The Golden Wasp

by Tony Abbott

  With each step, Eric felt himself drawing closer to his father. He was here. Eric could feel it.

  “I say we find the prisoners first,” said Keeah. “Then the bracelet. I don’t want us to split up.”

  Julie nodded. “Good idea.”

  “We should follow our noses,” said Neal. “The dungeon’s gotta smell the worst.”

  Eric winced. Neal was probably right. He wondered how his father was handling being in Droon. He sure wasn’t seeing the best part of it.

  As they went deeper into the dark passage, they heard a faint droning sound in the distance.

  Nnnn. Nnnn. It sounded like a motor.

  “Weird place,” Eric said. “But I definitely think we’re getting close.”

  “Close? We’re here!” Neal said. He pointed to a door with a sign over it.

  The sign read DUNGEON.

  Julie laughed. “Nice of Sparr to label things.”

  “He probably had to, so the Ninns wouldn’t get lost,” Keeah said with a smile.

  Together, they pulled open the heavy door.

  They stepped into a room lit by the dim glow of a single wall torch. Eric spied three figures in chains. None of them was moving.

  “Please let one of them be my dad,” he said softly. “And please let him be okay.”

  They edged closer.

  “It’s called plaid,” one voice said. “It comes in lots of colors. You can even get plaid pants!”

  “Is that so?” said another excitedly. “I’ve seen the pattern before, but I can’t remember where!”

  “I wonder if I can weave plaid with my spider silk,” chirped the third. “It looks quite soft.”

  Eric stepped into the light. “Um … hello? Dad?”

  “Eric!” cried his father, his face beaming. “Holy crow! Why didn’t you ever tell me about this Droon place? And right under our house!”

  “Ah,” said Galen cheerfully. “Our rescuers have arrived. I told you, Sir Hinkle. They would never fail us.”

  Eric blinked at his father. “Sir Hinkle?”

  Max rattled his eight chains. “Not exactly the feast of joy and fun we were all expecting!”

  “Now, Keeah,” said Galen. “A number-two blue bolt should release us. I would have done it myself, only the angle wasn’t right. I didn’t want to zap us all to Agrah-Voor!”

  Keeah raised her hands and narrowed her eyes. “Stand back!” she said. A sudden bolt of blue light shot neatly from her fingertips.

  Kzzz-zamm! The chains crumbled into a dusty heap on the floor. The prisoners were free.

  Eric hugged his father. It felt strange to do that in front of his friends, but it felt good, too. Things were getting back to normal. Sort of.

  Neal told Galen what was happening. “Sparr’s Wasp stung all the majesties. Now he’s sending them back to conquer their countries for him.”

  “And I need to find my bracelet right away,” said Julie. “Sparr will probably use it to keep the door open so he can get to the Upper World.”

  Neal nodded. “There isn’t a room marked BRACELET around here, is there?”

  Mr. Hinkle blinked. “Almost! I think we passed a sign that said LOCKED ROOM. Galen, do you think maybe Sparr is keeping the bracelet there? Galen?”

  But the wizard’s eyes were fixed on Keeah’s harp. “Forgive me,” he said, a smile creeping over his lips. “I had thought that old harp was lost forever. It makes me happy to see it. Droon’s ancient past lives again. It gives me much hope.”

  Keeah made a face. “Except that I can’t play.”

  Galen nodded. “You will, Princess, when the time is right. Now, come. We are wasting time.”

  They left the dungeon.

  Five minutes later they stood before a tall iron door set into the stone. The door had a huge padlock on it and a sign that read LOCKED ROOM.

  Nnnn. The droning was loud behind the door.

  “What’s Sparr got cooking in there?” Neal wondered out loud.

  Galen turned to Keeah. “Pluck the third string of the harp.”

  The princess did. Brum!

  Ploink! The lock popped off, and the door sprung open.

  “It does work!” Keeah said, beaming.

  The room inside seemed to glow. The walls narrowed to a point at the ceiling.

  And the droning was even louder.

  Julie gasped. “It’s here!”

  The bracelet — her silver charm bracelet — was sitting alone on a tall stand in the center of the room. She darted over to it.

  “It’s strange that no one is guarding it,” said Keeah.

  Eric looked around. Up and down the walls were thousands of little holes, all exactly the same size. And the humming was coming from all around them. “I’m not so sure….”

  Julie took the bracelet from the stand and slipped it on. “Yes! It’s mine! Things will be normal again, I know they will.”

  Something moved in one of the holes.

  The humming grew louder.

  “What was that?” said Mr. Hinkle.

  Eric stepped over to him. “I saw it, too.”

  Something else moved. Galen edged closer.

  Zzzt! A tiny golden object shot out of a hole and buzzed around his head. He swatted at it. It buzzed back into its hole.

  The humming grew still louder.

  Then Galen knew. They all knew. He staggered backward. “Oh, dear, no!” he cried. “We’re in … we’re in … a nest!”

  The walls were suddenly alive. The holes swarmed with thousands of tiny wasps.

  “These must be the children of the Golden Wasp,” Galen said, pulling the kids toward the door. “Sparr set them to guard Julie’s bracelet.”

  Eric’s eyes gaped. “Sparr said he was giving the kings gifts to help them conquer their countries. These wasps … are the gifts!”

  Galen’s face flashed with fear and anger. “We must stop him. Quickly, children, find the kings. Take them to safety!”

  “But Sparr has them under his control!” Julie said. “They’ll do only what he says!”

  The wizard turned to Keeah. “Princess, you are your mother’s daughter. I had not thought it possible, but you have found her lost harp. You must learn its power before you are truly ready. But it may be our only hope against Sparr.”

  Keeah looked at her mother’s old harp.

  Galen took her by the shoulders. “Go into the depths of your mind and bring up the memory of what she played to you. Only love can conquer Sparr’s evil. Only you can defeat him today. Go! Save your father. Save Droon!”

  Keeah looked into the wizard’s eyes. All of a sudden, they seemed very old.

  “But what about you?” she asked.

  “I must stay here. I have business to do. Go!”

  Mr. Hinkle and Max rushed the kids out of the room. Galen slammed the door behind them.

  Lightning crackled from inside the room.

  The humming grew louder.

  The rain was even colder when they snuck into the outer courtyard. They hid behind a row of barrels and peered over.

  Lord Sparr was on a high wall, looking down.

  Below him, the majesties of Droon stood smiling blankly up at him.

  “Ninns!” the sorcerer boomed. “Let us begin!”

  A long line of his warriors tramped into the courtyard. Each one held an empty golden cage.

  “Go, my soldiers!” Sparr cried. “Fill your cages with the children of the Wasp! Then you shall bring my gifts to every land in Droon!”

  Saluting, the Ninns trudged into the fortress.

  “So it’s true,” whispered Keeah. “Sparr is sending those wasps back with the kings. Then every good soul in Droon will belong to Sparr!”

  Mr. Hinkle scanned the courtyard. “I don’t know much about Droon, but this looks bad.”

  “It is bad, Sir Hinkle,” said Max. “Very bad.”

  Eric wasn’t sure they could do anything to stop Sparr. But he knew they had to try. He turned to Keeah. “Galen said y
ou need to remember the songs your mother played.”

  Keeah shook her head. “It seems so long ago. I don’t remember anything.”

  “Yeah, my dad teaches me songs, too,” Eric replied. “Sometimes I forget. Then I just start playing. It helps me remember.”

  Sparr mumbled a word, and his wraith slithered from a dark corner and stood next to him.

  “Well, King Zello,” the sorcerer called down, “how do you like serving me?”

  “I love it!” the king boomed up happily.

  “Good!” Sparr replied. “For soon you’ll end up like my wraith here. A mere shadow!”

  Keeah growled with anger, then closed her eyes. “Mother, help me to remember.”

  A moment later, a red-faced Ninn charged out of the fortress. “F-F-F.”

  Sparr snarled at him. “Well? What is it?”

  “F-FIRE!” the Ninn cried. “Nest on fire!”

  Thick smoke poured up suddenly from below.

  Sparr flew down from the wall. “No! My glorious plan must not fail! Ninns, follow me to the nest. Wraith — summon your brothers!”

  Eric gulped. “That thing’s got … brothers?”

  Sparr roared into the fortress. His red-faced guards chugged noisily after him as the wraith vanished back into the shadows.

  “Now’s your chance, Keeah,” said Julie.

  The princess looked over at her father. Then she looked at her friends and nodded firmly.

  Lifting the harp, she began to play.

  Bling! Thrum! Bimm! Keeah’s fingers moved magically over the strings as if she suddenly remembered an old song. She played more and more as the sound swirled around the courtyard.

  Blim! Ping! Bong! Thoom!

  The majesties of Droon began to stir. They blinked once. Then again. They looked around. Then they began to mumble to one another.

  “The kings are themselves again,” Max said.

  “The spell is broken!” Julie exclaimed. “Keeah, you did it!”

  King Zello turned as if awakened from a deep sleep. He gasped to see his daughter there. And he gasped when he saw the high black walls of the fortress. “Keeah … where are we?”

  The princess rushed to her father and hugged him. “We’re in Plud, Father. But we must all leave now. Quickly, this way! To the gate!”

  Mr. Hinkle dashed over to help. “Hi, I’m Eric’s dad. I think we’d better move out fast. That Sparr guy is mad we’re messing up his plans.”

  King Zello slapped Eric’s father on the shoulder. “Good to have your help, Sir Hinkle! Majesties of Droon, let’s go!”

  Neal nudged Eric. “Look at that. King Zello and Sir Hinkle. Two cool dads.”

  “Yeah,” said Eric proudly. “Very cool!”

  “Our problems aren’t over yet,” said Keeah.

  Zzzt! The Golden Wasp shot out from the fortress. It looked mad. It sounded mad.

  “Uh-oh, I think it’s mad!” Eric yelled.

  Neal threw a stone at it. The Wasp buzzed in a circle, then stopped. It looked at Neal. Then it flicked its wings rapidly. Then it shot after him.

  “It’s mad, all right,” said Neal. “At me!”

  Neal took off as the Wasp chased him into the burning fortress.

  The kids stared at one another.

  “After him!” they yelled.

  “Help! Help! Hellllllp!”

  Neal’s cries for help echoed in the dark halls.

  Eric, Keeah, and Julie rushed after him until they reached the main court.

  The Wasp had Neal backed into a corner.

  “You’re trapped!” said Eric, looking around.

  “You think?” Neal shouted. “Do something!”

  The Wasp hovered over Neal. Its tail twitched near his face. The long stinger waved back and forth in front of his nose. It came closer, closer.

  Keeah ran over. Blue sparks shot off the tips of her fingers. “Neal — duck!”

  “Looks like a big insect to me!” Neal said.

  “Get down!” she shouted. He did.

  Kla-bamm! Keeah’s shot of blue light blasted the Wasp. It was thrown into the wall behind Neal.

  ZZZZT! The Wasp was up before they left the room. The kids raced through dark halls, down stairs, and along dim passages.

  They stumbled and ran and ran and stumbled until they could run no more.

  Suddenly, it wasn’t dark anymore. The walls of the passage glowed yellow and red.

  “The nest!” Julie gasped, peering ahead.

  The wild humming of the other wasps was nearly drowned out by the roar of the fire. Red, yellow, and blue flames licked the ceiling of the room Galen had set on fire.

  Zzzzt! The Golden Wasp saw the burning nest, gave out a shriek, and shot in over the kids.

  Inside the nest, Galen stood facing Sparr and his troop of Ninns. The wizard narrowed his eyes. “Your plan is finished, evil one! Give up!”

  “Too late,” the sorcerer snarled. “My plan has already begun. The strangers shall not leave Droon. Even now the stairs appear in my dark lands. I will ascend them. You cannot stop me.”

  Keeah ran in and stood next to Galen. “Oh, I think you’ll be surprised —”

  Sparr let out a long hissing noise. “Ah, the princess. Good. Now you can perish together!”

  Kla-bamm! He hurled a red lightning bolt at them. Galen and Keeah twirled out of the way.

  At the sound of the blast, the Ninns bolted past the kids, scurrying for cover.

  “Children, go!” Galen called out. “We will meet you outside!”

  “But, Keeah —” Julie said.

  “I’ll be all right,” the princess said with a smile. She tapped her harp. “Now, go!”

  Kla-bamm! Sparr leveled another blast. Keeah blocked it with one of her own. The room lit up.

  “We better get out of here!” Neal yelped.

  The three friends charged through the passage and up the stairs. They tumbled out to the main courtyard where Mr. Hinkle and Max were waiting for them.

  “The stairs are across the lake!” Max said.

  Eric turned around. All of Plud was on fire.

  Black smoke rose up, then fell over the lake.

  “It’s like the end of the world,” Neal said. “And I’m not ready!”

  “We need to go now!” Max said, running for the gate.

  Eric shook his head. “I have this weird feeling we’ve forgotten something.”

  “I have my bracelet,” said Julie.

  “And you have me!” said Mr. Hinkle.

  “Come, Eric,” Max said, pulling the children gently out the gate. “Galen and Keeah will be fine. Together they are more powerful than Sparr. Keeah proved that today. Now, come.”

  The flames roared higher and higher as they all ran to the shore. King Zello and the others were already halfway across the ice. The magic staircase stood glistening on the far side.

  The kids started across the lake. They were nearing halfway when Eric stopped. He turned around.

  A wall of black smoke was rolling across the ice toward them. Eric stared at it. He listened.

  “Son, what is it?” his father asked.

  “I just remembered what we forgot,” said Eric.

  A sound was coming from behind the smoke.

  Sloosh …sloosh …

  It was the sound of metal on ice.

  Suddenly, there it was. The wraith. It burst out from the smoke and skated toward them.

  Sloosh …Sloosh …

  It was joined by another. Then another. And another. An army was skating toward them.

  “Mr. No-face … and his brothers,” said Julie.

  “I think we better move it,” said Neal.

  Eric nodded. “I think … you’re right!”

  The kids tore across the ice, slipping and sliding toward the glittering staircase.

  “We’re never going to make it,” Max chittered. “The wraiths are too fast!”

  Suddenly — ka-whoom!

  Plud’s highest tower exploded
into bits.

  “Oh, my gosh!” Julie cried. “Keeah! Galen!”

  Then — whoosh! whoosh! — Galen flew out of the flaming fortress. Behind him, Keeah was flying, too. She held her harp in front of her. It was pulling her swiftly through the air.

  “Awesome!” Eric exclaimed. “They made it!”

  “So did they!” Neal said, pointing to two dark streaks zooming across the sky.

  The black flaps of Sparr’s long cloak glistened like crow wings as he swooped after Keeah. The Golden Wasp followed close behind.

  “Come, wraiths! Come, Ninns!” Sparr called out. “We will all ascend the stairs!”

  Kla-bamm! His angry blast struck the sky near the wizards. Keeah was thrown down through the air. She tumbled to the lake near the kings.

  Her father scooped her up instantly, but the harp struck the ice, bounced, and slid away from her. “Don’t let Sparr get it!” Keeah cried out.

  Eric dashed over and snatched up the harp. It seemed to hum in his hands. He knew instantly: There is power in this harp.

  “Come, wraiths!” Sparr howled. “Onward, Ninns! Don’t let them get to the stairs!”

  Sloosh! Sloosh! The wraiths skated closer. The Ninns charged across the ice.

  “We need a spell to stop them,” said Julie.

  “Keeah and Galen have their hands full with Sparr,” Neal said, looking around wildly.

  Eric stared at the harp in his hands. He turned to his father and held it out to him. “Play this, Dad.”

  “What?” his father said, shaking his head. “This is magic. I can’t do magic. I’m just a dad.”

  “You taught me chords,” said Eric. “You taught me lots of stuff. You have to play it! Or Sparr will get into our house. Our world!”

  Sloosh! The wraiths were racing over the ice.

  Mr. Hinkle looked at Eric, then took the harp. “Here goes nothing.” He touched the strings.

  Plong! Ploink! Bloing! Plinkkkk!

  “I thought you could play!” Neal groaned, slapping his hands over his ears. “That hurts!”

  Suddenly, kkkk!

  A crack appeared in the ice. It widened. The frozen lake split into dozens of pieces.

  “Whoa, Mr. H.,” said Julie. “You can play!”

  The wraiths slid to a stop at the edge of the crack. They could go no farther.