“I guess I could have,” Nate admitted. “But I didn’t.”
“Maybe,” William said. “I need to be sure. Would you submit to a test? It involves an ancient tribal ritual. It’s basically a magical lie detector.”
“Sure,” Nate said, relieved. A test like that would allow him to prove his honesty. “How do we do it?”
“It never fails,” William warned.
“Perfect,” Nate said.
William nodded pensively. “I have no such test. But you seemed willing—happy, even. Either you’re a master deceiver, or you’re telling the truth.”
“You’ll help me?”
William rubbed the arms of his chair. “When will Jonas go after Uweya?”
“I’m not sure,” Nate said. “Soon, I expect. I’ll probably be sent to help, along with the other kids in my club.”
“Where do the other kids stand?” William asked.
“One has helped me since the start,” Nate said. “I think the other two are on my side as well.”
“You aren’t sure?”
“Sure enough to risk my life.”
William narrowed his eyes. “You truly mean to thwart him?”
“No way will I let him get Uweya. I was hoping that if I understood more about Uweya, I’d be in a better position to mess up his plans.”
William folded his hands and stared at them for a moment. “You haven’t stopped Jonas yet. Why didn’t you act earlier? What makes you think you can stop him now?”
“I don’t know that I can!” Nate cried. “I kept waiting for a good opportunity.” He took a shuddering breath, trying to get a grip on his frustration. “I wanted some clue to where the prisoners were held. I wanted to get below Arcadeland unobserved. The chance never came. So I’m out of options. It’s now or never, and I’m not okay with never.”
“Just because you need to stop him doesn’t mean you’ll be able to.”
“But I have to try,” Nate replied. “He has a simulacrum of me. That has been hanging over my head since just after I became a Jet, but I might have found a way to break that hold. If I’m invited to go after Uweya, the others in my club will help me sabotage the mission. Even if I’m not invited, I’ll go anyhow. Even without your help, I’ll still try. But I’d rather have what help I can scrounge.”
Inhaling loudly through his nose, William rubbed his thighs. “I’m not going to fill you in about Uweya. Even if you are sincerely working against Jonas, if he has a simulacrum of you, he may have ways of extracting that information.”
“I’m on my own?” Nate asked.
William shook his head. “I’ll help in every way that I can.” Rooting in his pocket, he withdrew a keychain attached to a short strand of beads and a few wispy feathers. “This token is given voluntarily.” He held it out to Nate.
“What’s this?”
“The invisible keys to Uweya.”
“Really?”
“No, not really. This token confirms you a friend of the Graywater family. There is a carwash in Fresno where it can get you half off. Also, if you can reach Uweya ahead of the others, it may help you get assistance.”
“Seriously?”
William gave a nod.
“I should try to get to Uweya first? Ahead of the others?”
William settled back in his chair. “If Jonas claims Uweya, he will become the most powerful man on Earth. No exaggeration. But if you get there ahead of his people, with this token in hand, you might be able to use Uweya against him.”
“You won’t tell me how?”
“It won’t be easy,” William warned. “Use the token. This is the best I can do. I won’t tell you more.”
“Would you come with me?” Nate asked. “Maybe follow us in secret?”
William rubbed his mouth, perhaps covering a grin. “I know some secrets about the way to Uweya. Without an enhancement like yours, I could never get close. It’s all up to you.”
“Is it underwater?” Nate asked.
“I don’t believe water will be an issue.”
“Okay,” Nate said. “Thanks for the keychain.”
“Thanks for trying. It’s more than many would do.”
“You can’t give me a better clue about Uweya?”
“I sent my family away in case your employer came to me and tried to use them as leverage to get me to reveal all I know. I’ve told you all that should be told.” William extended a hand toward the door.
“’Bye,” Nate said as he exited.
“Good hunting.”
*****
Nate soared through the darkness, rising and falling, using the wind of his speed and occasional acrobatic maneuvers to keep his mind alert. It was late. He was feeling the effects of a long, taxing, uncertain day. And there was still more to accomplish.
Upon reaching the Striker, he veered north, watching for the three hills of equal height where the Hermit was supposedly hiding. He found them as described, and on the north side of the farthest hill, he discovered the mouth of a cave.
With a canister of pepper spray in hand, Nate alighted just beyond the cave entrance. The cave appeared dark and still. He wished he had Lindy with him to reveal who or what might be hiding inside.
“Hello?” Nate called. “I’m back!”
“Why bring the inflammatory agent?” a scholarly voice responded from the blackness. “Have you the Gate?”
“No Gate,” Nate confessed.
“Then why have you come? To rob me again? To take me hostage? To gloat about the end of the world?”
One of the questions made Nate particularly uncomfortable. He had come prepared to rob the Hermit again. He hoped it wouldn’t come to that.
“I need your help,” Nate said.
“The magic words we victims hope to one day hear from our attackers.”
“It’s an emergency,” Nate said.
“I do owe you a lot of favors,” the Hermit said sarcastically. “You drove me from my home, assaulted me, scalded me, and robbed me. I’ve been praying I could find some way to repay your generosity. How can I be of service?”
“It isn’t just for me,” Nate said. “Everyone needs your help. Including you. Jonas White has the Protector.”
Still unseen in the darkness, the Hermit sighed wearily. “Of course he does.”
“He’ll be going after Uweya. I’ll probably be involved.”