فصل 18

18

The Drone

“We need to leave immediately,” Enele said. “We need to reach Nukufetau before the Elgen find us.” The old man stood. He suddenly looked more stooped, as if sharing the prophecy had stolen energy from him. “Have faith. He will come. Uira te Atua will come.” “Be safe,” Enele said.

The old man said, “Safety is but an illusion. You will not see me again in this world. Now go with God.” Enele looked at the elder sadly. “Then this is good-bye.” The old man nodded. “Until we meet again in better realms.” Enele again dropped to one knee, but the elder just said, “Rise and sail,” then embraced Enele.

Enele and his men got back into their tender and sailed quickly back to the Regulator. Enele radioed Noa and told him to contact the other ships and instruct them to leave immediately for Nukufetau. “Tell them I will explain when I return,” he said.

“Roger that,” Noa said.

Several hours after they had departed, Enele went out onto the deck. He was tired and anxious and wanted to feel the cool air on his face. A little more than a half hour later Zeel walked out to join him.

“I’m sorry to bother you. Do you wish to be alone?” “No,” Enele said. “We can talk.”

Zeel put his arms over the rail next to Enele. After a moment he said, “I wish to apologize for my behavior of the last day. I have been . . . difficult.” “I would expect that of a warrior,” Enele said. “You are following your heart.” He looked over at Zeel. “Why the change of heart?” “Adam told me about the prophecy. I can understand now why you have put so much trust in this man.” He rubbed his chin. “What do you think of this lightning god the elder speaks of?” Enele shook his head. “I don’t know.” “Does he speak metaphorically?”

“I don’t think so.”

“The lightning god was the Greek god Zeus,” Zeel said.

“And Thor, in Norse mythology. Nearly every ancient culture prophesied of a lightning god.” “There was a boy with us in Hades named Zeus. Could it be him?” “I don’t think so,” Enele said.

After a moment Zeel said, “This will be something to see.” They both fell silent. The boat’s hull crashed against the sea in a steady rhythm. Not far from them a school of porpoise chased along with the ship. Zeel took in a deep breath, then said, “If the elder is right and the Elgen have already rebuilt, do you think we will survive their assault?” “All things are possible with God.” “And if there is no God?”

Enele turned back. “Then we’re just dust and beasts, and what does it matter?” They were both silent again. Suddenly Zeel pointed to something in the sky. “What is that?” They both strained their eyes toward the rapidly dimming horizon. There was a white, airplane-like craft with a V-shaped tail and wings longer than its body. It soared about a thousand feet above them.

“I’ve seen one of those before,” Enele said. “It’s a long-range observation drone.” He turned pale. “They’ve seen our boats. They know where we are. This is not good. I must go.” Enele hurried back up to the bridge, followed closely by Zeel. Captain Noa looked back at them as they entered.

“Did you see the drone?” Adam asked.

“Yes. How much farther to Nukufetau?” Enele asked the captain.

“We have about two more hours.”

“The Elgen could be there in an hour,” Enele said. “How much faster can we go?” “Maybe six knots,” the captain replied.

“Do it,” Enele said.

“And leave the Proton behind?”

“Yes. They can lag behind. If we’re attacked, perhaps they can slip off and escape.” “What about the other ships?”

“Tell them what we’re doing.”

“I’ll radio them.”

Zeel looked afraid. “What did the elder say about being caught at sea?” “Don’t remind me,” Enele said. “It wasn’t good.”