Chapter 31

  The Real Enemy - Max

  The next morning came, and Max realized he hadn't dreamt about the white stick at all. He didn't have time to think about much else after that, because Conquest had the entire group moving. It seemed not just Conquest was ready to move, but a host of others. Out of everywhere came animals and guerrillas following around and behind Conquest. The pathway grew from just being wide enough for three elephants to be able to walk side by side to a clearing wide enough that ten times that amount could.

  Had Max known what a construction site sounded like, he would have known that he was hearing. There was a cacophony of sounds echoing through the forest, growing louder and louder with each step they took. After a while, he could make out the sounds of things being banged together with the wails and grunts of animals in pain.

  Though the path was becoming crowded, everyone made room for Conquest and those with him. No one made room for anyone else as far as Max could see. Everyone else seemed interested in getting themselves and their group positioned right after Conquest.

  As the morning grew on, the noise grew louder, and Max thought he heard a voice, a deep, rasping voice, over the cacophony of other noises. Every time he thought he heard it, it sounded like a snake hissing rather than the voice of any animal he knew. The voice also caused a shiver to go down his spine. And Max wasn't sure, but he thought he felt Link give a shiver also.

  The one time that Link did ask a question today, he was quickly told to be quiet, and a gorilla from another group actually threw something at him. Max didn't see what it was, but he felt it because it missed Link and hit him. Bond, of course, was immediately there rubbing the ointment on his trunk and telling him, "Don't worry, just keep walking, just keep walking. It's okay. It's okay. It's okay."

  Max wasn't convinced by the words. He didn't feel okay, and he was certain Bond didn't feel like it either. There was something in Bond's eyes that conveyed fear. It said to Max that perhaps the guerrilla suspected something was very wrong, but wasn't going to say anything. Max just kept walking.

  The noise grew louder, and it began to hurt Max's ears. Finally, Max could see, up ahead, a small rise. Max was certain that when they arrived at the top of the hill, they would look down at the gorilla camp. From there, he guessed he would see what was being done to the captured animals and what the plan of the guerrillas truly was.

  Max concentrated on moving one step in front of the other without giving away his heritage.

  Now that deep, growling, hissing voice was clearer. Every time the voice yelled, there was a hiss at the end of some words or sentences. And it was clear that whoever this was was in charge. Words like "Gets that moved," and "Gos do that nows!" filled the air.

  Finally, as they reached the top of the hill, they all stopped. Max looked down into the gorillas' camp, into a large valley.

  Conquest stood beside Max and said, "We're here."

  What Max saw both amazed and horrified him. All across the valley were cages, fences, and poles holding various animals in place. On the western edge, closest to the Three Rivers, Max saw what seemed to be large platforms made out of wood. Had Max known what a bridge was, he would have immediately recognized it and would have immediately known what they were planning to get across the Three Rivers.

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  Link figured it out, and plurted out, "You're building a path across to cross the Three Rivers." he was quiet for a moment, then said, "How? The currents are too strong."

  Bond grumbled. "If you survive, you'll see when it happens."

  It was then that from the valley below came the voice. "Conquests, you're heres."

  The voice drew everyone's attention. In the middle of all animals, various types in cages and in fences, on a platform stood something from the darkest legend.

  Max took a step back, but Bond was immediately there, rubbing the ointment in, saying, "It's okay, it's okay, come on, let's go."

  Max understood to the deepest part of his soul that it was anything but okay, yet he kept silent.

  Link, however, wasn't quiet. "You're working with a dragon? What are you crazy?"

  It was Conquest who looked around and said, "Be quiet. He is going to give us the victory, something I was due long ago. No thanks to your folks."

  With that, they turned and began walking down the hell that was the gorillas' camp.

  What Max saw horrified him. The elephants that were not being used to drag logs or material around were being fitted with a headgear that made the front of them look like porcupines. The points were stained with what looked like blood, though. Max was certain that it was the berries that the birds had been harvesting.

  Max saw that the birds that had been used to gather berries were now being left on the ground and tied up. None of them were being released. They were not going to be able to go anywhere and were going to die where they lay. Max realized the gorillas were just leaving them to die because they were done with them; the attack on the Forest of Animals was going to begin.

  What kept his attention more than anything else was the dragon that walked back and forth across the platform, giving orders to all ends of the valleys. His words filled the valley and touched his soul with fear. The closer they got, the more orders it seemed were given.

  Each time the dragon moved, he gave an order and then moved back again."Move those birds. Get those elephants readys. Prepare the bridges."

  Mac had heard the stories of dragons. Dragons were creatures of evil that had long ago broken the world. They initiated the rebellion between animals, causing the break between the Upper and Lower Plains. Now, this creature of legend was leading Conquest and his army of rebel gorillas. They were going to use the herd that had adopted him to attack his family.

  The words of the dragon filled his mind. With each step, Max quaked inside, and hope seemed to vanish as he grew closer to this creature of evil.

  As they walked into the camp, the noises got louder, and Max wished that he were deaf. He heard the cries of all kinds of animals, all of them in pain. Guerrillas, of course, giving orders, beating animals, and the smell of the ointment that Bond had been using filled the air.

  Sooner than Max would have liked, they were standing near the platform. Conquest grabbed the guiderope from Bond and pulled Max up beside him. Max could barely see the dragon without raising his head, which would show everyone that he wasn't what he was pretending to be.

  The dragon stopped and moved to the edge of the platform, and lowered its head so that its face was only a couple of feet from Conquest and Max.

  "It's abouts times." The dragon hissed, Whats took you so longs?"

  "I'm sorry, Dracus," Conquest said. "We were caught in a standstorm, and we had to wait in this cavern you showed us."

  "And what are these things?" Dracus said, looking at Max and Link.

  "This is another elephant we found to work for your purpose, and this," and with the last word, Max felt conquest climb up on top of him. The move it startled Max and he gave a small yelp, but if it given him way, no one said anything. Conquest grabbed Link and threw him to the platform beside the dragon as one might throw meat to a dangerous animal.

  As Link landed on the platform, Conquest bragged, "We've caught a spy and brought him back to you."

  Dracus let out a hiss with laughter, and dread filled the air.

  "Put the elephant to work," Dracus hissed, no longer interested in Max.

  "Where's the other ones? The council always sends twos," Draco said, focusing on Link.

  "The bird was killed trying to escape," Conquest said in pride.

  "Good, I will talk with this one."

  Dracus let out a tormenting laugh. "You've been divided from your compatriots, and what do you see? The defeat of everything you hold dear. Now tell me, tell me what you know."

  Link, however, said nothing.