Chapter 17
The Fire Fly Air Force demonstrated their flying skill for Morty as planned. They were magnificent. Morty was pleased.
“Your fliers will be the perfect way to deliver the message,” he said.
“We can begin practicing immediately,” said Luke.
Morty felt like the conductor of an orchestra. He stood in one spot and raised his hand to start. The fireflies responded just as he directed them to do. Luke’s fliers were so well trained that the job was easy. Morty taught them the message in one night.
“Your fliers are fabulous. They follow direction very well.”
“They have to fly well to avoid capture by the Phyros,” said Luke. “Gandor and his tribe are always after us.”
“Have you lost manyvfliers?”
“So far we have been lucky; we only lost one flier to a Phyro. Most of the casualties are on the ground. Phyros sneak into the crowd and catch our citizens off guard.”
Lex returned from his traitorous mission to tell Gandor about the games. He arrived just in time to begin rehearsals with Morty and Luke. No one in the air force suspected Lex as a Phyro, not even Luke. Luke was good at recognizing a Phyro because Nancy taught him all of the Phyro’s traits.
“Watch their tail lights,” she told him. “Just as it turns on, the color is a pale yellow for a moment, and then it becomes normal. Their flashes are not as sharp as ours.”
Luke studied these traits on his many secret trips into the Phyro yards. As a young firefly, he took short trips into the Phyro’s yard. He knew it was a dangerous thing to do, but he wanted to study them. His trips were always in the daytime when most fireflies rested. He kept his light off to stay undetected. When he was in Phyro territory, he walked through the grass, staying low and hidden. If Nancy ever knew what he was doing, she would have beaten him. Luke’s father had gone exploring into Phyro territory, and never returned.
Prince Lex was a Phyro, but he learned all of the Lucern habits. He had to know their traits well to be a spy. In fact, he was more like a Lucern than a Phyro, and they did not recognize him.
Lex became a spy to please his father. King Gandor did not give his son much love at all. Lex longed for his father’s love and would do anything to get his approval. Each time Lex brought information, Gandor made the same comment.
“Is this all you have for me?”
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Lex learned the special message from God during the rehearsal. What a beautiful message, he thought. I wish God would send me a message like that.
After rehearsal, Lex went to see Morty.
“Morty, I understand you are the one who rescued Torch from the Phyros.”
“Yes, I am, but I only snatched Torch from capture. It was Nancy who recognized that he was in danger.”
Lex told him how much he enjoyed practicing.
“I am a spy,” he blurted to a shocked Morty.
“My father Gandor is king of the Phyros. Gandor made me join the Lucern tribe to spy on them, Luke does not know it, but his air force has been providing the Phyros with food all summer. I tell Gandor where the air force is performing, and he sends the tribe to watch. They capture unsuspecting Lucerns while they watch the games.”
“Why are you telling me this?”
“I only want my father to love me, but he doesn’t. I can never make him happy enough. When I learned the special message during practice, it changed me.”
“Does your father know about the message?”
“He doesn’t know about the message, only about the games.”
“We have to tell Luke,” said Morty.
“He will kill me when he finds out what I did.”
“No, he won’t, I will talk him into sparing you.”
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Luke’s tail light glowed so bright, it nearly became hot. The news about Lex displeased him. Morty calmed him and spoke to him in a gentle tone.
“Luke, use this information to your benefit. Listen, I have a plan.”
The two of them huddled alone as Morty explained his plan. Luke came out of the meeting smiling.
“Flash,” he said, “Go get Lex, and bring him to me.”
Flash brought Lex before Luke. Morty sat by quiet. Luke angrily scolded Lex.
“I should kill you, but I won’t. Instead, I want you to take this message to your father.”
“I don’t understand.”
“You don’t have to understand, just do as I ask. Take the message, or I will tell your father that you confessed,” commanded Luke. “Gandor will banish you, and the Lucerns will shun you. You will be in exile all alone. Take the message, and I will accept you as a Lucern.”
Lex flew off to find Gandor. Morty excused himself. As he left, he said,
“I’ll be back on the night when there is no moon. Meet me in Ben’s yard.”
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