Aru Shah and the End of Time (Pandava Quartet #1)(79)

Mini nodded. “His old prison. He won’t like it there. But how are we going to get there in time? I don’t think we should use the Otherworld networks. Something really weird happened when I used it to get to that island in the middle of the Ocean of Milk.”

“Valmiki’s mantra didn’t work?” asked Aru, frowning.

“It worked, but just barely. I don’t think it was strong enough. We need as much help as we can get. And we know that he is getting his own army ready.”

Aru remembered the Sleeper’s last words: Know that I am gathering my own friends. And trust me, you won’t like meeting them.

She shuddered. They needed more than just protection. They needed soldiers of their own. And those desk figurines of the unicorn and bear had given her the answer.

Aru raised her arms to the sky. She wasn’t actually sure that was what one was supposed to do when calling down celestial animals, but at least it looked good?

“Vehicles of the gods and goddesses!” Aru called loudly. Then she lost her train of thought, because she’d been too focused on making her voice sound really deep. “Uh…it’s me, Aru? Remember that whole freeing-you thing? Could I get some help?”

“What if they don’t come?” asked Mini. She started biting her nails. “What if they only send one of the super-tiny ones, like the mouse?”

“If the mouse can support an elephant-headed god, I think we’re gonna be fine.”

“Yeah, but—”

The sound of a stampede drowned out the rest of Mini’s words. The sky split open. Translucent staircases staggered down from the clouds, ending right in front of Aru and Mini. Aru waited. Is that it? But then it was like an entire zoo had shaken itself loose from the heavens. A crocodile lumbered down the steps, followed by a peacock. A tiger roared as it bounded to the bottom of the stairs. Next came a ram and a three-headed elephant, a giant swan, and a graceful antelope.

Last but not least, the seven-headed horse galloped down the steps until it appeared before Aru. Its sable eyes did not immediately rest on her, but on the bracelet, Vajra. It gave a huff of approval. “A true daughter of Indra, indeed,” it said.

A water buffalo trotted up to Mini. It took one look at the danda in her hand before lowering its head. Aru recognized the water buffalo as the mount of the Dharma Raja.

“This Pandava is mine,” said the water buffalo.

“Oh, good!” said Mini. “I don’t think I’m allergic to water buffalos.”

“O great steeds,” started Aru dramatically, but then she didn’t know where to go from there. She just cut to the chase. “I need you to take us somewhere and, if you can, help us fight? Please?”

The horse nodded all seven of its heads. “We will pledge you one true battle. But when we are called back to our deities, we must go.”

“They’re welcome to come join in on the fight?” said Aru hopefully.

“Ah, but it is not their fight, daughters of Lord Indra and the Dharma Raja. They will help where they can, but that is all.”

“I figured.” Aru sighed. “Worth a shot.”

The horse knelt. This time, it didn’t take Aru half as long to clamber onto its back. Behind her, Mini was trying to balance the danda and hold on to the reins of the water buffalo at the same time.

“Declare your destination,” said the horse.

Aru really wished she had a better rallying cry. But the truth would have to do.

“To the Museum of Ancient Indian Art and Culture!” shouted Aru, before quickly adding: “The one in Atlanta, please!”

With a clatter of hooves and paws and claws, the celestial mounts shot straight into the sky, carrying Aru and Mini with them.





Attack!


Mini asked if they could avoid going through the clouds, because she didn’t want to catch a cold.

The mounts dutifully lowered themselves, speeding closer to the surfaces instead. Right now, they were racing across the Atlantic Ocean. The hooves of the seven-headed horse hardly skimmed the waves.

Beside Aru, Mini screeched. “Is that a shark?”

Aru only had a second to glance back and see the dorsal fin that had scraped Mini’s ankle.

“Nope. Dolphin,” said Aru.

It had definitely been a shark. Shark dorsal fins stood up straight, and dolphin fins were curved back. Aru had learned that from a movie. But Mini didn’t need to know.

Once the waves were behind them, still and silent landscapes loomed ahead. Everything was frozen. As they got closer to Atlanta, they rose higher into the air so that they wouldn’t bump into buildings. Aru could make out the Atlanta skyline, like the Westin Peachtree Plaza and the Georgia-Pacific Tower. They flew toward the sunset, and Aru had never found her city more beautiful than in this late evening light, all gilded and glittering, with polished buildings so tall and sharp they might have served to pin the stars into place when night fell. Traffic was at a standstill. But Aru was used to that. After all, it was Atlanta.

Before long, they were standing at the entrance of the museum.

“Whoa,” said Mini as she slid down from the back of the water buffalo. “This is where you live?”

Aru felt a weird burst of pride. This was where she lived. Now that she thought about it, she didn’t want the private island or the mansion so big you could get lost in it. She didn’t want to live anywhere else but here, with her mom. Her thawed, happy, and healthy mom.