Deathstalker 03 - Deathstalker War

find a way to upgrade myself further. Learn to change into Anything at all. And then I'll go to the Furies, and we'll see which of us is superior. But they were so beautiful. Not a beauty you humans could appreciate. But they were wild and free and glorious. I loved them then, and I always will."
    "They are the Enemies of Humanity," said Toby.
    "I know," said Anything. "You're jealous of them. Let's change the subject. I'll be coming with you, on your voyage."
    Giles frowned. "What voyage? No one's said anything to us about a voyage."
    "That's because some people can keep their mouths shut, and some can't," said Bruin Bear. He hurried down the platform toward them on his stubby, furry legs.
    "Your friend is fine. I'll take you to see him later. Right now, we need to talk." He prodded the sleeping Sea Goat in the ribs with his foot. The Goat gave a snort and a grunt and opened one eye.
    "Put it under the bed, nurse, I'll use it later. Oh, it's you. Bear. You always disturb my best dreams."
    "I should hope so," said Bruin Bear. "Whoever programmed you originally must have had a really disturbed sense of humor. Now get up and pay attention.
    Unlikely though it is, you just might have something useful to contribute." He turned and looked at the three humans. Flynn's camera rose up off his shoulder to get a better angle. The Bear smiled at it, his face softening. "What a marvelous toy. I don't suppose he's aware at all, is he?"
    "Not really," said Flynn. "He's more a part of me."
    "Pity," said the Bear. "Now listen to me, please. You can't stay here. It's too dangerous. Once the bad toys learn you're here, and you can be sure they will,
    they'll attack Toystown with everything they've got. They'd destroy us all and raze the town to the ground, just for a chance to get at you. I can't allow that. And besides, what you're looking for isn't here."
    "How do you know what we're looking for?" said Giles. "We haven't asked you for anything yet."
    "You didn't need to," said the Bear flatly. "There's only one thing that would have brought you here. The same thing that brought those soldier humans. You're here looking for Vincent Harker. The Red Man."
    "What do you know of Harker?" said Toby.
    "He lives in the old Forest, at the end of the great River. Toys go to him, good and bad, and they never come back. He's building a force around him. No one knows why. We don't know what he does or says to the toys that gather around him, but they are loyal to him even unto death. To a human. There are only whispers, that come floating down the River. Whispers of the Red Man, the crazy man, the dangerous man. Who has sworn to change our world beyond recognition, and make it his. The Pied Piper of toys, the Siren whose song no toy can withstand. The dark heart of the world of toys. The Red Man. You want him, you're welcome to him. Take him away, before he destroys us all."
    Giles looked at Flynn and Toby. "Does this sound anything like the man we're after?"
    Toby shrugged. "Who knows? He's supposed to be this great tactical genius, and most of them are crazy to begin with. Who knows what months of living in this place has done to him?"
    Giles looked back at the Bear. "How do we find him?"
    "We'll provide you with transport, and I'll lead you right to him," said Bruin Bear. "I and a few carefully picked friends will escort you down the River and
    into the Forest. You'll need us as guides. You wouldn't get there otherwise.
    There are many dangers in the land these days. Besides, the Red Man's followers wouldn't let you get anywhere near him, without toys to vouch for you. So, I and the Goat, Poogie and Anything will be going with you. All the way down the River to a place from which no toy has ever returned. I hope you appreciate what we're doing for you."
    "I doubt it," said the Sea Goat. "You should have heard what they were saying about us when they thought I was sleeping."
    "You've been eavesdropping again, haven't you?" said the Bear.
    The Goat shrugged. "It's in my nature. Don't blame me. Blame the human who created me. I didn't ask to be manufactured."
    "Why have you volunteered?" said Toby. "You don't know us. You don't know anything about us. We could be good or bad or anything. We might even be worse than Harker."
    "Of course," said the Bear. "You're human. Unpredictable. Not like us. We are what we are. Our motivations are fairly simple. We need Harker dealt with, and only a human can deal with another human. The Goat and I will be