Tron Legacy the Junior Novel - Alice Alfonsi [23]
“Why-Fly?” Kevin interrupted, an eyebrow raised.
“Wi-Fi,” Sam repeated slowly. “Wireless Interlinking—”
“Of digital devices? I thought of that in 1979!” Kevin cried with indignation.
Sam shrugged. It didn’t really surprise him. Then he remembered one more thing. “Hey, remember your ducati motorcycle?”
His father smiled and nodded. “Not a day goes by I don’t think about that bike.”
“I’m fixing her up,” Sam said proudly.
“I didn’t realize she was broken,” Kevin said.
Sam put his hand on his dad’s shoulder. “Twenty years in a garage, no tarp. She needed a little love.”
“How’s she run?”
“I’ll let you know when I get her out there,” Sam said.
“Man,” Kevin said with a faraway gaze. “I’d like to see that.”
“You will,” Sam promised.
For a moment, father and son were lost in thoughts of rebuilding their family. Then they both heard a groan. Quorra was waking up.
“Here,” Kevin said, handing Sam a flask. “give her this.”
Sam helped Quorra take a sip. His father moved off, his gaze fixed to the eastern sky.
“Time for me to knock on the sky and listen to the sound,” Kevin said cryptically as he walked away.
RINZLER STRODE AMONG THE CRATES and cargo-loading machines on the crowded dock. Like a digital bloodhound, he sensed his creator’s presence.
Rinzler knew he was close.
The enforcer paused at one pier. Not far now, he thought. A few more strides brought him to an access bridge. The rising catwalk led to nothing but empty sky.
They left on a solar ship that was moored right here, Rinzler realized. He touched the catwalk and the structure crackled. ripples of energy spread outward. The corrosive power shorted out loaders and dimmed lights.
Rinzler lifted a hand. Instruments built into his gauntlet summoned the U-shaped recognizer hovering overhead. The massive machine settled onto the dock. Rinzler boarded.
On the bridge, he punched in new navigational coordinates. The recognizer lifted off a few seconds later. With an electronic hum the airship headed east, out over the Sea of Simulation.
QUORRA SNATCHED THE FLASK from Sam’s hand and drained it dry. Then she looked around, confused.
“We’re safe now,” Sam explained, “headed east, toward the Portal.”
But Quorra frowned. “Clu has the disc?”
“Yes,” Sam said. “But once I get out, I can shut him down.”
“I never should have sent you to Zuse. It was a mistake,” she said softly.
Sam touched her arm. “It’s okay. I’ve made a few myself.”
Quorra looked doubtful. “Where did Flynn go?” she asked.
Sam scratched his head. “I think he’s knocking on the sky—”
Quorra finished Sam’s thought. “And listening to the sound.”
“You’ve heard that one before?” Sam asked.
“I’ve heard them all,” Quorra answered. “I’ve been with him a long time.”
On the other side of the deck, Kevin had returned from whatever he had been doing and was sitting in a lotus position. He suddenly stirred.
“I haven’t seen him this way in a long time,” Quorra said quietly, gazing at him.
Sam shook his head wonderingly. “What happened to him?”
“He lost hope,” Quorra replied.
“Of defeating Clu?”
Quorra shook her head. “Of getting out. Of seeing you, Sam.”
Just then, the two became aware of a dazzling sight on the eastern horizon. A massive pillar of brilliance reached into the black sky. Though it was nearly blinding to stare at, neither Sam nor Quorra could tear their gazes away.
The Portal…
“What a view,” Sam whispered.
Quorra nodded. “The Portal used to tell us that Flynn was here. It became a symbol of something bigger, something better than this world.”
Quorra shielded her eyes. “I’ve never been this close to the Portal before. It’s how I imagine a sunrise to be.”
Sam glanced at the single-hued glow. Mentally, he measured it against the splendor of a real sunrise.
“Trust me,” he said. “There’s no comparison.”
“What’s it like?” Quorra asked.
“The sun? Oh, man…I’ve never described it.” He gazed intently at Quorra. “Warm. Radiant. Beautiful.”
Suddenly Kevin appeared. “Get below! Move!” he cried.
Sam rose and followed his dad’s gaze. There, lurking in the distance,