Chapter 22

When the screaming of the mutants had completely vanished, Bartz slowed down his horse.

“You better activate your horse’s foe detector,” Bartz said to Tomas. “Just to make sure there are no mutants around.”

“It drains the solar batteries,” Tomas said, very tech-like.

“Better a dead battery than a dead rider,” Bartz said.

“Good point,” Tomas said. He pushed a button on his horse’s neck, and a little antenna popped out of its head. A panel underneath the button rolled open, revealing a little screen.

Tomas looked carefully at the screen. “The area is clear.”

“Good,” Bartz said.

“Great,” Nata said. She pointed at Tomas with one hand and held her nose with the other.

“It was worth it,” Tomas said.

Tomas started to shrink. As he shrank, his arms and legs slowly drew into his body. His mouth disappeared. Tomas lost any last remnants of his humanoid forms, and within two tics, he was transformed into a worm.

“Nata,” Bartz shouted.