The Gravity Keeper (21 page)

Within seconds, the light faded. Where there had been a beautiful woman of thirty or so years, there was now a pretty girl about Alysha's age. Simon had reversed the flow of time around Sirabetta!

Reeling from the shocking transformation, Sirabetta had no time to react as Alysha burst from the trees. She shouted and tackled Sirabetta, slamming the tattooed girl to the ground. The
Teacher's Edition
snapped shut and hovered in the air as Alysha tried to pin Sirabetta down.

“Get off me!” Sirabetta yelled. She managed to get free and tossed Alysha aside. Sirabetta quickly looked down at her tattoos and gasped—when her arms and legs shrank down, many of her formulas had run together. They were useless.

She glanced up at Alysha, who had balled her hands into fists. Though exhausted, the girl was ready to fight. Sirabetta looked at her own hands and saw the multicolored spiral—the mark of the Board of Administration—that would let her control the Book.

It, too, had been affected by her younger body—it now spread beyond her palm, missing parts where her fingers spread. It no longer glowed; it was ruined. Alysha, Simon, and Sirabetta all looked up at the Book, which wasn't just hovering anymore. It was vibrating, shaking in midair, as if it was overcome with fury.

Only Simon heard the noise, like a mental snarl from the Book as it surged forward, streaking down and smacking into Sirabetta on the head. She collapsed, unconscious.

The Book floated gently over to where Simon lay and came to a rest at his side. “Nice shot,” Simon said in a pained but steady voice. He wiped his mouth, cleaned his good hand on his shirt, and sniffed. “Anybody else smell a vacuum cleaner bag?”

The Breeze blew gently, dispersing that stink and reviving the kids a little. Alysha sighed with relief and looked around. “Hey, where's Owen?”

“Did we win?” a ragged voice called out from the nearby crater.

Owen's head appeared over the lip of the large hole; he was struggling to pull himself out. “You know, this really-really-really hurts.”

Simon and Alysha laughed and broke into coughing fits. Then Simon nodded. “It's over. We did it. We won.”

“Don't be too sure about that, lad.”

Simon, Alysha, and Owen turned and stared in silent woe. There, standing in the clearing, were Willoughby Wanderby, Loisana Belane, Robertitus Charlsus, Myarina Myashah, and most of the rest of the Order of Physics.

Simon was too weary to sit up, much less stand, so he spoke as loudly as he could from where he lay. “It's not what you think.”

“Not what we think?” Wanderby demanded. “What do you call that, lad?” He pointed at the Book. “That's what I call incriminating evidence. And you're not just going to run laps as punishment, I promise you.”

Owen pulled himself a bit farther over the crater's edge. “That's not fair! We only found it. Veenie and Sirabetta tried to steal it!”

Alysha lacked the strength to yell, but she managed to speak clearly. “Yeah, and we saved it from them. You should be thanking us!”

Wanderby stared at the unconscious girl in the black wet suit. When he saw the tattoos on her arms and legs, his face went pale. Then, recovering, he scowled. “Sira-who? Enough lies, lass. You may have held off four of us before, but now you've got all of us to face. You're out of the game.”

Simon shook his head. “No way. It's not yours. Book, get out of here! Save yourself. Bring help if you can!”

The
Teacher's Edition
rose several inches from the ground. It had received a command from its Keeper and, free from Sirabetta's control, could act. Once again, the air tore open, and with a
POOF
, the Book disappeared.

A collective gasp rose from the gathered Physics members. “What have you done?” Wanderby roared. “Where's the Book?”

Simon hadn't done anything; he was too tired to use his space-time formula. But he believed the Book was safe.

Alysha reached over and squeezed Simon's hand. “We almost made it.”

Simon mustered a smile. “It was a good adventure, huh?”

“Yeah, but it would be nicer if we got to live,” Owen said; he'd finally climbed onto the path but was too tired to move any farther.

The air between the kids and the Order of Physics rippled and tore, making a very familiar noise, as the air had to put up with yet another hole opening within it. The
Teacher's Edition
reappeared, floating in midair and still glowing blue. But this time, it wasn't alone.

There were numerous Books floating near it, each with different-colored covers. A person appeared beneath each Book.

(I gasped with recognition as I looked from one startled person to the next—these were no ordinary people. This was the entire Council of Sciences!)

The Keepers were as stunned by their sudden transportation as everyone else.

Dr. Solomonder Smithodrome, a bearded man wearing a brown corduroy suit, was lying down…two feet off the ground, as if he'd been on a couch before being transported. He fell to the dirt with a thud.

Short, neatly dressed, bespectacled Gilio Skidowsa was bent over with a bag of seeds in his gloved hands, as if he'd been in the midst of gardening.

All the Council members (even the legendary, silver-haired Math League Keeper Skyrena McSteiner) were there, ripped from whatever activity they'd been in the midst of before Simon's
Teacher's Edition
summoned them. Skyrena was poised with a piece of chalk in hand, as if interrupted while writing on a chalkboard. She looked around, tugged at her odd conical hat. “Observation: displacement via transverse axis,
d
= ?
e
^t
. Reference:
Teacher's Edition of Physics
.” Her floating red Book tilted forward, as if agreeing with her.

For a moment, everyone stared at black-mustached Allobero Foreedaman, the Keeper of the Order of Astronomy; he wore only shiny silver underpants. Seeing everyone's stares, he shrugged. “What? I was orbiting Mercury, getting a solar tan.” He snapped his fingers and mumbled a command; in response, a tiny portal appeared in the air, spitting out silvery pants and a black, heavy-metal band T-shirt. They moved on their own, dressing Allobero as he stood with arms outstretched.

Wanderby placed his hands on his hips. “Just who in Galileo's name are you people and what are you doing in our woods?”

Gilio looked around the forest. “Dunkerhook Woods. It's been a while.” He turned to Wanderby. “We are the Council of Sciences,” he said quietly but firmly. “Stop blustering and let us speak to Ralfagon.”

The members of the Order of Physics tensed. Most had never met the Council; they were very suspicious after the last Physics meeting.

Simon saw the assembled Physics members on one side and the various other Keepers on the other and shuddered at the thought of a fight between the most powerful beings in the universe, with Alysha, Owen, and him in the middle.

“Wait!” he shouted with his last strength. “I think I can explain.”

Gilio looked down at the kids, as if noticing them for the first time. He adjusted his eyeglasses. “Indeed?”

“We don't listen to the enemy!” Wanderby shouted.

The
Teacher's Edition of Physics
swooped away from the other Books and hovered protectively over Simon, Owen, and Alysha. It flashed a bright blue light, and in response the other Books flashed their own identifying colors.

Immediately, the Keepers put hands to their heads, as if concentrating. Their Books were communicating with them.

Gilio leaned toward Simon. “That's quite a story the Books have told, but we'll need proof. Take me to Ralfagon so I can heal him.”

Loisana held up a hand. “Wait…what's going on here? As far as we know, these children stole our Book and hospitalized Ralfagon.”

Simon pointed at the unconscious Mermon and youthful Sirabetta. “It wasn't us! It was them—Mermon Veenie and Sirabetta!”

“Veenie, I could believe,” Loisana said, “but I've never heard of this Sirabetta.”

Solomonder stepped forward. “
Vas?
” he said with an Austrian accent. “Pardon me, but did you say ‘Sirabetta'? This
girl
is
mein
Sara Beth?” He walked over to her unmoving form and looked at her face. Then he rose and nodded. “
Ja
, it is true; I can barely tell like this, but it is she.”

Wanderby grew paler and jittery. “No, this isn't right. You're all menaces. Yes, that's it! You're all against us!”

Gilio cleaned his glasses on his sweater. “And they say I'm a conspiracy nut.”

“Book,” Simon called out, “can you bring Ralfagon here?”

The
Teacher's Edition of Physics
tipped forward, as if to nod, then disappeared in a flash and a
POOF
. It reappeared seconds later with a loud tearing of air. A hospital bed with Ralfagon, unmoving atop it, materialized a few feet away.

Eldonna was sitting on a padded chair that materialized next to the bed. She leapt to her feet. “What? Who? Where?” she sputtered.

Allobero chuckled. “Someone stop her before she gets to ‘how' or ‘why.'”

Gilio stepped forward and looked her in the eyes; he was the exact height as short, stout Eldonna. “Pardon me, my dear. My name is Gilio Skidowsa.” He smoothed his sweater and smiled. “I'm the Keeper of the Order of Biology.” He cleared his throat. “I believe I can be of some service to Ralfagon.”

Eldonna quickly collected herself. “Gilio of Biology? Yes, Ralfagon spoke of you often. You won't hurt him?”

“I'd never hurt him; he owes me money from our last Council poker game.”

Gilio walked over to the pristine white hospital bed and placed a hand on Ralfagon's forehead. “Dislocated shoulder, fractured hip, cracked ribs, moderate concussion…and an ingrown toenail. No problem.” He whispered a formula, and Ralfagon glowed bright green for a moment. “Done.”

Ralfagon sat up, put one hand to his stomach and the other to his head, and gazed into Gilio's eyes. He smiled broadly, clapped a hand on Gilio's shoulder, and said, “And just who are you?”

Loisana groaned. “Oh no! He has amnesia?”

Gilio sighed. “How convenient. You owe me money, old man!”

Skyrena clapped.
“Demonstratum: onustus domus, unum supra octos.”
Five playing cards, three aces and two eights, appeared in midair briefly.

Ralfagon's eyes brightened. “Gilio! Good to see you again.” He looked around. “Sorry, friend, but I don't have my wallet with me.” He looked down. “Or my pants, apparently.” He looked up and saw the
Teacher's Edition of Physics
hovering by Simon. “Something's different with my Book. Er, that
is
my Book, isn't it?”

“There's so much to explain,” Simon said. He looked at the
Teacher's Edition
. “Can you do it quickly?”

The Book tilted in a nod and flashed blue. Ralfagon put a hand to his head again. “Oh, my. You traveled back in time to the Monday before my attack to find this boy? When I told you to go anywhere or anywhen, I didn't think you'd take me so literally.” He looked at Simon. “You've had a busy week, haven't you?”

Ralfagon swung his feet off the bed and paused. “Has anyone seen my cane?”

Allobero snorted. “How many times have you lost that thing, Ralfagon? I swear, it's the last time I give you anything special.” He snapped his fingers and another portal opened, dropping Ralfagon's cane beside him on the bed. “Next gift will be an apple; if it was good enough for Newton, it's good enough for you.”

Ralfagon climbed off the bed, leaning heavily on his cane. He looked closely at Simon, Alysha, and Owen. “You three are a mess. Gilio, would you mind?”

Gilio tended to their injuries. His formula made them tingle all over, but it healed them painlessly. Gilio then licked a finger and held it up in the air, as if testing the wind. “Do I detect one of my own flock?” He peered around until he spotted Flangelo's prone form. “Oh, Flangelo, this is no time for a nap.”

Flangelo glowed green and sat up quickly. “Gilio! You've come for me!”

Gilio patted him on the shoulder. “Yes, m'boy. Apparently, you've learned to be heroic. Well done.” He gently healed the fallen sparrows, too.

In the meantime, the members of the Order of Physics warmly greeted their restored Keeper. Wanderby bowed his head. “I guess I was wrong about the lads and the lass.” He looked at the kids. “My apologies.” He didn't sound sorry at all.

Ralfagon cleared his throat and spoke a few formulas that encased Mermon Veenie and Sirabetta in a glowing blue sphere. “There. They are contained now.”

Simon exhaled in relief. Then he looked Ralfagon in the eyes. “Um, Mr. Wintrofline? You know, Sirabetta was kind of psycho, but she did have a point. It doesn't sound like she was treated too fairly before.”

Ralfagon glanced at Solomonder, then at the other Council members. “Perhaps the matter is in need of review. Perhaps many things are.” He looked Simon in the eyes. “I don't know if you realize just how serious all this is, young man. You and your friends have broken almost every rule of the Knowledge Union. We will be dealing with the repercussions for a long time.”

Alysha crossed her arms. “We also saved all your butts from those two!”

Ralfagon made sure his hospital gown was closed in the back. “Oh, that, too. And you have my sincere thanks. Now, I believe the Council and I have much to discuss. And according to my Book, we have a new Keeper to deal with.”

Simon gulped. “You mean me?”

Ralfagon nodded. “The Book chose you. It saw something special in you—vast imagination, great courage. A good heart. Even Dunkerhook Woods saw fit to invite you in, despite centuries of keeping Outsiders out. Plus, you live around the corner: location is everything.” He coughed. “The Council and I believe that the Books' higher understanding of the laws of reality give them great wisdom, so who am I to argue with the
Teacher's Edition
? Simon Bloom, you have now joined the Knowledge Union. Welcome, Keeper.”

The Order and Council members all gasped.

“There's also a short ceremony and a special cake, but we can arrange that later,” Ralfagon added.

Before Simon could react, Flangelo said, “Thank goodness, now can we do something about his name? I mean, Simon? Bloom? Hardly Union material, wouldn't you say?”

Gilio shook his head. “Not now, Flangelo.”

Simon was stunned, but after a moment, he grinned widely. “You know, I was too busy trying to stay alive to think about what would happen if we actually made it. I mean, how great is that, guys? We get to keep our powers!”

Ralfagon cleared his throat. “Ah, right. About that. I'm afraid your brave friends won't be able to keep theirs.”

“Bright side, at least you can keep your names,” Flangelo chirped. Gilio glared at him and Flangelo whistled sadly. “Right. Sorry.”

“My apologies, Owen and Alysha,” Ralfagon continued, “but we can't let you into the Order without following Union protocol. There are procedures and tests.”

Simon looked at his friends, who were clearly devastated by this news. “What if they promise to be careful?”

“I'm sorry; it's forbidden,” Ralfagon said. “There are rules we must follow. Don't worry; you two should have no trouble with the tests. If Mermon Veenie passed, anything's possible.” He turned to Simon. “I humbly ask that you yield control of the
Teacher's Edition
to me,” he said.

Simon turned to Alysha and Owen. “Guys, I'm so sorry.”

Alysha and Owen nodded sadly.

Simon looked at the Book, now trembling in midair between Ralfagon and him. “Go on,” he whispered.

The
Teacher's Edition
flashed blue, and for the first time, Simon heard its message in his mind instead of having to read from a page.
Thank you, Simon. We'll be together again soon,
it said in a gentle, soothing voice.

Then the Book flew to Ralfagon's outstretched hand and the clasp popped open. Ralfagon gestured and a burst of blue and white sparks leapt from Alysha; the last drop of electrical energy she'd stored was released harmlessly.

“I respectfully remove your formulas, though I still call you friends of the Order,” Ralfagon said. Alysha and Owen glowed blue for a moment, then sagged where they stood.

Ralfagon turned back to Simon. “We have much more to discuss later. For example, out of all those laws, you chose space-time?”

Flangelo nodded. “That's what I said, too!” Then he caught Gilio's look and chirped nervously.

Ralfagon sighed. “Terrible things could have happened using space-time; even I don't know all it can do. For now, Simon, be careful. Your powers can cause problems for all of us. Please keep all this secret, even from your father. My work with his research must move at a slow pace, with the greatest care…as with all the Union's activities among Outsiders. We have a grand purpose that requires the utmost precision.” He paused. “What was I saying?”

Eldonna stepped forward. “Ralfagon, why don't I pull young Simon aside and arrange a meeting during your office hours?”

Ralfagon rubbed his chin. “Office? Oh, right, at that university. Of course.”

Gilio cleared his throat. “There's one more important matter, Ralfagon.” He pointed at Mermon and Sirabetta. “Those two almost certainly have fellow conspirators in the Union. That means you three may become targets for revenge. Children, you must be on your guard.”

Willoughby, standing to the side, was glaring at Simon. On hearing this, he smoothed out his expression to appear unbothered.

Ralfagon rubbed the head of his cane. “I think that's it for now, Simon. The Council and my Order have some business to discuss. But we'll soon figure out what's to come next for you and your friends.”

Eldonna gently tapped Simon and handed him a note. “For later.”

Flangelo walked over to Simon, Alysha, and Owen. “Looks like you three did okay.” He whistle-laughed. “And I managed to avoid getting flame-broiled.”

“Hey, thanks for helping out back there,” Simon said.

Flangelo sighed. “What can I say? Sometimes even a chicken has to become an eagle.” He looked right at Owen, who nodded to him.

Simon, Alysha, and Owen waved good-bye and walked along the trail. “Guys, it could be worse, right?” Simon asked of his friends.

“Worse?” Alysha smiled. “I've been on the adventure of a lifetime. So what if I'm back to using batteries and plugs.” Her smile slipped a tiny bit, and she sighed. “Okay, it does suck a little.”

Owen nodded. “It would be great if we could keep our formulas or at least be able to play with yours, Simon. I don't know if I'm ready for everything to be so normal and quiet all the time.”

“Who are you and what've you done with the real Owen?” Alysha asked.

All three laughed as they stepped onto Van Silas Way in the twilight.

“Anyone for Nezzo's?” Simon asked.

“Then maybe we can go back to Narrator Geryson's place later and watch the fights in replay mode.” Owen smiled. “I'd like to see myself in action.”

Simon opened Eldonna's note. “Speaking of action, Eldonna says your tests won't be for a while. But she said the woods are pretty much empty every day except Sundays. So if anyone wanted to go there to have fun with, say, gravity and friction…”

Alysha cheered. “All right!”

Owen started to cheer, too, but he paused. “This time can you
please
not make me slide on my stomach? If she gets to slide on her butt,
I
get to slide on my butt!”

”I have a better idea,” Simon said. “What if we try sliding, friction free, while standing on our heads?”

“No!” Alysha and Owen shouted together.

“Okay, okay, then what about this…” Simon said as the trio walked off together.