have to

The house was empty. Dad and Nora were at a
deal with. Issues far too complex for the six of us

PTA meeting. Euclid was spending the night at
to waste a lot of time thinking about. Or maybe
the vet, recovering from some minor doggie
we've become far too complex for them to matter
surgery. Jake and Rachel were off at a family
too much anymore.

thing. Cassie and her mom had gone to some big

In almost every way you can imagine, we've
veterinary conference at The Gardens. And I
pretty much been there. Done that and bought
guess Ax and Tobias were doing whatever red-
the T-shirt and poster. If anyone from Guardian or
tailed hawks and aliens do on an off night. I just

Prudential knew the truth about us, we'd never,
knew I was blissfully alone.

ever get health insurance. Forget about life.

I lay back on the living room couch. Stretched

Me and my friends, we are the definition of
like a lazy old cat. Reached for the remote on the
extreme living.

coffee table.

We are the definition of high risk. We don't

Nothing good on the tube. Perfect. I channel-
need to sign up for a class at the local commu-
surfed, past SpongeBob SquarePants and a mi-
nity college or pay some slick shrink 150 bucks
nor league baseball game. Past Two Fat Ladies
an hour to tell us we're not realizing our poten-
on the food channel. Past a documentary on bee-
tial.

tles.

Our potentials have been realized up the wa-

Ah! Unsolved Mysteries. Cool. The Loch Ness

Monster. Bigfoot. Aliens from outer space . . .

zoo.

Mr. Fake-Spooky Host looked wide-eyed into

See, this war comes down to life or death.

the camera. "When we come back after these

Freedom or slavery. Dignity or abject humiliation.

messages, we'll continue our in-depth investigation

Failure is not an option.

5

4

of legendary creatures with an amateur video made
just weeks ago, right here in . . ."

I hit the mute button and waited. Hummed
some Kid Rock. Yawned. Bit a hangnail. Seven
commercials later, the show was back.

And then the world fell apart.

•Lt was just a blue blur moving across the
screen. Not much more than that. A small piece
of videotape taken with an unsteady hand in ter-
rible light conditions.

But it was enough.

My foolproof danger alarm went off. Loud.

"Could this be proof positive of the existence
of the magical unicorn of medieval lore?" the host
intoned. "Or could this strange blue creature be
the mighty centaur of Greek mythology? Let's take
another look."

I hit the power button and the screen went
gray.

One look had been more than enough.

The image was blurred but unmistakable.

6

7
minded as Scully or Mulder. Some were even

Andalite!

Yeerks.

I scaled the stairs to my bedroom two at a

Ax would not be taken. I would make sure of
time.

that.

This was bad. Really bad. A serious breach in

A thousand fears and anxieties ran through
security. The beginning of our end . . .

my head, almost as quickly as I ran up the steps

A good bazillion citizens of the United States
and into my room.

of America, and who knew how many people in

I had to get control. Focus. Maintain that fo-
how many other countries, had just gotten their
cus.

first glimpse of a bona fide alien.

I went to the bed. Arranged the pillows under

Eighty, maybe ninety percent of those viewers
the blankets to look like a sleeping kid. So my dad
would be excited for about thirty seconds — at
and my stepmother wouldn't know I was gone.

least until the next silly monster after the next

Again.

silly commercial.

I stripped down to my morphing suit. Tossed

Ten, maybe twenty percent of those viewers
jeans, T-shirt, and sneakers into the pit that is
would recognize the blue blur for what it was.

my closet. Tore open the window. And began to

Not a unicorn or a centaur.

morph.

An Andalite. Here. On Earth.

The goal: rapid transportation.

And it could only be Ax.

PING! PING!

Okay, Visser Three and every other Yeerk with

I winced. The beginning of talons, where my
a host knew of the "Andalite bandits." The ones
toes had been only a few seconds ago. I watched
who formed the small but unrelenting resistance
as the rest of my feet and ankles withered, shrunk,
to the Yeerk movement.

and suddenly became the bird's incredibly strong,

But others — humans not controlled by
gripping feet. Three long fleshless talons facing

Yeerks — didn't know. And they couldn't.

front, one facing back.

Shouldn't. It was too dangerous, too risky. Bad

No way those feet could support my thick hu-
for Ax to be taken prisoner by the visser. Worse
man legs. I was going down.

for him to be taken for study by the government.

THUMP!

Not everybody in "the agency" was as fair-

9

8

I was definitely down. But I'd fallen on my
to the carpet to see boulders of cookie crumbs
back. I lifted my head and watched as my legs
and single strands of curly poodle hair. Ugh.

blackened and shriveled up into my body like two

I was an osprey. The animal that had become
sticks of beef jerky being sucked up by a gnarly
one of my earliest morphs. Not a bird with the
old cowboy.

greatest night vision but vision a heck of a lot

Right then I vowed never ever to eat a Slim
better than a human's. Vision good enough to get

Jim again.

me where I was going.

In spite of what you might think, morphing

Ax's scoop.

doesn't hurt. It's just disgusting.

I hopped up onto the windowsill. Glanced

But still, I watched. As if I could hurry the
sharply around with beady eyes to be certain the
process by witnessing it. Fingers — curling into
house wasn't being watched. And flapped into
my palm. Tanned human flesh lightening to
the night air.

gray and then disappearing under a flat, three-
dimensional tattoo of feathers. Then arms sprout-
ing feathers in a fury. At the same time, arm
bones shrinking, hollowing, reshaping. Becom-
ing wings.

My mouth and nose melded together, hard-
ened to form a curved and deadly beak.

Internal organs? I felt approximately twenty-
five feet of human intestines smoosh and squish
down to a bird's tiny digestive tract. My slow and
steady human heart surge into the manic, puls-
ing heart of the bird of prey.

No longer human. No longer tall enough to
see the unopened notebooks scattered over the
desk. The handful of empty bubble gum wrap-
pers I should probably throw away. Close enough

10

11

But I did have eyes. Ax's TV was on. But not
on the station I'd been watching.

As soon as my lips were formed I looked di-
rectly at Tobias. Then at Ax. "Our buddy Ax here
is a star," I said brightly, brushing dried-out pine
needles off my bike shorts, wincing when a sharp
stone bit into my tender human foot.

I told them what I'd seen. When I'd finished,
there was silence.

It was Tobias who spoke first. <Well, Ax?> His
thought-speak was hoarse. Almost anxious. <ls it
possible?>

Ax hesitated. Turned his main stalk eyes to
look behind him, toward the deeper woods.

Ax was at "home."

<Anything is possibles he said.

And he had company perched on a nearby

That was not what I wanted to hear.

branch.

<l guess we need to get a copy of that

<Tobias!>
episode,> Tobias said.

<What brings a guy like you to a place like

"D'ya think? Really?" I said, rolling my eyes.

this?>

"Okay. Listen. We don't have time to wait around

<Nothing good.> I flared my wings and landed
for the rerun or to send a check to the station in
on the soft grass and dirt. Started demorphing.

order to buy a copy. We just can't risk waiting."

<When is it ever good when one of us just

<That's true,> Ax said as he stepped to his
shows up, all unexpected?> he added.

television setup. <But we don't have to wait.>

I didn't answer. Tobias has been big on rhetor-

"Did I miss something? 'Cause I'm definitely
ical questions lately.

not understanding you."

Besides, at the moment, I didn't have any of

<Ax tapes everything,> Tobias explained. <On
what Ax would call "mouthparts."

every channel. He's set up a CD-ROM thing to

12

13
the VCR —or something like that. Anyway, it

"Ax-man. Is there any way to fine-tune the
works. >
image?" I asked.

<Marco, I believe this is what you are looking

<No. I cannot clear the resolution on a non-
for.>
original piece of film or v i d e o

Ax stepped back from his small pile of equip-

Tobias swooped off his perch and landed,
ment. With a remote, he fast-forwarded through
gracefully, a few feet from the television screen.

the thirty-minute show until he reached the

<You don't have to,> he said. <lt's not Ax.>
segment.

"So it's the visser," I said. "Well, that's a little All twenty seconds of it.

beyond weird."

Ax froze the final frame.

<No. Not the visser.> Tobias turned his in-

More silence. This time, I broke it.

credibly intense hawk eyes on us. <Kids, I think

"Is it you, Ax?"

we've just discovered another Andalite.>

Ax briefly focused all four eyes on the screen

Ax pulled his shoulders back. <ls i t . . .>
before sweeping those on stalks around the

<lt's not Estrid. Sorry, Ax. Not Arbat, either.>
perimeter of the scoop. Wary now.

"Alrighty then. Who?"

<l cannot tell from that angle.>

<This guy's new. And he's got one real obvi-

<Play it back in slow motion,> Tobias sug-
ous distinguishing feature. He's got only half a
gested. <Frame by frame.>
tail.>

Ax did. To me it still didn't make any differ-

<A vecol\> There was disbelief in Ax's voice.

Something else, too. More than his normal, well,
ence.

arrogant tone. It sounded like disgust.

It could have been Ax.

"Excuse me?" I asked.

It could have been any Andalite.

But the only other Andalite we knew of on

<He is disabled. A cripple,> Ax answered

Earth was Visser Three. No way would he ever be
coldly. <And his presence here will obviously be
careless enough to allow himself to be caught on
a problem.>
film. Besides, he was never without a phalanx of

"Yeah," I agreed, looking back to the hazy im-
bodyguards.

age on the screen. "The Yeerks get ahold of him,
they've got another morphing Andalite on the

Unless . . . unless he wanted to be seen by
team. Not good."

thousands of couch potatoes. But why?

14

15

<No. The Yeerks would have no use for his
yank, straight up. Spoke. "Yeah. It's time to find
body. He is completely useless as a host.> Ax
us an Andalite. Oh," I said, looking blandly at Ax.

waved his frail hand in a dismissing motion.

"Let's not forget one other possibility here. In

<Without a tail blade he cannot fight. And it is
spite of the famous-throughout-the-galaxy An-
obvious this vecol is incapable of morphing or he
dalite honor, this guy could, as we know, quite
would have restored his tail from his own healthy
possibly be a traitor. The whole videotape thing

DNA.>
might be a trap for us unsuspecting, bighearted

"So, Ax, how do you really, really feel about humans, who respond to creatures less fortunate
this guy? Let me take a wild guess." It sounded
than us with empathy and kindness."

nasty. I meant it to.

<That is true,> Ax said, while staring back at

<Marco,> Tobias said. <Seems to me this,
me with his main eyes. <lt might very well be a
uh, guy, could be useful to the Yeerks in another
trap.>
way. He's got to have information the visser
wants. >

"Which means wherever he is, we get to him
first. Unless we're too late. Which I'm not even
going to think about."

<Right,> Tobias agreed. <Best-case scenario,
he becomes an ally.>

Ax made a sound that was way close to a
snort. <A vecol as an ally? Marco, was that meant to be humorous? Because it was not.>

I grinned. Folded my arms across my chest.

"No, Ax. It wasn't meant to be 'humorous.' What's
with you? What's your problem with this guy?"

Tobias interrupted, <Let's get going. We're
going to need to talk to Jake and the others. We
can deal with this stuff later.>

I took a deep breath. Gave my hair a good

16

17

We circled above the clearing, Tobias, the
most experienced flyer, swooping as close to the
ground as he dared. Alert to every movement.

Every twitching blade of grass and swiftly disap-
pearing tail of mouse or vole or whatever skanky
creatures run around after bedtime.

<What, exactly, are we looking for?> I said.

The world was lit up before me, amazingly clear.

But I didn't see anything that shouted "danger!"

<Anything out of the ordinary,> Tobias said.

<Signs of a struggle. Trampled earth. Dried blood
maybe.>

But there was nothing. If anyone, man or
beast, had made tracks there in the last few

Tobias led us to the clearing that he was
days, they'd since been swallowed by the ground,
pretty sure was the same place the Andalite had
which was still damp from the previous night's
been caught on tape.

heavy rain.

Something about the slope of the field and a

No evidence of foul play.

pine tree partially destroyed by lightning had

After almost twenty minutes of futile search-
given him a clue. If Ax is our personal clock, To-
ing, I suggested we head home. Get some sleep.

bias is our personal cartographer and wilderness

Get in touch with Jake and the others.

guide.

<We should demorph,> Ax suggested. <We

Maybe we should have tried to contact the
have been in morph for almost ninety minutes.>
others first. Waited until morning. But we didn't.

I'm not big into taking unnecessary risks. The
idea of morphing in such a dark and lonely place.

Didn't even discuss the possibility of delay. It

Especially without having the others around to
was starting to get dark. So, I went owl for some
watch our backs. Nope. The thought did not thrill
serious night vision capability and we were off on
me.

what was intended to be a simple reconnais-

I was even less thrilled by the idea of getting
sance mission.

18

19

Its gray fur began to turn blue, almost like the
stuck with a flea-and-tick problem for the rest of
color was being poured down each strand from a
my days.

zillion small vials. Or like one of those goofy pens

So while Tobias kept aerial guard, I landed on
that change color when you tilt it back and forth.

the ground, close to the west rim of twisted

It didn't take a rocket scientist to realize this
pines, and quickly began to demorph. Ax, on the
was no ordinary possum.

other hand, was still descending, several yards

It was an Andalite.

away. We thought it safer to stagger our morph-

It was not Visser Three.

ing.

And it was not the one we'd seen on televi-

SCHLOOP! SCHLOOP!

sion, either.

Okay. No wings. But no arms yet, either.

This Andalite had a monstrous tail, long and

Great.

thick. And at its end, a blade that, to my terrified

SPLOOT! SPLOOT!

eyes, looked a lot like that scythe thing the Grim

Shriveled arms. Little stubs of fingers at the

Reaper carries.

tip. Slowly, slowly filling out.

I was barely finished demorphing when the

With my still-owl eyes I saw Ax beginning to

Andalite started to walk toward Ax. His tail sliced
demorph.

the night air menacingly, blade glinting in the

Decided I'd rather not watch.

light of the almost full moon. Each hubcap-sized

Flipped my eyes to the right. Saw a furry old
hoof clomping the dewy ground, sending little
possum. And . . .

clods of soil flying. Field mice scurrying.

<Marco! Ax!> Tobias called frantically. <Get

This was no— vecol. This guy was massive.

out of there, now!>

Bigger than any Andalite I'd ever seen. Bigger

Too late. I was three-quarters human.

than Ax's brother, War Prince Elfangor-Sirinial-

It had finally happened. We'd been too care-

Shamtul. Bigger than Aloth-Attamil-Gahar. Big-
less. Underestimated the enemy.

ger even than Alloran-Semitur-Corrass, host body

We were really dead.

to Visser Three.

And for some reason, I looked over at the pos-

Shoulders like a fullback. A chest that was
sum.

cut like a competition-level bodybuilder. Arms

It doubled in size.

that, except for the blue fur, could pass for those

Doubled again. Again!

21

20
of a middle-weight champion. Even the usually

<Tobias,> he said, his thought-speak calm
small and delicate many-fingered Andalite hands
and low. <l do not think . . .>
were broad and toughened. Like those of a car-

Too late!

penter or construction worker.

"TSSEEER!"

Most disconcerting: From the almost human

Tobias swooped down from the night sky! In
waist to the rounded, deer or horselike haunches,
the white light of the moon, talons suddenly ex-
the guy looked like a Clydesdale. A really big one.

tended for attack, he looked like a hellish feath-
ered demon.

No way was Ax, a kid, an aristh, a match for

"TSEEER!"

this guy. Ax is good, a seasoned fighter, but you

The Andalite flinched. Flinched! Took a
would have to have been downright dopey not to
slight, faltering step backward. Twitched his
see that this guy could kick Ax's butt with one ca-
stalk eyes upward and kept his main eyes on Ax.

sual twitch.

Yes! Tobias was going to do it, hurt or distract

I'm not a betting kind of guy, but if I were, I'd
him enough to allow us the advantage . . .

have laid my money on Mr. Macho for a first-

FWAPP!

round slice up.

With blinding speed and accuracy the An-

But the Andalite didn't strike Ax. Or me.

dalite's massive tail cut Tobias out of the sky.

He stood there, not five yards away. He was

And then there was a sickening thud as To-
ignoring me but he was staring at Ax, who was
bias hit the ground.

now also back in his natural form, tail blade

"TOBIAS!"

cocked. The big Andalite seemed to be waiting
for something. For Ax to strike first?

<Okay, guys, this is bad,> Tobias said pri-
vately, so the Andalite couldn't hear. <But I don't
think he's seen me. I'm gonna try to catch him
off guard. Before he makes a move.>

Nervous and unable to answer Tobias, I shot a
glance at Ax.

He stood perfectly still, mimicking the ready
stance of his opponent. Waiting for a first move.

22

23

FWAAAP!

Swiped at his opponent's throat.

And missed.

Now the big Andalite had full advantage. Be-
fore Ax could set up another shot. . .

THWAAAP!

He was struck with the flat of the Big Blue's
blade. And then Ax was on the ground.

The Andalite stepped back to allow Ax to
climb awkwardly to his feet. Then he calmly
pressed his broad tail blade to Ax's throat.

<Visser Three,> the warrior said, his thought-
speak thick with contempt. <At last we meet. I
was unaware of the fact that you were such a
puny, worthless adversary.> He tossed one eye

I started running toward Tobias's lifeless
stalk in the direction of Tobias, still motionless
body. But a warning glance from Ax held me in
on the dew-soaked ground. <lt is no wonder you
my place. What was I going to do? Maybe, at
send your minions to do the work of a true war-
least, retrieve Tobias before his body could be
rior!>
sledgehammered by those monstrous hooves.

</ am not Visser Three,> Ax replied, with an

/ could morph, I thought wildly. / could . . .

admirable amount of dignity, considering the huge

<Do not do anything, Marco. Do not say any-
tail blade pressed to his throat. <l am Aximili-
thing.>

Esgarrouth-lsthill.>

Now Ax was a mind reader? Forget it. I'd go

Half a second passed. The Andalite appeared
gorilla . . .

to be processing that bit of information. Grap-

CLOPCLOP CLOPCLOP!

pling with it.

The Andalite galloped at Ax.

<Younger brother of Prince Elfangor-Sirinial-

CLOPCLOP CLOPCLOP!

Shamtul?> he said finally. Doubtingly.

Ax galloped at the Andalite.

<The same.>

Ax lunged.

25

24

Now the Andalite's thought-speak became
an actor alongside Gwyneth Paltrow in Shake-
stronger. Challenging. <You were on the great
speare in Love. Or maybe as a diplomat. I was so

Dome ship. In its last, fateful battle. You sur-
freaked out that I was about to wet my pants, and
vived the crash?>

Ax was acting like a hero in a witty drawing-room

What was this? I felt like a wallflower at some
comedy or something. Talk about grace under
bizarre Andalite Academy reunion. And while
fire.

they chatted, Tobias . . .

<l am Gafinilan-Estrif-Valad.>

<Yes,> Ax said. <Although I begged to be al-

Ax's four eyes showed a sudden respect. His
lowed to fight, I was sent to wait out the battle in
thought-speak revealed a note of excitement.

the dome. Until quite recently, I was under the

<l have heard of you, also. Your reputation as
impression I was the only one who had survived.

a fighter pilot is one of the finest in the history of

Perhaps I have been mistaken. I witnessed the
the academy. Your career sets an example every
video of the vecol. . .>
aristh would be well to follow.>

<The vecol\>

Gafinilan removed his tail blade from Ax's

The roar of the Andalite's angry thought-
neck. He looked embarrassed. Awkward. Not dis-
speak was deafening. It actually made my head
pleased by Ax's praise but not pleased, either. He
hurt. I watched helplessly as he pushed his tail
averted his main eyes from Ax's own.

blade even deeper into the skin of Ax's neck. Draw-

<Commander Gafinilan,> Ax continued, excit-
ing a small trickle of blood.

edly, <recently, I was made aware of the fact that

<His name is Mertil-lscar-Elmand,> the An-
the Andalite fleet has been diverted from its mis-
dalite went on, in a slightly more normal tone.

sion to quell the Yeerk invasion on this planet.

<And you will do well to remember that, ahsth.>

Instead, the fleet has been sent to deal with the

Ax is no fool. When he spoke, he kept the

Rakkam Garroo conflict in the Nine Sifter. There
tone of his thought-speak neutral. <l have heard
will be no special forces deployed to help my
of this Mertil-lscar-Elmand. The fighter pilot. I
comrades stop the Yeerk conquest of planet
have heard of the many honors he received while

Earth. You must help us . . .>
participating in various battles. And whom do I

<l mustdo nothing,> Gafinilan retorted bitterly.

have the honor of meeting now?>

<l am no longer a warrior, Aximili-Esgarrouth-

This was insane. Ax definitely had a career as

Isthill. My sole purpose now — indeed, my duty

26

2 7

Out of the corner of my eye I saw Tobias stir.

and my responsibility — is to care for Mertil. As

Was outrageously grateful he was alive. Willed
you have noted,> he added, his tone darkening,
him to be still, not to call attention to himself.

<he was badly injured in our last battle. The one

<Now, go, Aristh Aximili. Take your —
that stranded us on this planet, so far from our
friend — and leave this place. Visser Three will
home.>
be here at any moment. And he will not be as

Ax seemed about to protest.

merciful as I have been, I assure you.>

<Leave us in peace,> Gafinilan commanded.

<Sir. . .>

Quietly. No room for argument. <lf you do not, if

<For your own good, Aximili!> Gafinilan said
you try to prevent me from fulfilling my task, I
harshly. <Forget that you ever saw me. Forget
swear by the memory of my parents that you will
about Mertil. That is an order. Forget.>
die.>

Gafinilan turned away from us, all four eyes

I stood as still as I'd ever stood. Almost at at-
forward as he walked back toward the dark woods.

tention. Stiller even than I'd stood at my own

Away from the revealing light of the moon.

mother's funeral. Only this time, I was afraid that

At the edge of the woods, he stopped. He did
if I moved so much as a hair I'd be killed.

not turn around, not even his eyes.

Rebellious, nonmilitary-issue behavior from

<l wish you luck on your mission, Aximili. You
an Andalite should not have struck me — us —
and your comrades. Even though it is hopeless.>
as unusual. Or disturbing. Not after the stories
we'd heard about Alloran on the Hork-Bajir planet.

Not after knowing that Elfangor had broken one
of his society's strictest laws. And especially not
after our recent encounter with Arbat-Elevat-

Estoni, a soldier and thinker driven mad by war.

Still —there was something awful and dark
and desperate emanating from this stranded alien
soldier. I had no doubt whatsoever he meant
what he'd said. That he'd kill us if we came look-
ing for him and Mertil.

Unless . . .

29

OR

Who was I kidding? He had to have seen it all.

My gut told me that. Besides, why would any guy
with a tail blade morph to a weak-limbed, soft-
skinned thing in the face of trouble?

It didn't matter much what he found out
about me from this point on. As long as he didn't
live long enough to tell it.

I went wolf, fast. Ax went harrier. While we
morphed, Tobias checked himself out and de-
cided he was okay. So, even though he was still a
little wobbly, he took off after Gafinilan.

<He's moving fast, guys. I can't get up too
high or I'll lose him. Tree cover is too thick. And

I'm having trouble manuevering in this low light.>

We followed Gafinilan. Of course. He proba-

I took off. With the wolf's superior sense of
smell, with its amazing stamina and agility, we
bly knew we would.

stood a decent chance of tracking Gafinilan. I

And now I knew he wasn't going to do any-
hoped.

thing to us.

<Just stay with him, Tobias,> I called. <We're

Gafinilan had us trapped and had knocked To-
on our way.>
bias out, but he had let us live. We wanted —

I tore through the dark mass of trees. It was
needed — to know why.

like racing through a maze to reach the prize in

And there was something else.

the center — a prize you really didn't want 'cause

The Andalite had seen me demorph. At least,
you knew it was dangerous and maybe even

I was pretty sure he had.

lethal. A prize you'd have to destroy before it de-
stroyed you. But a prize you had to have, no mat-

Maybe he hadn't seen the entire process. How
ter what.

great were a possum's eyes, anyway? I had no

Around and past dark green pines and
idea. Maybe he thought he'd missed something,
small masses of rock. Under heavy, low-hanging
that I'd already morphed from my natural An-
dalite body to human . . .

30

31
branches. The air chilly and damp, masking cer-

<Ten to one that's where our Andalite friend
tain odors and altering others. Still, I was pretty
disappeared to,> I said. <Looks like you were
sure the wolf's keen nose detected the big An-
right, Ax-man.>
dalite. I ran.

<And it looks like we're not alone,> Tobias

Above me, Ax and Tobias did their best in the
said.

lousy flying conditions.

Something was coming out of the cave.

But their best wasn't good enough.

Someone. A human. A man.

He stopped just outside the cave's entrance.

<He's gone!> Tobias cried suddenly. <l

Looked around carefully. Suspiciously. As if he
c a n ' t . . . he was just up ahead . . . then noth-
were expecting to find spies hidden behind the
ing1^
trunks of trees.

I stopped under the branch where Tobias

He was average.

perched. Thrust my nose at the ground, desper-

Nothing remarkable about him at all except
ate to locate Gafinilan. Raised my head and
his total and complete averageness. Good-looking.

sniffed the air. Ax came swooping down close by.

Average height and weight. Middle-aged, maybe

<lt's like he just disappeared,> Tobias said.

thirty-five, maybe forty-five. Hair halfway be-

<l'm getting next to nothings I added. <At
tween blond and brown, halfway between short
least, no clear directions
and long. He wore a pair of nondescript jeans, a

<As much as I do not want to mention the pos-
dark plaid shirt, scuffed white sneakers.

sibility,> Ax said, <perhaps there is an entrance

He was the kind of guy who would disappear
to the Yeerk pool complex hidden somewhere
into a crowd instantly. The kind of guy who would
near. Perhaps Gafinilan passed through . . .>
blend.

<Wait!> I said. I padded silently about a yard

The kind of guy Jake might have become if
into the deeper wood, using all the wolf's senses.

fate hadn't chosen a spectacularly odd path for

<He went this way. It's faint but . . . look!>
him.

It was some kind of cave or passage. About

When the guy was satisfied no one was going
another three yards to the right. Not easy to spot
to jump him, he headed off. Quickly and pur-
unless you were looking for it. The entrance was
posefully through the nearly black forest.

low and narrow and almost completely hidden

Ordinarily, we might have followed him. Espe-
behind the sweeping branches of an evergreen.

33

We followed Gafinilan to a neighborhood near
cially since we assumed he was a Controller, com-
the university.

ing up from the Yeerk pool. But Gafinilan was far

An average neighborhood.

more important to us now.

We watched him walk up the driveway to the

Hunkered down to the damp ground, my belly
front door of an average-looking house. A small
touching pine needles and moss and soil, I
ranch, like every other house on the block. The
moved closer to the cave opening and waited in
name "H. McClellan" in gold letters on the stan-
case there were others. After a few minutes, I
dard-issue black mailbox.

sniffed at the entrance. Yes, Gafinilan had been

He stopped at the door. Looked around. Then
here. I was sort of prepared to go down to the
reached into his pocket, took out a set of keys,

Yeerk pool if we had to. To find the Andalite be-
and let himself in.

fore he could reveal our secret.

We waited. Heard several locks turning and

I wasn't prepared for what I found inside the
slipping into place.

cave.

No lights went on inside the house, even after

Nothing. No false panel or trapdoor or se-
almost a full four minutes.

cretly coded keypad. Nothing. Just a small, dusty,

<What now?> Tobias said.

hollowed-out space in a big rock.

<Sneak a peek through a window?>

I crawled out of the cave. <Nothing. No en-

<No,> Ax said. <Too dangerous. Gafinilan will
trance. No nothing.>
be ultra careful from this point on. His guard will

Ax, perched on one of the sturdy branches
be up.>
that protected the entrance to the cave, said,

<Okay, guys,> I said. <l'm pretty sure it's

<Very clever. Obviously where Gafinilan hid his
time we took this to our fearless leader.>
human clothing. For his human morph.>

Of course. Second stupid mistake of the
night.

<l've got him,> Tobias called suddenly, from
somewhere up above.

I ran. At the edge of the woods, I demorphed
and then went owl.

35

with the morphing power. This guy's got to care.

Maybe there's something bigger on his mind right
now. Something else going on."

"Oh, yeah. Has to be. Like I said before, the
guy didn't ask questions," I said. "It didn't make any sense. He didn't ask how Ax knew what was
going on with the Rakkam Garroo conflict. Didn't
ask about me. Didn't ask how many 'comrades'

Ax had. Who 'we' were. Come on. No one's that
disinterested. That's selective attention. That's
calculation."

<He told us the visser was due to arrive mo-
mentarily^ Ax added. <As if he knew the visser's
habits. As if he were waiting to meet with him.>

<Or maybe to attack him,> Tobias said. <l

Jake, the guy saw me demorph."

don't think we should jump to conclusions. We

Rachel jumped from her seat on a wooden
don't know anything about the relationship be-
rail. It was early the next morning, before school,
tween Gafinilan and Visser Three.>
which because of some teacher conference was

I laughed. "Yeah, we do. We know enough. We
starting late that day. As usual, we were gathered
know there is a relationship. That combined with
in Cassie's barn. "Great, Marco. Good job," she

Gafinilan's telling us to get gone. And, of course,
said sarcastically.

his threat to kill us if we didn't leave him and his

"But," I went on, "he didn't even flinch. Didn't buddy Mertil alone. In my book, if he's not with
look at me again, didn't talk to me. Didn't ask Ax
us, he's against us."

about me. It was as if he didn't care or some-

Jake rubbed the back of his neck. "Let's re-
thing."

member he didn't stay to meet Visser Three.

"I guess then the question is, why?" Jake

There's always the possibility that these two An-
said. "Remember how Gonrod almost had a heart
dalites could become part of our team. So, we
attack when he found out there were humans

37

36
should keep an eye on this guy. Make sure he's
with the Yeerks. The perfect way to lure the An-
dalite bandits to certain death."

not working for a Yeerk-run company. Or heading

"But we're still alive," I replied. "So if what off to the Yeerk pool once every three days."

you're suggesting is true, I'm positive we would

"I'm there," Rachel said.

not be having this conversation."

T i l go, too." Cassie.

<What if Gafinilan isn't working with the

"Fine. Ax, what do you know about Gafini-

Yeerks?> Tobias said. <What if he had nothing to
lan?" Jake asked.

do with that tape? What if he meant what he said

<His reputation is flawless,> Ax said simply.

about us leaving him alone? Forgetting about

"He almost killed you for insulting his friend,"

him and MertiL>

I pointed out. "And he attacked you, a fellow

"Too bad," Jake said dryly. "How often do An-Andalite."

dalites come to Earth? We can't ignore the fact

<He is a warrior, not a diplomats Ax replied.

that Gafinilan and Mertil are holed up in subur-

Perhaps it was me, but he didn't sound one-
bia. Our suburbia. We don't mean them any
hundred percent convinced of his argument. <l
harm, but we're going to find out as much as we
do not think it unusual for a trained soldier, par-
can."

ticularly one stranded far from the home world,

"I take it that means we're going in?" I said.

in a place under invasion by the enemy, to react

Like I didn't already know.

as he did.>

"Oh, yeah. Only 'we' means you and Ax,"

"With aggression. Okay, then, what's up with

Jake said. "If this guy is a traitor, if he's with the the videotape?" Rachel demanded. "Who took it?

Yeerks, we don't want him knowing any more

How could it have gotten to the show?"

about us than he already does. So, later today

Cassie shrugged. "Lots of possibilities. It could

Marco as human, which is way too much infor-
be totally innocent. It might have been taken by
mation already, and Ax as Andalite. He's seen To-
some slimy guy out to make some money by sell-
bias but we need him to fly surveillance while
ing it to TV. Or to those horrible magazines like
you two are inside. You are on a formal visit on
the Star or Enquirer. Or some jerk's idea of a behalf of your prince, Ax. The rest of us will back
practical joke."

you up. Provide firepower if necessary."

"Or it might have been taken by Gafinilan,"

I grinned. "Just in case he meant that 'I'll kill

Rachel said tightly. "Maybe he's made a deal

39

38

you if you don't leave me alone' thing. Thanks,
big guy."

Jake grinned back. "No problem. And when
you leave, the rest of us will stay put. Watch
where he goes, what he does. See if he contacts
the Yeerks. Keep an eye out for Mertil, too." He
turned to Rachel and Cassie. "But first, try to catch

Mr H McClellan before he leaves the house this
morning. Tobias, go with them. When they have
to get to school, you take over."

Tobias lifted from his perch in the rafters.

<Sure, Jake. Meet you in the air, ladies.>

"What am I supposed to do in the mean-
time?" I said to Jake after all the others had left.

I ' m not much for prayers and supplication.

"Until Ax and I pay a visit to Batman and

Robin?" ,

Unless, of course, it involves getting a beauti-
ht ,

Jake gave me a pained smile. "Uh, Marco, I
ful girl to say "yes" to going out with me. Then, even begging and imploring are options.

think you've done enough already. You know, the

<Marco? That you?>
three of you running off to find this Andalite

<ln the flesh — uh — feathers.>
without telling the rest of us. How about taking it

I'd joined Tobias up above H. McClellan's
easy for a few hours? Maybe say a prayer, or two?

neighborhood. Above blocks of two- and three-

We're gonna need it."

bedroom ranches and split-levels, roofs and
gables all cedar shake triangles and trapezoids.

Above a collection of backyard pools, bright blue
circles and squares, and front yards uniformly
rectangular and green. A typically American kind
of geometric pattern. Actually kind of cool from
this perspective.

40

41

<Why aren't you in school with the others?>
house that was attached to the house itself by a
fifteen-foot-long tunnellike extension.

Tobias asked.

<Be careful, Marco,> Tobias warned. <He's

<l'm thinking I really don't want to answer
gotta be nervous and definitely paranoid.>
that question. So, what did you find out?>

<And probably on the lookout for us, I know, I

Tobias coasted into a lazy circle, letting the
know.>
thermals support him. <Not much. We followed

<Maybe the call was about Mertil,> Tobias

Henry — that's what the "H" stands for — to the
mused as we swooped to about twenty feet above
university. Seems he's an assistant to some aca-
the greenhouse.

demic type. Some professor who works with par-

<Maybe it was the visser,> I said in a minorly
ticle physics. Whatever that is.>
sarcastic voice. <Don't romanticize this.>

<Ax will know. What else?>

Tobias ignored my remark. <There he is,> he

<Well, except for when the guy went to the
said instead. <ln Andalite form.>
bathroom, probably to demorph, we pretty much

Gafinilan was barely visible, even to my os-
watched him all morning. Cassie and Rachel got
prey eyes, beneath the humid, curved glass of
inside. Found out it's the perfect place to de-
the greenhouse and the proliferation of green
morph. It's one of those private rooms, frosted
stuff growing inside.

windows, one stall. Anyway, he sat at his desk,

<According to Ax,> Tobias explained, gar-
chatted with some coworkers, ate a donut. Then,
dening is a very cool hobby for Andalites. It's an

Rachel and Cassie went to school. I hung around.

art, really.>

At about eleven, Henry got a phone call that

<Great. I'll be sure to buy him a John Deere
seemed to shake him up. Next thing I know, he's
riding mower for Christmas. Any sign of Mertil?>
hightailing it home. Unless he morphed some-

Tobias landed in a huge old oak tree on Mr.

thing really small and took off again, I think he's

Henry McClellan's property. <Not that I can see.

still in there.>

Just Gafinilan pruning some leaves. Or doing

<Or in the greenhouse. I want to get a closer
something with garden shears. He seems pretty
look,> I said.

focused.>

I glided down, closer to the roof of Henry Mc-

<Then I'm going in closer.>

Clellan's ranch house. Closer to the large green-

43

A?

over and I just flew, up, then down, flapping

<Uh, Marco, I'm not sure that's a great idea.

madly, lost in the pain.

What if he looks up?>

<Marco! What are you doing! Get out of there,

<What if he doesn't?> I countered. <Look, this
now!>
guy gives me the major willies. I want to know as

I didn't see the surveillance cameras pop up
much as I can before I meet him on his turf .>
from the roof of the house.

<Okay, but. . .> No buts. I was going to get

Until it was too late.

up close and personal with the roof of the green-

<Look out! He's got a shredder!>
house.

Tobias's cries finally pierced my mindless

I glided lower, lower, eyes straining to catch
panic.

every detail I could when . . .

I looked back to see Gafinilan's head and

ZZZZZAAAAAPPPPP!

weapon-wielding hands poking through a skylight
in the flatfish roof of the house.

<Ahhhh!>

He held a shredder aimed right at me.

I hadn't even touched the glass! But a nasty

<Surrender!> he bellowed in my head.

electric jolt sent me toppling over, almost upside

I didn't answer. Hoping that maybe, just
down, less than a foot from the glass roof. I
maybe, if I kept quiet, he would think I was only
righted myself, flapped furiously, desperate not
some dumb bird.

to touch the glass, not even to get as close as I'd

Not for the first time, I underestimated him.

come a second before.

Tsseeewww!

<Marco!>

He fired!

The greenhouse was surrounded by a force

I saw the flash before I felt the pain.

field.

Only natural for Gafinilan to go to any lengths

<Aaaggh!>
to protect himself.

One of my talons, completely gone.

<Marco! Answer me!>

<That was a warning shot,> he said.

I couldn't. The pain was excruciating. My hu-

Some warning.

man mind was numb with shock.

You can't imagine how disturbing it is to look
down and see that one of your body parts is miss-

Then I flew. Not toward anything, not even
away from anything. The osprey's senses took

44

45

ing. No matter what form you're in. See the blank
space where it used to be. See the blood and
gore oozing out of the stump.

<Surrender,> he commanded. <Or die.>

Not much of a choice there.

<Get the others! Find Ax!> I told Tobias pri-
vately. <Hurry!>

To Gafinilan: <What do you want me to do?>

He kept the shredder aimed at me. Didn't
seem to see Tobias winging off, or didn't care.

<Land in the backyard, beside the green-
house^ he instructed. <Then, demorph.>

< So, my eyes did not deceive me.> Gafini-
lan stood there, all three gazillion muscled An-
dalite pounds of him. <When I first saw you it
was night, the light was p o o r . . . but you are hu-
man. Not Andalite.>

I climbed to my feet. No worse for the missing
talon. Just a little muddy from rolling around on
the ground.

"It looks that way."

Gafinilan poked the shredder at me like a
scolding finger.

<Who gave you the morphing technology?> he
demanded.

"What difference does that make?"

<The difference between right and wrong,>

47

46

<you will not harm that human. He is one of us

Gafinilan shot back. <The Andalite who gave you
now. A warrior against the Yeerks. Strike him
the power to morph broke the law of Seerow's
down, and you prove yourself a traitor.>

Kindness. He is a criminals

Gafinilan swung his eye stalks to look at Ax.

"The Andalite who gave me the power to

His main eyes bored into mine.

morph is dead," I told him flatly. "And I'm not

<You dare to challenge me, little aristh?>
sure you should be calling anyone else a crimi-

<l do,> Ax replied. <The others in the resis-
nal. You know, let he who is without fault throw
tance know we are here. It was my prince who
the first stone, and all."

sent us to speak with you.>

<What are you implying, human?>

Gafinilan did not respond. Not right away. He

Suddenly, I was more mad than scared. "I'm
stood perfectly still, regarding us separately, the
not implying anything. I'm saying it outright. You
expression on his face inscrutable.

made some kind of deal with Visser Three. I'm

<l warned you not to approach me,> he said
not sure of the details yet, or what you stand to
finally. <Your prince insults me by ignoring my
get out of it. But this much I do know: Visser
command and sending human children.> Slowly,

Three is a Yeerk. Now, you Andalites are a smart
almost tauntingly, he withdrew his tail blade
bunch. You tell me what that makes you."

from my throat. <But I will speak with him or I

SWOOOSH!

will speak with no one.>

My hand flew to my neck. Came away bloody.

I stepped back. Felt the stinging skin of my

Just a little nick. A warning shot.

neck and said, "Then I guess this conversation is

And then the blade was back at my throat.

over."

<l am no traitor,> Gafinilan said, his thought-

I took a step away from Gafinilan. Then an-
speak low and menacing.

other toward Ax.

<Gafinilan!>

<No!>

Ax!

Slowly, I turned my head and looked back at

Pushing his way through the tall hedges that
the big Andalite.

surrounded McClellan's property. Tail poised, ready

And for a split second, thought I saw a trem-
to fight.

bling race through his massive body. A slight

<lf you are a true Andalite,> Ax said, coming
tremor. Maybe I imagined it.

to a stop not ten feet away from where we stood,

<No,> he said again, his thought-speak more
through the kitchen, a veritable shrine to modern
domestic technology. A Sub-Zero fridge. Micro-
low and calm. <Please. Come inside.>
wave. Viking cooktop and oven. State-of-the-art

<Marco? Ax? We're here. Front and back of

Bosch dishwasher. Cuisinart. KitchenAid mixer,
the house.>

And everything was sparkling clean. Nora would

Jake. Perfect.

have been in heaven. Okay. Maybe I've been

"Okay," I said to Gafinilan. "Let's talk."

spending too much time watching that kitchen

Gafinilan led Ax and me through a door in the
show on the Food Network.

side of the greenhouse's tunnel-like entranceway.

"Yeah, great kitchen, Gafinilan," I said. "But From there, we entered the house itself through a
it looks like it's never been used. No dirty dishes
very typical back door, screen and all.

in the sink, no dustpan against the wall, no soak-

And stepped into a kitchen straight out of
ing wet dish towels thrown on a counter, No way

Martha Stewart Living or House Beautiful or Ar-anyone's going to believe two guys live here."

chitectural Digest. One of those lifestyle maga-

Gafinilan focused his main eyes on me. <Two
zines my stepmother is always reading.

"guys" do not live here,> he said. <At least as far

<Your home is an accurate and attractive ex-
as other humans are concerned. This house be-
ample of a human suburban dwellings Ax said
longs only to a Henry McClellan and he resides
formally.

alone. He lives quietly. He spends most of his

<l appreciate your assessment, Aximili,>
time at his office at the university. He does not

Gafinilan replied, just as formally. <!t has been
have friends. He is what humans call a "loner."> difficult, learning the many details of human cul-Well, that answered that question. Gafinilan
ture. But it is important for Mertil and me to re-
led us through several other rooms in the house,
main as inconspicuous as possible by hiding in
each equally pristine, each obviously unused. I
plain sight. Although I must admit the relative
mean, white carpeting? Pink silk upholstery? For
lowness of this roof is at times disconcerting.

two guys with muddy hooves and no ability to sit?

Nothing like living under the open sky.>

Clearly, Mertil and Gafinilan actually lived

"That's a ranch house for you," I said. "Next somewhere else in the house.

time, go for a Cape Cod, at least. Or skylights in

The only disturbingly out-of-place items in
every room, not just the kitchen."

the otherwise perfect house were a few pieces of

Gafinilan chose to ignore my remark. He led us

Hollywood Style Report to CNN to the Bloomberg
artwork, obviously bought at some starving artist

Report.

sale set up along a highway. You know, paint-

The floor was covered in lush, well-tended
ings on black velvet, sold from the trunk of an old
grass. No chairs, but a long, fairly high table on

Cadillac. There were the requisite seascapes and
which lay various handheld weapons.

even a sad-eyed clown.

The walls were painted a creamy color. The

Before I could ask where the crying Elvis was
ceiling, sky-blue. There seemed to be no other
hung, Gafinilan led us back to the kitchen. On
rooms beyond or off this large one. There might
the far wall was a keypad. The Andalite's massive
have been, of course. There might have been an-
shoulders blocked our view of it as he punched in
other secret sliding panel. There probably was.

the code. A concealed door to the left of the pad

Because we did not see Mertil.

slid open.

<Please. These are our private quarters.>

In semiprivate thought-speak, Ax let Jake
know our position. That we were entering a con-
cealed part of the house. That he and the others
should be ready to come at our call.

Then Ax and I stepped forward. I whistled. It
was a mini Andalite home-away-from-home.

<Mertil and I were fortunate to have salvaged
many things after the crash,> Gafinilan explained.

<Most important, a good power supply and a
force field generator. The latter is particularly
necessary for our survivals

I smiled wryly. "You don't say."

Computer stations. More than half a dozen of
them. Each screen running a different program,
none of which looked familiar to me at first glance.

Several large-screen TVs. Each on and tuned
to a different news program. Everything from

53

to the Dome ship's forces, as was your esteemed
brother, Elfangor.>

<Yes.>

<Mertil and I were fighter pilots. We came up
through the academy together and each earned a
reputation for excellence and bravery. However,
no one is immune to the vagaries of war. During
the battle with the Blade ship, the battle that de-
stroyed the Dome ship, my fighter was hit and
the main engine was destroyed. Almost immedi-
ately I lost control and slammed into Mertil's al-
ready damaged fighter. Our wings somehow locked
and, as one, the ships spiraled to the ground. I
was sure we would both be killed.>

< War Prince Gafinilan, I would like to under-

He paused, then after a few tense moments,
stand why you seem to have no interest in joining
he continued.

<lnstead, we became two more living casuali-
our fight against Yeerk dominations
ties of war. For some reason, we both survived.

And things had been going so well.

Spent several excruciating months hiding in the

But instead of watching Ax's head roll across
woods, dodging prying eyes, until I was able to
the grassy floor, I watched the expression in
acquire a human morph and venture into the

Gafinilan's face mutate from fury to despair to a
world. You see, I only sustained minor injuries. A
typical Andalite inscrutability. All in the space of
few burns, easily healed broken ribs. Mertil, how-
a few seconds.

ever, was more seriously hurt. In time, he recov-

<Very well, young Aximili,> he said, slouching
ered from his other injuries. But his tail — it was
slightly into a more relaxed, less angry pose.

severed. And because of his inability to utilize

<Perhaps you will find my story an unlikely one,
the morphing technology, there was nothing that
but it is true. And it is mine. As I have told you,>
could be done. He will never be restored to his
he went on, <at one time, not so long ago, I was
normal self. And now, I am no longer a warrior in
engaged in the war against the Yeerks. Assigned

55

R/l

5
the service of the Andalite world. I am Mertil's
rious attitude adjustment when it comes to the
protector and friend. After all,> he added, his
differently abled."

thought-speak dark, <if I had been able to main-

<We have our ways,> Ax said simply.

tain control of my plane, Mertil might not have

<Aximili!> Gafinilan said heartily. Changing
suffered as he has.>
the subject. <Will you honor me by sharing some

<Terrible,> Ax said. There was a trace of sym-
illsipar root?>
pathy in his thought-speak. Just a trace. <Mertil

Here's the thing. When Ax is in human morph
was deprived a hero's death and forced to live out
he can't get enough of cinnamon buns. I mean,
the rest of his days as a vecol.>
it's frightening. Well, I saw that same crazed look

<l am happy Mertil is alive,> Gafinilan coun-
flit across his normally expressionless Andalite
face. The look that says, "Give it to me now or I
tered.

will be forced to hurt you."

I believed him.

"So, where is he?" I asked. "I'd like to meet

<Thank you,> he said carefully. <l have not
him."

had illsipar root since leaving the home world.>

<lmpossible!> Ax.

Gafinilan clomped through the back door and

<No!> Gafinilan.

led us into the main section of the greenhouse.

"Oookay. So, can I ask why?"

<You are an expert gardener, Gafinilan,> Ax

"It is unthinkable to intrude upon the isola-
said.

tion of a vecol,> Ax explained. <His isolation is

<l have been studying the art of botanical cul-
the only dignity he has.>
tivation since my youth. It has been a challenge,

"Well, it's not like I'm going to point and
but a rewarding one, to learn about the care and
nurturing of Earth plants.>
laugh or anything," I said. "I can't even say 'hey'

I know next to nothing about green things,
to the guy?"

but even I could see this Andalite had a green

No answer, from either Andalite.

thumb. As it were. At least ten varieties of flow-

Maybe I should have kept my mouth shut.

ers, in pots and in orderly beds on the ground.

Probably. But there are some topics I just can't
let alone.

Two kinds of roses, purple peonies, orange day-

I faked a laugh. "You Andalites need some se-
lilies— Gafinilan had been nice enough to pro-

56

57
sweet and colorful flowers that filled the green-
vide clearly labeled signs for the ignorant. Bushes
house,
and shrubs, leaves glossy green, some flowering.

Of course. Gafinilan relied on the bees to help

Several slim potted trees. Even a small section of
fertilize his plants.

Japanese rock garden, complete with neatly

Quickly, I checked to see if Ax and his host
raked gravel.

were still absorbed in the illsipar ritual. They

<l have grown the illsipar from seeds from my
were,
home world garden,> Gafinilan explained. In his

Then checked out the greenhouse for a hive
oddly huge hand, he held five or six stalks of

None.

what looked a lot like scallions. Except pinkish.

Checked my brain to see if I know anything

<lt is a hearty plant and grows well here.>
about honeybees. Like, do they sting? Nothing

I watched, almost fascinated, as both An-
there.

dalites placed several stalks of the root on the

But I was going to acquire a honeybee regard-
ground and then proceeded to eat them in the
less. If the bees were coming from and returning
normal Andalite fashion. Crushing the plant be-
to a hive somewhere outside the greenhouse —
neath their hooves and absorbing its nutrients.

without getting zapped by the force field — that

Then the almost-fascination ended. It seemed
meant they knew a safe way in and out.

the Andalites had forgotten I was there. So I took

Just what I needed.

a closer look at some of the more exotic-looking

I stood still. Hoped I smelled my sweetest.

stuff Gafinilan was cultivating. Strolled down one

And . . ,
narrow aisle and up the next, each littered with

"Bzzzzz!"

bags of potting soil, trowels, watering cans, and

Got it! Held the bee loosely in my fist and
cacti in flatfish bowls.

hoped I acquired it.

"Bzzzzz!"

<Thank you for the excellent illsipar root.>

What the . . .

Ax! Still clutching the bee, I peeked around a

I smacked the air with my hand. Stupid bee.

potted plant to see the two Andalites had fin-

"Bzzzzz!"

ished their snack.

Another one! Smack!

<You are welcome,> Gafinilan answered, one

But I was wasting my time. The bees weren't
stalk eye pointed my way.

interested in me. They were interested in the

59

PLB

I smiled.

<Perhaps now your prince will honor me with
a visit?> Gafinilan said. <Now that you see I
mean no harm. Will you tell him that I invite him
to enjoy some of this home world specialty?>

<l must explain . . .>

"Yes, of course," I said, cutting Ax off. Hop-
ing he'd keep quiet. "We'll extend your invita-
tion."

Ax looked back at me, slightly puzzled. I
grinned crazily.

The stupid bee had stung me!

Owl I opened my fist, out of sight, and tossed
the bee to the ground.

Ax's prince and my best friend was not go-

Then I came forward to join the other two.

ing to pay a visit to Gafinilan before I did a little

<Excellent.> Suddenly, Gafinilan was all con-
further investigation on my own.

viviality, the host with the most. <l look forward

But I didn't tell him that.

to your return and to meeting your prince!>

We met at the mall, Ax, in his human morph,
and I strolling in together, stopping here and there,
looking like a couple of normal guys hanging out
at the mall.

Jake on his own. Browsing through the Nike
store, pretending to still be interested in some-
thing as harmless and normal as sports.

Tobias with Rachel. She, carrying a bag from

Express and one from Bebe. He, looking slightly
awkward and out of place.

61

60

Finally, Cassie. In a pair of jeans that actually
wants to meet Ax's prince. I say we pay him a
visit."

fit.

"Not a good idea, man. Look, I'm getting a

Accidentally on purpose, we hooked up in the
very bad feeling about this guy. This situation.

food court. Ax wanted to buy a box of cinnamon

I'm not reading clear motives. I say we wait be-
buns. Jake thought a Pepsi sounded good. What
fore sending you in."

do you know?

Jake shrugged. "For what? For the visser to

We gathered at an empty table and while Ax
grab him? For Gafinilan to tell the visser there's
stuffed his face and I pretended to flip through a
at least one human 'Andalite bandit'?"

comic book I pulled out of my back pocket, we

"It's risky," Cassie added. "Marco's right."

told the others what had gone down.

"We take precautions, per usual. I go in with

"You know you took a huge — and I'll add,
cover."

too, stupid — risk, Marco," Jake said, keeping

Jake stood. "Gotta get home. My mom's cook-
his voice low and his expression bland.

ing one of my favorites tonight for dinner. If I'm

"Yeah, well, we got what we wanted," I said.

late, she'll wonder."

"We got inside. And we got to confirm that

"I'll walk out with you," Cassie said.

Gafinilan is a bit of a loose cannon."

"Let's plan on my meeting Gafinilan as soon

"Yes," Ax agreed. Though it was hard to take
as possible," Jake said. "Maybe tomorrow night."

him seriously with frosting on his chin. "His mood

"I'm out of here, too." Tobias stood and
does not seem perfectly stable. Bui. But he is a
twitched his arms. "This place weirds me out.

fine gardener. And he has created an impressive

Ax-man? You coming?"

human cover."

Ax patted his stomach. "Yes, Tobias. I believe

"Yeah, down to the patterned paper towels," I

I am full for the moment." He stood and gath-
muttered, tossing the comic book on the table.

ered up the shredded remains of the Cinnabon

"The place is too perfect."

box.

Rachel leaned in to the conversation. "Sounds

It was me and Rachel, alone.

like he's overcompensating. Trying too hard. It's

I puffed out my chest and smiled. "Any par-
understandable. He's got to be scared."

ticular reason you wanted to be alone with me,

"Of who?" Tobias asked. "Us or the Yeerks?"

Rachel?"

Jake slurped down the rest of his soda. "He

63

CO

"Yeah. So I could watch you act stupid. The
usual." She leaned back in her seat. "I mean it,

Marco. I'm not in the mood."

I put my hands up, conceding defeat.

"Okay, okay. So . . . ?"

"A lot of times you're a major cynical freak,
you know?"

I barked a laugh. "Uh, thanks. I guess.

"But you're also the best at knowing when
something genuinely stinks. I can block out your
lame jokes but I can't ignore your paranoid in-
stincts."

"Gee, thanks, again," I said.

Rachel frowned. "I mean it. Look, you're not

I here wouldn't be time to do my bee morph
letting Jake meet Gafinilan before you go back
before my "mission." So I spent a few minutes
there yourself. Don't bother to deny it. You have a
on the Internet, hoping to discover some perti-
plan. I want to know what it is."

nent facts about the bee's capabilities and weak-

Quickly, casually, I glanced around. "Why? So
nesses. Something that might help me know what
you can tell your Bird-boyfriend and screw me up
to expect when the honeybee brain kicked in.

with Jake?"

And I learned something that scared the tar

"No, you moron," Rachel hissed. "So I can go out of me: that honeybees, like ants, are social
with you. You'll need someone to cover your
insects. Just not to the same extent as ants. But
butt."

they function as part of a greater whole. Not indi-

"See! I knew you cared."

viduals. Machinelike in their dedication to the

WHAM! j ,
survival of the colony. Devoted one hundred and

And that's when Rachel's foot connected
fifty percent to the hive.

squarely with my shin.

Now you know where the saying "busy as a
bee" came from.

65

This did not make me happy. Being an ant

Then, in a final show of acrobatic skill, slip-
had been one of the most frightening experi-
ping effortlessly through a tiny hole in a panel of
ences of my otherwise already-bizarre life.

glass.

I'd lost myself, going ant. So had Jake and the

<Okay, Marco,> Rachel said. <There's your
others. There had been no sense of self. Of in-
way in.>
dividuality. Most people can't even imagine what

<Cripes. I'll never make it through that nu-
losing that part of you feels like. It's one hundred
clear obstacle course without getting fried.>
times more intense than your worst nightmare.

<Not unless you follow another bee,> Rachel
pointed out. <l mean, really tailgate. Which means

1 took a deep breath. I would have to avoid
we need the hive.>
the actual hive if at all possible.

She was right. Adopting the buddy system

I looked at my watch. Time flies when you're
with a honeybee was my safest — not to mention
scared pee I ess.

only — chance of getting inside.

We met way too early in the morning. Rachel

We found the hive carefully hidden in a small
used her bald eagle morph and I went osprey.

cluster of trees at the far end of Henry McClel-

And we flew to Henry McClellan's house.

lan's backyard.

<Now what?> she asked.

<Where'd Gafinilan get the money for this

<Land and survey.>
place?> I grumbled. <The yard's got to be, like,

We did. Before a full three minutes had passed,
three acres.>
we spotted a honeybee.

<Lotto?> Rachel landed on a branch of the

And it was headed toward the greenhouse.

live oak next to the partially rotted-out old tree

Perfect. Maybe I wouldn't need to find the
that housed the resident honeybee community.

colony after all.

<l'll cover you while you demorph. After you

<What is it doing?> Rachel said.

morph, I'll keep an eye on you as you get closer

<l don't know. Just pay attentions
to the house. Anything goes wrong in there,

Which wasn't very easy. The bee zipped along

Marco, you'd better call me,> she warned. <No
erratically. Up, then down. To the right, then
being a h e r o
down again. Left! Up! Slanting on a diagonal!

<No danger of that,> I muttered.

Reversing direction, backtracking.

66

67

I landed at the foot of Rachel's tree. Quickly
of, a hard substance that protects the internal or-
demorphed and scurried over to stand just below
gans and also keeps them from drying out.

the hive. Cut down on postmorph travel.

Fliip. Fliip.

None of us enjoy morphing anything really

Two sets of flat, thin wings sprang from the
bee's thorax. Membranes, really, lined with veins,
small. Particularly insects. Particularly ants, which
the set in front, larger. Together, using a propeller-
are so, so not human. Honeybees are a lot cuter
like twisting motion, the two sets allowed the
than ants. All fuzzy and stuff. Maybe this means
honeybee to fly.

they are less driven and simpleminded and vio-

Poofpoofpoof . . .

lent. Right?

Hundreds, thousands of little hairs sprouted

Now or never. I crouched to minimize the in-
from all over my body.

sane fall that would come as I shrank down to the

<Okay, that's a lot better,> Rachel noted.

size of a Gummy Bear. And I held the image of

Also on the thorax, three pairs of segmented
the honeybee in my mind.

legs. When the morph was complete I would be

Morphing is not logical or orderly. It does not
able to walk and even use the frontmost legs to
proceed in a preordained pattern. It is not pre-
clean my antennae.

dictable.

Next to show up were the antennae. Segmented

This time, the first bit of me to go was the
and coated with tiny hairs. Super-important sen-
part of my torso that became the bee's thorax.

sory organs. Sensitive to touch and odor. Attached

Marco to about midway down my chest. Bee tho-
directly to the brain.

rax. Marco below. Ugh.

Cool. I could move the antennae because each

Have I mentioned that the honeybee has an
was set in a socket on my head.

exoskeleton? Which precludes the need for an in-

Huh? Okay, human head was rapidly becom-
ternal skeleton. So I'm pretty sure I was mostly
ing the kind of triangular head of the bee.

ribless and partially spineless at the moment.

My human mouth, suddenly sealed.

<That is so nauseating,> Rachel remarked

My chin, splitting down the cleft.

helpfully.

Shloop!

I chose not to respond.

And shooting out of that vertical mouth, a

Chitin. That's what the exoskeleton is made

68

69
proboscis. A long and hairy tongue that would al-
of my abdomen. Kind of worked like a hypoder-
low the bee to drink liquids.

mic needle. Except the tip was barbed so that it

Mandibles, a pair on either side of my head.

would stick into the skin of the honeybee's vic-

Kind of like pliers. Useful for eating pollen and
tim. And it shot poison, not some vitamin for-
mula.

manipulating wax and snatching enemies.

Nice to have a weapon. But don't use it,

Okay, gross. I was blind, my human eyes gone.

Marco, the human brain in me reminded. If I

Then: Pop! Pop! Popopopopop!

stung an enemy, part of the stinger would remain

Vision. Thousands of teeny lenses showing
in the enemy after I'd broken free. And I would
me thousands of pieces of the world. All combin-
die. Just like the bee I'd acquired. The bee who'd
ing to make one huge-faceted mosaic or gridlike
stung me.

picture.

But as the morph came to completion, I

The bee couldn't distinguish color as well as a
wasn't thinking about cause and effect — sting
human. That red birdhouse I'd spotted before
and die. Thinking about cause and effect — that
morphing — not red to the bee.

was a human brain thing to do.

But boy, could I see movement! Forms were

And right then, I was all honeybee. All ar-
not as clear or obvious as was the fluttering of
mored flying insect with a vital mission — to
flowers on their stems or the flitting of a butterfly
work and work and work for the hive. For the
from leaf to leaf.

queen.

Pop! Pop! Pop!

The hive! I had to get to the hive!

Three more eyes, small, shot out above my
compound eyes. They couldn't really distinguish
anything, not movement or form. But the eyes
did seem to detect light.

And here came the abdomen.

Oh, lucky me. I was a female. How did I know
this? Because my abdomen was slimmer than
the rounder abdomen of the male drone, for one.

But mostly because I had a stinger. It was
about one eighth of an inch long and at the end

70

71

<Marco! What are you doing?>

What. . . man. My brain finally shook itself
back into place. What was I doing?

I left my hive-mate and lifted off. Zoomed out
and over to Rachel, still perched in the next tree
in eagle morph.

<What's wrong with you?> she snapped. <lt's
a stupid honeybee!>

<Sorry. But I'm not sure I'd call the bee stu-
pid. You need individuality and sentience to be
stupid, don't you? As compared to smart or silly
or whatever?>

<l guess,> Rachel conceded.

<Anyway, it's not nearly as bad as being an

I shot up from the ground.

ant. You know how ants are just programmed

<Marco! Get a grip!> A harsh sound. Mean-
parts of a whole? It's kind of like that, only not so
ingless to the bee. <You're not supposed to go in
aggressive. It's sort of like I'm part of a big farm
family. All for one and one for all while we bring
the hive!>
in the crop and feed the next generation and pay

I landed on the lip of the hollowed section of
homage to the queen. That's what Communism
the dead tree. Was met by a guard bee, another
is all about,> I mused. <l mean, Castro's like a
worker, like myself. I did not smell like the en-
king when you think about it.>
emy. So round and round in circles, first this
way, then that, the other bee twirled on its three

<Yeah, well, Comrade Marco, just be sure you
sets of legs. Flicking its wings, my comrade told
maintain control, okay?>
me the location of a new source of food for the

<Yeah. Look, there's a couple of bees flying
out of the hive. Might as well follow them and
hive.

All for the hive!

hope for the best.>

I would go and gather. . .

<l'm on you.>

72

73

I zipped off after the two bees. One zoomed

ZZZZZZZZZZZ-
off the property, The other seemed headed for

<He's about a foot behind you; maybe six
inches up. I'll try to get him but . . .>
the greenhouse.

So far, on a fairly straight path.

<Ahhhhh!>

ZZZZZZZZ!

! felt one of his barbed legs pierce my ab-

Not another bee. Not my bee. Another bug.

domen.

No no no no!

Whoosh!

It dropped straight down in front of me! Went

A second leg impaled me from the other side

I was a skewered snack for a seriously unat-
right for the bee I was following!

tractive insect.

What the heck was it?

At least it would be quick. How long had it

Through what seemed like thousands of tiny
taken this thing to suck the life out of the other

TV screens i could see an insect larger than me,
bee?

maybe twice my size. Its legs seemed to be cov-

I felt the proboscis against my back. The very
ered in spines or spikes. Its nose looked like a
tip of the deadly sucking needle.

big fat needle.

WHOOOOSSSHHH!

<Marco! You'd better look out!> Rachel called.

A massive gust of wind sent me swirling, then

And then the monster insect hit the bee.

falling toward the ground.

Hard. Wrapped its horrible legs around it, captur-

Falling, but not dead.

ing the smaller insect in a spiny, iron maiden-like

I tried to move my wings, get control. But
prison.

Like one gigantic mutant insect they flew. The
they were still pinned against my body by the
bee struggled but to no effect,
grip of the demon on my back.

And then the big bandit stabbed the bee with

Thump!

its needle-nose. Had to be sucking the life from

I hit the ground. Stunned but alive.

the bee, because when the big insect released

<Marco!> Rachel cried. <Are you okay?>
the carcass it was withered and dry.

<l'm alive,> I said. <But not okay. The thing's
still got me!>

A terrible close call. But the killer insect had

<Oh, you're fine,> she said. <l got him. Tore
flown out of s i g h t . . .

him right in half. Sorry I let you fall.>

<Marco! He's coming back for you!>

74

75

<You're forgiven. Just get me the heck out of

Cake. A piece of cake.

<l'm almost in,> I called to Rachel.

here, will you?>

<Uh, Marco? Heads up. Gafinilan just came

A bald eagle dive-bombing bugs in the back-
into the greenhouse.>
yard? Not too odd.

Too late. Had to take the chance. I slipped in

With massive eagle claws, Rachel grabbed
behind another honeybee. Frighteningly close to
me and what was left of the killer. We flew into

Gafinilan, who was peering intently at one of his
the dense trees back by the hive where, one at a
plant labels, holding it close to his two main
time, we demorphed and remorphed. Got ready
eyes.

to try this insane thing again.

Suddenly, he swiveled his eye stalks toward

This time, Rachel was on the lookout for winged
us. Noted our appearance. And swiveled them
hijackers.

back to his own business.

After about ten minutes, another few bees

<l'm okay so far,> I said. <Heading into the
headed off toward Gafinilan's greenhouse. I fol-
house.>
lowed.

I'd noted on my first visit that Gafinilan

<l see the force field,> I called out.

hadn't closed the back door of the house, the one

<Be careful, Marco.>
that connected the kitchen to the greenhouse.

Let me tell you I more than realized I could

Had counted on his not doing so again.

definitely be fried in the force field, but it was a

Luck was with me.

spectacular thing to actually see. A color I'd never

So far, anyway.

seen as a human. Unbelievable. Indescribable.

I zipped through the open door.

Something I later learned was called "bee-

Flew through every room in the house. The
purple." It's the color between yellow and ultra-
immaculately kept living room. Unused dining
violet on the spectrum. Too intense for the
room. Pristine kitchen.

human eye to see.

And I used the honeybee's eyes and antennae

Too bad. Because it was intense. And running
to try to pick up more information.

right through it, easily marked, was a curving

I smelled the flowers, plants, and potting soil
tunnel. Actually quite wide for a bee. And the
from the greenhouse. The chocolate and raisins
tunnel led ultimately to a small hole in a glass
of the cookies Gafinilan had stacked inside sev-
panel of the greenhouse's back wall.

76

77

eral glass Mason jars. A strong, disinfectant
smell in the bathroom. Mr. Clean or Top Job or

Comet.

Throughout the house, in every room, Gafini-
lan's distinctive, not unpleasant odor.

But there was one thing I distinctly did not
see or smell or sense in any way.

<What's in there?> Rachel asked.

<l'll tell you what's not in here,> I said. <And what hasn't been here for a long time. Mertil.>

I don't get it. Where is Mertil?" Jake said.

But only after he stopped telling me he was get-
ting really ticked at me and this whole Gafinilan
thing. After he stopped glaring at Rachel. After
he admitted the information about the missing

Andalite was valuable. We were all in Cassie's
barn. And things were getting consistently more
confusing. "Did he ever exist? Was the guy on the
video a fake?"

<Prince Jake, I can confirm there was a Mertil-

Iscar-Elmand at the Andalite Academy. And that
a fighter pilot by the same name won much honor
afterward.> Ax paused thoughtfully. <Of course, I
did not know he was morph incapable. I was un-

78

79
der the impression the academy did not admit

"Okay," Jake said. "I still don't understand vecols.>
what this disease has to do with us."

"Yeah," I snapped, "you hate when your hero

"And I don't understand," Rachel began,
turns out to be a cripple. That's pretty crappy."

"why, if Gafinilan has the disease, he can't cure

"Back to the point," Jake said tightly. "Which himself by morphing. Oh. Wait. Yes I do. His own
is, what do we do about Gafinilan?"

DNA still has the disease. It's like he's trapped."

Rachel sprawled on a stack of hay bales. "He

Ax inclined his head. <Exactly. The only cure
doesn't want to hurt us. Not yet, anyway. But he
is to acquire, then morph, another Andalite. One
doesn't want to help us, either. He says he wants
without the defective gene that predisposes
us to leave him alone, but then he asks to meet
toward the disease. In other words, the victim of

Jake. Doesn't make sense."

Soola's Disease must abandon his imperfect
body. He must become a nothlit>

<l don't think the guy knows what he

Tobias looked at Ax with his intensely fierce
wants . . .>
hawk's eyes. <Sounds reasonable.>

<Yes, Tobias. Yes, he does,> Ax said excit-

<No. In Andalite society, choosing to become
edly. <lllsipar root. Why didn't I see before!> a nothlit in such a situation or for such a purpose I shook my head. "See what?"

is considered an act of cowardice. Morally wrong.

<Gafinilan offered me illsipar root,> Ax ex-

Despicable.>
plained. <lt is a mild intoxicant, taken in a man-

"If Gafinilan is sick, why haven't we seen
ner somewhat like humans take tea or coffee
signs of his being in pain? And if acquiring an-
each morning.>
other Andalite is what Gafinilan intends," Cassie

"Okay, b u t . . ."

mused, "why wouldn't he just have acquired

<lllsipar root has a medicinal use, as well. In

Ax?"

great quantities, it eases the pain of Soola's Dis-

Ax had an answer for that, too. <Gafinilan is
ease. This is a genetically programmed disease.

an adult with an impressive warrior's physique.

It causes increasing pain in the joints as well as

He would never choose to adopt the body of a
the muscles, extreme at the end. In some, it
mere youth. He would waste years waiting for the
causes progressive blindness. It strikes in the
new young body to grow to its maximum poten-
prime of life and is always fatal.>

80

81
tial. Besides, ! would never give my permission
ter. I'm thinking he probably made that tape of
for such an act. As for Gafinilan's exhibiting no
his buddy himself. Put it out there to lure any other
signs of pain In public, that Is only seemly. A

Andalites who might just be hanging around
warrior is trained not to show signs of physical
planet Earth. Then when Mertil did his part,
weakness or mental strain.> Ax paused. <But the

Gafinilan put him out of his misery. The incredi-
pain escalates the nearer death approaches, it is
ble disappearing Andalite."

unlikely he will oe able to completely hide his

"Pretty harsh, Marco." Cassie.

agony. >

<But it could very well be the truth,> Ax said
solemnly. <As much as it pains me to acknowl-

!iSo, you think Gafinilan w a s - or !s, still —
edge the possibility of such behavior on the part
noping to acquire Visser Three's Andalite . . /' !

of a fellow Andalite.>
stopped. "Well, that wouldn't be too difficult or

<Loyalty,> Tobias said quietly, enigmatically,
anything."

<isall there is.>

"No. I'm pretty sure he wants me," Jake said

"Ax?" It was Cassie, beginning to sound ex-
suddenly. "At least, he wants who he thinks I am.

cited. "What about the morphing cube? The Es-

A healthy adult Andalite."

cafil Device? Could we use that on Mertil? Give

"But Ax said to become the nothlit is an act
him the power to morph?"

of cowardice," Cassie pointed out. 'You think

"What difference would that make if he's

Gafinilan is a coward? \ don't. Not the way he
dead?" Rachel said darkly.

disregards Andalite custom to care for Mertil."

Ax hesitated. <lt is likely that Mertil is aller-

"Nice, Cassie," ! snapped. "At the very least gic to, or has some disease or disorder which
the guy's a liar. And he's big on keeping secrets, i
makes his body reject the morphing technology.

don't trust him as far as I can throw him. Which

In which case, what good is our forcing it upon
is about one tenth of an inch. Maybe."

him?>

"I have to agree," Rachel added. "Gafinilan is Jake stood abruptly. "Look, we're not getting
in a bad place, if he's after an Andalite body, who
any closer to the truth by sitting around speculat-
knows what he'll do when — if —• he finds out
ing. Is Mertil dead or alive? Is Gafinilan a bad guy

Jake is human."

or isn't he? Only way to know is to get to him.

"Same thing he did to Mertil," ! muttered.

And hope we're the first ones there."

"I'm thinking it's not Mertil's happiness he's af-

82

83

^ : — • — •
back until — if — we got in trouble and needed
major backup.

And trouble could come from Gafinilan or the

Yeerks. First, we had to make certain the house
wasn't being watched before Jake went up the
driveway. That meant concentrated surveillance.

Beyond getting Jake inside to talk to the big

Andalite, our plan was vague. Mostly contingent
on Gafinilan's actions.

When we were in morph, and safely in the
greenhouse, I gave Jake the okay.

A moment later, he rang the front doorbell.

<Wish us luck, kids,> I said.

Gafinilan put down the bottle of liquid fertil-
izer he was preparing and headed into the house

So we went. I coached Tobias, Rachel,
through the back door. I followed him. Close but

Cassie, and Ax on what to expect when they mor-
not close enough to arouse suspicion and be
phed the honeybee. Warned them about clutch-
swatted to death.

ing the bee too tight when they acquired it.

Once in the living room, Gafinilan morphed to

Warned them also about what Cassie told me was

Henry McClellan. Then walked to the front door.

a robber fly, the demon insect who'd tried to make

Opened it as far as the chain lock would allow.

me into a bee smoothie.

"Yes?" he said, keeping his body almost en-

The plan was for the five of us to sneak onto
tirely behind the door, allowing only part of his

McClellan/Gafinilan's property. Acquire a bee
face to show.

from the resident hive. And fly through the force

"Gafinilan?" Jake kept his voice low.

field and into Gafinilan's greenhouse.

"No. No, my name is Henry McClellan."

When we were in place, Jake would ring the

Gafinilan began to close the door.

front doorbell. I'd slip into the house and stick

"I know," Jake said quickly. "That's your hu-with Gafinilan and Jake. The others would hang
man name. Aximili told me. I'm Jake."

84

85

Slowly, the door closed. Gafinilan undid the

Jake looked steadily at Henry McClellan.

chain. Opened the door again. Stepped back.

"The Dome ship was almost completely de-

"Come inside," he said.

stroyed," he answered. Noncommittally.

Jake did. Gafinilan relocked the door behind

"Yes, yes." Henry's eyes darted around the
him.

room. Then he looked back to Jake. "Jake. It is a

"You are Aximili's prince?"

good name. Is it a shortened version of some-

"Yes," Jake answered.

thing else, like 'Ax' for Aximili?"

The Andalite's human morph relaxed slightly.

"It's just what people call me."

I could hear it in his voice.

Jake was giving the guy nothing.

"I am pleased that you have accepted the in-

Gafinilan spoke loudly. With false heartiness.

vitation to meet with me," he said. "Perhaps it

"Please, make yourself comfortable. As will I."

would be better if we spoke in surroundings more

He stepped toward the center of the grassy
comfortable to both of us. Please, follow me."

room. Began to demorph.

Gafinilan led Jake through the sparkling kitchen

<Why haven't you demorphed?> he asked
and into his private quarters. He stepped aside to
when he'd finished.

allow Jake to enter first.

Jake smiled. "I prefer to speak with you in

"Very nice," Jake said.

this form."

The Andalite followed and programmed the

<But you insult a fellow Andalite by not re-
door shut behind them. Behind me, too.

vealing your true self,> Gafinilan coaxed. His

The three of us were alone. Cut off from the
own eyes smiling the way Andalites do.

others, waiting in the greenhouse.

"My true physical self is irrelevant."

"As I told young Aximili," Gafinilan said, con-

<Prince Jake.> Gafinilan's voice was forceful
versationally, "Mertil and I were fortunate to have
now, almost threatening. <l insist that you de-
salvaged much from the wreckage of our fighters.

morph from this ridiculous morph.>

Tell me, was there much to be salvaged of the

"After you explain what you really want from

Dome ship? Or did Earth's ocean destroy it all?"

me," Jake countered.

Whoa. Ax had already told Gafinilan he was

<Enough!> Gafinilan took a step toward Jake,
the only survivor. Except for Gafinilan and Mertil.

tail blade raised high, arched forward over his

What was Gafinilan up to?

back.

86

87

And then he stumbled, on nothing. Groaned.

Closed all four eyes.

No doubt about it. The guy was in pain.

Ax was right. Soola's Disease. Or something
else pretty serious and getting worse.

Jake started to move forward. Instinctively, to
help.

<No!> I said. <Wait. Let him tell us what we
need to know.>

He stopped himself. Checked the impulse.

Waited.

"Gafinilan . . . "

The Andalite opened his eyes, the main ones
first. Regained his composure.

< We've got a problem,> I called out to the

<No,> he said, his voice hard but low. <There
others. <We need reinforcements in here. Now!>
will be no more talk.>

<What will it be, Prince Jake?> Gafinilan

He turned away from Jake. Stepped slowly to
said. <lf you think I will show you mercy because
the table of weapons. Picked up a shredder.

you appear as a child, you are mistaken.>

Turned and pointed it at Jake.

Jake stood perfectly still. "What if I am a

<Now you will do as I say.>
child?" he said calmly. As if a shredder were not
leveled a few feet from his face.

<Backup on the way, Jake,> I said.

Gafinilan's tail twitched. <You bore me with
this game! For an Andalite warrior, you are not
particularly clever.>

"Hrrooooaaaarrr!!"

From the direction of the greenhouse came

88

89
the menacing roar of a grizzly. The lonely howl of

<You see,> Ax said matter-of-factly, <there is
a wolf. The bloodcurdling screech of a raptor.

no adult Andalite for you to acquire so that you

Gafinilan jerked toward the sounds.

may escape Soola's Disease.>

And then there was one loud BABOOM! as

<What!> Gafinilan roared, pointing his shred-

Rachel crashed through one of the walls like a
der at Ax. <How dare you make such an accusa-
baseball crashing through a window. But making
tion! I am a warrior. Never in a galaxy's age would
a lot more mess.

I disgrace myself by acting with such base and

Cassie, Ax, and Tobias followed almost dain-
selfish cowardice.>
tily through the rubble.

Silence. Gafinilan's hand began to shake and

"I'm sorry we bore you, Gafinilan," Jake said
he lowered the shredder. And then Tobias spoke.

calmly. "But we're bored, too. Tired of your eva-

<You know, in the Andalite world, it might be
sions and half-truths. So if it's okay with you, this
considered a moral failing or a crime against per-
is the moment of reckoning. Time to come
sonal honor or something to seek to cure yourself
clean."

in any way you can. But not here. Not on Earth.>

<Four warriors against one?> Gafinilan blus-

<He's right,> Cassie added quickly. <We
tered.

don't judge or condemn people who seek health

"Five, if I morph," I said, having demorphed
through legitimate paths. We . . .>
behind the weapons table, walking around to

Gafinilan raised the shredder again. <You don't
face our host. "Six if Jake does."

understand at all!> he cried, despairingly. <No-

"But we're not here to fight, Gafinilan," Jake
body understands.>
said. "Just to get some information."

"Why don't you explain," Jake suggested qui-

Gafinilan's two stalk eyes swiveled madly for a
etly.

second. Then a look of shocked understanding

There was a moment of silence. A moment
came to them. <You, all of you — you are the An-
during which I thought it pretty likely Gafinilan
dalite bandits Visser Three fears. Are all of you
would do something desperate. Tension radiated
but Aximili — human?>
from every inch of him. And then he shuddered,

"Yes," Jake said. He shot a glance at Tobias.

like he'd made a decision, and the tension was

"More or less. We were enlisted by Prince Elfan-
replaced by what looked and felt a lot like ex-
gor to fight the Yeerks."

haustion.

90

91

He lowered the shredder again and spoke.

<l suppose you could be grateful for that,>

<lt is true. I have Soola's Disease. But what I

Cassie commented.

have done I have not done for myself. I have

Gafinilan turned an eye stalk in her direction.

done all for Mertil.>

<We all want to be wanted,> he remarked qui-

<Obviously, Mertil is not morph capable,> Ax
etly.

said. <l do not understands

"The visser still wants something from you,"

The ghost of a small, self-mocking smile ap-

Jake said.

peared in Gafinilan's main eyes. <You see? No-

<Oh, yes. Visser Three is quite clever. And
body understands. I suppose there is no reason to
quite cruel. He has offered me a trade. If I bring
keep the truth from you,> he conceded. <Some
him a healthy, morph-capable Andalite, he will
human, some meddlesome, possibly innocent
release Mertil to me.>
human stumbled upon Mertil feeding. Visser

<And you trust him?> Rachel spat.

Three saw the tape — whether on television or

<What choice do I have? Trust and act, or do
in some other way, I do not know. But it was
nothing and wait for news of Mertil's murder.

enough. Mertil was seized by the Yeerks. Only

When I unexpectedly encountered young Aximili,
then did the visser discover that Mertil was a

I did not hesitate to bait my trap —>
vecol.> Gafinilan's voice tightened. <Of course, Ax interrupted. <You are willing to betray one
the Yeerks have no use for a mere cripple. Espe-
of your own people to the Yeerks in exchange for
cially one who is not morph-capable.>
your friend's life? For the life of a mere vecol?>

"Blackmail?" I guessed.

<For me,> Gafinilan stated, <it is not about

<Yes. The visser used Mertil to find me and I
action traitorous to my world. For me, it is per-
offered to exchange myself for Mertil. After all, it
sonal. It is about friendships
was my fault that he was seen by a human. I should
have protected him more carefully. But Mertil an-
ticipated my action. In an effort to save my life
he informed the visser of my medical conditions

Gafinilan laughed roughly. <The visser has no
more use for an Andalite with a several-month
life expectancy than he does for a vecol.>

92

93

by yourself?" I said. "Against Visser Three and
masses of Hork-Bajir shock troops?"

"No offense, Gafinilan," Jake added. "But
you're in no shape to act alone. The odds are
against you even without your being sick."

"Besides," Cassie said gently, "you and Mer-
til are here on Earth because you were fighting to
protect us. The human race. Consider it a favor if
we help you rescue Mertil. Good karmic pay-
back."

Tobias remained silent. Not unusual. He's un-
predictably moody lately. But I was sure he was
with the program.

Ax, too, declined to help convince Gafinilan

"Let's do it. Let's rescue Mertil and kick
to accept our assistance. I was pretty sure he was
some Yeerk butt."

not with the program.

Big guess who said that.

<But. . .> Gafinilan hesitated. <l cannot al-

We all demorphed and Jake introduced us to
low children to fight my battle. It would be un-

Gafinilan. He explained Tobias and strongly sug-
conscionable^
gested to Gafinilan — with a swift glance at all of

Rachel rolled her eyes.

us — that we join forces to recover Mertil.

"No disrespect, Gafinilan," Jake said, "but

<There is no need for you to further involve
we're going with you. Actually, you're going with
yourselves in this situations Gafinilan replied,
us. So now, you play by our rules or you sit this
almost harshly. <Mertil is my responsibility^
one out."

I shook my head. I wasn't totally buying

If Gafinilan was stunned or offended by Jake's

Gafinilan's story, not without proof, but I knew
speech, he didn't show it. Exhaustion, depres-
that his going in alone was ridiculous. And po-
sion — whatever it was — made him accept the
tentially dangerous for us. My vote? Don't let this
situation with little or no resistance.

guy out of our sight. "What are you going to do all

<Mertil is moved throughout the day and

94

95
night,> he said after a moment. <As far as I can
guy who was in a coma a vegetable. No, wait, a
tell, he is never in the same place for more than
carrot, to be exact."

an hour, and has never been in the same place

"Not the same thing," I shot back. "That was twice.>
black comedy. Gallows humor. Not an open or

"Why not just keep him in the Yeerk pool com-
implied insult."

plex?" Rachel asked. "Plenty of empty cages,

"Actions do speak louder than words," Cassie
torture equipment, stuff like that."

said quietly.

<l imagine the visser is afraid of attack,>

"Thank you. I might not always say the right

Gafinilan answered. <l imagine he does not trust
thing, but most times I do the right thing. Or try
me to complete our bargain. I imagine he half ex-
to, at least. My intentions," I added, smirking,
pects me to join up with the guerrilla forces that

"are good."

plague his efforts. Which, it seems, I have just

<This is not about Marco,> Tobias said. <This
done.>
is about Mertil. Mertil is Gafinilan's shorn), Ax.

"So, Mertil's in some sort of transport vehi-

Can't you understand . . .>
cle," Cassie said. "A truck, a horse trailer, some-

"Whether Ax understands or not," Jake inter-
thing. How do we find it? Aerial surveillance . . ."

rupted, "we're doing this. Is that understood?

Ax interrupted, <We cannot risk our lives for a

Good. Gafinilan, you've been in contact with
vecoi>

Mertil?"

"Okay, Ax-man," I said, my voice a little less

During our verbal skirmish, Gafinilan had re-
than steady. "I've been cutting you slack on this
mained silent. Maybe he was tired of having to
handicapped thing because you're part of the
defend his position.

team. But when you talk like that, like this guy is

<Mertil and I have been the closest of friends
some sort of dirty, worthless thing, I have to say
since our childhood,> he said finally. <Unless we
you're just not one of us."

are on different planets, we can hear each other's

<l do not and have never pretended to be hu-
thought-speak. Not perfectly. Often exact words
man^ Ax stated.

are not clear. But the sound of Mertil's voice

Rachel snorted. "You're so full of it, Marco. I
is always with me. It helps me to know he is
seem to recall your calling that Hewlett Aldershot
alive.>

96

97

"So, what?" Rachel said. "Bird morphs, cover every inch of the town until we get close enough
to Mertil for Gafinilan to hear specifics? Hope

Mertil has been able, at least, to get a glimpse
out a window or something."

I understand ruthless.

I understand, maybe more than any of the
others, what it means to be unsentimental. Cold,
even. To see the end in the beginning and the be-
ginning in the end.

I'm not denying that Jake, for example,
doesn't make his share of tough decisions. That
almost every day he isn't forced to choose be-
tween two seemingly impossible, equally degrad-
ing choices. That he doesn't feel the agony of
those crisis moments. That too often he looks
about fifty.

All I'm saying is that I understand, immedi-
ately and on some instinctual level, the state of
ruthlessness you have to reach — almost, to live

98

99
in — to be able to make those impossible choices.

<Fme. I'm here. But let's be clear. What

To see the right way to the right end.

Gafinilan was saying is that he was ready to be-

To accept being perceived as cruel and heart-
tray us. What's changed? Okay, he can't fulfill his
less.

part of the bargain with the visser. Can't deliver

To live with the fact that people are afraid of
an adult Andalite. But maybe he can cut a new
getting too close to someone like me, like maybe
deal, if things start going bad. Hand over the hu-
it'll rub off, my ability to do what needs to be
man "Andalite bandits" in exchange for Mertil.> done.

<He said he'd work with us, not against us,>

In spite of my incredible sense of humor, I am

Jake said, tiredly.

not always fun to be around. And there are a lot

<You believe that. I'll believe the opposite.

of reasons why. What would you be like if you had

That way we have all bases covered.>
to decide whether to save what was left of your

<Fine. Let's get this over with.>
mother's life? Or let Visser One, the Yeerk, live?

Gafinilan was in an owl morph he'd picked up

Calculated risk. I still don't know the results of
a while back. I was an owl. Cassie was osprey.

that particularly agonizing decision, but I'd been

Jake, peregrine falcon. Rachel, bald eagle and
able to do it. Been able to make the decision.

Ax northern harrier. Tobias, of course, was him-

So, on some level, I knew what Gafinilan was
self.

all about. How he'd made the impossible deci-

For the past half hour we'd been flying north
sion to do whatever it took to save his friend's
of town in a widespread group. Hoping to find a
life. Even if that meant sacrificing his own. Even
trace of Mertil. So far, radio silence.

if that meant handing over another Andalite, one

<Mertil says he is in some sort of graveyard.>
of his own people, to the Yeerks.

Gafinilan's thought-speak was sudden and ex-

It was a pretty ruthless thing to do. And I was
cited.

pretty sure he would do it again if he had to.

impossible.> Rachel. <There are no grave-

I respected him for that.

yards out this way. That I know of, anyway.>

<Jake.> I spoke privately. <You'd better be

<Warehouses, yes . . .>
aware we are in serious doo-doo if this guy de-

<He said that when his Hork-Bajir guards
cides to trade loyalties . . .>
opened the door of his current prison, he was

<Marco. We're doing this.>
able to glimpse several large, boxlike, rectangu-

100

101
lar vehicles, somewhat similar to the one in

<Yes, yes. He is close.>
which he is being held. They are made of metal,

<Okay then, people. We're going to have to
but rusted. Mertil assumes they have been aban-
land, morph some firepower, get our hands
doned^
dirty.>

<Got it,> I said. <The old train yard. About a

<ls it me,> I asked generally, <or does Jake
mile out from here.>
sound like a deranged camp director when he

The old train yard and final station stop had
talks like that?>
not been in operation since, like, my grand-

<lt's you.> Cassie. The girlfriend. Figured.

mother was a kid. Now, it was only a vast arena of

Just then —
sharp edges from which to get lockjaw. A place

<About three o'clock everyone!> I called.

where teenagers hung and had wild parties and

The door to one of the abused boxcars was
did things they could get arrested for.

sliding open. And the boxcar was disgorging

We reached the acre or so of dilapidated
about a dozen Hork-Bajir.

metal train parts. And saw nothing you wouldn't

Another car! And another dozen Hork-Bajir.

expect to see in such a place. Even with my su-

Oh, yeah. There was definitely something
perior owl vision, I could make out no suspicious
there.

footprints in the dirt or tufts of blue fur stuck to
jagged pieces of boxcar.

And the place was quiet. Too quiet.

I circled lower, hoping for some shred of evi-
dence that Mertil was being held on this site.

Again, nothing. Hundreds of empty boxcars, each
sixty feet long. The occasional caboose or flatcar.

Some cattle cars lying on their sides. A locomo-
tive or two.

<Nothing,> I said disgustedly. <Rust, rats,
and empty cars.>

<Gafinilan, do you still hear Mertil?> Jake
asked. <Are you sure he's here?>

102

103

We landed on the far east of the yard, atop a
right-side-up passenger car. From there, we could
watch the Yeerk shock troops undetected. Watch
as they streamed through the mazelike paths be-
tween rusted-out corpses and gathered in a small
clearing almost exactly at the yard's center.

Watch as they loosely surrounded a fifteen-
foot U-Haul truck, the self-rental kind.

<l'm thinking Mertil's probably in that U-Haul.

And that they're gonna be moving him pretty
soon,> I said.

<Yes.> Gafinilan paused. <Mertil believes
this to be true. He has overheard some of his

n
captors discussing the next destination. But he
i ight was falling fast. Maybe the mass of
has no details.>
clustered, hulking railroad cars added to the

<Tobias?> Jake said. <Stay up top. We're go-
sense of gloom that seemed to be descending
ing to need you to guide us toward that clearing
over the old yard and station.

once we're on the ground. Everybody else? Battle

The place had the eerie feel of all abandoned
morphs. I'm thinking we're going to have to bust
scenes of once-frenzied human activity. In a

Mertil out the hard way.>
sense, Mertil was right when he called it a grave-

<What about Gafinilan?> Ax asked stiffly.

yard. No more hustling conductors and scurrying

<With all due respect, you are not well . . .>
maintenance men. No more excited passengers

<l will fight. That is, if your prince will allow
and no more fretful family members, waiting for
me to join you.>
those passengers to disembark.

<Great,> Jake said. <But if you feel you can't

Now it really was the end of the line. Thick
hold out, lay low. I don't want to have to rescue
with shadows thrown by a few dim and distant
two Andalites tonight. Ax? Keep close to Gafini-
roadway lights. And within those murky shadows,
lan in case he needs help.> Jake paused. <Or in
huge, shuffling Hork-Bajir.

case he decides to switch sides.>

104

105

Gafinilan didn't respond to Jake's statement.

Way up in the dark sky, Tobias, our own per-

Either he really was a good soldier, acknowledg-
fect wilderness guide, said, <There's a red ca-
ing Jake as his prince. Or he was even more cal-
boose dead ahead. Circle it to the left. If I say it's
culating than I'd assumed.

clear, continue on past the next car.>

We glided off the roof of the car and de-

We lumbered and stalked and trotted forward.

morphed. Then I went gorilla, with cinder-block

Through the maze of looming abandoned hulks.

fists. Jake to tiger, with deadly claws and teeth.

Tobias guided us until we were within a few

Cassie to wolf, lithe and tireless. Rachel used
dozen yards of the clearing. And, by the light of a
her elephant morph, perfect for bulldozing and
smallish bonfire the Hork-Bajir had just built, we
busting through pesky walls of metal. Ax and
could see all too clearly just how outnumbered

Gafinilan stayed Andalite.

we were.

Suddenly . . .

<Gee, Jake, have the odds ever been this

<You must go.> It was a thought-speak voice I
bad?> I asked brightly.

didn't recognize. Soft and sad. A broken voice.

<Sure,> Jake answered. <But this time we've

The voice of someone after the boredom and
got the element of surprises
shame of capture sets in.

"Andalite!"

Mertil.

<Oh, crap.>

Truth is, sure, leaving would have been no

Not even Tobias is perfect. Up on top of a rail-
problem. I'm not stupid enough to get all excited
way car stood a Hork-Bajir. Pointing a bladed
about wading into bloody battle, four kids, a bird,
arm down at us.

two aliens — one mortally ill and possibly traitor-

<He must have scrambled up the other side!>
ous — against a good hundred Hork-Bajir soldiers.

Tobias called. <lt's too dark!>

I glanced at Gafinilan. He was holding tightly

Sirens. Frenzied commands. The ominous
to the rusted axle of a caboose. Breathing shal-
sound of Hork-Bajir blades against metal.

lowly.

So much for the element of surprise.

<Gafinilan?> I said. <Tell Mertil we'll see him
in a few.>

<Tobias,> Jake said. <We're ready. Which way
to the clearing?>

106

107

here and wait for the rest of them to show up.

Stick to the shadows. We move forward and sur-
round the clearing.>

<Too late, man,> Tobias reported. <They're
sending out a unit of Hork-Bajir. They'll be on
you in a minute!>

<Okay, new plan. Wait until they're close,>

Jake snapped. <Then we take them down.>

<What about the next batch, after them?>

Cassie cried.

<Take them down, too. We've got to keep
pushing closer to the clearing.>

<And Mertil,> Gafinilan said quietly.

<Look out!>

'fh

Out of the gloom, ten Hork-Bajir, charging
aahhh!"

ahead. Too late to hide.

The Hork-Bajir hurled himself from the top of

One came right at me. I ducked and slammed
the car.

both fists into its belly.

<Rachel! It's your soulmate!>

WWHUMP!

One lone Hork-Bajir, tearing at the seven of

He fell down.

us, blades flashing.

"Rrroooooooaaar!"

WHUMPF!

Jake! With outstanding speed and agility he

He hit the ground when Gafinilan smacked
leaped forward. The force of the seven-hundred-
him with the side of his enormous tail blade.

pound Siberian tiger slammed two more Yeerk

<He is unconscious,> the Andalite said. <l
warriors onto the ground.

believe he will remain so for some time.>

FWAAP! FWAAP!

<Duh.>

Ax. Fighting alongside Gafinilan, he was even

<Everyone!> Jake. <We're not going to stand
more amazing than usual.

108

109

A wolf's howl!

tached blade of the now incapacitated Hork-Bajir

<Cassie, you okay?>
from tendon and muscle.

<Yeah.> Trotting away from a fallen Hork-

<You are welcome, Marco,> he replied. <But

Bajir. <He nicked me but I got him.>

I would advise you to watch your back more

"Tseeeer!"

closely.>

Yes! Tobias. A howling Hork-Bajir clutched

I swear if the guy had a mouth he would have
the red mess that had once been his eyes.

been grinning.

Rachel. Wrapping her trunk around a Hork-

<l will,> I promised.

Bajir and . . .

The cut was bad but I'd lived through worse.

THUWUUUMP!

<Marco!> Rachel cried. <A little help, please!

Tossing him somewhere into the gloom.

I can't turn around in here!>

This was too easy. Something . . .

I knuckle-ran over to Rachel. Somehow she'd

More! Another five, ten warriors descending
gotten herself in a too-narrow alley between train
on us.

cars.

<Spread out!> Jake ordered. <Make them

I tore the Hork-Bajir from her flank. Flung
think we've got them surrounded.>
him behind me, into the side of a caboose.

<Now that's optimistic,> I said.

<Back out, Rachel. I'll watch your, uh . . .>

I dodged left. Slipped into the shadows.

<Don't say it,> she snapped. <Just don't say

A moment later, leaped out onto the back of a
it.>

Hork-Bajir. Wrestled him to the ground.

But I was already gone, hurling oncoming

<Aaahh!>

Hork-Bajir left and right. The wound on my

Before I could get to my feet, my victim's
shoulder throbbing, my head now bleeding, too. I
buddy brought his elbow blade down onto my
touched the damage and felt bone.

shoulder.

It was so dark and suddenly, there were so, so

It went deep.

many.

FWAAP!

I stumbled, backed away from the Hork-Bajir

Gafinilan!

coming ever closer. Trapping me in a small cor-

<Thanks, man,> I said, wrenching the de-
ner from which there'd be no way out.

110

111

I realized I'd lost Jake and the others, though

I could hear their grunts and howls through the
terrible roar and brittle clash of battle.

Okay, I thought crazily, I got myself into this.

Now I 'II get myself out.

The question was how.

<J. am Kong!>

I bellowed! Pounded my fists against my
gorilla chest. It was a display of totally false
machismo.

But it worked.

Gave me the split second I needed to slip
through the partially open door of a boxcar, slam
it shut behind me.

Scramble across the dirty floor, bumpy with
rat droppings and crunchy with broken glass, and
tear open the door on the other side of the car.

Drop to the ground, slam the door shut be-
hind me.

Take a deep breath . . .

Uh-oh.

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113

And realize I was facing another onslaught of

Ladders lead to places where you are not.

Hork-Bajir.

The first two Hork-Bajir were on me! I grabbed

Hard to tell exactly how far away in the heavy
them by the necks and smashed them together.

dark.

The daggerlike horns on their heads stabbed into

I leaned up against the side of the car. Held
each other's flesh. Got stuck.

perfectly still.

Then, as the next two Hork-Bajir skidded to

Hoped the gorilla's dark hair and skin would
a stop a few feet from their fallen buddies, I
help camouflage me. Keep me hidden, just a
scrambled up the ladder.

darker spot in the shadows.

Ignored the searing pain in my shoulder.

When you're a kid, you know how you close

And was almost immediately on top of the
your eyes and convince yourself that because
train car.

you're blind you're also invisible?

Fantastic! From here I could see the clearing.

Well, it doesn't work when you're surrounded

The remains of the bonfire and the U-Haul truck,
by seven-foot-tall, horned and bladed lizardlike
still parked.

enemies.

But not for long.

Hork-Bajir vision isn't spectacular in the

<Everyone!> I screamed. <They're moving
dark, but their hearing is keen. From the beating
the truck!>
of my heart and the hot breaths pumping in and

And we were still too far from the clearing to
out of my nostrils, they'd know I was here.

stop it.

I got ready to start swinging.

Maybe . . . if we headed toward the main en-

And then . . .

trance, maybe we could cut it off before it hit

Something made me glance to my right, al-
open road.

most over my torn shoulder.

Maybe.

A ladder rung. Built into the train car wall.

<l'm going for the main gate!> I called.

Maybe I could grasp it, swing out from it,

<Whoever can, meet me there!>
adding force to my punches and kicks.

<Where the heck is the main gate?> It was

Unless . . .

Rachel.

A ladder rung is part of a ladder.

Good question. I scanned the old train yard.

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115

Spotted the dark hulk of the old station. Figured

<Marco, I'm just behind you, on the ground,>
that the parking lot for cars would have been

Rachel said.

close to the station. Convenience. Figured the

<You're on your own, Marco!> Jake. <Cassie
main entrance/exit would lead off the parking lot.

and I got caught up by a few Hork-Bajir.

<Okay,> I shouted, <all the way left. Probably

We're . . .>
behind the old station. Just go!>

Jake's thought-speak disappeared.

<l'll follow the headlights,> Tobias said.

A light. Two. Round and small. Yeah, there

<Ax is back with Gafinilan,> Jake cried. <He's
was the truck, moving slowly with only its own
losing it. We're down two soldiers so look sharp.>
headlights to guide it. I dropped close against

Going overland was definitely the way.

the roof of the train car. Crawled the last few feet

Thud thud thud thud . . .

to the edge.

I made my way to the other end of the roof.

And prepared to drop onto the roof of the

The roof of the next train car to the left was about
truck.

ten feet away. Too far for me to jump.

<When I give the word, buddy,> Tobias called.

I scanned. Okay. There was another way

<l'm on i t >
across the tops of the cars. A way that would get

<Go! Go! Go!>
me close to if not right at the old station house. A

I flew! Launched my big gorilla body down
slightly circuitous path, a weird, twisting metal
onto the metal roof of the U-Haul.

road over a sea of battle. If I weren't stopped by

WHUMMPF!

Hork-Bajir, I could make it before the U-Haul left

Landed in a crouch and allowed my weight to
the yard.

fall quickly to the side.

If. . .

Safe.

Thud thud thud thud . . .

And still only going about twenty miles an

Closer. Roof to roof. Moving ahead, then,
hour.

slowly, bit by bit, to the left, toward the station.

<Driver heard something,> Tobias reported.

<Marco!> Tobias called. <You're gonna inter-

Well, duh. I'd left a big ole dent in the metal
cept the truck in about a minute. Hurry!>
roofing. This was a surprise attack.

Thudthudthudthud . . .

I crawled forward across the cargo bay and

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117

onto the roof of the truck's cabin. Peered over the
side into the driver's seat. Saw a very nervous
human-Controller.

I tore open his door. Reached for him.

Too slow! The driver slammed on the brakes.

The truck stopped moving.

I didn't.

Forty feet through the air!

WHOOF!

I hit the ground. Rolled another twenty.

Finally, came to a stop. And not a pretty one,
let me tell you.

Hurt but alive.

Thanked the stars for the helmetlike gorilla
skull.

SCREEEEEEE!

The driver hit the gas!

Now he was going to hit the gorilla.

Closer! Closer!

The grill of the truck loomed.

The stench of burning rubber.

I scrambled unsteadily to my feet.

118

119

Then . . .

Nothing. The muscles in my chest and arm

CRAAAAAASSSHHH!

strained as I tried again.

A train car! It smashed right into the path of

Still nothing. Now my shoulder was really on
the speeding truck, stopping it dead.

fire.

Above the sizzling wreckage I heard Rachel's

<Let me try my trunk,> Rachel said.

trumpet of triumph.

<Be my guest,> I muttered.

<Nice, Rachel.> I knuckle-walked toward the

<Marco! Rachel!>
smash. <Get Mertil into a train wreck.>

It was Jake, slinking out of the shadows,

<You're welcome for saving your life,> she
bloody, but I'd seen him worse. Cassie, Ax, and
replied. <Again.>

Gafinilan were with him. Each bearing evidence

The cab of the truck was completely im-
of the fight.

pacted. A twisted and bent remnant. The front

A second later, Tobias fluttered silently to the
two wheels were off the ground, resting on the
top of a nearby caboose.

top of the flattened boxcar.

<We're trying to get Mertil out,> Rachel ex-

The driver's door was open. I don't know how
plained.

he managed to survive the crash. But he had and

Gafinilan stepped forward. <ls he . . . ?>
he'd been Yeerk enough to get away.

<l am fine, Gafinilan,> Mertil answered.

<Mertil!> I called, loping around to the back

<Though still in this box.>
of the truck, now in real blackness again be-

<l will open the truck,> Gafinilan said.

cause the truck's headlights were destroyed. <You

He moved into place directly behind and fac-
okay?>
ing the rear door.

<l am as I was.>

CLAAAANG!

Great. Another Mr. Philosophy.

I jumped. Couldn't help it, the sound was

<Let's get this open,> Rachel said. <Before
enormous.

the gas tank blows or something.>

Gafinilan's battle-ax tail blade had punctured

I wrapped my thick gorilla fingers around the
the steel door.

gate latch on the back of the truck and pulled.

The guy might be dying, but he was still in-

Yanked.

conceivably strong.

120

121

SKKREEEEEUUUUULLLL!

Cassie's wolf whimpered involuntarily at the
awful sound of Gafinilan's tail blade tearing a
long gash down the steel door.

<Very cool,> Rachel said.

When he'd created a sort of tall, elliptical slit,

Gafinilan stepped back.

WHAM! WHAM! WHAM!

And Mertil kicked his way out.

We had found Mertil. Probably saved his life.

His dear friend Gafinilan had gone to terrible
lengths to set him free.

Mertil must have been pleased. On some
level, in some way. But he didn't look all that
happy.

We were in the woods. Far safer than hanging
around the train yard, waiting for a stray Hork-

Bajir-Controller to find us.

<l am surprised,> Mertil said plainly, <that
you were willing to risk your lives for me. As I
am.>

He held the stump of his tail down, as flat
as it could go against his body. As if he were
ashamed. The position had to be uncomfortable.

122

123

<We don't know what you mean,> Cassie said
kindly.

<So, friendship isn't natural?> Rachel
snapped. <lt's abnormal?>

<l will explain,> Ax said. <He means he is

<What is "normal," anyway?> Cassie asked,
surprised that we normal, healthy warriors risked
our lives for a mere vecol.> He paused. Turned a rhetorically.

stalk eye to me and added, <Or, as Marco says,

<The norm. The standard. The average,> I
someone who is "differently abled.">
said.

Tobias glared. <Okay, I'm getting a complex

<Jeez, can't we just get over this issue,
over here. I'm a nothlit. A freak. Whatever. My
please?> Rachel said. <lt's not like it's Mertil's
best friend is an alien with blue fur. My girlfriend
fault he got injured. Or that he has an allergy or
something. Man, I can name a few people I know
is human — when she isn't in morph. How about
who are perfectly healthy and a total waste of
we don't talk about "normal" anymore. Or "aver-oxygen. In my opinions
age" or "natural." Please.>

More weird silence. I, for one, was dying to

<l'm down with that,> I murmured.

hear what would happen next.

Mertil and Gafinilan remained silent.

<Mertil-lscar-Elmand,> Ax said. Respectfully.

<Ax,> Jake said. <You consider Gafinilan a

<lt has been an honor to meet you. I will always
hero of Andalite culture. Right?>
remember you as you were.>

Ax nodded. One of his favorite adopted hu-

Well, it was a start.

man gestures.

<We should get out of here,> Jake said.

<Maybe the fact that he's able to overlook

<Gafinilan, we'll help you and Mertil get back.>
physical imperfection is one of the reasons he's a

<Thankyou.>
hero. What do you think?>

And again I saw the trembling I'd seen be-

<Prince Jake, I think the reason Gafinilan is
fore. Only worse. And I remembered Gafinilan's
able to overlook his friend's deformities is be-
not being sure he'd seen the human me that first
cause he sees through the eyes of friendship.

night. Peering closely at his own printed labels in

This is exceptional behavior. Under ordinary cir-
the greenhouse. He was going blind.

cumstances, in general Andalite society, it is

When the trembling ceased, Gafinilan went
simply not natural to show such concern for a
on. <And then, you will be so kind as to let us be.

vecol.>

My time is running out. I would like to end my

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125

days honorably and in the company of my dearest
friend.>

Mertil, who was no lousy specimen of An-
dalite warrior himself, stood tall. <As Gafinilan
has cared for me, so now I will care for him. It is
my duty.>

<The visser might not leave you alone,> Jake
pointed out.

<The visser has proven he has no use for ei-
ther of us,> Gafinilan retorted.

<He's right, Jake,> I said. <lf the visser
comes after anyone it'll be us. For spoiling his
plans.>

<Oh, goody,> Cassie said dryly. <You always
know how to finish on a high note, Marco.>

T o u know that old party game, "Who Am I

<Thankyou,> I said.

This Time?" Or that nursery rhyme about a doc-
tor, lawyer, baker. Whatever. People tend to get
identified by what kind of hat they wear during
the day. By what is visible, noticeable, obvious
about them.

So, if you've got one arm or get around in a
wheelchair or are blind, you're a handicapped
person. Maybe you're also a poet or scholar, a
sinner, or a saint. But first and foremost in
people's minds, you're handicapped.

Not a lot you can do about it, either.

My mother is — was? — host to Visser One.

Originator of the Yeerk invasion of Earth.

126

127

Everyone, including my dad and his new wife,
and Gafinilan in peace. We were pretty sure the
thinks she's dead.

Yeerks were going to back away from them, too.

Maybe she is.

At least for a while.

Maybe she isn't.

I mean, like Gafinilan said, what had either

Maybe she can be saved.

Andalite done for them? Nothing. Except exhibit

Maybe she can't.

a depth of loyalty totally puzzling, totally incom-

I just don't know, after the last time we came
prehensible to Visser Three and his minions.

face-to-face. In a Taxxon tunnel off the main Yeerk

So given the fact that in the Yeerk opinion
pool. During her trial by the Council of Thirteen.

Gafinilan was, essentially, a dead man and Mertil

Most times, I don't even pretend to want to
useless, we figured they stood a fair chance of
know. Though if a call comes again . . .

living unmolested.

Well, I'll wait until that happens to decide.

At least until Gafinilan died and Mertil was all

And then I'll do what I have to do.

alone in Henry McClellan's house. Unable to

Anyway, for the time being, I am "the boy
morph. A virtual prisoner in a foreign land.

with a dead mother" to people on the outside. To /

How would he survive?

my friends, I'm "the kid with the big mouth and

Maybe I shouldn't have done i t . . .

mother stolen by aliens."

How often do I say that? A lot.

Can't get away from it.

Maybe I shouldn't have done it, but I did.

Vecol, mentally challenged, handicapped.

Paid one last, unauthorized visit to the Mc-

Dumb, psycho, gimp.

Clellan house. In osprey morph, and while Gafini-

You just learn to live with it.

lan/Henry was at work.

Jake's the responsible leader.

I am not totally stupid.

Rachel's the gorgeous warmonger.

I found Mertil in the greenhouse. Called out

Cassie's the tree-hugger.

to him from a distance so he wouldn't be scared

Tobias, Bird-boy.

and zap me with a shredder or something. Identi-

Ax, resident alien.

fied myself as the handsome gorilla from the

Gafinilan is the one with the fatal disease.

other night.

Mertil . . .

<The others don't know I'm here, so, uh, I'd

So we rescued Mertil and agreed to leave him
appreciate it if this visit is our little secret>

128

129

<0f course,> Mertil answered, his voice a bit

Don't miss
strained. <l believe I owe you my life.>

<Well, I don't know about that,> I said. <But,
look. I just want you to know — I mean, we just
want you to know that if. . . uh, when Gafinilan,
you know, dies. That you should look us up. And,
well, maybe I can check in on you, too. Play
some video games, whatever. Being alone, man,
it's not good and . . . well, we could use all the
allies we can get.>

D E E - D E E T ! DE-DEET!

Nothing. I shifted on my perch in the big old

The alarm was like a jackhammer to the head.

oak tree where Tobias had sat during our first

I groaned.

visit to the house.

DE-DEET!

Noted a honeybee winging its way toward the

Enough, already! I felt for the clock radio. The
greenhouse.

snooze button. Just five more minutes.

Waited.

My hand patted the air vainly. No bedside

Maybe I'd offended the guy somehow. I hadn't
table? I lifted my lids. Where was my . . .

meant to but sometimes my mouth gets in the

My heart stopped.

way of sentiment.

I was staring into a triangular screen. A flat

The silence was awful.

computer panel mounted flush in a peeling,

And then, suddenly, his voice came booming
white plaster wall across from the bed. Eerie cop-
out at me. Strong and energetic and quivering
per letters pulsed at the top of the glowing gray
with something that sounded a lot like pride.

screen. 5:28:16 A.M. Below the time flashed the

<Thank you, Aristh Marco. Perhaps I will do
words "TO DO" and a single entry: "Report to so.>
work."

This was not my room. Not even close.

DE-DEET! DE-DEET!

My body stiffened to warrior mode and I
bolted out of bed.

130