Rise of the Elgen (35 page)

O
stin was sitting by himself nearly a hundred yards away from the camp, leaning against a tree. He was drawing in the dirt with a stick, doing mathematical equations, something he did when he was upset. He didn’t notice McKenna until she was standing a few yards from him.

“May I sit down?” McKenna asked.

“Free world,” Ostin said. “At least until the Elgen take over.”

McKenna sat down cross-legged a few feet from him. She picked up a rock and rolled it in her hands. For a long time neither of them spoke.

“They estimate that there are seven and a half trillion trees in the Amazon rain forest,” Ostin said. “That one right there is called a strangler fig. The Peruvians call it
matapalo
, the killer tree. It starts when a bird drops its seed up in a tree and the strangler fig grows down to the ground until it chokes out the host tree and takes its place.”

“That’s interesting,” McKenna said. After another moment she said, “It’s not your fault, you know.”

“I let my best friend down. I wasn’t loyal.”

“Did you want him to stay?”

He looked up angrily. “No! Of course not.”

“Then you honored his wishes even when you didn’t want to. That’s loyalty, isn’t it?”

Ostin couldn’t answer.

“Taylor doesn’t really think it’s your fault either.”

“You could have fooled me.”

“Sometimes people are like that. When we’re upset at someone and they’re not around, we take it out on whoever is close. Even people we love. Taylor’s afraid for Michael and so she’s upset. And since he isn’t here, she took it out on you. Does that make sense?”

Ostin sighed. “I guess so.”

“The truth is, no matter what anyone said back there, if it wasn’t for you, we’d all still be locked up at the academy. All of us, including Michael.” Ostin looked up to see her gazing at him. “You’re the smartest person I’ve ever met. And you’re smarter than any of us. You’re our only hope of saving Michael.” She looked at him for a moment, then leaned forward, staring him directly in the eyes. “Michael needs you. So stop feeling sorry for yourself and
save
him.”

“You think I can save him?”

“I
know
you can save him. And I know you can save us.” She leaned back.

Ostin stared at the ground for a moment. When he lifted his head his expression had changed. He looked like himself again.

“Let’s break down our situation into its individual components. We’re hiding in a tropical rain forest next to a seemingly impenetrable fortress with two thousand armed guards, huge electric fences, and ubiquitous camera surveillance. Our original way into the compound through the ranch entrance is no longer an option, and our second route was locked off by Michael.

“Our foe seems all-powerful, but if history has taught us anything, it’s that everyone and everything has a weakness—you just
have to find it. My weakness is jelly doughnuts. Your weakness is dehydration, or lack of water.” His brow furrowed. “Zeus’s weakness is also water.” Suddenly his face animated. “That’s it!” He clapped his hands together. “That’s their weakness!”

“What?” McKenna asked.

“Water! They built protection around the power plant but not their water source.” He jumped up. “I know how to shut them down.”

“Explain,” McKenna said, smiling at his enthusiasm.

“To power two million homes, their plant would have to create nearly twenty billion kilowatt hours of electricity. That’s twice the energy of a standard nuclear power plant. Given that the Elgen’s power creation is three times more efficient than a steam-turbine system, I’m guessing that the rats are generating heat close to one thousand degrees Fahrenheit. That’s why they built the plant next to a river—without water the bowl would melt down in a matter of minutes. Or even if it didn’t, the heat would kill the rats. No rats, no electricity. No electricity, no lights, no cameras, no electric locks, and no electric fences.” Ostin grabbed McKenna’s hand and pulled her to her feet. “Come on, we’ve got to tell the others.”

*   *   *

In Ostin’s absence, the group had moved a couple of hundred feet from the pipe to a more concealed location. Everyone was sitting or lying down when Ostin and McKenna rushed into the clearing.

“I know how we can save Michael!” Ostin shouted.

Taylor stood. “How?”

“Everyone gather round,” Ostin said, standing next to Zeus. They formed a crescent around him, McKenna holding on to Ostin’s arm.

“Here’s the gist of it,” Ostin said. “Just north of the compound is the Elgen pump house. That’s where they bring in the water from the river to cool the Starxource plant. It’s outside of the compound. If we blow up the pump house, their grid will heat up to a thousand degrees within minutes. So even if the grid doesn’t melt down, the heat will kill all the rats and still shut down their power. The entire compound is electric, so if they lose their power
they lose their cameras, alarms, intercoms, and light. Which means the prisoners can escape.”

“Don’t they have backup power?” Zeus asked.

“They have two backup generators run by diesel,” Ostin said. “But even if they could get their generators up, it would take at least five to ten minutes to get them online. And they would only create enough power for the compound. The rest of Peru would go dark.”

Suddenly a grin crossed Ostin’s face. “Wait, I’ve got an even better idea. We also blow the generators! All that diesel fuel would create a massive explosion that would set fire to the camp. It will take hundreds of guards to fight it. Between that and all the escaping prisoners, we’ll practically be able to walk in and get Michael.”

“Brilliant,” Ian said.

“But how do we blow the pump house?” Taylor asked.

“Dynamite,” Ostin said.

“Last I checked we’re completely out,” Wade said sardonically.

“Where do we get dynamite?” Taylor asked.

“I don’t know,” Ostin said. “But this is the jungle and jungle people use dynamite for clearing trees and mining. I’m hoping that Raúl knows where to find some.” He looked around. “Where is Raúl?”

“We don’t know,” Abigail said. “No one could understand him. He took Jack’s knife and ran out into the forest.”

Ostin looked puzzled. “Did he say anything?”

Jack looked at Abigail. “Something like saliva.”

Ostin’s brow furrowed. “Saliva?”

Abigail said, “No, it was more like . . . saliba. Salvia. Maybe, sabila.”

“Sábila,”
Ostin repeated. “Of course. For Zeus.”

“He was looking at Zeus when he said it,” Abigail said.

“He must know where he can find some.”

“Find what?” Jack asked.

“Aloe vera. It’s a cactuslike plant that grows in Peru and is useful for treating burns,” Ostin said. “While we’re waiting for Raúl we need to make our plan. Ian, the generators are on the north side of the plant. There should be some big fuel tanks.”

“I think I see them,” Ian said, standing up and looking toward the
compound. “There are two huge tanks aboveground, then a couple dozen oil barrels stacked near them.”

“Can you tell if they’re full?”

“All except two.”

“Perfect,” Ostin said. “So first we set the dynamite at the pump. The generators are going to be trickier because they’re behind the fence.”

“We could throw the dynamite,” Jack said. “If it’s not too far.”

“It’s not,” Ian said. “But then how do we detonate it?”

“Zeus could do it,” Jack said. “Couldn’t you?”

Zeus nodded weakly. “If I can get there, I can. Back at the academy I used to set off firecrackers all the time.”

“I’ll get you there,” Jack said.

Ostin continued, “While the guards are trying to put out the fire, we’ll blow the pump house. Then the bowl will melt down, the power will go out, and in all the confusion, Ian, McKenna, Taylor, and I will slip in through the east fence to save Michael.”

“Where am I while this is happening?” Jack asked.

“After we blow the pump house, you and Zeus will stay with the rest of the Electroclan. If something goes wrong, you get them to the village. Raúl knows his way through the jungle. In the village he can hide you.”

Jack nodded. “Good plan.”

“When do we do it?” Taylor asked.

“Tomorrow, after dark. It’s also best if we wait until their feeding time—that’s when the bowl will be at its hottest.” Ostin looked at them all. “Are you with me?”

“I’m with you,” McKenna said.

“Me too,” Taylor said.

“I’m in,” Jack said. “So is Wade.”

“It could work,” Ian said. “What do we do first?”

“First thing we need to do is get the dynamite. Let’s just hope Raúl knows where to find some.”

“Let’s just hope Raúl comes back,” Jack said.

*   *   *

Raúl returned to the camp about a half hour later carrying half a dozen large, dull-green serrated leaves. He set them down on the ground near Zeus, then knelt beside him.

“Yep, aloe vera,” Ostin said. “It’s a natural remedy for burns.”

Zeus looked at the moist leaves fearfully. “It may burn me more,” he said.

“Let me try just a little,” Ostin said. He took a leaf from Raúl, squeezed some salve from it onto his finger, then lightly touched it to Zeus’s skin. There was no electric reaction. “Looks good,” Ostin said.

“All right,” Zeus said.

Ostin nodded to Raúl. “Okay.”

“Okay,” Raúl said. He split a leaf, then began applying the salve to Zeus’s burned flesh, murmuring something to Ostin as he worked.

“He said this will help,” Ostin said.

“Let’s hope so,” Jack said.

Abigail continued to hold Zeus’s hand.

“How are you holding up?” Zeus asked Abigail. She was weary from her constant exertion, but she forced a smile. “Still better than you.”

As Raúl worked, Ostin explained his plan, then the two of them had a long discussion. When it was over, Ostin said, “Raúl knows where we can find dynamite. It’s about a three-hour walk from here. But he’ll need help carrying it.”

“Someone’s going to carry dynamite for three hours through a slippery jungle?” Wade said. “That sounds like a death wish.”

“Wade and I will go,” Jack said.

“What?” Wade said.

“Someone’s got to do it,” Jack said. “We’ll do it.”

Wade just shook his head.

Raúl handed Jack’s knife back to him, then pointed to Jack and Wade and said something.

“He said you should leave a little before sunrise,” Ostin said.

Jack nodded.
“Sí.”

Wade looked distressed. “Great. I won’t even get a last meal.”

*   *   *

As darkness fell, Mrs.Vey approached Ostin, who was sketching out a map of the compound in the dirt. “Ostin?”

He looked up. “Yes, Mrs. Vey?”

“It’s really a great plan you came up with.”

Ostin blushed. “Thank you.”

She kissed Ostin on the forehead. “You’re a good friend to Michael. That’s why he loves you so much. And when we get back to Idaho, I’m making you waffles.”

Ostin pumped his fist. “Yes!”

Ostin was still smiling when Taylor approached him a few minutes later.

“Hey,” she said.

Ostin looked up.

“About your idea,” Taylor said. “It’s brilliant.”

“Thanks.”

She took a deep breath. “Look, I’m sorry about what I said earlier. It wasn’t your fault. I was just upset.”

“I know,” Ostin said.

“You do?”

He nodded.

“I was afraid you wouldn’t know that. I mean, you’re so smart about everything except girls. Well, girls and pretty much anything social . . .”

“McKenna explained it to me,” Ostin said.

“Oh,” Taylor said. “I feel awful about what I said about you being a bad friend. You’re not. You’re a great friend.” She looked into his eyes. “Can you forgive me?”

“Yes.”

“I know I tease you a lot, but I’m glad we’re friends, too.”

“Really?” Ostin asked.

Taylor nodded. “Really.”

Ostin put out his fist. “Bones?”

Taylor smiled and put out hers. “Bones.”

T
he group huddled together for the night, sleeping on the dirt. The Amazonian floor receives less than 2 percent of the sunlight, so very little grows, making it soft, like a decaying mulch pile.

The night air was moist and a little too cool for comfort, but they didn’t dare make a fire or even let McKenna light herself up for fear that they’d be discovered by an Elgen patrol—it was dangerous enough that most of them glowed naturally.

Everyone was thirsty. Raúl took Ostin with him into the jungle, and when they came back Ostin was holding a tan, tennis-ball-size glob from which he pinched out pieces, rolled them into small balls, and handed them out to everyone.

“What is this?” Taylor said.

“It’s gum,” Ostin said. “It will make you less thirsty.”

“Where did you find gum?”

“It’s called chicle. It comes from the sap of the sapodilla tree. That’s how they make gum.”

“Chicle. Chiclets,” McKenna said.

“Exacto,”
Ostin said. “That’s where it got its name.”

Taylor put some in her mouth and chewed. “It’s kind of sweet. But it tastes like gum you’ve already chewed for ten hours.”