Zack hopped across the pond on steppingstones, followed a winding path through a grove of abstract sculptures and entered another corridor with doors spaced irregularly along its length. No two doors were alike, either in shape, size or color. Many had observation windows, and a few came with ominous warning signs.
In front of the first room was a small stand containing bubble-eyed sunglasses. On the door was a large sign stating that blindness was likely if one preferred not to use the eye shields. The door handle was placed at an uncomfortable height and had a special locking mechanism that ensured youngsters couldn't sneak in, even if they tried to use their Long-Legs.
Zack had been in this room once. It was a replica of a crystalline world, beautiful but inhospitable. The crystals concentrated and reflected light, at times creating beams so powerful that they could burn flesh. He still had a small scar on the back of his hand from the visit.
The next room was full of colorful bouncing blobs. This too was new. He cracked the door an inch, and a stench of rot brought tears to his eyes before he could close it again.
Farther along, a door had been left slightly ajar and a thick mist, smelling of popcorn, was spilling into the hall. Zack looked for a warning sign, before wading cautiously through the mist. As he neared the door, he heard a familiar voice from inside.
"...just be ready."
"But Dal, he spun us all! Squim's still laid up. Everybody's laughing."
"He got a jump on us, is all. It won't again."
"There were five of us."
"Four. You ran off like a wobble-legged preschool snot."
"Maltz hit him hard and Deville never even flinched. What was I supposed to do?"
"Next time we plasticate."
"What good'll that do? You can't hit worth a link when you're stretched."
"He doesn't know that. Let him tire himself out first, then shorten up and hit back hard."
A plasticate feint, eh? Thanks for the heads-up boys. Zack quietly shut the door and moved on. The corridor eventually opened into a balcony that ringed a large theatre hall. Speaking from a stage directly opposite and below, stood Professor Meron Seafeather.
The professor was a slip of a man with enormous protruding eyes, droopy eyelids and sagging cheeks. A circlet of blonde hair surrounded his gleaming dome of a head, like a swath of dry grass. A limp mustache hung from his upper lip and joined a thin beard that hung from the corners of his mouth. Today his clothes were electric yellow, as were his finger- and toenails.
Zack hadn't seen the center so full since those first days when he and Lilly had been put on display. A necessary evil, Professor Seafeather had apologized at the time. We must convert as many multitaskers as possible. Sway them from Professor Hotspot's way of thinking, whilst the advantage is still with us.
Although Zack appreciated the way Professor Seafeather stood up for monobrain rights, he couldn't actually bring himself to like the man. The man was always too nice.
Zack saw Lilly at a table closest to the stage. Sitting at the same table was Amanda Cleroux. His stomach did a funny little flip.
The quickest way to the first floor was to slide down a thin transparent tube that, like a fireman's pole, ran from the ceiling above through a hole in the balcony, and into the floor behind the stage. A spindly rail surrounded the hole in the balcony floor. Zack eyed the tube suspiciously.
A sludgy fluorescent green fluid was moving through it. He grasped hold and gave a shake. The tube seemed solid enough. Not sure if it were actually allowed, he looked to see that no one was watching, before sliding down to the main floor.
He made for the girls, deliberately keeping his back to professor Seafeather. However, before he could reach their table the professor sung out, "Ah, here's our intrepid Mr. Deville, now. Please Zack, join me for a moment will you." The background buzz of chatter quickly dampened.
Professor Seafeather beamed amicably. "Tut-tut to you for your tardiness, Zack, though I understand you were charged with a small errand that delayed your arrival, so I forgive your delinquent ways." He reached out and dropped his arm over Zack's shoulders, pulling him close. Zack forced himself not to shudder at the man's clammy, eel-like touch.
"Not to worry. I won't keep you in the spotlight for long, dear boy," Professor Seafeather said. "Just wanted those who might have missed you in the past, the opportunity to get a good look at you now, to notice, as I've said on numerous occasions, how alike multitaskers and monobrainers truly are." He tapped a finger against Zack's bruised cheek and added quietly, "Even if your deeds are at times less than exemplary."
Professor Seafeather looked over his audience. "We know the Monobrain planet is in dire need of remedial work and must break from its fixation with primitive attitudes, but look about you. In this institute are we not striving to do the same? Are we not we constantly challenging ourselves with the new?
"The trick is not to mire ourselves in the past whilst the present sweeps on by. But I don't wish to give away all of my gems before the big day." The professor smiled. "Off you go, Mr. Deville. Plenty to do, plenty to do."
He added for Zack's ears alone, "I'll speak with you shortly, hmmm?"
Zack stalked over to the girls and sat, fuming with anger.
Lilly looked from him to Professor Seafeather, who had bounced from the stage and was Long-Legging towards a group on the far side of the room. "What's up?"
Zack's glance flicked to Amanda and back. "Later."
Lilly pushed a stack of paper his way. "In that case, leaflets to be given out at the town hall." She pointed to the master copy. "Here's what goes on them. Grab a pen and start writing."
Zack looked over the master sheet. It was the program for the town hall, as well as a paragraph full of the usual Seafeather drivel, about the glorious history of the Hub and the lofty goals of interdimensional unification. "Fat chance," he muttered, and picked up a pen.
Much later, Zack pushed his final leaflet aside, leaned back in his chair and massaged a cramp out of his hand.
"Not a very wise thing to do, getting into a mix up with Misters Dalimar and Squim on the eve of the town assembly," Seafeather practically hissed as he leaned over Zack's shoulder.
Zack nearly tumbled backwards off his chair. "They went for me," he said, and leaned forward to put more distance between himself and the professor. "What was I supposed to do?"
"It's true," Amanda said. "Everyone knows it."
"The details are irrelevant. The fact remains that Professor Hotspot will seek to turn this conflict to his advantage. Have you the slightest idea of how precarious our position actually is? I have spent my career fostering transdimensional co-operation, and you two representatives offer us the most unique opportunity to advance the monobrain position. Now, after months of careful preparation and redecoration, and on the very eve of our show, Mr. Deville, you..."
The smile he gave Zack was just a little too wide. "Well, I must think of a way to turn this little bump in the road to our advantage." He tapped his forehead. "Or at the very least, prevent my colleague from profiting by it.
"Could you three oversee the gathering of materials from the other tables? And Mr. Deville, try to keep your nose clean between now and the assembly. Under no circumstances tread anywhere near those senior students." Professor Seafeather waved flamboyantly to a couple leaving the hall, and moved off to chat with the few people still in attendance.
Carole came in a little later. The building was nearly empty by then.
"Shouldn't have bothered." Zack dropped a stack of papers on the table and stalked off.
"I was curious about what Seafeather was planning."
Lilly added Zack's papers to her pile. "It's hard to say. He seems really scattered. How about you? Feeling better?"
"A little weirded out."
"I can imagine."
When Carole saw Amanda collecting flyers at Zack's end of the hall, she gave Lilly a quizzical look. Lilly only frowned.
--28--
&n
bsp; By the time the four of them left the theatre, the falls had been turned off, the vine rack had knotted itself into a tight ball, and the annex was empty. They walked outside in silence until reaching the first intersecting path.
"I live this way," Amanda suddenly announced. "Umm...would the three of you like to have dinner at my place sometime? You could meet a few of my friends?"
"The same friends who were too embarrassed to meet us today in public?"
"Lil! Be nice." Zack said. "Of course we would, wouldn't we Carole?"
"Uh, yeah. Sure."
"Great. I'll arrange it with my folks and let you know. See ya." Amanda skipped off down the path.
Zack stared after the departing Amanda like he was frozen to the spot. When she had finally vanished amongst the shadows, he slapped the side of his head. "Omigosh, I completely forgot. I saw something at the Nexus earlier tonight. I was watching the rainbow tails. From the way they were acting, I'm pretty sure there's a cave up there."
Carole stared at him for a moment, before his words sank in. "What?"
"The rainbow tails. I was trying to figure out how they could all squeeze into such a small space when one crawled up from somewhere below. There's got to be a cave or crevice of some sort. A big one."
"I knew something about them wasn't right," Carole said. "Can I borrow your flashlight, Zack?"
"You going to check it out now?"
She shook her head. "I want to pay another visit to the archives. Take a closer look at those plans, first."
"You sure you're up for it?" Lilly said.
"It won't take long, now that I know where to look. You go on home. I won't be long."
She landed in the dark and stood listening. Satisfied that she was alone, she flicked on the light, passed it over the shelves until she located the parchment they'd gone through earlier. She flipped to the plans for Hub Central. The diagram did show stairways in both towers. There was also a signature she hadn't noticed before. The architect's name was Malcour Udiken.
* * * *
"Who's idea was this?" Zack said the next morning, as he stood shivering in the dew-drenched grass at the base of the Celestial Nexus.
"Take a guess." Lilly stamped her feet against the morning chill.
Carole stifled a yawn and started up the path. "Come on."
Every fifty feet or so they stopped and squinted into the predawn light. Below, the park below remained empty except for the sleeping herd of pigs. As they neared the narrow bridge spanning the cliff above the rookery, the air suddenly filled with fluttering sounds.
"Here they come," Zack said unnecessarily, as the rainbow tails returned to their roosts.
Carole peered over the railing to watch. "I can't see where they're going."
Zack leaned farther out. "It's too far down. Give me a hand." He dropped to his belly and wormed out over the edge. "Grab my ankles, I'm almost there."
Carole and Lilly sat on his legs while he wiggled even farther out from the platform.
"I can see it. There's some sort of ledge and a lot of them are going in... Pull me up." He scrambled back onto the bridge. "I think it's manmade, like a small window was carved out of the rock. Most of it's badly eroded, but there's a bit of a sill to grab onto."
"What's on the other side?" Lilly said.
"Couldn't tell."
"I suppose I could try a leap," Carole said.
"Yeah, give it a go," Zack encouraged. "But you'll have to land in a crouch."
"Not now. Someone might see. Besides, it would probably be better to wait until after the birds have left for the night."
"Hadn't thought of that," Zack said. "So what now? Breakfast?"
"We already ate, Zack."
"Nothing wrong with a second course, especially since we've hours before school."
* * * *
Some time later they were on their way to school. "Is it just me or is something different?" Zack said, as they passed a group of girls, one of who actually gave him a half smile.
"Maybe Dalimar and Squim aren't that well liked," Carole said.
"You mean we're moving up in the world?"
"Don't get your hopes up. Oh no, not her again." Lilly said, as Amanda Cleroux rounded a corner of the school.
Amada must have seen them just ten, because she changed direction and came toward them. "I think it went rather well last night, don't you?" she said, as she wedged herself between the twins.
"Uh, I guess," Zack, said.
Lilly reached behind her and tugged at his arm. "Come on Zack. We'll be late."
"See ya." Zack said to Amanda. He followed his sister into the preschool room where the boys instantly mobbed him.
"Zacky, you got that black eye from taking on Dalimar's gang didn't you?"
"Did ya beat them up one at a time?"
"Naw, he trapped 'em in the bathroom, and got 'em all at once, 'cepting Merristen who ran away before Zacky could get hold of him."
"Children, this is not how proper multitaskers should think or act." Professor Startling moved amongst the boys, directing them to their proper places on the rug.
"Yeah, listen to the professor, you bunch of bullfrogs. Fighting's no fun, even if you win. Besides, if you can't solve a problem by talking, what makes you think hitting will work?"
"You did pretty good," Jo-Jo pointed out.
Zack sat on the rug and crossed his legs. "Had I been thinking, I wouldn't have gone anywhere near that gang and wouldn't have had to fight at all. It's always better to use your brains"
"You sound like Professor Startling."
"No, I mean it. All that ever happens is the loser gets angrier, so the next time it's even worse. Believe me, it's never any fun."
"You mean Dalimar's gang going to try to unlink you?" Gerald said.
"We'll protect ya Zacky." Jo-jo jumped up arms crossed, legs wide.
Gerald, Rufus and Justin formed a circle around Zack.
"Yeah, we'll guard ya."
"I'll chase 'em away with my Snap-Arm."
"I'll trip 'em up with my Long-Legs."
"Children, I'm sure Mr. Deville appreciates your concern, but as you've admirably pointed out, he is quite capable, and those responsible have already been put on notice. So if you'll please sit down, we can get begin our lesson of the day."
* * * *
"What a morning. Does everyone have to stop and gawk?" Zack dropped onto the grass.
"What did you expect? You take on a gang of multitaskers and think nothing will come of it?"
"For the last time, Lil, I didn't start it. I didn't want the fight to happen."
Carole sighed. "Can we just drop it? You two have been at each other all morning."
"My pleasure." Zack stuck his tongue out at his sister.
"Reet!"
Carole had to smile when she saw as her pig racing across the grass. "What's the news, Runt?"
"Rit, reet ret."
She frowned.
"What's up?" Zack said.
"The hogs finished their count. It seems the number of connector poles is the same as the number of realms on record."
"Which means?"
"The Dark realm isn't connected to the Hub."
"But how's that possible? Wouldn't the Conundrum still be happening?"
"I don't know."
* * * *
As usual, Philamount was sitting on the chest in the middle of the room.
"Got the report from the hogs," Carole said, after closing the door behind her.
The professor raised his eyebrows.
"The numbers match. The Dark realm isn't connected to the Hub, at least not in the usual way."
He twirled a finger in his beard and pulled on his chin. "That is most disturbing."
"Could that place have something to do with the war?"
"At this juncture, anything is possible. Why is it, do you suppose, that since your return our situation has muddied rather than cleared?"
"It's not my fault."
"I'm
not blaming you Miss Sylphwood, simply posing a question which reflects my observations. Tell me, are you well enough to travel?"
Carole pushed a wooden crate over and sat in front of the professor. "Where to?"
"I wish for you to pay a visit to your Princess Glistlefern."
"The Faerie realm?"
"They are an extremely ancient race and as such might be able to shed a little light on this Dark realm."
"By a regular tunnel or..."
Again Philamount raised his eyebrows.
"Got it. When do I leave?"
"It would be best if you left from the Deville's cottage, at a time when your absence is least likely be noticed."
"After school, then."
Professor Philamount rose. "We shall forego today's exercises, in order for you to conserve your strength."
Carole went directly to the library, expecting to find Zack and Lilly, but saw only Amanda. "Hi Amanda. Have you seen the twins?"
"No. Maybe they got held up."
Carole slid into the chair beside her. "Doubt it. The school's pretty much empty. Besides, I'm always the late one."
"Lessons with Professor Philamount?"
"Yeah."
"It must be amazing working with him."
"I suppose."
Amanda sighed, her envy obvious. "I'd give anything to be taught by him."
"What's the big deal? He's just another prof."
"Everyone knows Professor Philamount is the greatest multitasker alive. Next to you," she added quietly.
"Me? You can't be serious. Even the preschoolers know more than I do."
"But that's why you're so... intimidating. You've done it without any training whatsoever. We're all terrified of speaking to Professor Philamount. But you go on field trips with him and say it's no big deal. We try to keep on Professor Rizzo's good side and you tell him off. Sometimes I wonder if I've got what it takes to be a leaper."
"Course you do. I told you before: Rizzo's just a bully and I've had to deal with bullies all my life. Speaking of which, what did you decide to do about that report?"
The Missing Link Page 15
