The Magical Flight of Dodie Rue (13 page)

“Zinnia? Pretty name,” Atallah chewed, the apple crunching in his mouth.

“You're not gonna win,” Dodie continued with a glare. “If Zinnia wants to cross the finish line first, she should ride with me.”

Atallah chortled. “Do whatever you want,
Zin
. Nothing changes the fact that you're a girl and you shouldn't be here.” He tossed her head mask back to her and went outside.

Dodie was quiet, watching Zinnia as she stared at her feet.

“Well, that's that,” she said finally.

“No, it's not,” argued Dodie.

“What am I gonna do?” She turned to him, her eyes watering. “He'll rat me out as soon as we reach the Capital!”

“I'm curious,” Dodie tried to sound delicate. “If you won, how were you planning to get away with it?”

“I wasn't going to reveal myself until after I made my wish. But now .
 . .
”

“Listen, you must finish the race,” Dodie told her, his voice growing stronger. “If you come in first and are disqualified, then the second place will win. That could be me. You'd help my odds.”

“You know I want your brother to live .
 . .
I just really wanted my dad back.” Zinnia sniffed and wiped her nose on her sleeve.

Dodie reached out and rested a hand on her shoulder. “After the race I'll help you look for him. We can put together a search party.” He offered her a smile. “Finish the race. For yourself.”

“Fine.” She lifted her head a little higher and marched outside.

Dodie followed her and found the other racers just landing as Atallah prepared to leave. Dodie and Zinnia mounted their carpets.

“What are you doing?” asked Atallah.

“I'm finishing the race,” said Zinnia as she pulled on her head mask.

“What for?” Atallah snorted. “You're as good as disqualified. You think I'm gonna keep your secret?” He shot off into the sky.

Dodie and Zinnia flew for the low mountain range as the sun climbed higher. As they entered the mountains, a cool breeze that smelled salty wafted past them.

“Is that the ocean I smell?” Dodie asked excitedly.

“Sure is!” Zinnia sounded excited too.

It took them only an hour to cross the mountains. On the other side the Siren Sea met them. White beaches stretched north, and turquoise-blue water sparkled east for as far as the eye could see. The thunderous sound of crashing waves grew stronger as they cleared the mountains, and sea gulls squealed. The sun felt warm, the salty breeze felt cool, and the sky was never bluer. A huddle of clouds rested on the horizon, but they appeared far away. The beach was smooth, but toward the north the coastline grew rocky.

“It's beautiful!” breathed Zinnia.

“I wish we could hang out here for a while,” said Dodie.

Both had paused in midair to take in the scenery.

Atallah whizzed by them, hooting and whistling. “You snooze you lose, love birds!”

“On our way home we'll stop by here again, agreed?” Zinnia said, picking up speed.

“Agreed!” Dodie chased after her. Well, if he lost the race at least he'd have one thing to look forward to.

Chapter 13

Several times Dodie found his speed slackening because he was distracted by the ocean. The continuous motion of the waves crashing and receding mesmerized him. He felt small in this vast world where the sea stretched so far it eventually touched the sky. The cool breeze and salty spray rejuvenated him and filled him with a sense of empowerment, as if he could do anything he wanted .
 . .
even win the Grand Flyer.

He and Zinnia stayed close together with Atallah a few yards ahead and Nye a few yards behind. Randi and Bae lagged in the rear. They flew across smooth beaches and soft surf for most of the morning. Dodie was enjoying the ride.

But then the sun rose higher in the sky and noon approached. Dodie had forgotten about the time until he started to feel a slight queasiness in his stomach. At first he wondered if he had eaten that food at the pit stop too fast. A sudden jolt of panic shot through him when he noticed, for the first time it seemed, how high up he was. Every little sway and bump over the wind started to feel stronger than it was. He had grown so accustomed to flying by now that it came as a shock when he realized he was feeling these sensations
because
he was flying. The potion was wearing off.

“Zinnia!” he called, his voice a little high. “The potion's wearing off.”

Zinnia looked over at him, her dark eyes wide. “Can you hang on a few more miles? The last pit stop should be coming up.”

“I'll try.” Dodie gripped his carpet's braided loops tighter and took a deep breath of sea air.

He was thankful for the cool breeze and calming environment, for those would help him cope. He tried telling himself he wasn't afraid of flying, that he liked flying now, that he could do this on his own—but he didn't believe himself. It was like trying to convince himself he wasn't sick when his body told him otherwise.

Dodie lowered his altitude, thinking if he didn't have that far down to look he wouldn't be that afraid. It helped a little, but it also slowed him down, and he got splashed with water. He tried to keep
Phoenix
as steady as possible and avoided any turns. He kept his eyes locked on Zinnia in front of him.

But there was no ignoring the fear of flying that was rapidly suffocating him.

He noticed the coast changing from smooth beaches to rocky cliffs. He hoped the pit stop was soon, though once he landed he doubted there was any chance of getting back on his carpet.

Suddenly he perked up. What was that sound?

He looked around. Maybe he had imagined it, but he thought he heard .
 . .
singing?

Maybe his fear was taking on new side effects, like hearing voices in his head. Not a good thing.

No! There it was again, and it was growing stronger.

Ahead of him, Atallah whooped and pointed down at a cluster of rocks jutting up from the waves. Dodie squinted against the bright reflections on the water, and saw three women perched on the rocks, their long wavy hair cascading around their shoulders. Their hair was black with blue and purple tints when the sunlight hit them, and their eyes were abnormally large and bright. Their skin was tan and shiny with salt water. Oddest of all, their legs were scaly and silvery, shimmering in the noon sun. Wait, they weren't legs at all.

“Mermaids!” squealed Zinnia. “Listen to them!”

The racers slowed down to admire the beautiful mermaids as they sang in high clear voices.

“We know the paths of the deep;

Rocked by the currents we sleep;

We hold secrets of the sea,

And have treasure to share with thee.

Our price is small to pay

Compared to the riches at bay;

Such wealth you cannot miss,

We ask for only one kiss.”

One mermaid, her hair tied back with a strand of seaweed, reached down into the waves and brought up a fistful of gleaming white pearls. A second mermaid, with a starfish perched on her shoulder, held up brilliant red rubies in her palms. The third mermaid, who wore layers of shell necklaces, ran her hands through a pile of gold coins on her lap.

“All I have to do is kiss them and I get all that?” Bae gasped. “Deal!”

“Don't trust them!” warned Zinnia.

“Why not?” Bae swooped toward the mermaids.

“I've heard they can't be trusted.”

“Yeah!” Dodie agreed, remembering his grandfather's warning. “Don't listen to their song or touch anything that shines.”

“You're just superstitious.” Bae glided to a halt beside the rock of mermaids. “I'm injured and have little chance of winning this race. If I can go home with some mermaid treasure I'll be happy.”

Everyone pulled up to watch what would happen. The mermaids smiled, and it seemed like the very sunshine radiated from them. Bae stepped off his carpet and onto the rock. Each mermaid held out her treasure to him, and blinked her large luminous eyes. Bae grinned foolishly, clearly enamored by their beauty and attention to him. He turned to the mermaid who offered him handfuls of pearls.

“Just one kiss?” he asked her.

She nodded, and raised her face up to him. Bae leaned down and closed his eyes. Their lips locked.

In a flash, the mermaid pulled Bae back into the water with her.

Everyone yelled, then waited for them to resurface. The mermaid's head broke up through the waves, and she dragged her body back up onto the rock. Bae was never seen again.

“Well, that's a heck of a way to go,” Atallah muttered with a snicker, and took off.

The mermaids continued to sing in their lovely voices as they swished their silvery tails and held up treasure in their hands. The racers passed them and continued on their way.

Dodie had flown only a few yards when his stomach lurched and his heart hammered in his chest. It was no use; he couldn't avoid it any longer. He had to get his feet on solid ground. Without thinking, he landed on a solitary rock in the surf.

Phoenix
rolled up beside him. Dodie sat gripping the rock, panting heavily. The cool spray from the waves felt good. The other racers, including Zinnia, continued on their way, unaware of him. Dodie didn't care. He didn't care about ever flying again. He couldn't think past his fear. All he cared about was staying on that rock .
 . .
forever. He heard a splash, and looked around. A mermaid wearing a headdress made of white shells pulled herself out of the water and onto the rock.

Dodie crawled back to the edge of the rock. “Go away! Scram!” He shooed her with his hand.

The mermaid cocked her head to one side and stared at him without blinking her large eyes. Dodie had thought Zinnia had the prettiest eyes he'd ever seen, but they did not compare to the mermaid's. Her eyes were the color of the sea, and seemed to be brimming with a profound secret. Dodie didn't move a muscle as he watched her, and as he waited to see what she would do, he resolved not to kiss her.

He wondered if she would attack him. He was trapped there on that rock, for there was no way he could bring himself to mount his carpet and fly away. And he didn't know how to swim. He wondered how long it would take her to drown him. She opened her mouth, but Dodie cut her off before she could start singing.

“I don't want any treasure! I won't kiss you, so go away!”

Slowly the mermaid reached out her hand. Dodie stiffened. He clenched his fists, ready to fight her off if she tried to pull him into the water. She gently touched his arm. He held his breath.

“The sea has whispered words to me,” she said in a high airy voice. “Powerful words about you.”

“About
me
?” Dodie licked his lips. He noticed a large gold pendant engraved with a star hanging from the mermaid's neck. “Are you a Seer?”

The mermaid nodded. “
You will triumph over
both soul and body and have a change of heart. At journey's end you will be victorious and find more than you seek.”

Dodie stared at her, stunned. “N-no, that's my brother—not me. How did you .
 . .
?”

“You are marked with the flame of good fortune.” The mermaid stared at his chest where his good luck charm was hidden beneath his tunic. “Claim your prophecy.”

“Can't be me. I can't finish this race.” Dodie felt his heart growing heavy by the minute as he realized the truth in his words. “I can't do it,” he whispered. “I can't save Taj.”

“The sea does not lie,” the mermaid said, her voice hardening slightly.

Dodie looked at her. “But how?”

“Follow your heart.” The mermaid reached up and pressed her palm against his chest.

He expected her hand to feel cold and clammy, but when she touched him warmth spread through him. Even when she dropped her hand, his heart still burned. He realized it was the good luck charm burning against his skin, and his heart blazed with courage. With a parting nod, she slipped off the rock and into the water. She disappeared below the surface.

Dodie sat on the rock, staring out at the horizon. He rubbed his chest where the clay flame rested, for he still felt warm.

Could it be true? Could the prophecy really be about him and not Taj? Come to think of it, the Seer never said Taj's name, and her eyes were masked so he couldn't tell who she had been looking at when she made the prophecy. Maybe she had declared those words over Dodie. If so, that changed everything. That meant he was destined to be here. That meant nothing could stop him from winning the Grand Flyer and saving Taj.

Not even his fear of flying.

Dodie stood up, his legs shaking.

“Phoenix
,” he whispered.

His carpet opened. He stared at her brilliant red, orange, blue, and gold colors blazing in a fiery design.
Phoenix
had believed in him from the beginning. Somehow he and his grandfather's racer rug had a magical connection that he couldn't ignore.

Maybe he wasn't a fraud. If the prophecy was about him, that proved he wasn't a fraud. A fear he had not realized he'd been harboring melted away—not the fear of flying, but the fear of not being good enough, the fear of being himself. Something changed inside him.

He was a Rue, and he was a racer.

And he wanted to fly.

Slowly, he placed one knee on the carpet. It felt sturdy. He brought his other knee up. When he gripped the braided loops, they felt familiar and right. He looked north where he needed to catch up to the other racers.

“Let's do this!” Dodie crouched low and held on tightly.

Phoenix
shot off.

He laughed.

He had never felt so free in his life. He was free of his queasy stomach, his crossed eyes, his hammering heart, his sweaty palms.

He was free of his fear.

And for the first time ever, he truly enjoyed the flight. Even though the potion had numbed his fear, it had also numbed his senses from fully experiencing flying. Now he felt every thrill, and it exhilarated him. He truly felt himself.

“Faster!” he commanded
Phoenix.

She responded with a burst of speed that defied all carpet manners. Dodie's hands tingled as he gripped her loops, and he could feel the magic between them. Soon he caught up to Zinnia, who was not far behind Atallah, Nye, and Randi.

“Hey!” Zinnia shouted excitedly. “What happened to you?”

“Something great.”

They soon found the last pit stop posted atop a cliff over the ocean. Everyone stopped and hurriedly scarfed down food and water in the red yurt. No one said much as they ate their food and took in the spectacular view of the ocean from atop the high cliff. The clouds that had seemed so far away were billowing closer. They were dark, bringing with them a change in the wind. A storm was coming.

“Well, this is it,” Randi said. “May the best man win.”

They were all standing on the edge of the cliff, making last minute adjustments to their head masks, waist pouches, and carpets.