Page 16 (1/2)

Chapter 16

"Pandora!" Howard cried in horror "Pan!" He

scrambled up over the side of the boat and was about to dive into the water when Mareth yanked him back down

"Release me, Mareth! We are bonds!" said Howard He thrashed about wildly in Mareth's grip

"She is gone, Howard! You cannot help her!" said Mareth

But Hoas unable to accept this He twisted out of Mareth's hold and rabbed him by the arm, spun him around, and with one punch knocked hiht Howard as he flew backward She staggered back under his weight, but was able to break his fall as he landed In the o in to help Pandora, did an abrupt 180-degree turn and began to fly toward open sea for all he orth The cloud of mites, which was only a couple of feet froan to chase him As fast as he flew, the cloud stayed on his tail

Gregor felt himself hit by the same panic Howard had experienced a few ht behind you!" He felt so helpless He couldn't jump into the water to save his bat It would be pointless, and, anyway, Mareth would just knock hiet to Ares, hoould he stop a cloud of flesh-eating or!" he said to hi on Ares now The black edge was aloing to be devoured by insects, and his skeleton would fall into the water and -- and -- wait a or screaor wasn't sure the bat had heard hian to e over the line of Ares's tail, the bat dove into the water Gregor wasn't sure exactly what he thought would happen, but it sees Bees and things, anyway If Ares was in the water, they couldn't get him; that was as far as his plan went It was somewhat limited in effectiveness since, of course, Ares would soon have to coht of the right thing, after all, because just then the fish -- all the wonderful fish! -- surfaced and began to feast on the an to counterattack the fish When Ares caotten hi a new enemy and a potential meal

"Fliers! The ropes!" Mareth ordered, and Aurora and Andro the vessel through the water Ares caught up and with hi the back end, they soon left the island far behind Mareth had them fly for several miles before he allowed them to put the boat back in the water and land to rest

Ares set his end in the water, but did not join theain, and finally, after about twenty"The mites," he explained

"So h"

"Are you okay?" Gregor asked, giving him an aard pat

"Yes, I am fine," said Ares "I have only some small wounds Not like --" and the bat stopped hior toweled Ares off Luxa helped hih the black fur, inch by inch, and apply medicine to wherever the mites had bitten off pieces of his flesh While they found s in the water

"It was good, Overlander Your idea to dive," said Ares

"Yes, it was very clever to know the fish would come after the ht it all the way through to the fish part," adh"

When they had finished treating hiainst Ares, and the three bats went off to sleep Gregor was glad Andro his bat Maybe she'd realized that Aurora would choose Ares over her, and she'd end up alone Whatever the reason, Gregor thought Ares really needed the co the boat, so Gregor and Luxa did their best to tend to Howard as well He was still out Theycold cloths to his swollen jaw

"Do you think we should try to wake hior

Luxa shook her head "He has the rest of his life to mourn her"

They were all very quiet that day The bats slept fitfully, Twitchtip stared out at the water, Mareth steered, Boots and Teether on the bow and did not co Boots and Te Pandora's horrific death in his head and he suspected Luxa was doing the same

Finally, as if she couldn't stand it anyor," she said