Tales from Dargo Island: The Complete Trilogy Page 8

  “Don’t mention it. Anything else I can do for you?”

  I finished my soda and shook my head. “Thanks for the chat. I feel better now.”

  “Good.” He finished his drink. “What do you have going on for the rest of the day?”

  “Nothing.”

  “Want to check out my theater system?”

  “Hell yeah.”

  We watched an action movie with the sound turned way up. The subwoofer almost made my heart explode. After the movie, I returned to Dallas. I did feel a little better after my talk with Victor, and decided to trust in Rockne. I slept with my necklace on and made sure to keep it on at all times until this war was over. I didn’t want Nalke putting more doubts into my head.

  I wondered if quitting the job would save me from any more dreams. If I never returned to Dargo, there would be no reason for Nalke to contact me again. I didn’t want any part in this supposed war. I just hoped the good guys won.

  Chapter 19: The Giants Choose

  I was extremely uneasy during my first shift of the week. The sky was red and cloudy, bright enough so that I could actually see the clouds. I sat at the desk, staring at the monitors and out the windows, looking for anyone trying to sneak in. I couldn’t concentrate enough to attempt reading or watching TV.

  A knock on the door to my left scared the hell out of me. It was Astrid, and she looked worried. I slid the door open and let her in.

  “I have to see Cormac,” she said.

  “I can’t let you leave the Village; you know that.”

  “I know. I was hoping you’d go with me, though.”

  “I can’t do that. Rockne would kill me.” I hadn’t seen him since talking with Victor two days ago.

  “He doesn’t have to know.”

  “I think someone would notice if I left the gatehouse.”

  “Not at this hour,” she pleaded.

  “I can’t leave,” I said again, thinking of the barrier I powered with my presence.

  “Fine! I’m going, though.” She left the gatehouse and headed toward the mountains.

  “Wait!” I yelled. I didn’t know what to do. I grabbed the phone and automatically called Rockne, but there was no answer at the house. I called Ernie next and told him what was happening. He told me to go after her, and that he was on his way. I knew it wouldn’t take him long to get here.

  I ran after Astrid, hoping to catch her before she got too far away from the Village. She was fifty feet ahead of me, and I was exhausted by the time I finally caught her. She was perfectly composed.

  “Please come back with me,” I panted.

  “No,” she said, and started jogging ahead. I did the same, reaching for her arm. She dodged it, and I almost fell.

  “Why do you need to see Cormac so badly?”

  “Because I heard about what his dad said. Cormac isn’t a spy, and he doesn’t want to hurt me.”

  “And?”

  “And what?” She finally looked at me.

  We walked between two huge hills, down a trail. The trail wounded around a really dark corner. “And what are you going to do when you see Cormac?”

  “I’m going to talk to him and the other giants. I heard Rockne and Victor talking yesterday. They said Nalke is preparing to strike soon and I need to see if I can convince the giants to join us now—tonight.”

  “How do Victor and Rockne know your dad’s about to attack?”

  “Nalke!” she screamed. “Don’t call him my dad!”

  “Sorry.” She was scary when she was mad.

  “Rockne has his own spies. I heard him say he’s planning to make an announcement to the rest of the Village soon, but I can’t wait.”

  Before I knew it, we were in a snow-covered valley. There was a frozen lake in the center, with frozen cherry-blossom trees surrounding it.

  “I did not see this coming,” I said, astounded. “Is it always snowing here?”

  “Sometimes. The weather is crazy in this area.” She walked down the trail, toward the lake. I followed, of course.

  “I can’t stay away from the gatehouse much longer. Victor told me humans reinforce the magic around the Village. I’m putting everyone in danger by not being there.”

  “Then go back,” she said. “I’ll be fine.”

  “Please just come back with me.”

  She kept walking, and so did I. Before we reached the lake, something rose up from it. The ice stayed in place, however, so I couldn’t understand what I was seeing. It was Rewan, and he didn’t look happy. After he finished magically rising from the ice, he just stood there on the suddenly solid surface with his arms crossed. He said something in his language.

  “Yes,” Astrid replied. “I’ve come to see you and the other giants. Nalke is preparing to attack and we need your help or he’ll kill all of us.”

  Rewan replied.

  “Cormac isn’t a spy for anyone. He’s just my best friend. He didn’t pick a side, and I wasn’t trying to persuade him. But I am trying to persuade you now. Please help us.”

  Rewan said something.

  “I know Nalke has few followers, but he is still dangerous. We don’t know where his attack will come from, but it will be bad.”

  Astrid sounded so diplomatic that I didn’t have a hard time imagining her as a leader.

  Rewan scratched his chin, thinking. Before he could reply, another giant rose out of the lake and stood behind him. Before Rewan could turn, a large blade shot out from his chest. Astrid and I screamed as the giant fell to his knees, covered in yellow blood.

  Cormac stood there, still holding the blade he used to kill his father.

  “No!” Astrid screamed. “What have you done?”

  He replied.

  “No. Please, no.”

  “What?” I asked her.

  “He’s working for Nalke.”

  I couldn’t believe what I’d heard. I stared at the little giant, and he suddenly looked completely unrecognizable. His eyebrows curved downward in the middle, making him look evil.

  I grabbed Astrid’s hand and pulled her away from the lake just as Cormac swiped at us with what looked like a giant sword. We ran up the trail, back the way we’d come. The ground shook as Cormac ran after us. There was no way we could escape him. I was too afraid to look back, and simply waited to be cut in half with his sword.

  Just as we ran between the two big hills at the beginning of the trail, a quake shook the mountains around us. Rocks rained down on Cormac, pinning him. Astrid and I took a moment to realize this before we began running toward the Village again. I truly thought we were about to die and my heart beat so fast I thought I would throw up. My nose bled.

  Ernie was waiting for us at the gatehouse. I told him what just happened.

  “Cormac? No. That can’t be.”

  “That must be how Nalke planned to strike at us,” I said, still panting. Once again, Astrid was breathing normally, though her eyes showed she was devastated.

  “Well, let’s get you home, girly. It’s safer there.” Ernie took her arm and ushered her away.

  “What about me?” I asked.

  “You’ll be safe too. Don’t leave, though. The shield is stronger if you’re here.”

  “I know.” I still couldn’t believe that. Cormac and Tack had already gotten through this shield. I decided to trust Ernie, though. I watched him and Astrid disappear down the hill, toward Rockne’s house. Then I watched the mountains, waiting for some sign of movement.

  I saw them coming, thanks to the red sky.

  A line of giants headed toward the Village.

  Chapter 20: A Giant Problem

  I stood outside the gatehouse, watching the approaching giants. Lightning lit up the sky, followed by thunder. I felt rain hit the top of my head. It started coming down really hard a moment later, making it difficult to see clearly. I could feel the giants, though. I couldn’t imagine helping the shield by staying there, but I wasn’t about to leave and risk the safety of the Village.

&nb
sp; As the horde approached, I saw Cormac leading the way. He looked banged up by the avalanche that stopped him earlier, but not enough to kill him or make him less dangerous. He still carried the sword he killed his father with. There were four other giants behind him.

  I went back into the gatehouse and called Rockne again. He still didn’t answer. Neither did Victor. I could barely breathe by the time the horde arrived. They stopped a few feet away from the gatehouse, looking around. The shield was working.

  Or so I thought.

  Cormac took a step forward. I wasn’t sure where the shield began, but the giant was way too close. I watched from inside the gatehouse as he stood outside the sliding door, looking at me. With a finger, he slid the door open. I backed away, waiting for him to destroy the recently repaired roof.

  I wanted to ask him why he was doing this, but I knew I wouldn’t be able to understand his reply. I waited for him to kill me, but he simply stood there. “What are you waiting for?” I couldn’t help asking.

  He grunted, just as I expected, and then walked into the Village. The other four giants followed.

  The shield was useless!

  I left the gatehouse and screamed at them, hoping to get their attention. I could barely see their gray skin as they walked down the hill. I ran after them. The horde headed straight for Rockne’s house. I ran past them, to the backyard, and tried to open the back door.

  “Josh!” a familiar voice screamed behind me.

  I turned and saw Astrid waving at me from the treehouse. I ran over and climbed inside. I shivered from the rain, breathing so hard I thought I would pass out. “Are you all right?” I asked her.

  She nodded. “How did they get into the Village?”

  “The shield didn’t work. Where’s Ernie?”

  “Warning Champagne. He told me to stay in the house, but I didn’t feel safe in there.”

  She had good reason. We watched as the giants beat at the house with their fists. They were nearly half as tall as Rockne’s house, and it wouldn’t stand much longer.

  “Where’s Rockne?” I asked Astrid.

  “I don’t know. We can’t find him. How did Nalke turn the giants?”

  “Cormac said something to me, but I couldn’t understand him.” I recited the grunts exactly. Astrid’s eyes grew wide.

  Before she could say anything, we heard giant footsteps approach us. The tree house shook. We were hidden behind a wall, but if the giants looked at the tree house from a certain angle, they would see us.

  “Hey!” a voice yelled over the rain. “Over here, you giant bastard!”

  I looked out and saw Cormac turning back to Rockne’s house, at a figure standing a few feet away. It was Ernie. The giant walked back toward him.

  “You are not welcome here!” Ernie yelled. “Leave at once. You cannot have her.”

  Cormac stood there as the other giants continued pummeling the house. They hadn’t noticed Ernie walk past them, apparently. I wanted to run out and help him, but knew I wasn’t a match against them. If I left the tree house, they might be tempted to check it for Astrid. I stayed put.

  “Cormac, how could you side with Nalke? He’s the enemy. How could you betray Astrid’s trust? She loved you.”

  I could barely hear the giant’s response over the rain, but Ernie did. “I will not help you! Rockne will be here soon; he will kill you if you’re still here. Join our side and help Astrid.”

  Instead of replying, Cormac picked Ernie up by his feet and dangled him upside down.

  I jumped out of the tree house without thinking and screamed. Cormac didn’t hear me. He grabbed the upper half of Ernie’s body and held him up over his head.

  “Hey!” I screamed again, trying to distract Cormac long enough to think of a plan.

  The giant finally turned around, still holding Ernie by his upper and lower body. He held him in front of himself.

  “Josh,” Ernie said to me. He sounded like he was in pain. “Get Astrid away from here.”

  That was the last thing he ever said. Cormac snapped his spine. I heard the crack clearly over the rain.

  I screamed until my throat was raw.

  Cormac dropped Ernie’s body and walked toward me. I hadn’t realized Astrid was behind me until she grabbed my hand and told me to run. We ran between the giant’s legs and to the street. Champagne was across the way, standing at her door. She waved us over and slammed her front door behind us.

  “Get to the panic room upstairs!” she screamed as the five giants walked toward us. I saw them through the bay window next to the door.

  Astrid led me upstairs to the large master bedroom. There was a large metal door on our left. I pulled it open and followed Astrid inside.

  “What about Champagne?” I asked.

  “She knows what she’s doing.” Astrid searched the steel walls around us. The panic room wasn’t very large, maybe the size of my bedroom.

  “This room probably won’t protect us from giants,” I said. “They nearly destroyed Rockne’s house.”

  “I know. We’re not staying here.” She found what she was looking for. A big red button behind a hidden panel. She pressed it.

  Suddenly, we were in a different room, much darker than the last.

  “What happened?” I asked.

  “I just transported us to another house.”

  It took me a moment to understand. “Which house?”

  “An abandoned one at the end of the street. The giants don’t know we’re here. All the houses connect to this one, in case we need to make a quick escape. But we can’t travel to any house from here. It’s one-way.” She opened the door and looked around. The room was empty and dusty, and I guessed it had been a long time since someone lived here.

  Astrid wiped her eyes furiously. I couldn’t tell if she was crying because she was soaked with rain water, but I took her hand anyway. “I’m sorry about Ernie,” I said.

  “Thank you.”

  Just then, a bright light shone through the nearby window. There was a loud, thunderous roar and the floor shook. Dust rained down from the ceiling.

  “What’s that?” I asked.

  She smiled. “It’s Rockne. He’s back.”

  Chapter 21: Winning Dargo’s Support

  We stepped outside the empty house and saw a small mushroom cloud in the center of the Village. We ran toward it, and I noticed we were in a far corner of the neighborhood. The rain stopped as we ran down the main street, toward Rockne’s house. He was standing in front of his ruined house, a pile of dead giants in his front yard.

  When Rockne saw Astrid, his face lit up with a smile. “Oh, thank heaven you’re all right.”

  He hugged her tightly. The look of relief on his face made me feel better.

  “Ernie’s dead,” she told Rockne. “We couldn’t save him.”

  “It’s okay, my dear. It wasn’t your fault. Nothing could be done. I just wish I was here.”

  “Where were you?” I asked, trying not to sound angry, even though I was.

  He looked at me from the corners of his eyes. “I was in town, grabbing a drink with Victor. Some giants showed up there as well, tearing up Dargo Plaza. They nearly got into the palace before I managed to stop them.”

  “Nalke turned the giants?” Champagne asked as she joined us.

  “It would appear so.”

  “What does this mean for us?” she asked.

  Victor waddled up to us. “Dargo natives attacked us. It reflects poorly on the Dargons that their own inhabitants sided with the bad guy. This could open up a discussion with Taleeno, and he may join us in order to make things right.”

  “Yes,” said Rockne, “hopefully this attack will show Taleeno and his daughter that we only want peace for everyone, and that Nalke is a threat that can’t be ignored.”

  “Or they may blame us for bringing Dargo to Nalke’s attention in the first place,” I said. I couldn’t help it.

  Rockne stared at me but said nothing.

  Astrid stoo
d near Cormac’s dead body at the top of the pile. “How could he betray us like this?”

  “Nalke is very persuasive,” Rockne said, putting a hand on her shoulder. “There’s nothing he won’t do to regain power. Nothing is sacred to him.”

  After this attack, my view of Nalke definitely changed.

  “No time like the present to talk with Taleeno,” Victor said as he and Rockne headed for Rockne’s car. Before Rockne got in, he waved his hand and the pile of giants slowly began disappearing in an orange glow.

  Astrid walked up to me. “I still can’t believe Cormac did this. He killed his own father.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  She shook her head, looking toward the dead pile as embers floated in the air. “That thing he said to you before he came after me doesn’t make sense.”

  “Why? What did he say?”

  She looked at me. “He said ‘help me.’”

  * * *

  Rockne and Victor returned an hour later. It was early in the morning and I was exhausted despite the fact I was always up at this time anyway. Champagne had invited Astrid and me back to her house, where we drank some hot chocolate. Rockne and Victor walked in and sat with us at the dining table.

  “Well,” Rockne said, “Taleeno agreed to join us in our fight against Nalke.”

  “That’s wonderful news,” Champagne said. “What happens now?”

  “First off, we have to bring the other giants under control.”

  I looked at Rockne. “What does that mean?”

  “We can’t trust them. We’re arresting the remaining giants. If they don’t come willingly, they’ll be destroyed.”

  “You can’t be serious,” Champagne protested. She looked at Rockne warily.

  “I’m very serious, dear. If they don’t resist, they’ll simply be imprisoned until we can figure out what to do with them. Once Nalke is defeated, perhaps they can be rehabilitated.”

  “You’re judging an entire race based on the actions of a few?”

  “Not the entire race. If Nalke managed to turn the dozen he did, who’s to say he didn’t get the entire clan?”