The Missing Link (20 page)

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.

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?"

Amanda flipped open a notebook and pulled out a copy of her original report. There was
an A messily scrawled on the top right corner.

"Wow. That must have been some arguing."

"Didn't need to. Before I even had a chance to explain, he changed my mark."

"Does he do that a lot? I thought Professor Rizzo was kind of--"

"A rusty link? Guess he had second thoughts."

"I suppose. Anyway, I'd best be going. Lots to do."

The twins were sitting at the kitchen table when Carole walked in. "You didn't
wait."

"The staring was getting a bit much," Lilly said.

"I'm the one they're staring at," Zack said. "You're just trying to avoid Amanda. So, are
you checking out the cave tonight, Carole?"

"Change in plans. Philamount wants me to see if the faeries might know what's going
on."

"You leaving now?"

"Yup."

"Here." Lilly handed Carole a couple of muffins from a plate. "And dress warm."

"Yes, mom."

Zack tossed Carole a sweater. "Same drill as before?"

"I've gone for a walk and you've no idea when I'll be back."

"So true."

"See ya, then."

She climbed to the loft, tossed her rucksack with her school supplies onto her bed and
checked that her whistle wand was still hanging around her neck. Satisfied she concentrated for a
moment and vanished.

Lilly glanced out the window. Two people were midway across the school field and
walking towards the cottage. "Oh no, it's Carole's parents."

"Let's sneak out the back."

"No, we'd better hear them out."

The knock came a minute later. Lilly opened the door.

Judith Sylphwood looked down at her. "We wish to speak with our daughter."

"She's not here," Zack said from behind Lilly's shoulder. "Out," he added
unnecessarily.

"When do you expect her back?"

"Can't say," Lilly said, while holding the door half closed. "She's probably working on
some assignment. You know her workload."

"I see."

"Is there a message?"

"I want... That is, we'd like for Carole to return home."

"We'll let her know." Lilly gave the door a little push, hoping they'd take the hint and
leave.

Mr. Sylphwood shuffled his feet, but stayed in the same place. Mrs. Sylphwood cleared
her throat several times.

"Is there anything else?" Lilly said.

"We're hoping that she could see fit to return by tomorrow. Tonight in fact."

"We'll tell her when we see her. Anything else?"

Judith Sylphwood's gaze flicked between Lilly and Zack. "We just want her to be safe
and happy."

"Of course. Well, have a pleasant day." Lilly closed the door.

Zack peeked out the window. "They're not moving," he whispered. "She's just standing
there. Now they're talking. She doesn't look very happy. Oh good, they're leaving." He stepped away
from the window. "What do you suppose that was all about?"

"The town hall is tomorrow."

"Yeah?"

"It's going to be pretty embarrassing when word gets around that the famous Carole
Sylphwood can't stand to live under the same roof as her parents."

Carole landed on a stone dais at the edge of a towering forest of silver oak trees. It was
evening, but the land was aglow from the light of twin moons. The trees shimmered from a gentle
breeze that carried with it the sound of laughter and music.

Before Carole could move, a flight of faeries burst into the open and swirled over the
ground. One faerie swooped close, squealed at the sight of her, and dashed back to the woods. The
others quickly followed, and the music ended abruptly.