The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles (15 page)

"Mine too," said Tom.

The Whangdoodle clapped the Prock on the ba
ck and turned to the children.
"
We have decided that it would be good if you tried to help your friend across the bridge. But only one may go."

The Prock said, "I advised His Majesty that it would be safer if only one was allowed out of the palace gates. If all three of you went, there would be no guarantee that you would bring the professor back."

"But of course we'd try to bring him back. That's the whole point, isn't it?" said Ben.

"I'm not sure," the Prock replied. "What if he does not make it, in spite of your help? What if he chooses not to come? It is possible. No, I think he'd be more inclined to try to reach the palace if he knew that two of you were here and being held hostage."

"Hostage!" Ben was horrified. "You can't hold us hostage. You can't keep us here against our will."

'Well, I'm hoping it won't come to that. I rather thought you'd see the sense of this," replied the Prock.

Tom said, "We can leave any time we want. All we have to do is turn around and go home."

The Prock smiled. "I'm afraid you're wrong there. You see, I have your hats. There's no going home without them."

The children gasped and remembered, too late, the professor's warning about taking off their scrappy caps. There was a moment's silence.

Tom growled. "I might have guessed you'd be up to some double-crossing trick."

The Whangdoodle interrupted brightly. "Oh, now let's not get in a tizzy. There hasn't been a tizzy around here in years. Have some more wodge and let's discuss this in a civilized manner. Prock, you silly old thing, you do lay it on a bit thick sometimes. This all seems very simple." He looked at the children. "You want your professor to meet me—I am most anxious to meet him. The surest way to get him here is for two of you to remain and one of you to go, and that's all there is to it. Now, which one of you will it be?"

Lindy turned to Ben. Ben glanced quickly at Tom. The Prock leaned across the throne and whispered, "Might I suggest the little girl, Sire?"

"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 re
st is easy. Oh, Professor, wait u
ntil 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?"