“Wait a minute,” Ben said. “There’s a dragon on my head? I don’t want a dragon on my head. What if it spouts fire?”
“That is a possible outcome.” Dr. Woo aimed her fingers and, with expert precision, flicked the critter from Ben’s hair. It flew away. Then she sat in the grass, her legs crisscrossed, her hands resting in her lap. “We must wait for permission to enter the Tangled Forest. It is a sacred place.”
“Who’s going to give us permission?” Pearl asked, setting the magnifying lens back into the bag.
“The unicorn king.”
Pearl shivered with excitement. This was really happening! She sat next to the doctor, her arms wrapped around her knees. After running his hands over his hair to make sure nothing else was crawling around, Ben also sat. A red dragonfly flitted past, then a blue one. A pink sparkly one hovered in front of Ben’s nose. When he tried to wave it away, it shot a tiny flame at him. Pearl giggled.
“How long do we have to wait?” Ben asked, rubbing his nose.
Dr. Woo turned her face toward the sun and closed her eyes. “Unicorns cannot be rushed. They do everything at their own pace.”
Pearl sighed. She hated waiting. Her legs felt twitchy, and she wanted to run down the hill and explore the forest. Maybe the unicorn king would let her ride on his back. A big stream of questions began to flow through her mind. But she remembered Dr. Woo’s comment about quality, not quantity. So she focused on the one question that stood out above all the others.
“Dr. Woo, will you please tell us about Maximus Steele?”
Dr. Woo opened her eyes. “Yes,” she said. “I think this is a good time to tell you his story.”
12
Sunlight shimmered on Dr. Woo’s black hair, glinting off stray specks of fairy dust. Her almond-shaped black eyes looked out over the Tangled Forest. Even with that scar on her face, Pearl thought she was the prettiest woman she’d ever seen. And definitely the most mysterious. She and Ben knew very little about her, only that she lived in Iceland before moving to Buttonville, and that she had the most amazing job in the world. They’d also learned that she’d met a dangerous man named Maximus Steele. Now she was going to tell her apprentices more about him.
The grass was quite comfortable—spongy and warm. Pearl scooted closer to the doctor so she wouldn’t miss a word of the story. Ben pushed up the sleeves of his lab coat, equally eager to hear the tale.
Dr. Woo softly cleared her throat. As she spoke, she kept her voice quiet, continuing to watch the forest. “When I was about your age, I worked as an apprentice to my grandmother, Dr. Diamond Woo, one of the most respected veterinarians to care for Imaginary creatures. We’d moved to a new town, and I was going to school on weekdays and apprenticing on weekends. I was also on my school’s soccer team and in the marching band, so you can imagine how busy I was.”
“I love soccer,” Pearl blurted so loudly that she startled a passing dragonfly. It squeaked with alarm and fluttered away. “Oops. Sorry.” She brushed her loose hair from her eyes.
“Perhaps we can play a game sometime.” Dr. Woo pulled a rubber band from her pocket, then proceeded to gather Pearl’s hair into a ponytail. “Unfortunately, secret veterinarians often move from town to town to avoid being detected. Because of this, I didn’t have many friends. And because I could never invite anyone to my house, I never had a best friend. That is, until I met Maximus.” She turned and spoke directly to Ben. “He looked a bit like you in those days. When you stepped into my office that first time, I thought you were a ghost from my past.”
“I don’t believe in ghosts,” Ben said.
“I don’t blame you for not believing in them. They are very difficult to see, and in many cases, seeing is believing.” She turned her focus back toward the forest. A few treetops rustled. Pearl sat up straight. Was something out there? She and Ben held their breath as more treetops rustled. When nothing appeared, Dr. Woo shifted position and continued her story.
“Max made me laugh. He was the class clown, always telling jokes and pulling silly pranks. We went to marching band practice together. He played the tuba, and I played the flute. We’d get in trouble because when we were laughing, we couldn’t walk in a straight line. One day, he laughed so hard he fell right over and dented his tuba.” Her mouth turned up slightly, forming a brief smile as she remembered this moment. Then her smile faded. “His family was very poor, and they couldn’t afford to buy a new tuba, so he was kicked out of marching band.”
“That doesn’t seem fair,” Pearl said.
“Without marching band practice, Max didn’t have anything to do,” Dr. Woo told them. “Because he was my best friend, I persuaded my grandmother to make him an apprentice. I swore to her that he was a good person. I promised her that he could be trusted.” She picked a blade of grass and ran it through her fingertips. “He never broke the contract of secrecy. But he showed signs of temptation, and that worried my grandmother.”
“Temptation?” Ben asked.
“Max had been brought up always wanting for something,” she explained. “He never had new clothes or nice shoes. His family got their food from the food bank, and he was often hungry. When he saw all that the Imaginary World had to offer, he began to scheme ways to get rich. He told me that we should take a few of the creatures and sell them to a zoo. Of course I refused. A Woo could never do such a thing. One day, he put a fairy in his pocket and tried to bring it back through the Portal. My grandmother found out and fired him.”
The breeze picked up, rustling branches. In the distance, a flock of giraffe birds took to the sky.
“We had to move, of course. Grandmother was afraid that Max would reveal our secrets. We left in the middle of the night. I was too angry to say good-bye. I had just started to feel at home, and because of him, I had to leave a soccer team, a marching band, and a best friend. He’d ruined everything.” She paused. Pearl felt as if an eternity had passed before Dr. Woo started talking again. “The next time I saw him, I’d just graduated from university. We ran into each other at a conference. He’d become a famous animal collector and was giving a lecture on how to trap exotic creatures. He said he still wanted to be my friend. But what he really wanted was access to the Imaginary World.”
Pearl remembered the giant trap that had been used to capture the rain dragon. “How did he get in?” she asked.
“I don’t know.”
“Is this why the unicorn blessing is broken?” Pearl asked. “Did Maximus Steele come here to take a horn?” She almost didn’t want to know the answer.
“It’s possible.” The doctor’s expression was heavy with concern. “A unicorn horn is the most coveted horn of all.”
“Why?” Pearl asked.
“Because it contains magic.”
“Really?” Ben shooed away another dragonfly. “What can it do?”
“When ground to a fine powder, a unicorn horn can cure illness and make poisoned water drinkable.”
“Wow. That could help a lot of people,” Ben said. “The water in Los Angeles isn’t poisonous, but it tastes terrible.”
“I don’t understand something,” Pearl said. “Why would he have to trap a unicorn to get a horn? I mean, couldn’t he find one on a unicorn skeleton?”
“Once a unicorn dies, its body disappears. Nothing is left behind. So the only way to get a horn is to take it from a living unicorn.”
Pearl pictured the big gaping wound that had been left on the rain dragon’s head. How could someone do that to another living creature?
“Look,” Ben said, pointing at the forest. A patch of trees swayed. Something was moving through the foliage, leaving a trail of rustling branches in its wake.
Dr. Woo got to her feet. “Don’t say a word,” she ordered.
Pearl and Ben stood, silently watching as the movement headed toward the forest’s edge. Then a wondrous sight emerged.
Pearl nearly forgot how to breathe.
13
He wasn’t wearing a crown, but
by the way he held his head high, Pearl knew she was looking at the unicorn king.
He stood at the bottom of the hill, a blaze of white against the green forest background. He was as large as the draft horses Pearl had seen at the Milkydale County Fair. His neck and legs were thick with muscles, and his glossy mane looked like it was made of silk threads. His spiral horn sparkled as if it had been dipped in white glitter. He flared his nostrils and sniffed the air. Then he looked up at them and stomped his front hoof.
Dr. Woo turned to Pearl and Ben. “Remain here and keep still. Any sudden movement might spook him.” She removed her creature calculator from her pocket and carefully walked down the slope.
Pearl pressed her shoulder against Ben’s. “This is so amazing,” she whispered.
“Unbelievable,” he agreed.
Once Dr. Woo had reached the king, she placed her palms together and bowed. He dipped his head in return. Then, holding her creature calculator, Dr. Woo began to speak, but the kids couldn’t make out the words. The unicorn nodded, then raised his upper lip and neighed. Dr. Woo read from the calculator. “It must be translating,” Ben said.
“I thought unicorns would talk, the way Metalmouth does.” Pearl fiddled with one of the buttons on her lab coat. She could barely stand still.
The king snorted. Both he and Dr. Woo bowed, then he turned and disappeared into the forest. Pearl bounced on her toes as Dr. Woo walked back up the hill. “What’s going on?” Pearl asked. “What did he say?”
“It’s bad news, I’m afraid. The youngest member of the blessing is missing. She wandered into the darkest section of the forest, which is especially dangerous. The blessing is forbidden to enter that area, so they are unable to search for her.”
“Why would she wander off?” Ben asked.
“Something made her curious,” Dr. Woo said.
Pearl frowned. “Or someone.”
Dr. Woo picked up her medical bag. “We must not jump to conclusions. A doctor must always assess the situation with logic. I have told the king that we will do our best. The Dark Forest awaits.”
“Huh? Are you saying that we’re going in there?” Ben asked. “If it’s too dangerous for unicorns, isn’t it too dangerous for people?”
“Ben Silverstein,” Dr. Woo said patiently, “I will never force you to do something that makes you uncomfortable. You do not have to accompany us. You can stay here on the hill until we return. But, Pearl…” She placed her hand on Pearl’s shoulder. “I need your help. The foal will only feel safe with a young girl. Will you go with me?”
“Yes, of course, I want to go with you,” Pearl said, jutting out her chin. She was glad Dr. Woo hadn’t listed all the dangers that lurked in the Dark Forest, or Pearl might have changed her mind.
So Dr. Woo and Pearl headed down the hill. Halfway, Pearl glanced back over her shoulder. Ben stood at the top, a big frown on his face, the breeze blowing the hem of his lab coat. It was too bad he wasn’t going with them, but she understood. Ben didn’t like dangerous stuff.
“Hey, wait!” he called, then started running down the hill. Pearl smiled as he caught up. “I want to help.”
Dr. Woo stopped at the forest’s edge, where the grass ended and thick undergrowth began. “Very well. But remember what I told you,” she said with a serious tone. “Do not eat or touch anything without checking with me. Our plan is this: We make our way through the Tangled Forest until we reach the dark wall. We enter the Dark Forest to begin our search. And, finally, we evade predators and find the unicorn foal.”
“Predators?” Ben asked.
Dr. Woo patted his shoulder. “Focus on the first goal, Ben, which is the dark wall. And be as quiet as possible.” She gripped her bag.
Pearl took a deep breath. Quiet was not something that came easily to her.
Whoever had named the Tangled Forest chose well, for there was no path. The undergrowth of ferns and vines was knit as tightly as one of Aunt Gladys’s blankets. How were they going to get through without a machete or a Weedwacker? Pearl wished she’d worn jeans, like Ben, so her legs would be protected from scratches. But then she stopped worrying because when Dr. Woo took a step, the branches and ferns moved aside, as if welcoming her.
“Whoa,” Ben said.
As the doctor took another step, then another, the forest bowed, creating a narrow pathway. Dr. Woo motioned for her apprentices to follow. Pearl darted in front of Ben, but just as she took her first step, the undergrowth bent back into place, blocking the way.
Dr. Woo disappeared from sight.
14
Hey,” Pearl said. “What happened?” She tried moving the branches out of the way, but they wouldn’t budge. She was about to holler for help when the doctor peered over the top of a shrub.
“Pearl? Why aren’t you following?”
“I can’t,” she said. “The path disappeared.”
“Ben, did you try?”
“No,” Ben said. “Pearl went first.”
“Go ahead and step forward,” Dr. Woo told him.
With a shrug, he stepped in front of Pearl and—voilà—the undergrowth bowed and bent, moving aside to form a little path. “It’s working again,” he said. “Does this forest use some sort of motion detector? Maybe there’s a glitch in the system.” He started walking, his sneakers crunching twigs and dried leaves. “Our four-car garage back home had a problem with its motion detector. It nearly squashed our neighbor’s cat.” The forest continued to open until Ben reached the doctor. They both turned and looked at Pearl.
She stood in the grass, just outside the forest, her face clenched with puzzlement. Why had the plants blocked her but not Ben? “Come on,” Ben urged.
Pearl took a step. The undergrowth snapped shut. Huh? She clenched her fists. What is going on?
Dr. Woo peeked over the shrub again. “I think I know what the problem is. The Tangled Forest will only welcome those who are pure of heart.”
“I’m pure of heart. I’m totally pure of heart,” Pearl insisted. She scratched her neck. “What does that mean, exactly?”
“It means you harbor no ill will.”
“I don’t harbor any ill will.” She folded her arms across her chest. “What does that mean, exactly?”
“Are you angry with someone?” Dr. Woo asked. “Do you wish for something bad to happen to anyone in particular?”
“No,” Pearl blurted.
“What about Victoria?” Ben said, poking his face over the shrub. “You’re mad at her, remember.”
“I don’t like her,” Pearl said, tightening her arms. “But that doesn’t mean I want something bad to happen to her.” She looked down at her pink leprechaun shoes. She had tons of reasons not to like Victoria. Everybody in town thought Victoria was perfect. To make matters worse, that night she’d be getting a crown and a special party. She’d probably become the queen of Buttonville. “She doesn’t deserve that crown,” Pearl grumbled under her breath.
Dr. Woo nodded. “Close your eyes and clear your mind, Pearl. When we wish the best for others, then we make possible the best for ourselves.”
Pearl closed her eyes. She tried very hard to wish the best for Victoria. But when she imagined Victoria wearing that crown, she got a tight feeling in her stomach. You can do this, she told herself. You can be happy for Victoria. Pearl remembered how great she’d felt when Dr. Woo gave her the first certificate of merit. She’d read and reread it a hundred times that night. It had made her feel special. That was how Victoria would feel when she wore the crown. Everyone deserved to feel proud.
The undergrowth trembled, then bowed and moved aside. Pearl looked at the path with uncertainty. Would she be able to keep these positive thoughts, or would the trail close around her, leaving her stranded?
“Pearl?” Dr. Woo called.
“I’m coming.”
They walked for a long while with Dr. Woo in the lead. The forest’s dense canopy hid the sky from view, but light trickled between gaps in the leaves and branches. R
ibbons of light cascaded down Dr. Woo’s black hair. “Don’t you think you should tell us about the dangers in the Dark Forest?” Ben asked. “So we can be prepared?”
“One thing at a time, Ben. First we must reach it.”
He scratched his head. “How long will that take?”
“Patience is a better guide than haste,” Dr. Woo replied.
“If the Tangled Forest won’t allow anyone in who’s not pure of heart, then how could Maximus Steele get in?” Pearl asked.
“He could enter the Dark Forest by way of the sky or through an underground tunnel. But we do not know that he has done such a thing. He may or may not be the cause of the foal’s disappearance.”
They walked quickly, Ben’s sneakers crunching. The path continued to open a few paces ahead of Dr. Woo. “What are those things?” Ben asked quietly. He pointed to a swarm of glowing dots floating overhead.
“Fireflies,” Dr. Woo said. “They stay inside the forest, where there’s no wind. All it takes is a small breeze to extinguish them.”
“They’re actual fireflies?” Ben asked. Dr. Woo nodded. “Are they dangerous? Can I catch one?”
“That is doubtful,” Dr. Woo said.
Ben reached up, but each time he tried to grab a fly, it darted away. He jumped, but missed again and again. “I want to see what they look like,” he told Pearl.
She’d been wanting the same thing. Standing on tiptoe, she managed to grab one on her first try. Maybe being a head taller than Ben had given her an advantage.
The little bug felt like a warm kernel of popcorn. As Ben watched closely, Pearl slowly opened her fingers. The firefly sat in her palm. It looked like a fly, with a black body and black antennae, but its belly was on fire. Somehow it didn’t burn Pearl’s skin. “That’s so weird,” she said.
“Pearl?” Dr. Woo had stopped walking and was staring at her quizzically. “Please show me how you caught that.”
The Order of the Unicorn Page 5
