Arcade Catastrophe
Page 89

“That should work,” Celia agreed.
“If it doesn’t work?” Nate asked.
“Then you’ll have to use the coin you brought with you,” Ted said.
“And if I don’t automatically get kicked out of Uweya?”
Ted and Celia shared a glance. “You’ll probably die,” Celia said.
Nate folded his arms and stared at the floor. Were there any alternatives? What if Katie got killed when she tried to get through the hallway? Jonas would just send somebody else. He would get somebody here eventually.
“You guys have known how to destroy Uweya all along?” Nate asked.
“Our family has known since the duty was entrusted to us,” Ted said.
“The Graywaters have guarded Uweya for many centuries,” Celia added.
“Then why didn’t you end it forever ago?” Nate wondered.
“Think about it,” Celia said. “We Graywaters can’t touch Uweya. We can’t use the coins. If we so much as poke Uweya with a stick from across the room, we all drop dead.”
“We knew how to unmake it,” Ted said. “We even had access. But we needed to find somebody we trusted completely—somebody we knew would destroy Uweya instead of abuse it. Think about the temptation! Anyone who controlled Uweya would literally control the world! In the end, generation after generation, we concluded it was safer simply to keep it secret.”
“But now the secret is out,” Nate said.
“Exactly,” Ted said. “If this weren’t an emergency, I can’t imagine William would have bestowed the token upon you. But apparently he thought his chances were better with you than with Jonas White. What do you say?”
Nate’s stomach felt knotted. His perspiration felt cold. “I’m not super eager to die.”
“If Uweya falls into the wrong hands, we all die,” Celia pointed out.
“You could theoretically survive destroying it,” Ted encouraged.
Nate nodded neutrally. Was there another option? There had to be! But what? “Give me a minute to think.”
Ted glanced at the doorway. “What are the chances this ComKin can make it through the hallway?”
“I honestly don’t know,” Nate replied. “It’s so brutal. But Jonas seems to have planned for everything. It’s definitely possible.”
They all stared at the doorway in silence.
“I’ll go have a look,” Celia offered.
Nobody tried to dissuade her.
Nate looked at Ted. “So I’ll have to go into Uweya, then go through that hall again to get to the power source?”
“It’s the only remaining way to access this room,” Ted said.
Nate still had one stick of Peak Performance. The thought of flying through the hall again was not exciting. “Will I still be able to fly if I enter Uweya?”
“Your magic should work the same,” Ted said.
“Will I be able to breathe? You mentioned there’s no wind. Is there air?”
“I’m not sure exactly how it works,” Ted confessed. “Maybe you breathe the same air you’re breathing now. Maybe there is a special layer of breathable air around Uweya. All I know is that in the distant past, Iwa Iza and his apprentices entered Uweya, and they didn’t die.”
“She’s coming,” Celia called from the door. “She’s more than halfway through.”
Ted stared at Nate expectantly.
“All right,” Nate said. “Let’s get ready. If she makes it through, I’ll go in.”
Ted hurried over to a workbench and returned with a coin. He gave it to Nate.
“How many coins are there?” Nate wondered.
“Dozens,” Ted said. “Were you hoping to hide them to keep her from following you?”
“It had crossed my mind.”
“There’s too many,” Ted said. “I don’t know where we could stash them. Hopefully she doesn’t know about the coins. We’ll try to stop her.”
“Don’t try too hard,” Nate said. “If she makes it through that hallway, you won’t stand a chance. I’ve seen her fight. She probably knows about the coins. Jonas seemed to know everything about this place.”
“We’ll do our best to delay her,” Ted vowed. “It’s our sworn duty.”
“I’d appreciate that. What now?”
“Normally you would lie on a levitating tablet to get into position,” Ted said. “We have many of them. But you can fly, so you can probably get into position easier yourself. Be careful. Accidentally bumping Uweya with your elbow could kill millions. Look through the coin, then say ‘utcha.’ You’ll enter Uweya where you’re looking when you speak. Point the coin skyward and say ‘utcha’ to get out.”
“Utcha?”
“Utcha.”
“Will people be able to see me?” Nate asked.
“The people of Earth? No. You’ll see their clothes and their cars, things like that, but they won’t see you or anything you bring. Nor will they be able to touch you. Not directly. But all of the nonliving components of Uweya can interact with you. If a car runs you down, you’ll feel it.”
“It’ll kill me?”
“Just like a normal car. Take care.”
“She’s almost here!” Celia cried. “She’s unstoppable!” Celia heaved the door closed.
“Thanks,” Nate said. “Good luck.”
“Save all your luck for yourself,” Ted said. “Take mine too!”
Nate glided over to Uweya. He approached slowly. It was easy to find the California coastline, easy to find the distinctive inlet of the San Francisco Bay. The Peak Performance remained active in his system, keeping his senses keen.
Holding the coin to his eye, Nate found that with a small effort, he could zoom his vision in closer to the surface, as if the coin were a magical telescope. He zoomed in and out at will, marveling at the details. There was San Francisco. There was the Golden Gate Bridge. He could see the vehicles crossing it. He found vessels in the bay.
Nate could not help thinking how much Pigeon would have enjoyed all the detail. Pigeon loved maps and geography, and this put every map in existence to shame. But if Nate accomplished his goal, Pigeon would never get a chance to see it.
There was Alcatraz. There was Yerba Buena Island.
Nate zoomed out. He needed to find Mt. Diablo.
But wait.
If he went to Mt. Diablo and destroyed Uweya’s power source, Jonas White would still be holding his friends prisoner. Jonas would still have simulacra of Pigeon, Trevor, Summer, Lindy, and the others. If Nate took out Uweya, Jonas could retaliate by killing most of the people he cared about. Unless he went after another power source first.