A Hero for WondLa Read online

  “THE SEARCH FOR WONDLA

  blew me away with its exquisite world-building and the mind-bending biodiversity of its fabulous creatures. But it was twelve-year-old Eva’s poignant journey to discover if she is the last of her species that captured my heart. Can’t wait for the sequel!”

  —SUZANNE

  COLLINS

  DON’T BE AFRAID.

  I’M HERE TO BRING YOU

  BACK HOME.”

  The boy pilot of a battered airship flies twelve-year-old Eva Nine to the human city, New Attica. Eva is certain that this will be the perfect start to a new life with her good friend, the Cærulean alien named Rovender Kitt—especially after the tragic loss of her robotic caretaker, Muthr. However, like many things on planet Orbona, appearances can be deceiving.

  Eva encounters many new people in New Attica, including a long-lost relative she was unaware of. And she uncovers the secrets of the Sanctuaries, the HRP, and the history of her planet’s past. But then new questions arise, and the delicate spirit of life is threatened once again. Was coming to New Attica the right decision?

  A Hero for WondLa continues Eva Nine’s adventures in the series that inspired Rick Riordan to say, “Tony DiTerlizzi proves once again why he is a master of the imagination.”

  Praise for the New York Times bestseller

  “”

  —Al’s Book club for Kids, The Today Show

  “Reminiscent of Arthur C. Clarke.”

  —New York Times Book Review

  WONDLA.COM

  Jacket design by Tony DiTerlizzi and Lizzy Bromley Jacket illustrations copyright © 2012 by Tony DiTerlizzi Logo design by Tom Kennedy

  SIMON & SCHUSTER

  BOOKS FOR YOUNG READERS

  SIMON & SCHUSTER • NEW YORK

  Meet the author, watch videos, and get extras at

  KIDS.SimonandSchuster.com

  SIMON & SCHUSTER

  presents

  SIMON & SCHUSTER BOOKS FOR YOUNG READERS

  An imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Division

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  www.SimonandSchuster.com

  This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real locales are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  Copyright © 2012 by Tony DiTerlizzi

  All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form.

  SIMON & SCHUSTER BOOKS FOR YOUNG READERS is a trademark of Simon & Schuster, Inc.

  The Simon & Schuster Speakers Bureau can bring authors to your live event. For more information or to book an event, contact the Simon & Schuster Speakers Bureau at 1-866-248-3049 or visit our website at www.simonspeakers.com.

  Book design by Tony DiTerlizzi and Lizzy Bromley

  Logo design by Tom Kennedy

  The text for this book is set in Adobe Garamond and Lomba.

  The illustrations for this book were rendered with Staedtler Pigment Liner pens on vellum paper and were colored digitally.

  0412 WCT

  Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

  DiTerlizzi, Tony.

  A hero for WondLa / Tony DiTerlizzi ; with illustrations by the author.

  p. cm.

  Summary: Raised underground by a robot, twelve-year-old Eva Nine finally finds all she ever wanted in the human colony of New Attica, but something very bad is going on there and unless Eva and her friends stop it, it could mean the end of life on Orbona.

  ISBN 978-1-4169-8312-5 (hardcover) — ISBN 978-1-4424-5084-4 (ebook)

  [1. Science fiction. 2. Human-alien encounters—Fiction. 3. Identity—Fiction.] I. Title.

  PZ7.D629Her 2012

  [Fic]—dc23

  2011037031

  Within the pages of this book you will find a hidden feature: a three-dimensional interactive game in which you pilot the Bijou through various terrains, just as Hailey does in A Hero for WondLa. This is brought to life through the wonders of WONDLA-VISION (also known as Augmented Reality). The illustrations on pages 19, 79, and 280 are the keys to unlock this hidden feature. Just visit WONDLA.COM for directions. You’ll need a computer with Internet access and a webcam to get started.

  Contents

  PART I

  Chapter 1: Leave

  Chapter 2: Mother

  Chapter 3: Clues

  Chapter 4: Dream

  Chapter 5: Flight

  Chapter 6: HRP

  Chapter 7: Reboot

  Chapter 8: Toilers

  Chapter 9: New Attica

  Chapter 10: Gen

  Chapter 11: Orientation

  Chapter 12: Vision

  Chapter 13: Eight

  PART II

  Chapter 14: Non-Trackers

  Chapter 15: Blackout

  Chapter 16: Puzzle

  Chapter 17: Tests

  Chapter 18: Subjects

  Chapter 19: Reunited

  Chapter 20: Germination

  Chapter 21: Prime Adviser

  Chapter 22: Gift

  PART III

  Chapter 23: Clan

  Chapter 24: Floaters

  Chapter 25: Lure

  Chapter 26: Wounds

  Chapter 27: Wildlife

  Chapter 28: Ghost

  Chapter 29: Truth

  Chapter 30: Family

  Chapter 31: Heart

  Chapter 32: Evolution

  Chapter 33: Lacus

  Chapter 34: Consumed

  Epilogue

  Map Title TK

  The Orbonian Alphabet

  Acknowledgments

  “THE UNIVERSE

  is not required to be

  IN PERFECT HARMONY

  with human ambition.”

  —Carl Sagan

  PART I

  CHAPTER 1: LEAVE

  Eva Nine watched a turnfin flap its triple pair of wings to join its flock. The alien birds squawked in an otherworldly harmony as they soared through the eroded sun-bleached remains of buildings that had once stood as New York City.

  Over the eastern horizon the morning sun was shining down on mountainous white clouds sailing slowly over the ancient ruins. Eva made her way through the twisting labyrinth of crumbled brick walls and rusted steel beams, stopping in front of a lone column blanketed in gigantic leafy lichen. She pulled her empty drinking container out of her satchel and removed the cap. Eva yanked a large corrugated leaf from the column with her hands and began to roll it up. She wrung the leaf tighter and tighter until water began to trickle from its stem.

  Really? That’s it? Eva thought as the dribble of water ran to the bottom of her drinking container. This is going to take forever. I wish I’d kept my hydration tablets. She sighed and tore off another leaf.

  Traveling down the bygone avenues of a withered world, Eva paused at the gaping shadowy entrance of a tunnel that led down into the earth toward the remains of a forgotten library. Her mind flickered to the memory of the giant water bear, Otto, digging that tunnel like an enormous puppy. Eva closed her eyes. Though her loyal companion was with his herd far from here, Eva knew he was relaxed and content. She had a connection with Otto. She could understand what he was thinking when it appeared no one else could. Eva could not explain how it was that she could do this. She just felt it.

  She opened her eyes and took in the endless barren horizon beyond the ruins. Eva whispered, “I’m happy for you, Otto. I am going to join my herd too.” With a smile she continued on toward her camp.

  Under the shade of a deteriorating steel archway, a lanky blue alien
sat on backward-bending legs. The Cærulean, Rovender Kitt, appeared to be organizing the scattered contents of a saddlebag that hung from a parked gull-winged glider.

  “You were right, Rovee,” Eva said, joining her friend. She shook her mostly full drinking container. “I was able to get quite a bit of water. But with only one good hand my fingers got sore from all that squeezing.”

  Rovender glanced up at Eva, then continued on with his task. “Your wounds will heal soon enough.” He spoke in a soft, gravelly voice. “And do not worry about your hand. You will become stronger and it will become easier.” He unbuckled a second saddlebag and began rooting through it. “We shall have to hunt down some breakfast soon, though.”

  “Food, huh? I don’t suppose you’d be interested in these at all?” Eva pulled out a voxfruit from her satchel and smiled.

  Rovender stopped, a look of genuine surprise on his whiskered face. “Oeeah! Voxfruit! Out here? Well done, Eva Nine. Well done.” He held up a thick-fingered hand, and Eva tossed him a piece of fruit.

  “Yup,” replied Eva. “I found them growing in some sort of underground transit station. I grabbed all I could carry.” She opened her satchel. It was stuffed full with the exotic fruit.

  “That is a good discovery. Now come.” Rovender patted the ground next to where he sat. “See what I have found.”

  Eva knelt down next to Rovender and poured water into his empty bottle. Then, after taking a swig from her own container, she shuddered as she glanced over the booty. Like the glider, these items had once belonged to the Dorcean huntsman, Besteel. Now the huntsman’s belongings had been sorted into little piles that were spread out over Rovender’s sleeping mat.

  “I told you I think it’s weird going through all his stuff,” Eva said, returning her drinking container to her satchel. “I don’t want anything from that monster.” Besteel’s raptorial visage was still fresh in Eva’s memory. She still half-expected the huntsman to jump out of the shadows and capture her once again.

  Rovender took a sip of water and nodded in agreement. He picked up a small wooden contraption with many knobs. “Yes, yes, Eva, but you never know what we may need. Like this.” He handed the gizmo to Eva.

  “Uh, I give up,” she said, looking at the item without the slightest interest. “What is it?”

  “It is a Variable Bird Caller. You turn the knobs to attract all sorts of birds.” Rovender turned one of the large knobs, and the familiar squawk of a turnfin was produced.

  “Okay . . . but why would I call more turnfins? There are enough here already, don’t you think?” She gave the bird caller back to Rovender.

  “Perhaps,” Rovender said sagely as he pocketed the item. “But then again, its use may come in handy.”

  Eva wondered if there were turnfins everywhere in Orbona. “Fine. But what else of Besteel’s do we really need?”

  Rovender moved his hand over the piles of odd accoutrements and opened a pouch—out of which rolled a handful of vocal transcoders. “How about these?” Rovender plucked up one of the spherical devices. “See if our new arrival would be receptive to using one. I am sure he would feel more comfortable if he could understand what I am saying.” He rolled the transcoder over to Eva.

  “Okay, you’re right—as usual.” Eva rose and held up a voxfruit. “I’ll see if he’s up for trying some of the local food too.”

  Through the scattered rubble of a desert plain Eva arrived at a sandy plot where a round airship rested on heavy landing gear.

  In the late morning sun she could see that the ship had once been painted in a brilliant black and gold check, but years of neglect had taken their toll. As though the ship were an enormous insect shedding its skin, a corroded metal carapace was visible beneath the flaked-off patches of ancient enamel. Along the many rows of small hover-thrusters lining the ship’s body, dried grime and exhaust ran down to the patinated chrome underbelly.

  Next to one of the headlights, just below the cockpit window, a name was painted in decorative lettering: Bijou. Underneath the lettering were rows of decals, each in the cutout shape of a human. As Eva counted the decals, wondering what they represented, the entry ramp hissed open from the belly of the ship. Eva caught a glimpse of her reflection in the lens of a headlight before she entered. The girl looking back at her was a dirty disheveled mess.

  Wriggling about, Eva pulled and tugged her rumpled tunic in an attempt to straighten it. To further smooth it she ran her bandaged hand down the front—but all she accomplished was to smear the dust that had invaded every wrinkle of her clothing. Shifting her focus from her outfit, Eva unwrapped one of the long braids that held her hair up off of her neck. Now loose, the wad of dirty-blond hair drooped down over her shoulders. Eva combed through the mop with her thin fingers trying to style it, but the effort was fruitless. Already her neck was sweating under the thick tresses. “Ugh!” Eva said with a frustrated sigh. “Whatever.” She pulled her hair back up and wrapped it tight with a braid.

  Nearing the open entry ramp that led into the ship, Eva heard the pulse of electronic music thumping from within. She stood at the foot of the ramp and called up, “Good morning, Hailey. Are you hungry? Hellooooo in there!”

  The music did not pause, nor was there a response. Eva called out again. Finally she tiptoed up the ramp and peered around the cramped cargo hold of the ship. Inside, the distinct scent of motor oil greeted her. This was a scent that Eva knew from her old home, her Sanctuary, and so it was somehow reassuring to her. It was the scent of machines. Machines made for people. Machines, just like this ship, that would whisk her away to a city full of people. It felt as if, after all of the searching and running, her dream—her WondLa—had come true.

  That little crumbling picture of the girl and the robot and the adult had given Eva hope that there were others like her—humans, just waiting to be found. But the lands she searched through were not like the Earth she had learned about. These lands were full of monstrous sand-snipers, bird-eating trees, and evil alien queens. Just when she had given up all hope of the existence of other humans, a ship had fallen from the sky. A ship piloted by a boy named Hailey . . .

  Last night Hailey had told Eva and Rovender that he’d come to take them to the human city. He’d come to take Eva home.

  Explaining that the ship would need to recharge overnight, the young pilot had offered up sleeping accommodations in the ship’s cabin. But, despite Eva’s pleas that they stay on board the ship, Rovender had preferred sleeping outdoors. Eva said she had so many questions she wanted answered, but really she was curious and excited to spend time with the first human she’d ever met in all twelve years of her life.

  Hailey had had to admit that he was tired from travel and needed rest. Of course Rovender had concurred. Eva’s questions would have to wait. Back at camp she’d tried to fall asleep despite the electricity that coursed through her.

  Lying next to the crackling fire, Eva had wondered how exciting the life of gallant Hailey must be as he searched for helpless humans to rescue from the wilds of Orbona. But thoughts of being rescued were soon interrupted by memories of Muthr.

  Muthr.

  For all of Eva’s life her only caretaker had been Multi-Utility Task Help Robot zero-six, or Muthr for short. As Eva had grown older, her yearning to explore the surface of the planet had often led to arguments with the robot. Regardless, Muthr had taken good care of her . . .

  . . . even when Besteel had ransacked their underground home.

  . . . even when their trusted technology had been ineffective against the dangerous new world they faced.

  . . . and especially when she saved Eva’s life, although it had meant sacrificing her own.

  Muthr had loved her. Eva still grieved over the robot’s passing.

  “Hey there,” Hailey called out over the music, rousing Eva from her thoughts. A tanned teenage face peered down from an access hatch in the ceiling of the cargo hold at the bow of the airship. Even upside down the pilot’s shaggy brown and blue-
dyed hair was stuck to his face by a thin layer of perspiration. “Hi.” He waved. “Hold on a sec. Music volume: minimum,” he said. The ship responded.

  Eva made her way past the disorganized stacks of crates in the hold and stood at the bottom of the access ladder. “Good morning.” She pulled out one of her prized voxfruit. “I’ve brought you breakfast,” she said, pleased with herself.

  Hailey grabbed the side rails of the ladder and slid down to the floor. He took the fruit from Eva with black greasy hands. “Thanks,” he said, turning it over and examining it. “What is it?”

  “It’s voxfruit.” Eva took the fruit and ripped open the translucent rind. “You eat the berries inside.” She handed the peeled voxfruit back to Hailey. He wiped his dirty hands on his stained flight suit and then gingerly grabbed a handful of the green berries from within.

  “Hmm. Oh, yeah,” he said through a mouth full of food. “These aren’t bad.”

  “I also brought you this.” Eva produced the vocal transcoder. “Or do you have one of these already?”

  “That depends,” said Hailey, eyeing the device. “What is it?”

  “Well, I wasn’t sure how many languages you know, but I could tell last night that you couldn’t understand Cærulean. . . . You know, Rovee’s language.” Eva put the transcoder near her mouth. “So this little thingy will allow you to understand all the different languages of the aliens. You just press this button, speak into it, and inhale the micro transmitters that it releases. It will do the rest.” She dropped the device into his palm.

  Hailey examined the transcoder, a look of awe on his smudged face. He caught Eva’s eye and straightened up. “Well, thanks. Thanks a lot, Ella.”

  “Eva,” she corrected him, and brushed her bangs out of her eyes. “Eva Nine.”

  Hailey regarded her for a moment. “Well, Eva Nine, we won’t be ready to leave until tonight. I suggest you get some REM and gather any belongings you may have. . . . Oh, and don’t forget your Omnipod.” He began to climb back up the ladder.