by Pete Prown
* * *
“That’s marvelous, Wyll! A real clue,” said Cheeryup excitedly.
“But what does it have to do with Dalbo Dall? Do you think he knew what the heartwood really was?”
Cheeryup knitted her brows. “That’s a good question. He was full of secrets and confided some of them in Minty. And I don’t know how any of it will help Mr. Dorro—maybe we’re barking up the wrong tree.”
The boy laughed at his friend’s unintentional pun. “If only we could get back into the library and dig deeper in the archives ….”
“That’s brilliant, Wyll!”
“I know that look, Cheery—you mean to get us into trouble again!” He nervously picked up a muffin and nibbled around the edges. “The library is protected by goons from Fell’s Corner and there’s no way we could get in.”
“Couldn’t we? We’ve broken in there a hundred times before and can do it again.”
“I doan wanna git in inny moor truffle,” said Wyll, his mouth overflowing with cakey muffin bits and warm, squishy blueberries.
“Sorry Wyll—you know truffle is my middle name!”