The Stranger by K. A. Applegate Page A

yelled. “What? What are you up to? What do you mean, we have to decide now ?”
    This was beyond insane. This was a dream. This couldn’t even be real. I was imagining it all.
    â€œIf you decide the answer is yes, you, and some of those you are close to, will be instantly taken to your new home. If the answer is no, I will return everything to the way it was when I interrupted time.”
    â€œYou mean we’re back in roach morph headed down that Taxxon’s throat?” I asked.
    â€œEverything as it was,” the Ellimist said. “Our purpose is not to interfere.”
    I looked at Tobias. His face showed nothing. Maybe he had forgotten how to show emotion.
    â€œAnd our friend Tobias?” Cassie asked softly.
    â€œ Everything as it was,” the Ellimist repeated.
    â€œOh, that’s real fair,” Marco said. “You ask us this just as we’re about to be some Taxxon’s lunch?”
    â€œThis is ridiculous,” Jake said angrily. “You can’t just tell us we have to make a decision like this. We are not the ones who should be deciding this. I mean, maybe you’re trying to do the right thing for us, but this is nuts.”
     Ax said.
    It was hard to argue with Ax’s opinion. The Ellimist had totally rigged this decision. Realizing that made me want to resist. The Ellimist wanted us to say yes. He wanted us to abandon the fight against the Yeerks.
    And yet … a place where we would have peace. A place where the fighting would be over. Where we could be normal kids. No more decisions. No more battles.
    The Ellimist had said we would be with some of the people we were close to. Who? Who would be saved?
    â€œI vote no,” Tobias said, with sharp, angry defiance. “You’re using me. You’re using my friends’ affection for me as a tool. And I’m not going for it.”
    â€œLet’s think this over a little first, Tobias,” Cassie pleaded. “I mean, just because we’re upset … this decision is for the whole human race. Do you understand that? He’s talking about humanity becoming extinct .”
    â€œTobias, you personally have a lot to lose,” Jake reminded him. “If we say no, you’re right back in your hawk body.”
    â€œSo we have two votes no, Tobias and Rachel, one vote yes from Cassie,” Marco said.
    But I hadn’t voted. Marco had just assumed…. And he was right, I realized with a sick churning in my stomach. Marco was right about me. I had to vote no. If Tobias was ready to stay in the fight, with all he had to lose, I couldn’t do less.
    â€œWhat this character wants us to do is run away,” I said. “He wants us to abandon our people and our planet just to save ourselves and the people we care about personally.”
    Tobias met my gaze. There appeared a faint flicker of his old, human smile.
     Ax said.
    â€œGuys, I know how you feel,” Cassie said, “but think about this. We may not even get out of this Yeerk pool alive. And if we die, then what chance do humans have against the Yeerks? And anyway, he says that humans will lose. Isn’t it better to save some humans, rather than losing everyone ?”
    Jake and Marco had still not voted. I noticed that they were looking back toward the building we had come from. And past the building, to what looked like a tall, circular column rising straight up to the rock ceiling of the cavern.
    The column was a mix of steel and clear glass. Inside the column was a Human-Controller, seemingly frozen in midair. She looked like she had been falling down the long tube.
    Or else