"Really?" The Whangdoodle looked surprised. "She seems to have the brightest imagination, Your Majesty."
"Ahh, of course." He nodded in comprehension. Ben stepped forward. "We think Lindy should go, Your Majesty."
"Very sensible." The Whangdoodle was pleased. "Prock, escort the young lady to the bridge, will you?"
"Hey, wait a minute," Lindy protested. "I can't cross that big bridge all by myself. What if that awful bird comes back to get me?"
The Whangdoodle reassured her. "I give you my solemn promise that the Gyascutus will not bother you."
She turned to the boys. "Do I have to do this? Must it be me?"
"Lindy, if anyone can convince the professor to cross that bridge, it's you. He'll listen to you." Ben placed his hands on her shoulders and looked at her solemnly. "Think how important this is to the professor. Remember all that he has done for us. Can you be very brave and do this for him?"
Tom said, "Remember Halloween, Lindy. You were terrific then."
"Crossing a bridge is nothing compared to all the things we've been through lately," added Ben.
Lindy thought about it. "Oh, rats," she said in a resigned tone. "But I'll need my scrappy cap. I can't go without my scrappy cap."
The Whangdoodle nudged the Prock. "Get her scrappy cap."
"Your Majesty, is that wise? The professor might just send her on home. The hats are the secret, you see. That's what helped them to get here."
"Yes, and if they hadn't come here we'd never have heard of his remarkable discovery. It's a risk and we have to take it. Give her the scrappy cap, silly."
The Prock reached into his pocket and produced Lindy's bonnet. She put it on.
The Whangdoodle rose from his chair. "Miss Potter, I cannot begin to impress on you the importance of this mission. If you can help your friend to cross the bridge and return to the palace, you will be doing both me and my country a vital service. His coming here could be the most significant thing to happen to us in a long, long time."
He produced a beautiful gold ring. "Take this ring with you and show it to your professor. It may help."
Lindy gulped. "Goodbye, everyone." She reached for the Prock's hand.
They walked together through the courtyards and the gardens back to the bronze gates. The Prock swung them open wide.
Lindy's heart sank as she gazed out at the long silk span that stretched in front of her. It seemed a tremendous distance to the other side.
"I wish I didn't have to do this," she said in a small voice.
The Prock was surprisingly gentle. "I will stand right here and wait for you. There is no need to be afraid."
"You couldn't come with me?"
"I'm afraid not. I don't think the professor would be able to concentrate if I were around."
"Okay. Well, here I go." Lindy took a deep breath, grasped the silk handrails firmly and began to walk.
SIX
The moment she was out on the bridge she wanted to turn around and run back to the Prock. There was a cool breeze blowing and the bridge was swaying. She could see between the wooden slats to the foaming, rushing river thousands of feet below. The noise of the waterfall was terrifying. She looked back.
The Prock raised his arm. "Go on, Miss Lindy. Once you get started, it doesn't seem so bad. Just make it halfway. From there it's easy."
Lindy walked on and tried to keep her head up. It was better if she did not look down. She thought of her brothers and wondered what they would do while she was gone. She remembered how sad the Whangdoodle had looked when he talked about being lonely, and how important he had made her feel when he asked her to try to bring the professor back. She clutched the gold ring he had given her and quickened her pace.
She looked for the professor but he was nowhere in sight. "Professor! Professor!" Her voice echoed from the chasm. "Professor!" she cried louder, but there was no reply. Lindy ran the remaining length of the bridge. Looking around, she remembered the dreadful Gyascutus and hoped fervently that the Whangdoodle would keep his promise.
"Professor! Where are you?"
She noticed a bright clump of yellow flowers on the ground ahead of her. As she watched they moved slightly. With a jolt of happiness Lindy realized that they were not flowers at all, but the yellow butterflies on the professor's open umbrella.
"Hello. Hello." His head appeared over the rim. He looked startled. "Lindy, good gracious! What are you doing here all by yourself?"
"Oh, Professor." She ran to him and flung her arms around his neck. "I thought maybe you'd gone back without us or something."
"But I told you I'd wait for you."
"Why were you under the umbrella?"
"Ah. Well, if you recall, I was fighting with the Gyascutus when you left. The wretched creature knocked me out. When I came to, the monster had disappeared. I didn't want to take the chance of his coming back and finding me, so I camouflaged myself with the umbrella. Thought he'd mistake it for a bunch of flowers."
"That's what I thought it was," Lindy said with a smile.
"Now, what's been happening and where are the boys? Did you see the Whangdoodle?"
"Oh, golly." She sprang to her feet and began to pull at his sleeve. "Come on, Professor. You've got to come with me. It's terribly important. The Whangdoodle wants to see you."
"What!"
"He sent me to get you. The boys are still in the palace. We can't get home because the Prock has their scrappy caps. So you've got to come and tell him to let us go." She urged him towards the bridge.
"Wait, wait a minute, Lindy. I can't cross the bridge. I told you I couldn't."
"But you've got to. I came all this way to find you and bring you back. You just have to get across. The Whangdoodle is waiting to talk to you."
"Why would he want to see me?" The professor was puzzled.
"I don't know. He seemed really serious about it. Look. He sent you this ring."
The professor turned the ring over and over in his hand. "Amazing, just amazing." He looked with desperate longing across the chasm to the glittering palace.
Lindy suddenly knew that she had to be very firm. "Take my hand, Professor, and come with me."
"I can't, Lindy. I would give my soul to come with you, but if I can't see the bridge what can I do?"
"You can see the Whangdoodle's ring, can't you?" she cried.
"Yes."
"Well, that proves that the Whangdoodle is waiting for you. It proves that there really is a bridge too, because how could I bring the ring to you otherwise? All you have to do is trust me. The bridge is there, I promise. You only have to walk across."
"But I don't see it."
"Then don't look. Keep your eyes on me. Hold my hand and don't look down, whatever you do."
He hesitated and she gave a small cry of frustration. She pulled him towards the edge of the chasm, and began talking, saying the first things that came into her head.
"It's such a little way across, really it is. Just make it halfway and the rest is easy. Oh, Professor, wait until you see the inside of the palace. You won't believe how beautiful it is. It's shining and cool and peaceful. There's room for everybody in the whole world, but it isn't at all a lonely place. Keep looking at me, Professor. Hold my hand tighter."
She walked slowly onto the silk bridge and the professor took a deep breath and followed, never taking his eyes from Lindy's face.
"You'll see the most beautiful gardens, with such flowers and fountains. . . The trees are mostly bright, bright blue, but the undersides of all the leaves have a different color. Some are emerald green, some are white and some are pale yellow. You'll see. There's music about the place all the time, a lovely sound that makes you feel calm and happy. There are Flutterbyes and pretty flags flying in the breeze."
Lindy gave a quick glance behind her. They were halfway across the bridge.
"You're going to love the Whangdoodle. You were absolutely right about him. He's the best creature you could ever meet. He's funny and
nice. But he's lonely. I think he misses our world and would like to come back. Only he says he never would. He has the dearest, sweetest tooth. He says you must be a very clever man and I told him that you were and that you knew all about life and everything."
"Lindy . . ." The Professor hesitated.
"Don't stop now," she said in a clear voice, "we're almost there. Only a few steps more and you'll be off the bridge. Count them . . . one, two, three, four. There you are, Professor. You've made it. I told you it could be done. Here's the Prock. He'll lead the way from now on."
Lindy let go of the professor's hands and stepped back. She was trembling from head to foot.
The professor looked around, dazed and bewildered. He looked at the Prock, looked at Lindy, looked up at the shining turrets of the palace etched against the clear red sky.
When he spoke his voice was husky and his eyes were brimming. "It is every bit as wonderful as you said. Oh, dear. Oh, dear."
Lindy was as happy and proud as she had ever been in her life.
The Prock led the way into the palace.
"So, you're the one who's been causing all the fuss." The Whangdoodle stared at the professor. "In all my years, I don't think I have ever come across such a persistent, persevering man. You've been a nuisance, but you are welcome."
The professor gazed rapturously at the Whangdoodle and then he sank to his knees. "Your Majesty. This is a tremendous pleasure."
"Yes. Yes. Well, get up. Get up. There is much to talk about. You want some wodge?"
"No thank you, Sire."
"You have three staunch supporters, I must say." The Whangdoodle waved a hoof towards Ben and Tom and Lindy. "You trained them well. Very well. But for them, you might not be here."
"And vice versa," Tom interrupted loyally.
The professor smiled. "I consider myself a lucky man in every respect."
The Whangdoodle bounced in his chair. "Yes. Yes. I am glad you crossed the bridge. I look forward to some splendid talks. I cannot tell you how much I have missed the stimulus of human company. Later we will celebrate. But now, I have a favor to ask of you. A great favor."
"I will do anything, Your Majesty," the professor said, smiling.
"Splendid. Splendid. The children have been telling me about your wonderful discovery concerning the secret of life."
"Oh . . . have they?" The professor looked at them in bewilderment. "They know very little about it, Sire."
"Well, no matter. The point is, I want you to make me another Whangdoodle."
"I . . . beg your pardon?"
"That's the favor I want. I want you to make a Whangdoodle for me. Now, I know you're saying to yourself what kind of Whangdoodle. . . . Well, obviously I want a female Whangdoodle."
The Whangdoodle jumped up and paced about the room, changing color rapidly. "You see, it's been so quiet and lonely here all these years. Then, four human beings arrive on my doorstep, which is sensational enough, and then I learn that you are a professor with an incredible discovery and . . . and . . . I suddenly realize that all my dreams might possibly come true."
He paused in front of the professor. "I would have a family and I wouldn't be extinct. I would never be lonely again. You do understand how desperately important this is to me, don't you?"
"Oh, Sire . . ." The professor lifted a hand to his brow. "I . . . I'm afraid there has been a terrible misunderstanding. I would give anything to be able to grant your wish and make you a Whangdoodle. But . . . it is impossible. I would not know how to begin."
Tom said, "But you told us the secret of life had been discovered, Professor."
"Yes. You did," lisped the Whangdoodle emphatically.
"But discovering the secret of life and being able to make it work are two entirely different things. It will be a long time before man is ready to take the next tremendous step."
"Well, be the first. Start a fashion." The Whangdoodle waved his arms excitedly.
Lindy ran to the professor. "I remember you said that in a very little while people like you would be able to make life."
"There you are!" cried the Whangdoodle triumphantly. "If you said that, you must have a great deal of knowledge."
"Go on, Professor. I bet you could do it," encouraged Ben.
"No, no. Listen to me. . . ." the professor pleaded. They all started to speak to him at once. The noise was deafening.
"Just a minute! Just a minute!" shouted the Whangdoodle. He stamped his foot and winced with pain. He turned to the professor and said, "I want some questions answered. A simple yes or no will suffice. You admit that the secret of life has been discovered?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"If it has been discovered, I assume you know what makes life."
"Yes, Your Majesty. But . . ."
"If you know what makes it, you know how to make it?"
"Well . ."
"Listen to me. There must have been a number of experiments?"
"Yes, Sire. There are many things being tried. There is something called 'cloning' and then there's micro-dissection and implantation. . ."
"Have you been present at these experiments?"
"Most of them, Your Majesty. We've had some amazing success with frogs."
The Whangdoodle glowed pink with delight. "Well, then. This is all very clear to me. I don't see what all the fuss is about. If you have been smart enough to find the secret of life and it works on a frog, for heaven's sake, why not a Whangdoodle? I am a willing subject for research. All you have to do is get your thinking organized and I am certain that you will come up with the solution."
The professor gave an exasperated sigh. "Your Majesty, how can I convince you that you are asking for the impossible? I hate to disappoint you, but the work in genetics is really just beginning. I've devoted most of my life to research and yet I only have a few answers. How could I possibly know enough to create a Whangdoodle?"
The Whangdoodle stared at the professor and slowly turned a very pale blue. He looked terribly dejected and slumped back on his throne. After a moment he said, "Bother. That's very sad. I had such high hopes. I was so certain that your presence here meant that something special was going to happen. I must have been wrong. It's too disappointing for words."
The Prock said gently, "Your Majesty . . ."
"No, no." The Whangdoodle held up a hoof. "I'd rather not discuss it any more. I think I'd like to be by myself for a while."
He got up and walked towards the tapestry. As he did so, he began to disappear until only his eyes and antlers remained. Eventually they also vanished. His voice was the last thing to go. "It's really depressing. I never wanted anything so much in my whole life. Silly of me to suppose it might be possible."
A large, shiny tear rolled down the tapestry.
There was a long silence in the room after he had gone.
Lindy said, "That's awful, Professor. He was crying."
"What a shame," Tom said with feeling. "I wish we could have done something."
"I cannot make a Whangdoodle," the professor stated.
The Prock cleared his throat. He spoke slowly and was obviously having difficulty in saying what he felt. "Couldn't you just try? His Majesty wants another Whangdoodle more than anything else in the world. You know how he feels. You wanted to get to Whangdoodleland more than anything in the world. The King was gracious enough to meet with you. Won't you return the favor and try this for him?"
The children had never heard the Prock speak with such feeling.
The professor shut his eyes. "I would love to help. I don't like to see the Whangdoodle upset any more than you do. But I can't see how it's possible. . . ."
Lindy interrupted. "You know what, Professor? Ever since we met, you've been saying to us you can, you can, you can . . . but lately, all I've heard is I can't, I can't, I can't!"
Ben said quickly, "You once said that whatever man can imagine, he can do."
Lindy clapped her hands. "You said that you couldn't cross the bridge. But
you did."
"Oh, Professor," cried Tom, "give it a chance. How do you know you can't make a Whangdoodle until you've tried?"
The children clustered around him. The Prock said, "Professor, I know you are a man of great strength. When you choose to believe in something, you are unshakable. Won't you believe now that this experiment is possible?"
The professor looked at the four of them. Four pairs of eyes, staring at him, unblinking . . . waiting for his reply. He mumbled, "I would need equipment. It's liable to take a long time."
"Tell me what you need," said the Prock. "I will see that you get it."
The professor held his forehead in concentration. "I would need a dissecting microscope, possibly a laser beam, ultrafine dissecting equipment. Saline solution, flasks, culture tubes . . ."
His words were drowned by the cheer that came from the children. They danced around the professor, hugging him, patting him, kissing him, laughing with happiness. Even the Prock smiled broadly.
SEVEN
The Great Hall of the palace had been turned into a laboratory.
By some incredible means the Prock had managed to obtain all the things the professor asked for. The professor was stunned when he entered the hall for the first time.
Thes vast, normally empty room was now filled with the most modern scientific equipment, plus benches, chairs, blackboards, bottles and tubes of every description.
"But where did you get all this? How could you possibly manage it?"
The Prock looked a little smug. "I borrowed it."
"You borrowed it?"
"From your laboratory at the University."
"What!"
"Don't worry, don't worry. I'll put it all back. You do your job. I'll do mine."
The palace was bustling with excitement. Everyone had been advised of the remarkable experiment that was being conducted. As a result the professor was given the utmost respect and attention.
He began to work.
The children wisely left him alone, but towards the end of the first day, they did peek in on him just to make sure that he was all right.
The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles Page 15
