Jake, Rachel, Cassie, and Marco were all in
their own human bodies. They were walking single file with the two Hork-Bajir behind.
Ax was way out in front, scouting ahead. He was far faster than any of the humans, and faster even than the Hork-Bajir. And Ax would be able to handle it if he happened to bump into some enemy Hork-Bajir.
I flew cover. I did a slow circle that carried me all the way out to where Ax was, then all around the area. That part was hard because there was a steady headwind rolling down from the mountains. On the back side of the circle I would drift around till I could see the first edge of the pursuing Taxxons.
Between Ax and me, we figured we wouldn't be surprised by anything leaping out at us.
But the more we climbed, the higher up the foothill paths we went, the more worried I became. What was the point of leading Jara Hamee and Ket Halpak to some secluded valley if we brought a whole Yeerk army with us?
Did the Ellimist have some clever plan? Probably not. The Eliimist seemed to think he had to do the absolute minimum. He didn't mind sticking his little finger into the time stream, but he didn't exactly jump in all the way. I had the feeling we were on our own.
I drifted above my friends in time to hear Marco complain.
"I'm just saying, hey, is there some reason the Ellimist can't just transport us wherever we're going? This hill-climbing is killing my legs. Up and up and up."
"Are you going to whine the whole way?" Rachel asked.
"Yes," Marco confirmed. "That's the plan. Whine the whole way."
"I think it's nice," Cassie said. "I mean, we're out in nature.
Breathing fresh air. No noise or distractions. No TV or stereo blaring.
No cars. Just nature. Trees and animals."
"Yeah, I guess you're right, Cassie," Marco said. "What could be more relaxing than going on a hike with a couple of fugitive space goblins while being hunted by giant worms and probably Visser Three himself? And all the time knowing we're following the plan of an all-powerful galactic pain-in-the-butt who gets us to do all his dirty work?"
Cassie grinned. "Yeah, but while we're running from giant worms we're breathing nice, fresh mountain air. Come on, Marco, you could use the exercise." She got behind Marco and started to push him up the hill.
"Just keep telling yourself - we're having fun with nature, we're having fun with nature."
"How about this - I'm hungry," Marco said just as I glided out of hearing range.
He was hungry, I was hungry. Everyone was hungry, even the Hork-Bajir, because we couldn't let them strip bark. That would have made it even easier for the Yeerks to follow us.
Then I saw breakfast. Even though it was more like lunchtime. A mouse, sitting right out in the open. It was digging seeds out of a fallen pinecone.
I hesitated only for a moment. Then down I went.
It was a perfect strike.
I felt great. The hawk part of my mind has a pretty simple outlook on life - when it eats, it's happy. And there is a very satisfying sensation that comes from doing a job well. Even when the job is hunting mice.
I was just back above the trees when I saw the disaster looming. And heard that characteristic sound.
FWOMP-FWOMP-FWOMP-FWOMP-FWOMP-FWOMP-FWOMP- FWOMP -
"Helicopters!" I yelled. But the others were all too far away to hear me. I cursed myself. Idiot! Idiot! While you were hunting, the Yeerks brought in helicopters!
There were three of them, spread out over a mile or so. And they were coming up fast.
I flew. But the wind coming down off the mountains was against me, and !
could barely
make progress. If those choppers flew over my friends, they'd spot them in an instant. They'd see four humans, two big Hork-Bajir and an An-dalite. And then everything would be over.
FWOMP-FWOMP-FWOMP-FWOMP-FWOMP-FWOMP-FWOMP -
The helicopters were getting near.
I used every flying trick I knew to get speed. I raced forward every time the breeze slackened. I dropped down below the trees to avoid the stronger gusts. And slowly I advanced.
"Jake! Rachel! If you can hear me, get off the trail and morph!"
They couldn't answer, of course, because they weren't in morph. I had no way of knowing if they'd heard me.
"Jake! Rachel! Cassie! Marco! Helicopters coming!"
And just then, the first helicopter swept over me, roaring and ripping up the air. It was like being caught in a tornado. The rotor wash grabbed me and threw me sideways through the air.
F WO M P- F WO M P- F WO M P- F WO M P- F WO M P-FWOMP- FWOMP -
I hit a branch.
SNAP!
I felt a jolt of pain.
I flapped my wings, but only my right wing worked.
Then it hit me. The snap I'd heard had been my own bone.
I fell through the branches. WHAP! WHAP! WHAP!
I hit the ground and lay there, fluttering weakly, helpless. Helpless, as only a flightless bird can be helpless.
Panic caught me up and carried me along. No! No! My friends needed me.
No! I couldn't just lie there on the leaves. No!
And then I saw the end coming for me. Not a bobcat. Not a Taxxon or a Hork-Bajir or a Yeerk of any kind.
Just a humble, ordinary, everyday raccoon.
I he raccoon watched me from masked black eyes. I flared my one good wing and snapped with my beak. But the raccoon was too smart and too experienced to fall for my tricks.
It knew I was helpless.
FWOMP-FWOMP-FWOMP-FWOMP-FWOMP -
A second helicopter passed overhead, indifferent to the plight of a crippled hawk.
The raccoon grabbed me by my broken wing and began to drag me. I was on my back, being dragged by an animal not much bigger than a large tabby cat. I snapped again and again, but I couldn't reach the raccoon with my beak. I couldn't turn well enough to bring my talons to bear. And the raccoon knew it.