Preview
While waiting in Tucson for his ghostly mentor Maria, twelve-year-old Zachary is given a mysterious portal made by his uncle. Years ago, Uncle Zamiel was killed in a car accident, but now Zachary wonders if his uncle somehow survived. And when Zachary returns to The Connedim – a land connecting the past and the future – he discovers that his uncle is well known, as are his suspicious deeds linking him to the leader of the evil Scatterers. Even the bravest members of the Alliance are afraid to confront the Scatterers' leader, but Zachary can only discover the truth by finding Zamiel – if he can just figure out how to use the portal!
“The main home of the Alliance is a place called Craton,” Maria explained. “Craton is a lot like the Grand Canyon here in Arizona. It's usually warm, and there are lots of big cliffs and plateaus. The Red River at the bottom of the canyon is cold, so it's perfect for swimming when you get too hot.” |
About ZACHARY'S MANDIBALL
"Mandiball games are about having a strong mental connection with your ball," Maria said, "and convincing it do what you want. Mandiballs are alive, you know.” Zachary suddenly saw the face camouflaged in the white and blue leather hexagons. The blue seemed to breathe as he looked at it, changing and moving. Starting the same deep shade as the twilight sky, it shifted to pale blue, then back to indigo.
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“ Eddy Aby,” Zachary said quickly, before he could lose his nerve. “You know about my uncle, don't you?” He wasn't surprised by the guarded glance Eddy Aby exchanged with Maria before turning big golden eyes on him. They'd obviously discussed this.
“He died,” the cat said. “You made the right choice by not changing history.”
“Yeah, I know that. But I can't believe you never told me anything about him. I had a dream just before Maria came back, and he said my dad was looking for him. Is there any chance he could still be alive?”
“I don't think so.”
“He didn't become a ghost here when he died?”
Eddy Aby exchanged a more concerned look with Maria. “Your uncle isn't in the Connedim, Zachary.”
“But....” Zachary scowled and shoved his hands in his pockets. “My dad asked for him at the nursing home.”
“You can't bring him back for your dad,” Eddy Aby said gently.
“I'm not trying to bring him back.” Zachary struggled to stay calm. He knew he should tell them about Zamiel's portal, no matter what anyone said. But they would just take the portal away from him. Eddy Aby obviously didn't want to talk about Zamiel any more than Maria had. “Never mind.”
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