Raven Rise (32 page)

Mark and Courtney sat stone faced in
the back of the same limousine that originally took them into New York City. They didn't bother to try and get out. It was parked and surrounded by Naymeer's red-shirt guards. Not that it mattered. The events of the past few minutes had shocked them into submission.

There was a flurry of activity outside the car. One of the guards opened the door next to Mark. Mark didn't react. It was like he didn't care anymore. They were soon joined by another passenger. The door was slammed shut, and an instant later they were rolling.

Sitting across from them was Alexander Naymeer. He looked every bit as calm and together as Mark and Courtney looked worn. Not a single one of his silver-gray hairs was out of place. In spite of all that had just happened, he was as relaxed as if going on a drive through the park.

“Finally,” he said with his arms spread out in a warm welcome. “We meet.”

Mark and Courtney stared at him blankly.

“Mark Dimond and Courtney Chetwynde,” Naymeer continued. “I've heard so much about you, I feel as if I know you. Would you like something to drink?”

He reached for an expensive-looking crystal decanter full of water. Mark and Courtney didn't respond. Naymeer replaced it and chuckled like an amused grandparent.

“If we don't converse, this will be a very long ride,” he said playfully.

“You killed him,” Courtney said flatly. “Patrick is dead.”

Naymeer frowned. “A horrible mistake. It should never have happened. Heat of the moment and all. My guardians used poor judgment. I am absolutely sick over it.”

Mark added, “You destroyed my house. Was that in the heat of the moment too?”

Naymeer raised his hands in a gesture of surrender. “Please, don't judge too quickly. There are larger issues involved.”

“Larger than murder?” Courtney snapped.

Naymeer cocked an eyebrow and answered, “Yes, actually.”

Courtney sat forward in the seat. “Who the hell are you!” she shouted.

Mark put out a hand to stop her from moving any closer to Naymeer.

“You already know that answer,” Naymeer said without flinching. “I am the Traveler from Second Earth.”

If Mark hadn't held Courtney tighter, she would have leaped at Naymeer's throat.

“Bobby Pendragon is the Traveler from Second Earth,” she hissed.

“He was,” Naymeer said with sympathy. “But he has abdicated the position, so the honor is now mine.”

“How can you say that?” Mark asked, trying to control his emotions. “Who told you?”

Naymeer looked between the two and shook his head. “After all that has happened, you truly do not understand, do you?”

“A-Are you Saint Dane?” Mark asked tentatively.

Naymeer laughed. “Hardly. I am but a mere Traveler. Though I am at his disposal.”

Mark and Courtney sat stunned. Naymeer was slick. His British accent made him seem all the more superior. He was worshipped by millions. He consulted with world leaders. He was a force to be reckoned with.

All Mark and Courtney saw was a murderer who had aligned himself with Saint Dane.

“How do you know so much about Halla?” Courtney asked. “I've never heard of you, and I know all about the Travelers.”

“You may know of the Travelers, but I'm beginning to realize you don't know much about Halla. You are aware of Ravinia, aren't you?”

“It's your creepy cult,” Courtney said. “So what?”

Naymeer held up his hand and looked at his ring, admiring it.

“What do you know of this?” he asked.

“I know it's mine,” Mark grumbled.

Naymeer ignored the comment and continued. “Do you question how it works? How the flume performs as it does? What powers it all?”

“You're kidding, right?” Courtney said sarcastically. “Try, like, every minute of every day.”

Naymeer removed the ring and held it up to the light coming in through the car's window. “It's not a very attractive stone. Until it comes to life, that is. Of course you understand that the stone in this ring is the same material that makes up the flume.”

Courtney and Mark exchanged looks. They didn't.

“Scientists have debated its existence for some time now. It's quite extraordinary actually. From this simple material, a universe was born.”

Mark's eyes widened. “No way,” he gasped.

“No way what?” Courtney asked, shooting a surprised look to Mark. “You know what this guy's talking about?”

Mark stared right at Naymeer and asked, “You're saying the rings and the flume are made up of the dark matter?”

“The who?” Courtney asked, totally confused.

“It's been called many things,” Naymeer explained. “But you are correct. It is most commonly referred to as dark matter. Whatever the name, its nature is undeniable. This amazing material provided the foundation of Halla. Planets, stars, moons, civilizations, cultures, everything we know of grew from this most basic substance. It is the oldest material in existence. It is also the most powerful.”

“How do you know that?” Mark asked. “No one's proved its existence.”

“No one on Second Earth,” he answered slyly. “Surely you realize there is more to existence than this one territory.”

Mark and Courtney didn't reply. They knew about the other territories. The other worlds. They knew there had to be greater powers at work on their lives. The flumes were proof of that. Now, for the first time, it seemed they were with someone who had the answers.

“So, who told
you
about it?” Courtney muttered.

Naymeer smiled. “A raven.”

Mark and Courtney stared at him blankly.

Naymeer returned the ring to his finger. “Many years ago I was given a gift. This ring. It was brought to me by a raven.”

“I know how you got it,” Mark spat. “From me. I was blackmailed into giving it up.”

“Were you?” Naymeer responded. “If it was in your possession, why did you not explore its wonders?”

Mark didn't have an answer.

“Perhaps it was in the wrong hands,” Naymeer concluded.

“What kind of wonders?” Courtney asked.

Naymeer closed his eyes, as if remembering a time long past. “I quickly realized that the gift was more than a simple trinket. The power contained in this stone saved my life and opened the door to Halla. Whenever I held the ring, I saw visions of the fantastic. The impossible. I saw other worlds full of unique animals and alien civilizations. There were ancient tribes and modern spectacles. Initially I was frightened, but I soon learned they weren't fantasies, or spirits sent to haunt me. I was getting a glimpse into the vast reality of Halla.”

“You traveled to other territories?” Mark asked.

“No!” was the quick answer. “I have never left Second Earth. There is no need. The ring provided me with all the answers. I grew up alone, you know. In a foundling hospital. The ring and its truths became my whole life.”

“I don't buy this,” Courtney said. “No way a kid could figure all this out on his own.”

“You are correct. I was adopted by a young woman, who raised me. Together we explored the wonders of Halla. She showed me all that was good, and so much that was wrong. Together we formed the plan to ensure that the good would triumph.”

“Nevva Winter,” Mark gasped.

“Yes, sweet Nevva. I cannot say she became a mother to me. She was more of a mentor. But she is as much responsible for all that has happened as I.”

“So what happened?” Courtney asked impatiently. “What is the point of Ravinia? What are you promising these people?”

Naymeer leaned forward. His eyes sparkled with an intensity that made Mark and Courtney press back into their seats.

“I'm giving them hope for the future,” he answered. “I started slowly, appealing to children and their parents. The war drove them to me. London was in turmoil for many years. People knew there had to be a better way. They needed to know there was something bigger, something more important, in order to make sense of their misery. To organize the chaos. I showed it to them. With this ring I treated them to glimpses of other worlds. Other civilizations. I introduced grand possibilities that reached past their limited lives. I convinced them to look beyond their borders and strive to become citizens, not of their towns or their countries, but of Halla!”

“That's it?” Courtney scoffed. “You showed them some floating pictures and they lined up to follow you? You can get that in the movies.”

“Except motion pictures aren't real,” Naymeer countered.

Courtney backed down.

Naymeer continued, “I showed them how their lives would have no limits, no restrictions, as long as they believed in me and my vision of a greater future. Not everyone has the prescience. I had to appeal to the proper type of person.”

Mark said, “The elite. The strong. The enlightened.”

Naymeer's eyes widened with pride. “I'm flattered. You listened to my speech.”

“We didn't have a choice,” Courtney growled.

“I had a difficult upbringing,” Naymeer continued. “It became clear early on, that the only way to survive was to excel. To be better. To rise above the rabble. Every world of Halla is faced with the same challenge: From individuals to cities, tribes to armies, governments to families—societies throughout time have crumbled due to their tolerance for weakness. Instead of encouraging the strong, they waste resources on those who don't contribute. Halla can be so much better than that. Imagine if our prime goal were to transcend mediocrity? Think of the possibilities! Instead of being held back by the weight of failure, we should reward those who strive for excellence. The doctors. The scientists. Teachers. Generals. Mathematicians. Athletes. Those who excel in finance. The visionaries. The leaders. Excellence will be rewarded. Failure and apathy will not be tolerated. Once that philosophy is universally accepted, Halla will soar to greater heights than could ever be imagined. Let me quote one of your most popular presidents:
‘Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.'
That is the philosophy of Ravinia. That is what we will achieve throughout Halla.”

“But you twisted it,” Mark argued. “That wasn't what Kennedy meant. He was making a plea for people to think beyond themselves and consider the needs of others.”

“Exactly,” Naymeer said with satisfaction.

“You're only considering one side,” Mark complained. “I can quote you, too:
‘We must reward excellence and condemn those whose only contribution to society is to burden.'
You said that, didn't you?”

Naymeer smiled. “You know more about me than you've let on.”

Courtney sat forward and said, “What about the people who don't live up to your high standards? The burdens to society? They're going to be ‘marginalized,' right? What does that mean?”

“It means they are inconsequential,” Naymeer said. “What is the saying you Americans are so fond of?
If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem.”

“Problem?” Mark shouted. “Just because somebody might not have some special talent, doesn't make them a problem. Every life has value.”

“Indeed,” Naymeer agreed. “It is up to every individual to find their talent and use it for the common good.”

“And who decides if they're contributing enough?” Courtney bellowed, getting red faced. “You? Not everybody is a leader. Or a genius. What about all the people who are just…normal?”

“They will be encouraged to be productive,” Naymeer said easily. “If they choose otherwise, there will be repercussions.” Naymeer touched a button on the console on the side of his seat and spoke to the driver. “Take us to Horizon One.”

“This is unbelievable,” Courtney cried. “What about the elderly? The sick? You're saying that millions of people will be tossed aside?”

“Believe me,” Naymeer countered. “There are millions who agree with my way of thinking.”

“Brought to us courtesy of a bird,” Courtney scoffed. “A raven. Ravinia. Cute.”

Naymeer laughed. “All I've done is appeal to the common sense of those who want a better way of life. This isn't about race or religion or nationality. All we are doing is concentrating on the positive and eliminating the negatives.”

“You're eliminating humanity,” Mark said softly. “You sound exactly like Saint Dane.”

“That is the greatest compliment you could have paid me,” Naymeer said with smug satisfaction.

All three fell silent. Courtney and Mark held hands for support. The words of the man sitting across from them played over and over in their minds. In a few minutes the car turned off the highway and came to a stop. Immediately one of Naymeer's guardians opened the door. Mark and Courtney looked at the old man.