When last we met: “The evil ones know how powerful the bond between human and canine is, and so they aim to break the bond whenever they can,” said the eagle chief. “And here, at the nexus point of the storm, that bond is the single biggest element of resistance against the triumph of evil.” “That’s why the dogs are the bait in our plan to trap the Evil One,” Blurg said. “Come again?” asked Summer.
It was very windy on Halloween morning. The sky to the southwest was as dark as dark could ever be.
“Ready?” I said, standing just inside the house by the patio door.
Sitting patiently by my side were Dejah Thoris Princess of Mars, my 11-year-old, English cream golden retriever who was wise beyond her years, and Summer, my 3-year-old retriever who was still trying to remember what her name was.
“Ready,” said Dejah.
“Ready for what?” said Summer, but she added, “Just kidding, Daddy. Let’s do this.”
I slid open the patio door, and Dejah waddled onto the deck. I followed and looked back. Summer, as always, was standing just inside the threshold as if trying to decide whether to come out.
“Come on,” I coaxed. “Come on out.”
After I waved her onto the deck two or three times, she stepped outside.
Today, I really couldn’t blame her if she was afraid. Even though there were 17 elfin wizards and wizardesses and three or four dozen tiny warriors, nearly 30 eagles, a dozen large deer, and five dragons standing between the deck and the coming storm, we had seen the video from down south, where hurricanes had ravaged large swaths of territory in recent weeks. And this hurricane was not only more powerful than those storms, it was being directed by some sort of supernatural being — the Evil One, if the prophecy was to be believed.
“Don’t worry, little one,” said Blurg the wizardess, who had to look up to meet Summer’s eyes. “We’ve got this.” She and her 16 mystical colleagues had positioned themselves along the outside of the backyard fence, spaced more or less evenly.
“I don’t blame you for being scared, sister,” Dejah said. “I’m old, I have most of my life behind me, but you have most of your life ahead.”
“I’m not scared, I’m just nervous,” Summer said. “And stop talking about how old you are.”
A bolt of lightning flashed in the sky, and a moment later thunder rocked the land.
“Here it comes,” said Grenn.
The great darkness began to descend, and the wind picked up. More lightning, more thunder, and then rain began to fall.
And then a huge face appeared in the sky in front of the storm. It sort of resembled the giant who was the leader of the worblatt crew, and it sort of resembled the little green guy who had teleported Summer and Seth to Red River Park — especially the green monster’s smirky smirk.
His voice, however, was very familiar, and it seemed to be coming from everywhere at once.
“THE TIME OF MAGIC IS AT ITS PEAK, AND MY TIME HAS COME AT LAST,” said the huge face.
“I thought he said he wasn’t really the Evil One,” Dejah said uneasily.
“I LIED. IT’S WHAT I DO BEST,” said the face. “OF COURSE I AM THE EVIL ONE. PREPARE YOURSELVES FOR ETERNITY.”
Summer, Dejah and I stood on the deck facing the oncoming hurricane and the giant green face. Between us and the storm were a dozen determined white-tailed deer, 29 warrior eagles, five dragons and several dozen [unpronounceable] elfin beings, including the 17 wizards and wizardesses who stood along the fence.
I have to admit, as the wind whipped fallen leaves in circles around the yard and rain started falling sideways in the wind, I began to suspect it wasn’t going to be enough.
“Oh dear,” Dejah said. Summer just whimpered.
