by Brandon Mull
Right. He reached into the water with one hand. Then he
put his other hand in and rubbed them together. He stepped
back from the birdbath without the ball, shaking droplets
from his hands and then drying them against his shirt. He
started walking back over to Coulter and Kendra.
That's incredible, Kendra said.
Forget anything, Seth? Coulter asked.
He stopped, cocking his head.
I wanted the ball, Coulter said.
Oh, yeah! Seth cried. What was I thinking?
Come back over here, Coulter invited. Now you've
sampled a distracter spell. One of the spells protecting the
fences of Fablehaven does essentially the same thing.
Anyone who comes across the fence immediately has his or
her attention diverted elsewhere. Simple and effective.
I want to try, Kendra said.
Be my guest, Coulter offered.
Kendra walked toward the birdbath. She kept repeating
in her mind what she was supposed to do. She even
mouthed, The ball, the ball, the ball, repeatedly. When
she reached the birdbath, she stared into the water at the silvery
sphere. She wasn't distracted yet. She picked it up and
brought it back to Coulter. Here you go.
He looked flabbergasted. How did you do that? he
asked.
I'm as surprised as you are. I thought I was just a girl.
No, really, Kendra, that was most unusual.
I just focused.
On the ball?
Yeah.
Impossible! The charge must have run out. After all
these years… go put it back.
Kendra jogged over to the birdbath and set it inside.
Coulter walked over to the birdbath, hands balled into fists.
He placed a hand into the water beside the sphere, began
rubbing the bottom of the basin, and then quickly snatched
the ball. It still works. I could feel the spell striving to
muddle me, potent as ever.
Then how did you get it? Kendra asked.
Practice, Coulter said. If you focus on the ball it will
distract you. So you focus on something near the ball. I was
focusing on rubbing the bottom of the birdbath, keeping the
ball in the back of my mind. Then, as I'm rubbing the bottom
of the birdbath, when I notice the ball, I grab it.
I concentrated on the ball, Kendra said.
Coulter tossed the ball toward the bench. It came to a
rest on the lawn. Go get it again. Don't even try to focus.
Kendra walked over and picked it up. Guess I'm
immune.
Interesting, Coulter said thoughtfully.
I bet I could do it now, Seth said.
Set it down, Kendra, Coulter said.
Seth walked toward the ball, stooped to pick some grass,
and then went and sat on the bench. What? he asked,
wondering why they were staring, then slapping his forehead
again once they reminded him.
Must be another side effect from the fairies, Kendra
guessed.
Must be, Coulter said thoughtfully. The mysteries
keep piling up around you, don't they. You've reminded me,
the fairies have caused some other peculiar effects here at
Fablehaven. Let's move on to the fun stuff. We've made a
fascinating discovery since your last visit. He raised his
voice. Hugo, come!
The massive golem came out from behind the barn, loping
toward them with long, pounding strides. When Kendra
had last seen Hugo, he was blooming with verdure, thanks
to the fairies. Now he looked much more like he had before
the fairies had resuscitated him: a primitive body of soil,
stone, and clay, more apelike in form than humanlike, a few
weeds and dandelions sprouting here and there, but no leafy
vines or colorful flowers.
Hugo halted in front of them. The top of Coulter's head
barely reached the middle of the golem's powerful chest.
Hugo was broad, with thick limbs and disproportionately
large hands and feet. He looked like he could effortlessly tear
Coulter limb from limb, but Kendra knew Hugo would never
do something like that. The golem only followed orders.
You remember Hugo? Coulter said.
Of course, Seth said.
Watch this, Coulter said. He picked up a stone and
tossed it toward the golem. Hugo caught it.
What's that supposed to prove? Seth said.
I didn't tell him to catch it, Coulter said.
He must have a standing order to catch things thrown
at him, Kendra guessed.
Coulter shook his head. No standing order.
Faintly, Hugo smiled.
Is he smiling? Seth asked.
I wouldn't put it past him, Coulter said. Hugo, do
whatever you like.
Hugo squatted, and then jumped high into the air, raising
both arms. He landed with enough force to make the
ground tremble.
He's doing things on his own? Kendra asked.
Little things, Coulter said. He's still totally obedient.
He completes all his chores. But one day your grandmother
spotted him putting a baby bird back into its nest. Nobody
had issued a command; he was simply being kind.
You're saying the fairies did something to him! Kendra
said. After Muriel destroyed Hugo with a spell, they rebuilt
him, but they must have changed him.
Near as we can tell, they made him a true golem,
Coulter said. Manufactured golems, the mindless puppets
who exist only to obey orders, were originally created in imitation
of true golems, actual living creatures of stone or mud
or sand. True golems long ago passed out of all human
knowledge. But apparently Hugo is now one. He is developing
a will.
Awesome! Seth exclaimed.
Can he communicate? Kendra asked.
Only crudely for now, Coulter explained. His comprehension
is quite good-it had to be, for him to take orders.
And his physical coordination is as precise as ever. But he is
only just beginning to experiment with expressing himself
and acting on his own. Slowly but surely he has been
improving. In time, he should be able to interact with us like
a normal person.
So right now he's like a big baby, Kendra said in
wonder.
In many ways, yes, Coulter agreed. One of the jobs I
want the two of you to undertake is to engage in an hour of
playtime with Hugo every day. He will not be under any
order to heed your commands. I will simply leave him with
the mandate to enjoy himself. Then you two are free to talk
to him, play catch with him, teach him tricks, whatever you
like. I want to see if we can get him functioning more on his
own.
If he gets too smart, will he stop taking orders? Seth
asked.
I doubt it, Coulter said. Obedience to his masters is
woven too deeply into his being. It is part of the magic that
holds him together. He could, however, develop into a much
more useful servant, capable of making decisions and sharing
information. And he could start enjoying a higher state
of existence.
I like this assignment, Kendra said. When can we
How about now? Coulter offered. I don't think we
have enough time for a real foray into the woods today. You
need to be here after lunch so you can go into town with
your grandmother. I have no idea what you might be doing
there. Imitating Seth, Coulter pantomimed like he was
locking his lips and throwing away the key. Hugo, I want
you to play with Kendra and Seth. Feel free to do whatever
you want.
Coulter strode away toward the house, leaving Kendra
and Seth with the massive golem. For a moment the three
stood in silence. What should we do? Seth asked.
Hugo, Kendra said. Why don't you show us your
favorite flower in the garden?
Favorite flower? Seth complained. Are you trying to
bore him to death?
Hugo raised a finger and then waved for them to follow.
He stomped off across the lawn in the direction of the swimming
pool. Picking favorites gives him a chance to practice
making choices, Kendra explained as they ran to keep up
with Hugo.
Fine, then how about favorite weapon or monster or
something cool?
Hugo stopped beside a hedge with a flowerbed at the
base. He pointed at a large blue and white flower with a
trumpet-shaped blossom and vivid, translucent petals. It was
delicate and exquisite.
Good pick, Hugo, I like that one, Kendra
complimented.
Great, Seth said. You're very sensitive and artistic.
Now, how about we have some fun? Want to go jump in the
Pool? I bet you could make the best cannonballs!
Hugo crossed and uncrossed his hands, indicating that
he did not like the idea.
He's made of dirt, Kendra said. Use your brain.
And rock and clay… I thought it would just make him
sort of muddy.
And clog up the filter. You should have Hugo throw
you in the pool.
The golem turned his head toward Seth, who shrugged.
Sure, that would be fun.
Hugo nodded, grabbed Seth, and, with a motion like a
hook shot, flung him skyward. Kendra gasped. They were
still thirty or forty feet away from the edge of the pool. She
had pictured the golem carrying Seth much closer before
tossing him. Her brother sailed nearly as high as the roof of
the house before plummeting down and landing in the center
of the deep end with an impressive splash.
Kendra ran to the side of the pool. By the time she
arrived, Seth was boosting himself out of the water, hair and
clothes dripping. That was the freakiest, awesomest
moment of my life! Seth declared. But next time, let me
take off my shoes.
The Sphinx
Kendra stared out the window at a huge, derelict factory
as the SUV idled at a stoplight. Rotting boards crisscrossed
the lower windows. The yawning upper windows
were nearly devoid of glass. Wrappers, broken bottles,
crushed soda cans, and weather-worn newspapers littered the
sidewalk. Cryptic graffiti decorated the walls. Most of the
spray-painted words looked sloppy, but a few had been
expertly rendered with gleaming metallic letters.
Can I take off my seat belt yet? Seth complained,
squirming.
One more block, Grandma said.
The Sphinx isn't staying in a very nice part of town,
Kendra said.
He has to keep a low profile, Grandma said. Often
that translates to less than ideal accommodations.
The light turned green, and they drove through the
intersection. Kendra, Seth, and Grandma had been on the
road quite a while in order to reach the coastal city of
Bridgeport. Grandma took a much more leisurely approach
to driving than Vanessa, but despite the gentle pace and
pleasant scenery, the prospect of meeting the Sphinx had
kept Kendra on edge for the entire ride.
Here we are, Grandma announced, activating the left
blinker and turning into the parking lot of King of the Road
Auto Repair. The run-down auto shop looked abandoned.
There were no cars in the small lot, and all the shop windows
were obscured by dust and grime. Grandma avoided a
lone, rusty hubcap lying on the asphalt.
What a dump! Seth said. You sure this is the place?
The SUV was just coming to a stop when one of the
three doors to the garage slid upwards. A tall Asian man in a
black suit waved them inside. He was lean, with wide shoulders
and a humorless face. Grandma pulled into the garage,
and the man yanked the door down behind them.
Grandma opened her door. You must be Mr. Lich, she
said. The man lowered his chin briefly, a motion halfway
between a nod and a bow. Mr. Lich gestured for them to exit
the vehicle.
Come along, Grandma said, descending from the
SUV. Kendra and Seth got out as well. Mr. Lich was walking
away. They hurried to follow him. He led them out a
door into an alley where a black sedan was waiting. Bland
features neutral, Mr. Lich opened the back door. Grandma,
Kendra, and Seth ducked inside. Mr. Lich got up front and
started the car.
Do you speak English? Seth asked.
Mr. Lich fixed him with a steady stare in the rearview
mirror, put the car in drive, and started down the alley.
None of them made further efforts at conversation. They followed
a disorienting series of alleys and side streets before
finally reaching a main road. After a U-turn, they were back
on side streets, until Mr. Lich brought the sedan to a stop in
a dirty alley beside a row of dented garbage cans.
He got out and opened the door for them. The alley
smelled like taco sauce and rancid oil. Mr. Lich escorted
them to a grimy door that read Employees Only. He opened
it and followed them inside. They passed through a kitchen
into a dimly lit bar. Blinds covered the windows. There were
not many patrons. Two guys with long hair were playing
pool. A fat man with a beard sat at the bar next to a skinny
blonde with a pockmarked face and frizzy curls. Wispy
strands of cigarette smoke twisted in the air.
Grandma, Seth, and Kendra entered the room first. The
bartender was shaking his head. No patrons under twenty-one,
he said. Then Mr. Lich appeared and pointed toward
a stairway in the corner. The demeanor of the bartender
changed instantly. My mistake. He turned away.
Mr. Lich ushered them up the carpeted stairs. At the
top, they pushed through a beaded curtain into a room with
shaggy, calico carpet, a pair of brown sofas, and four suede
beanbag chairs. A heavy ceiling fan spun slowly. A large,
old-fashioned radio stood in the corner, softly playing big
band music, as if tuned to a station broadcasting out of the
past.
Placing a hand on Grandma's shoulder, Mr. Lich
motioned toward the couches. He did the same for Seth.
Turning to Kendra, he gestured toward a door on the other
side of the room. Kendra glanced at Grandma, who nodded.
Seth flung himself
onto a beanbag.
After crossing to the door, Kendra hesitated. The silent
car ride and unusual environment had already made her
uncomfortable. The prospect of facing the Sphinx by herself
was unsettling. She looked over her shoulder. Both
Grandma and Mr. Lich motioned for her to enter. Kendra
knocked softly. Come inside, said a deep voice, barely loud
enough to be heard.
She opened the door. A red curtain fringed with gold
tassels and embroidery blocked her view. She pushed
through the velvet curtain into the room beyond. The door
closed behind her.
A black man with short, beaded dreadlocks stood beside
a Foosball table. His skin was not merely a shade of brown ----
it was as close to truly black as Kendra had ever seen. He was
of average height and build, and wore a loose gray shirt,
cargo pants, and sandals. His handsome face had an ageless
quality-he could have been in his thirties or his fifties.
Kendra glanced around the spacious room. A large
aquarium held a vibrant collection of tropical fish.
Numerous delicate, metallic mobiles dangled from the ceiling.
She counted at least ten clocks of eccentric designs on
the walls, tables, and shelves. A sculpture made of garbage
stood beside a life-sized wooden carving of a grizzly bear.
Near the window was an elaborate model of the solar system,
intricate planets and moons held in place by wire orbits.
Would you join me in a game of Foosball? His accent
made Kendra think of the Caribbean, although that was not
quite right.
Are you the Sphinx? Kendra asked, bewildered by the
unusual request.
I am.
Kendra approached the table. Okay, sure.
Would you prefer cowboys or Indians?
Spitted on rods were four rows of Indians and four rows
of cowboys. The cowboys were all the same, as were the
Indians. The cowboy had a white hat and a mustache. His
hands rested on his holstered six-guns. The Indian had a
feathered headdress, and his reddish-brown arms were folded
across his bare chest. The feet of each cowboy and Indian
were fused together to better strike the ball.
I'll be Indians, Kendra said. She had played some
Foosball at the rec center back home. Seth usually beat her
two out of three games.
Let me forewarn you, the Sphinx said, I am not very
good. There was a mellow quality to his voice that evoked
images of old-time jazz clubs.
Neither am I, Kendra admitted. My little brother usually