Page 11 (1/2)

Chapter 11

Gregor awoke froes of bloodred rivers, his dad surrounded by rats, and

Boots falling into bottoht long

Oh, yeah And then there was that warrior thing

He had tried to tell them When Vikus had ior had actually laughed But the or had said "Really, I proet their hopes up? Samurai warriors, Apache warriors, African warriors, medieval warriors He'd seen movies He'd read books He didn't in any way reserown up and they usually had a lot of special weaponry Gregor was eleven and, unless you counted a two-year-old sister as special weaponry, he'd cohting He'd fight back if someone jumped him at school, but that didn't happen often He wasn't all that big, but he moved fast and people didn't like to uys were pounding a shts, and wasn't fighting arriors mainly did?

Vikus and Luxa had listened to his protests He thought he h opinion of him, anyway -- but Vikus was more persistent

"How many Overlanders survive the fall to the Underland, do you suppose? I would guess a tenth And how many survive the rats after that? Perhaps another tenth So out of a thousand Overlanders, let us say ten survive How passing strange is it that not only your father but you and your sister cauess it's kind of strange," ador "But I don't see why that makes me the warrior"

"You hen you better understand the prophecy," said Vikus "Each person carries their own destiny These walls tell of our destiny And your destiny, Gregor, requires you to play a role in it"

"I don't know about this destiny thing," said Gregor "I mean, my dad and Boots and I we all have the same laundry roo it's uys are probably going to have to wait a little longer for your warrior"

Vikus just smiled and said they would put it before the council in theNow

Despite all of his worries, and he had plenty, Gregor couldn't deny a feeling of giddy happiness that shot through him periodically His dad was alive! Almost instantly another wave of anxiety would rush over hirandma always said, "Where there's life, there's hope"

Boy, wouldn't his grandma love it if she kneas talked about in a prophecy? But, of course, that wasn't hiuy ould hopefully et his dad free

That was his oal no could he rescue his dad?

The curtain pulled open and Gregor squinted at the light Mareth stood in the doorway The swelling in his face had gone down, but his bruises were going to be there for a while

Gregor wondered if the guard was still angry with hior the Overlander, the council requests your presence," he said "If you make haste, you or He started to rise and realized Boots's head was cradled on his ar her "What about Boots?"

"She may sleep on," said Mareth "Dulcet atch over her"

Gregor bathed quickly and dressed in fresh clothes Mareth led him to a small room where a meal was laid out, then stood watch at the door "Hey, Mareth," he said, drawing the guard's attention "How is everybody? I mean, Perdita and the bats? Are they okay?"

"Perdita has woken finally The bats will reat!" said Gregor with relief After his father's situation, the thing pressing most on him had been the condition of the Underlanders

He wolfed down bread, butter, and a mushroom oy seeh him

"Are you ready to face the council?" asked Mareth, seeing his e up He felt better than he had since he had reached the Underland News of his dad, the Underlanders' recovery, sleep, and food had revived hiroup of a dozen older Underlanders, had gathered at a round table in a rooave hi s tired and defiant Gregor bet she'd been chewed out for joining the rescue party last night He was sure she hadn't acted one bit sorry

Vikus introduced the people around the table They all had funny-sounding naan to ask his, like when he was born and did he kno to swiure out why a lot of the stuff was ireen? But a couple of Underlanders were scribbling down every word he said like it was golden

After a while, the council see theht phrases like "a son of the sun" and "white water runs red" and knew they were talking about the prophecy