(no subject)
After this, there's been a lot of talk between Jamie and Uquar, and a lot of explanations Jamie only half-understands.
But the long and the short of it is this: there are more Homeward Bounders than there are of Them, now. And that means that if Uquar summons all the Homeward Bounders together - not just four or five children new to the Bounds, but all of them, all at once - the rules, Their rules allow them a chance.
And now Uquar and Jamie have led the Homeward Bounders towards the sign of Shen marking the door to Their place. If they can get inside they can launch the attack that will free the worlds of Them once and for all.
But they've got to get in first, of course.
Jamie turns to Uquar; Uquar answers, "You can go in, but we need your friend Helen to let the rest of us in."
Of course - Jamie hadn't thought it, but Helen's got to be there with the rest, and Joris too, and maybe even Adam and Vanessa. He hadn't thought to see any of them again, and his chest gives a kind of leap at the thought, but now is not the time to indulge it.
He turns to the nearest edges of the crowd and says, calmly, "Give a shout for Helen Haras-uquara, will you? She must be in there somewhere."
But the long and the short of it is this: there are more Homeward Bounders than there are of Them, now. And that means that if Uquar summons all the Homeward Bounders together - not just four or five children new to the Bounds, but all of them, all at once - the rules, Their rules allow them a chance.
And now Uquar and Jamie have led the Homeward Bounders towards the sign of Shen marking the door to Their place. If they can get inside they can launch the attack that will free the worlds of Them once and for all.
But they've got to get in first, of course.
Jamie turns to Uquar; Uquar answers, "You can go in, but we need your friend Helen to let the rest of us in."
Of course - Jamie hadn't thought it, but Helen's got to be there with the rest, and Joris too, and maybe even Adam and Vanessa. He hadn't thought to see any of them again, and his chest gives a kind of leap at the thought, but now is not the time to indulge it.
He turns to the nearest edges of the crowd and says, calmly, "Give a shout for Helen Haras-uquara, will you? She must be in there somewhere."