Marco and Rachel both tell Temrash that the Yeerk had just proven what it really was and that there was no denying it now. They point out that the real Jake would've had to make it certain that Ax could pull off being his double for three days.
Jake remarks that it feels like Temrash is holding back a trick. Even though this makes Temrash's actions less of a plot hole: why not do the best at fooling the group first? Why risk your life to a Plan B? Plan Bs are there as backups, not as the main plan.
When Tobias finds some rope all I can think of is him roleplaying with Rachel. Yeah, been a smutty few days.
As Rachel goes over how things will play out I am just getting something. Does Jake really not know that Temrash will be able to make his body morph? Are you fucking kidding me? Jake, Visser Three is able to morph so why the Hell wouldn't Temrash?
He talks about Rachel running him down while in wolf morph. Jake has a wolf morph! ARG! I'm surprised he was able to last until the end of the war.
If Applegate wanted to use the fear of one or more Animorphs not knowing that Temrash is going to morph why not have Jake worry that the others won't figure it out? That doesn't mean they don't realize, just that Jake is so afraid he isn't thinking logically.
When Jake makes fun of Temrash's fantasies the Yeerk is showing him, Temrash decides to show Jake some of the human's own fantasies. The fantasy Temrash decides to show Jake is him being on the basketball team and being awesome. For some reason that fantasy really embarrasses Jake.
Temrash notices how shocked Jake is and tells Jake he is nothing. His brain is just like a primitive human computer. Temrash is in control now and Jake is nothing. And here is the part where I need new pants. Just the thought of being trapped in your own body is bad enough but Temrash taunting Jake...eek.
Jake loses control and verbally lashes out at Temrash. Good boy, Jake!
But Temrash has another card up his sleeve and decides to show Jake a memory of Tom's. Jake says it felt as if another mind had joined them and that it felt so real.
Oh, god, this is beyond painful. Temrash shows what Tom felt earlier in the book when him and Jake were at the table together. Tom is crying and begging Temrash to spare his brother. Tom promises not to do anything else if Jake is safe. Oh my fucking god. I forgot this hurt so much.
Temrash tells Jake that all hosts end up feeling like Tom. That even the most defiant host realizes that there is no escape and finally stops fighting.
Jake knows that Temrash is telling the truth. But Jake, again, tells Temrash he will die in three days. Temrash thinks that the human is wrong and tells him so.
Chapter 18
Temrash pretends to sleep and Jake says he slept in a way. I guess being a host to a Yeerk is confusing in a lot of aspects since there is now a difference between your mind and body.
Jake again has the dream with Tom in it. When Jake wakes up Temrash comments that it was a very metaphorical dream.
Jake sees that Rachel is asleep and if that isn't bad enough: Temrash is morphing!
This completely surprises Jake. How could you not know that he would use the morphing ability, Jake? For goodness' sake, the morphing ability is something that is greatly valued throughout the galaxy. It's a reason why Esplin 9466 got to the rank of Visser Three!
Jake begins to panic and thinks the others don't realize that Temrash can use his body to morph now. Jake, I think the others might have thought what you being a Controller means more than you have.
Temrash and Jake smell humans. This makes Temrash's job harder as he needs to know why there are humans and where to go. Temrash reassures himself that he can take all night as he continually changes direction to avoid the human smell. Jake harasses the Yeerk by saying that he only has two hours a time in morph and that Visser Three won't like a non-morph capable body.
After enough time passes, Temrash demorphs and then realizes that he should've morphed a falcon so that he could simply fly away. Well I guess Temrash isn't the smartest Yeerk in existence. As Temrash is half-way into falcon morph something attacks him and pushes him over.
Temrash continues to morph but finds himself continually attacked. The falcon morph is finally injured by whatever is attacking him. When Temrash demorphs he sees what had attacked him.
Jake takes great pleasure in telling the Yeerk what it is even though the Yeerk can read his thoughts. Jake says the creature is a Great Horned Owl and then proceeds to say how awesome they are.
Chapter 19
Temrash suggests morphing a flea and Jake harasses the space brain slug about how short of a distance a flea can travel in two hours. You go Jake!
Jake realizes something important. He doesn't have any control over his body or the fact that Temrash can read every one of his thoughts, but he can annoy the Yeerk. He can be a thorn in Temrash's side until the very end. Besides this he also realizes that Temrash is scared.
Temrash replies that Jake overestimates himself. Jake counters that Temrash's plan has gone nowhere. Temrash then morphs wolf and notices that Cassie is staying away. The Yeerk gloats about that.
Wait...isn't there another wolf pack around the area?
Temrash talks to himself, or Jake, about it being a quick trip back to civilization and then the other Animorphs won't be safe any longer. Jake responds that Temrash is really arrogant and Temrash doesn't deny that fact. He points out how powerful the Yeerk Empire is and so they have earned that arrogance.
It's sort of funny, in a not funny way, that the Yeerks loathe the Andalites because of the Andalites' pride while they have the same exact problem. At this point in the series, though, Andalites are pure good and Yeerks are pure evil.
Jake points out that the Yeerks still haven't conquered the Andalites or humans. Temrash tells the human boy that they're saving the Andalites for last.
Suddenly they hear other wolves howling. Jake tells Temrash that another wolf pack is close by and his friends are calling to them. Once this happens there will be a fight. Temrash is angry and scared and tells Jake to shut up since he can read the boy's mind.
Temrash starts hauling wolf butt.
Temrash complains about how complicated Earth's ecosystem is and says the Yeerks will make it much simpler once they take it over. I find this reminding me of #4 The Message and the upcoming #7 The Stranger.
Marco walks up behind Jake/Temrash. Marco tells the Yeerk that it's time to go back to the shack since being out at this hour sucks for both of them. Before Temrash can attack the human, Rachel comes up behind Marco in elephant morph.
Jake realizes a key difference between humans and Yeerks: humans will fight even when things are hopeless but Yeerks will give up when things appear hopeless.
Of course Jake is seeing how one Yeerk acts as other Yeerks might be different.
Temrash calls Jake crazy for being one of a species that won't stop fighting no matter the odds. Jake's reply is to tell him that it's crazy, but it's the reason humanity will beat the Yeerks.
Chapter 20
But I guess that nonsensical action could be attributed to the fact he's dying and so isn't thinking clearly.
Now Temrash isn't so arrogant. He is starting to despair and not thinking he'll be able to escape. I sort of pity him at this moment and want him to live, though I know that would be far from a good thing for the group.
Temrash again attempts the falcon morph but Tobias is there to stop them this time. He grabs Jake's head and tells the Yeerk that he will kill him if he continues morphing. Damn! Tobias is awesome here!
Temrash finally admits what he is by telling Tobias that if the Animorphs kills him he will also be killing his friend. Tobias tells the Yeerk that it's better to be dead than a Controller. Also, Tobias won't have to kill Temrash as he can merely claw Temrash's eyes out making it impossible to fly for any great length of time.
Wow. Just wow. This is being said by a kid who had been bullied, both at school and home, and yet has the courage to fight. Kudos to you, Tobias!
Temrash's hunger continues to get worse. Temrash still shows the same arrogance as Jake continues to harass him. After the Yeerk complains, Jake asks if the brain slug expected pity. Temrash's reply is to say how great the Yeerk empire is.
Jake allows Temrash to just talk. The Yeerk wonders about why Earth has such diverse life forms. I think that's one of the reasons the Yeerks destroy all life they can't use as hosts: it imitates the Yeerk home world in that regard. They are used to that simplicity and so when they conquer planets they make it like the Yeerk home world.
Jake interrupts Temrash when the Yeerk talks about how his species evolved. How that once the other species on the Yeerk home world evolved, they followed suit. Jake asks about the Yeerks and Andalites. This causes Temrash to gloat about how it's an embarrassing story for the Andalites.
I actually really wish we got to hear Temrash's take on the reason behind Seerow's Kindness. That would've been awesome. But now it's something we'll just have to wait to learn about.
Ax had told the others about what would be happening to Jake and Cassie comforts him. She puts her hand in his and Temrash accepts this help. It's sort of sad since the help wasn't meant for him.
Jake sees Temrash's memory of taking his first host. He sees the world through a Gedd's eyes and feels the mind of the creature being overpowered by the ruthless Yeerk. Damn.
When Jake 'wakes up' from the memory he finds his body shaking. Cassie tells him that he has one more hour to go before the Yeerk dies. That is sad and happy at the same time!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Animorphs Re-Read
No comments:
Post a Comment