by Brandon Mull
to eat. The paste was pretty good. It melted in her
mouth and was a little sweet. She swallowed.
Seth edged over to Tanu and whispered something to
him. Kendra realized he was probably asking what emotion
to expect. Kendra focused on remaining aware that a phony
emotion was about to surface. If she concentrated hard
enough, she should be able to keep it under control. She'd
feel it, but she wouldn't let it overwhelm her. Tanu whispered
something back to Seth. They were both staring at her
expectantly. What was their deal? Did she have a piece of
the leaf caught in her teeth? Seth whispered something else
to Tanu.
Why are you whispering? Kendra accused. It came out
a little harsher than she intended, but they were being so
secretive all of a sudden. Had she whispered to Tanu? No!
She had spoken so everyone could hear her. It seemed obvious
they were no longer talking about the potion-they
were gossiping about her.
Seth laughed at her question, and Tanu grinned.
Tears stung Kendra's eyes. Did I say something funny?
she challenged, her voice cracking a bit. Seth laughed
harder. Tanu chuckled. Kendra ground her teeth, her face
flushing. Once again, she was the outcast. Seth always made
friends so quickly. He had already turned Tanu against her.
It was fourth grade all over again; she was eating lunch
alone, silently hoping for somebody to talk to her. Hoping
somebody besides a teacher would notice and include her.
It's all right, Kendra, Tanu said kindly. Remember, it
isn't real.
Why was he trying to reassure her? All of a sudden she
realized what Seth must have whispered to him. He had
pointed out the pimple on her chin! Seth had said that her
face was erupting like a volcano, that grime was clogging her
pores and turning her into a freakish sideshow. That was why
they had laughed! Seth had probably accused her of not
washing enough, even though she scrubbed her face every
night! But of course Tanu would believe Seth, because the
evidence was right there on her chin, as subtle as a lighthouse.
And now that Tanu had noticed, the pimple would
be all he saw. She hung her head. Tanu would almost certainly
tell Grandpa. And all the others! They'd laugh behind
her back. She would never be able to show her face again!
Her cheeks burned. She began to weep. Grudgingly, she
glanced up. They both looked astonished. Seth was
approaching her. It's okay, Kendra, he said.
She buried her face in her arms, sobbing. Why did they
keep staring at her? Why wouldn't they leave her alone?
Hadn't they done enough? Enduring their pity was much
worse than suffering their scorn. She wished she could just
disappear.
It'll be over soon, Tanu assured her.
What did he know? This could be just the beginning!
She had been lucky so far, with only the occasional pimple
now and again, but soon she might be disfigured by vast constellations
of acne. Red lumps would pile up until she looked
like she had thrust her head into a beehive. Now that Seth
had set the tone of mocking her, things would never be the
same. From here on out, all she could look forward to were
cruel jokes and false sympathy. She had to get away.
Kendra jumped to her feet. I hate you, Seth! she
yelled, not caring what anyone would think of the outburst.
Her reputation was already damaged beyond repair. She ran
from the room. Behind her, she heard Tanu telling Seth to
let her go. Where could she hide? The bedroom! She raced
to the stairs and started charging up them two at a time.
And suddenly she realized how ridiculous it would look for
her to run away. She stopped, her hand gripping the banister.
The situation abruptly seemed much less tragic.
Was she sure Seth had pointed out the pimple to Tanu?
Even if he had, was it that big of a deal? Almost every teen
got pimples from time to time. Now that she thought about
it, was it even likely that Seth had mentioned anything
about the pimple? No! She had jumped to that conclusion
on her own, with very little evidence. It was the potion!
This was just like when Seth assumed he had been poisoned!
Even though she had tried to anticipate it, the emotion had
blindsided her. It seemed ridiculously obvious now.
Kendra returned to the parlor, wiping away the tears.
She had cried a lot. Her sleeves were damp, and her nose
was congested. That was incredible, she said.
What emotion do you think it was? Seth asked.
Embarrassment? Kendra guessed.
Close, Tanu said. It was shame. A hybrid of embarrassment
and sorrow.
I thought, Kendra said, hesitating for a moment to
divulge her ridiculous assumption, I thought that Seth was
pointing out the pimple on my chin. And it suddenly
seemed like he had revealed the guiltiest secret of all time. I
thought you two were making fun of me. Not that I love getting
pimples, but it was suddenly blown all out of proportion.
Again, your mind was seizing on something to try to
make sense of the emotion, Tanu said. Can you see the
power emotion has to distort our outlook? Makes you wonder,
did you have a bad day, or did you make it a bad day?
I thought if I stayed focused I could keep the emotion
under control, Kendra said.
Not unreasonable, Tanu said. We can exert a lot of
control over our emotions. But sometimes they run away
with us. These bottled-up emotions hit you with a lot of
force. It would take a shockingly strong will to resist them.
In large enough doses, I don't see how anybody could.
What do you use them for? Seth asked.
Depends, Tanu said. Sometimes people need a little
dose of courage. Other times you want to cheer somebody
up. And every now and then, you can avoid an unwanted
confrontation with a little fear, or use a mix of emotions to
extract information. We save those uses for the bad guys.
Can I try some courage? Seth asked.
You already have plenty, Tanu said. You don't want to
overuse these emotions. Their potency wears thin if they're
overused, plus you can put your natural emotions out of balance.
Artificial emotions are useful only in certain situations.
They must be combined by an expert. If you drink
straight courage, you can become reckless and foolhardy. For
a good result, you have to temper the courage with a little
fear, a little calm.
That makes sense, Kendra said.
I know my trade, Tanu said, vials and jars clinking as
he collected them into his pouch. I hope that you weren't
too shaken up by the experience. An occasional dose of fear
or sorrow can be cathartic. Same with a good cry.
If you say so, Kendra said. I'll probably pass next
time.
I'd do the fear again, Seth said. It was sort of like a
roller coaster. Except so scary, you don't really like it till after
&n
bsp; the ride is over.
Tanu folded his hands on his lap and adopted a more formal
air. Now that I've let you glimpse what I can do, I want
to establish some common goals. They are the same goals I
have set for myself, and if we're going to work together, I
think we should share them. Assuming you want to work
with me.
Kendra and Seth both enthusiastically agreed that they
were excited to learn from Tanu.
My first goal is to protect the integrity of Fablehaven,
Tanu said. I want to keep this preserve safe from any dangers
without or within. That includes protecting the people
who live here. That objective stands as my top priority. Will
you commit to help me do that?
Kendra and Seth both nodded.
Second, Tanu continued, I want to find the missing
relic. It may be a tedious hunt, but working together I know
we will succeed. And in accordance with our top priority, we
must find the relic without putting Fablehaven or ourselves
at risk. Which means we use sense and caution. Sound
good?
Yes, Kendra and Seth said together.
And third, without jeopardizing our other missions, I
want to find a cure for Dale's brother, Warren. I understand
you two have not met him?
Nope, Seth said.
Grandpa told me about him, Kendra said. He said
Warren vanished into the woods. When Warren showed up
a few days later, he was white as an albino, and catatonic.
Those are the basics, Tanu said. It happened almost
two years ago. Truthfully, I think your grandparents have
almost given up on ever healing him. But they are willing to
let us try. If anybody can find a cure, I think we're the team
to do it.
Do you know what happened to him? Seth asked.
Not yet, Tanu said. And it is hard to cure a malady
without diagnosing the problem. I have put some thought
into it, and I remain puzzled, so the cabin where Warren
lives will be our main stop today. Dale has been waiting in
the other room to take us. Sound like a plan?
Sounds perfect, Seth said.
Then we're agreed on our goals? Tanu asked.
All of them, Kendra said.
Tanu grinned. We have a lot of work ahead of us.
The June sun glared down as Kendra, Seth, Tanu, and
Dale rounded a corner on the grassy cart track. Up ahead, a
picturesque log cabin rested on the side of a slope, not far
from the rounded crest of a gentle hill. A dilapidated outhouse
stood a fair distance from the cabin, and Kendra spotted
a hand-operated water pump near the porch. Off to one
side of the cabin, the ground had been leveled, and numerous
vegetables flourished in tidy rows. As a consequence of
the slope, a retaining wall encompassed three sides of the
garden, low in the front, high in the back. The area immediately
around the cabin had been cleared, but trees bordered
the yard on all sides.
That's where he lives? Seth asked.
Warren doesn't do well around people, Dale explained.
He doesn't respond well to commotion. We'll want to speak
in low voices inside.
I thought you said he was catatonic, Seth said.
Dale stopped. He hasn't spoken since he turned
albino, he said. But you can sometimes read reactions in
his eyes. It's subtle, but I can tell. And he responds to touch.
If you guide him, he'll move around. If you put food to his
lips and prod the corner of his mouth, he'll eat. Left to himself,
he'd starve.
Tell them about the hoeing, Tanu prompted.
That's right, Dale said. One evening I started him
hoeing out in the garden. I put the hoe in his hands and
started moving his arms. After a while he was doing it on his
own. I'd had a long day, so I sat down to watch him. He kept
going and going, hoeing and hoeing. I rested my eyes, leaned
back against the retaining wall, and fell asleep.
Next thing I know, I wake up in the dead of night, during
the chill before dawn. Warren was still hoeing. He'd
churned up the whole garden, and much of the yard beyond.
His hands were a bloody mess. I could hardly get the gloves
off.
How terrible, Kendra said.
Can't say I'm proud of dozing, Dale said. But it taught
me never to let him do anything unsupervised. Once you get
him started at something, he just goes on and on until you
stop him.
Is it safe for him to be here? Kendra asked. I mean,
with all the creatures in the woods?
The cabin enjoys the same protections as the house,
Dale said. Although creatures can come into the yard.
What if he has to go to the bathroom? Seth asked.
Dale looked at him as if the question were perplexing.
Then the lanky man tipped his head back in realization.
Oh, you mean the outhouse. The cabin has an indoor toilet
now.
Dale started walking again. They reached the plank
porch of the cabin, and Dale used a key to open the front
door. The cabin had a large central room with a door in the
rear that led to another room, and a ladder that granted
access to a loft. On pegs beside the front door hung a sombrero,
a slicker, and an overcoat. A long table dominated the
room, surrounded by six chairs. Pyramids of firewood flanked
the dark fireplace. A bed stood against the wall, and a man
was curled up under the covers, eyes staring flatly toward the
door.
Dale crossed to Warren. You have some visitors,
Warren, Dale said. You remember Tanu. And this is
Kendra and Seth Sorenson, two of Stan's grandkids. Dale
pulled back the covers and straightened his brother's legs.
Then he placed a hand behind Warren's head and guided
him into a sitting position. Warren wore a dark orange T-shirt
and gray sweatpants. Contrasted against the shirt, his
arms looked white as milk. Dale turned him so that he was
seated on the edge of the bed. When Dale let go, Kendra
half-expected Warren to topple over, but he remained seated
upright, eyes vacant.
He looked to be in his twenties, at least ten years
younger than Dale. Even with pale skin, white hair, and
empty eyes, Warren was unexpectedly handsome. Not quite
as tall as his brother, Warren had broader shoulders and a
firmer jaw. His features were more finely sculpted. Looking
at Dale, she would not picture his brother handsome.
Looking at Warren, she would not picture his brother plain.
And yet seen together, a family resemblance persisted.
Hi, Warren, Seth said.
Pat him on the shoulder, Dale suggested. He's more
aware of touch.
Seth patted Warren. The action elicited no response.
Kendra wondered if this was how people acted after a
lobotomy.
I like to think that in some corner of his mind, he
might be aware of us, Dale said. Although he doesn't show
much recognition, I suspect he absorbs more than it seems.
Left to himself, he curls up into a fetal position. Does it
<
br /> faster if things get too noisy.
I've tried some doses of different emotions, Tanu said.
I was hoping something might pierce the fog. But that style
of therapy looks like a dead end.
Kendra gently patted his shoulder. Hi, Warren. Warren
turned his head and looked at her hand, a slow smile creeping
onto his face.
Would you look at that! Dale gasped.
Kendra left her hand on Warren's shoulder, and he kept
staring at it. He was not smiling with his eyes, they still
appeared far away, but the grin on his face was as wide as it
could be. He lifted a hand and placed it over Kendra's.
In all this time, this is the biggest reaction I've seen,
Dale marveled. Put your other hand on his shoulder.
Standing in front of Warren, Kendra rested her other
hand on his other shoulder. The action caused Warren to
take his eyes off her hand. Instead, he looked up into her
face. The grin appeared artificial, but for an instant, Kendra
thought she saw a flicker of life in his gaze, as if he almost
focused on her.
Dale stood with his hands on his hips. Wonders never
cease.
She was fairystruck, Tanu said. It must have left a lingering
effect that Warren can sense. Kendra, come stand by
me.
Kendra walked over to Tanu. Warren did not follow her
with his eyes. He stared directly ahead, unmoving, as if the
flicker Kendra noticed had been only her imagination. Once
again, Warren looked utterly mindless-except tears were
welling up in his eyes. It looked peculiar, those vacant eyes
brimming with tears above a slack expression. The tears
overflowed and streamed down both white cheeks.
Dale had a fist in his mouth. Warren's tears stopped
flowing, though his cheeks remained damp. Warren made no
move to wipe the tears away, showed no evidence he knew
he had cried. When Dale pulled his fist from his mouth,
there were teeth marks on his knuckles. What does this
mean? Dale asked Tanu.
Kendra transmitted something to him by touch, Tanu
said. This is very encouraging. Somewhere deep inside, I
believe his mind is intact. Kendra, take his hand.
Kendra approached Warren and took his left hand in her
right. Again, he came half to life-glancing down at her
hand, the dazed smile returning.
See if you can pull him to his feet, Tanu said.
Kendra did not have to pull hard before Warren arose.
I'll be jiggered, Dale said. He never moves so
