The Perilous Polynesian Pendant

by Jason Lethcoe

  Andy didn’t have time to finish the thought. A steady glow began to emanate from inside the fountain. Soon the orchids that surrounded the base reacted as well, blooming. There was an explosion of color like nothing Andy had ever seen before as the delicate flowers opened. Even in the dimness of the room, Andy could see that the reds, purples, and pinks were absolutely stunning.

  Then, to Andy’s amazement, the flowers began to sing in lovely high voices.

  I can’t believe it! How is this possible?

  Hoku flapped up to a perch near the ceiling of the hut and chirped happily.

  Andy listened to the beautiful chorus. Noticing his slack jaw and wide, uncomprehending gaze, Madame Wiki chuckled and said, “The islands are filled with surprises. The menehune, our magical little people, ensure that their mysteries are kept safe.” She gestured around the hut. “They blessed this place and made it a sanctuary for the rarest of our magical flowers and the most intelligent of birds in all Polynesia. The Akamai are a species of mystical birds that are capable not only of speech, but of reasoning as well…like Hoku.”

  “Amazing,” Andy whispered softly, still entranced by the beautiful music.

  Madame Wiki nodded. “And that’s why four of your grandfather’s friends—Sherman, Burns, Bruns, and Boag—were enlisted to design the security system, to keep out anyone who would threaten their existence. Each of the flowers and birds in the Tiki Room is priceless. There are many poachers who would love to steal them.”

  Andy thought about the tikis and how convinced he had been that they were real. As he stared at the singing flowers and up at Hoku, he realized that the tikis could hardly compare to real magic.

  “The flowers’ song is said to soothe the soul and inspire courage in all who hear it. Many ancient warriors swore by their powers and would listen to them before going to battle,” Madame Wiki said.

  She’s right, Andy thought. It feels like the song is moving through my entire body. It’s so strange!

  Suddenly, he remembered why he was there. He felt awkward interrupting the singing flowers and waited until the last notes of their chorus died away before turning to Madame Wiki.

  “Madame Wiki, my grandfather sent me here to search for something called the Tiki Key. He said it was very important that I find it and use it to retrieve the Pailina Pendant. Do you know anything about these items?”

  Madame Wiki was quiet for a long moment, and Andy began to wonder whether she’d heard him. “Did your grandfather tell you how dangerous it would be for you to do this?” she finally replied.

  Andy gulped. “Well, kind of,” he admitted. “My grandfather told me that finding the key would be dangerous. He seemed to think that the danger would make the adventure more fun, if you can believe that.”

  Madame Wiki laughed. “That sounds like Ned.”

  Andy gave her a serious look. “Can you help me find it? I know that my chances of success are probably low, but I’m willing to do everything I can to stop this Phink person from getting his hands on it first.”

  Madame Wiki nodded. “I can and will.” Then, to Andy’s surprise, she clapped her hands loudly. “José, Fritz, Pierre, Michael!” she called. “I require your assistance.”

  Andy looked around, confused. Who was she talking to? By the sound of their names, he assumed that several burly soldiers might appear to protect him as he moved to the next stage of his quest.

  He wasn’t at all prepared for the four beautiful parrots that flew down from somewhere near the ceiling to perches positioned above the magical fountain. Each landed next to a hanging seashell that had its name printed on it. A warm glow suffused the dark hut as the birds alighted on their perches, and Andy gazed around in appreciation at the beautiful setting.

  “Amazing,” he repeated, taking in the carvings on the wall. The pillars holding up the hut were carved as well, with angry-looking faces etched into them. It’s like looking at an illustration in a fairy tale book.

  “Bonjour, Madame Wiki! I see that we have a guest, no?” Pierre, the first bird to have landed on his perch, said with a suave French accent.

  “Top o’ the mornin’ to ya, laddie!” Michael called with a lilting Irish accent. The other two birds, Fritz and José, chimed in as well, offering their greetings.

  “Hello,” said Andy. He grinned, feeling a renewed wonder at hearing the birds talk. Like Hoku, each of the parrots seemed very smart and able to communicate with humans.

  Andy noticed that each bird’s plumage was different colors. Pierre’s feathers were red, white, and blue, while Michael’s colors were green, white, and orange. Being an extremely sharp-witted boy, Andy quickly realized that each had the colors of the flag of his native country.

  Fritz spoke next, in a thick German accent: “Frau Wiki, vat did you call us for? I vas in deep debate with José about the reason humans sometimes refer to other humans as ‘birdbrains.’”

  “Sí,” José added. “I was telling mi amigo here that the term is a high compliment on a person’s intelligence. After all, nobody is smarter than a bird!”

  “Nein!” Fritz said. “You are wrong, my South American friend. It is an insult!”

  Andy stifled a chuckle. He didn’t want to offend José by telling him that Fritz was right.

  Madame Wiki paid no attention to the argument the birds were having. Instead, she clapped her hands, silencing them.

  “Gentlemen, the time has come. Andy Stanley has been sent by Ned Lostmore to retrieve the item that we’ve been protecting,” she said sternly.

  “Saints preserve us!” Michael exclaimed. “You don’t mean…”

  Madame Wiki nodded. “I do.”

  “Ach du lieber!” Fritz cried. “Using the key is dangerous! Are you sure? If this boy tries to unlock the door, he could be kaput!”

  Madame Wiki, noting Andy’s paleness, put a comforting hand on his shoulder. “Don’t worry, boy. Ned wouldn’t have sent you if he didn’t think you could do it.”

  Andy wasn’t so sure. What did his grandfather really know about him at all?

  Madame Wiki turned her eyes to the ceiling and let out a long, low whistle. Then she lifted her hands above her head. “It is time, my friends.”

  At the sound of Madame Wiki’s voice, there was a sudden rush of wings, and dozens of hanging perches covered with flowers descended majestically from the ceiling. Seated on them were hundreds of beautiful Akamai.

  Madame Wiki waved her hands and murmured what Andy assumed was an ancient Polynesian spell. The soft voices of the flowers filled the room again. The birds, taking their cue from the flowers, joined in. Then, to Andy’s surprise, the carved pillars that held up the hut began to chant.

  Andy wheeled around and saw that the carvings on the walls had taken up a rhythmic percussion beat. Their arms pumped up and down, banging on loud Hawaiian drums.

  Andy felt the hair on the back of his neck stand on end. His heart thumped wildly. How can this be happening? It feels like a dream, but I know I’m awake.

  He looked at Madame Wiki. Her eyes were closed. Behind her, the fountain glowed with magical energy. A narrow stream of water rose from its center. Madame Wiki began to sway back and forth as she whispered the words of the spell.

  Andy gasped as the beam of water rose over ten feet in the air. How can it do that? It shouldn’t even be possible!

  The music grew in intensity, the chant coming from the pillars getting louder and louder. The voices of the birds resonated in a warbling chorus, high and sweet. Madame Wiki continued swaying back and forth, lost in a trance.

  Andy felt a fluttering in the pit of his stomach, and his palms began to sweat. Dizziness overwhelmed him. Andy gripped his stomach with both hands as nausea washed over him.

  The strange feeling of otherworldly energy was becoming too much. He thought he might faint if it went on too long.

  Just when he felt sure he couldn’t take another minute, the hut was plunged into darkness. A flash of lightning shone through the shutters, q
uickly followed by a splitting crack of thunder that echoed outside the Tiki Room.

  And then, as suddenly as it had started, the music stopped. The gentle mystical light the fountain provided returned.

  Andy relished the newly restored quiet and tried to calm his nerves. Thank goodness that’s over. I don’t think I could have taken much more of it!

  Looking up, he saw that the birds were gone. Only Hoku remained, sitting on Madame Wiki’s shoulder and crooning softly.

  Andy looked down at his shaking hands and was startled to find something in his lap that hadn’t been there before.

  It was a wooden box, its lid open. On a bed of woven palm fronds in the box rested a small item. It had a long shaft made from polished koa wood. Carved into the top of it was a frowning face.

  Andy knew at once that it was what he’d come looking for.

  “The Tiki Key.”

  Andy stared at the key. He had so many questions: Where had the birds gone? How had the water in the fountain mystically risen into the air? How had the carved pillars been able to come to life? And most important, where had the key come from?

  But before he could ask a single question, a noise outside interrupted his thoughts.

  Madame Wiki moved close and lowered her head next to his ear. “The traps around the hut are still down,” she whispered. “We have intruders.”

  Andy felt the blood rush from his face. “What do we do?” he whispered back. He could hear the rustling of people moving outside and had the feeling that the door to the hut might burst open at any moment.

  Putting a finger to her lips, Madame Wiki motioned for Andy to follow her. The two crossed the room and came to a stop in front of one of the pillars that had just moments before been alive. Madame Wiki pressed a small carving on the pillar, and the base swung open, revealing a tiny lever. She pulled it and a small door at the back of the hut appeared, a tunnel beyond it disappearing into darkness.

  “Go!” she said. “At the end of the tunnel is a small boat. Tell the owner that Madame Wiki has need of his help. He will take you to Nanea, the mother of all volcanoes. There you’ll find what you seek.”

  “Wait,” Andy replied. He glanced nervously behind Madame Wiki. The footfalls were growing louder, and Andy could have sworn he heard the sound of weapons being drawn. “What’s going to happen to you?”

  Madame Wiki looked deep into his eyes. “I’ll be fine. Stay strong, my boy!”

  Andy felt Madame Wiki’s powerful hands gently turn him around and give him a small push toward the tunnel. He didn’t like the idea of leaving her behind.

  I can’t just run away. What would Grandfather think of me fleeing like a coward? If I really do have the Lostmore Spirit, now’s the time to prove it.

  Andy turned away from the escape route and pulled his fountain pen from his pocket. Remembering what Ned had told him, he prepared to activate the atomic pulse emitter.

  Madame Wiki looked at him, a confused expression on her face.

  “What is—”

  She was interrupted by the crash of the Enchanted Tiki Room’s door blasting open. Standing in the doorway was a group of fierce-looking men. They wore dark clothing and bared their teeth in fearsome grins. Andy saw that they carried knives and large pouches.

  Poachers! he thought. They’ve come for the birds!

  Andy didn’t waste a second. He aimed the pen toward the would-be thieves and pressed down on the cap.

  A tremendous boom rocked the hut. The poachers nearest the doorway were caught by surprise and flew backward.

  Madame Wiki was impressed. “That’s quite a pen!” she exclaimed.

  Andy grinned and turned toward Madame Wiki. But there was no time to gloat. The blast had not knocked out all his foes, and a large pair of hands suddenly gripped him from behind. A second pair ripped the Tiki Key from his fingers.

  “Andy Stanley. I’ve heard so much about you,” someone called from the shadows in a refined female voice.

  Andy had just enough time to see a girl a few years older than him, clothed completely in black, step in front of him before a rough cloth bag was pulled over his head. This time he recognized the face at once. It was Abigail Awol!

  Andy struggled heroically, but it was useless. I’ve lost the key! My very first assignment for my grandfather and I’ve failed. What kind of Keymaster can’t hold on to a key?

  He felt a deep pang of disappointment. But he didn’t have time to dwell on his failure, for mere seconds later his vision began to blur and the world around him faded to black.

  The first thing Andy noticed when he regained consciousness was the ringing in his ears. His head felt like it was filled with cotton, and he had a horrible taste in his mouth. His eyelids felt like they each weighed fifty pounds. When he forced them open, he saw several faces leaning over him.

  Poachers!

  Andy was suddenly wide awake! In spite of his aching body, he scooted backward, banging his head into a metal bar.

  Andy looked around. He was on a bed! What he’d hit his head on was no more than an iron headboard.

  Where am I?

  Andy scrambled upright, searching his pocket for the Zoomwriter. How was he going to defend himself without it? But it was no use. The pen was gone.

  “Hold on there, sonny. No reason to raise an alarm!” one of his captors said. The man glanced at the other three men. “At ease, boys. You’re scaring the lad.”

  Andy stared at the poacher who had spoken. Everything about his appearance was primal—ferocious. He wore an eye patch and had a gruesome scar down one side of his face. And yet, he spoke with an elegant English accent. He seemed to be the one in charge.

  The man offered Andy his hand. “Nice to meet you. I’m Samuel Sanders.”

  Andy shook the man’s hand. “Andy Stanley,” he said, confused. Why is he being so…polite?

  Sanders smiled and gestured to his companions.

  “This is Jack Simms, Phineas Crumpt, and Bill Nickels,” he said.

  The others responded with quick nods.

  Sanders turned back to Andy. “And we already know who you are. We work for your grandfather.”

  Andy must have still been disoriented from the chemicals they had used to knock him out. His head was swimming, and he was having a hard time processing what he was hearing. “What’s that you just said?” he asked.

  Sanders chuckled. “We work for Ned and the Jungle Explorers’ Society. You’ve been brought to Base Camp Alpha. Bit of a surprise, eh? Sorry ’bout the bag on your head. Not the best way to introduce ourselves, but I assure you it was necessary. Your grandfather’s plans have to be followed to a tee, but they always work.”

  Andy knew his grandfather was a strange man, but had he really told these men to kidnap him? How do I know I can trust them? What if they really work for Phink? What if this is a trap?

  Sanders didn’t seem to notice Andy’s hesitation. “Put on your shoes and come with us,” he ordered. “That incredible pen of yours is on the nightstand, by the way. I don’t know what it is, exactly, but it knocked out three of our best operatives. Your granddad sure knows his gadgets.”

  Andy picked up the pen and tentatively followed the men. He had no way of knowing if they really were who they claimed to be, but they had given back the Zoomwriter. Besides, Andy reasoned, it was either follow them outside or stay in the dimly lit hut.

  The group emerged in what looked like a tribal village. Upon closer inspection, however, Andy saw that the huts were actually constructed with high-quality building materials made to look like bamboo. Glancing through one of the windows, he realized that the disguise was intended to conceal the modern interiors of the buildings, which seemed to house the Society’s ultra-secret communications equipment.

  Amazing! They’re hiding in plain sight!

  Andy followed the men into a large hut in the center of the village.

  So this is what a base of operations for the Society looks like, Andy thought. He gazed around, tryin
g to process what he was seeing.

  The room was filled from floor to ceiling with high-tech surveillance equipment. The whine of radio static and blips of the radar screens mingled with the hubbub of low conversation, typewriter keys, and Morse code transmissions. It looked like pictures of military outposts he’d seen in magazines.

  The familiar aroma of fresh coffee, incongruous in such a remote jungle setting, filled the quarters. It reminded Andy that he hadn’t eaten in a while, and his stomach growled in response.

  Gazing around the room, Andy noticed several operatives poised at different stations. He studied their faces. Something about them was familiar. Then it hit him. They’re the people from the funeral!

  Rusty Bucketts, the man with the steel ball for an eye, stood over a radio. Next to him, holding two clipboards, were the belly-dancing conjoined twins, Betty and Dotty. Next to the sisters was Molly the mime, and standing regally at a radar station was Cedric, the witch doctor, still in his mask, but now wearing a safari suit in place of his robes.

  Sanders called the group to attention. As one, they looked up and burst into loud cheers!

  What’s all this? Andy thought. Who are they cheering for?

  Andy looked behind him to see if someone else had entered the hut, but there was no one there. Were they cheering for him?

  Rusty rushed forward and pumped Andy’s hand up and down. He grinned widely, making his handlebar mustache reach high up on his ruddy cheeks.

  “Well done, Master Andy. Well done indeed! You’ve followed the plan perfectly! Your grandfather must be so proud.”

  Andy smiled back, confused. “I…I don’t understand,” he faltered. But before he could continue, the twins had wrapped him up in a four-armed hug. “We knew you could do it!” they said in unison. And then, to Andy’s surprise, they kissed both of his cheeks at the same time, one on either side.

  Molly the mime cheered the loudest of all, repeatedly thumping him on the back and going on about his bravery.