Free The War for the Waking World by Wayne Thomas Batson Page A

being.”
    â€œDoctor Scoville?” Archer whispered. “But Rigby was threatening Kaylie. I didn’t . . . I couldn’t figure out a way—”
    â€œI know, Archer, but the facts there are dangerous.” Master Gabriel turned to face Archer. “With premeditation, you went to Doctor Scoville when he was helpless, and you were willing to kill him.”
    â€œBut I didn’t,” Archer said. “I didn’t kill him.”
    â€œI understand, Archer, I do. But that is the charge against you. And these are the charges we must defeat if you are ever to leave this place.”
    â€œThis is crazy,” Archer muttered.
    â€œNonetheless, we must prepare your defense,” Master Gabriel said. “Of course, I will be your defender. I have . . . some experience with this sort of thing. I am confident of—”
    â€œNo,” Archer said, his voice quiet, but the word weighted.
    Hands on his hips, eyebrows and mustache bristling, Master Gabriel demanded, “What do you mean, no?”
    â€œYou can’t defend me,” Archer explained. “The Waking World, my family and friends, they’re all running blind. It was bad enough right after the Rift occurred. People were accidentally dreaming up all sorts of terrors. At least then, when a monster appeared, people could see it. But now everyone’s been somehow brainwashed. They don’t even see the tragedies occurring all around them.”
    â€œWhat do you believe has caused this?” Master Gabriel asked.
    â€œI don’t know,” Archer admitted. “It might just be an unexpected result of the Rift, but I think Kara’s behind it somehow. All along, Kara’s always had a new trick up her sleeve. What better way to rule the world than to brainwash everyone into believing everything is just perfect?”
    â€œHmm. I suspect you are right,” Master Gabriel replied. “The Wind Maiden rules without opposition so long as the world continues to drink her sweet-tasting poison.”
    Archer nodded. “Kaylie’s lost in it too. She thinks my mom is still alive. She needs to wake up. And . . . I have no idea where Nick is.” Archer thought about the newest Dreamtreader, Nick Bushman. The Australian had done well for having such a steep learning curve: playing his part at the dinner with Kara, Rigby, and Doc Scoville . . . and fighting valiantly. “My father told me Nick helped save him just before the Rift occurred, but I’ve lost him since. For all I know, Nick might be under the same spell I was under. He might be too inexperienced to wake himself up. He’ll need help—the Waking World needs help, needs someone to fight for it. It can’t be me; I can’t leave here. So you’ll have to.”
    â€œMe?”
    â€œYes, you,” Archer replied, trying to be firm but treading lightly at the same time. “Kaylie and Nick, well, they’re your team. You trained them to be Dreamtreaders, but they can’t do the job unless you help them now.”
    Master Gabriel thought on this. He tapped his lips for a time. “I . . .”
    Archer waited.
    â€œYes, you’re right,” Master Gabriel explained. “I must see to Kaylie and Nick; I must see to the Waking World. But what of your defense?” “I’ll defend myself,” Archer said. “If I can’t do it with my will, I can do it with my mind.”
    â€œVery well,” Master Gabriel said, putting a hand on Archer’s shoulder. “This is our plan, and we will see it through.”
    â€œOne thing still bugs me though,” Archer said. “Who’s bringing these charges against me? Kara? Rigby? Doc Scoville? I don’t even know who could know all these things well enough to accuse me.”
    â€œThere is one,” Master Gabriel explained, “who has been a behind-the-curtain party to all of this. One who, for devious reasons of his own,