“It’s a long story,” Archer said. “But they’re buried in Greenhouse Four. Where the poisonous plants are kept. I had a nightmare about it.”
“You figured it out from a nightmare?”
“Mostly after the nightmare.”
Through the windshield, they watched the houses give way to warehouses.
“We’re in Barrow’s Bay,” Archer said, reviewing the map.
The snow got heavier as the streets got narrower and the warehouses got taller. Adélaïde sped up the windshield wipers again as they turned onto a bridge to cross the canal. Gusting winds cut across their path, tossing the truck from side to side.
“Hold on back there,” Archer called to Oliver and Kana.
On the other side of the canal, they entered the maze. Streetlamps were flickering. Many weren’t working at all. The wind swept snow all around the truck. They were glad not to be outside, but inside that tiny truck, they didn’t feel much safer. Even Oliver had grown quiet.
“Why did you turn off the windshield wipers?” Archer asked.
“I didn’t.” Adélaïde twisted the knob back and forth. “I think they froze.”
Snow piled on the windshield.
“We’re going to hit something,” Adélaïde said, hunching over the wheel to see out what little bit of glass was not covered. “I can’t see anything.”
Archer rolled his window down and stuck his head out. The snow stung his face. “Keep straight. We’re fine. There’s a gap up ahead. I think it’s—There it is!”
The Society was standing tall and glowing brilliantly through the storm. Archer marveled at the sight and guided Adélaïde across the piazza to one of the footbridges. They parked just next to it, and everyone got out. Oliver started to run toward the Society, but Adélaïde snagged him.
“Wait. You don’t go anywhere without us,” she insisted.
Oliver rolled his eyes at Archer. “She’s a wet sock sometimes.”
“She’s right, Oliver. You have to stay with us.”
“Two wet socks.”
“We need to get inside,” Kana said, gazing up into the storm. “It’s about to get worse.”
The four locked arms and crossed the footbridge, taking great care not to slip. Archer couldn’t tell if it was the wind howling or Oliver as they passed the narwhals with crossing tusks, stumbled up the front steps, and pushed through the door.
♦ WHAT IS AN ICEBERG? ♦
“Is anyone home?” Oliver called, his voice echoing around the empty entrance. “Did we get all dressed up for nothing?”
“Is the Inquiry over?” Kana asked.
“It can’t be,” Archer said, staring at Adélaïde. “That’s not possible.”
They hurried across the checkered floor and up the staircase. Archer pressed his ear to the doors of the Grand Hall. Was it over? He heard a voice inside and opened the door a crack.
The Inquiry was not over. The Grand Hall was packed. It made DuttonLick’s party look like an intimate gathering. Row upon row of chairs stretched before him, all the way up to the stage. There wasn’t an empty seat. Members lined the sides of the hall, and still more sat in the windows.
Up on the stage, before a roaring fire, ten Deputies in black robes were seated around Mr. Suplard, who was elevated on a small platform. Archer’s grandparents were on one side, with Mr. Dalligold. On the other side was Mr. Birthwhistle, by himself. He was on his feet, addressing the silent hall.
“And what is an iceberg? It’s a rogue chunk of ice that breaks from a glacier after deciding it would rather do its own thing. Are the Helmsleys not precisely that—an iceberg to our glacier? No one would deny the contributions they’ve made to our organization. And I don’t doubt there are many here this evening who still think highly of them. But we mustn’t allow emotion to cloud sound judgment. The Helmsleys were a threat to our work before they vanished and will go on being a threat should they be reinstated!”
The hall erupted. Archer was heartened that there were just as many shouts of disapproval as shouts of agreement. Even so, there was no time to waste. He shut the door and pulled the Society map from beneath his sweater.
“Let’s get to the greenhouse.”
♦ STRAIGHTENING CROOKEDNESS ♦
“It’s that way.”
“No, you’re looking at it upside down.”
“This door says TREASURY.”
“So it’s this way.”
“No, it’s that way.”
Even with a map, finding their way to the Greenhouse was difficult. The only way they could do it was to match titles above doors to rooms on the map. It was slow going.
“We were never here with Darby,” Archer said as they crossed an interior causeway overlooking a room filled with taxidermied animals and the equipment to do it.
“No, but look.” Adélaïde pointed to the map. “The elevator should be on the other side.”
Kana opened a door, and sure enough, straight ahead was the elevator. Adélaïde rushed to it and clicked the button. Archer, Oliver, and Kana stopped a few feet back.
“We have to be careful,” Archer warned them as he folded the map and tucked it under his sweater. “This is the poisonous greenhouse. Benjamin had a plant at Raven Wood that he said was deadly. I’m sure many plants in there are.”
“You’re afraid of plants?” Oliver scoffed. “I’ll fight them off if they come at us. I’ll pluck their little leaves and send them packing.”
“No, Oliver, he’s talking about poison,” Adélaïde said. “You can’t fight poison.”
“Watch me.”
The elevator arrived. Through the gate, Archer saw a pair of deep-set deep-blue eyes, but before he could say anything, Adélaïde opened it. Suddenly, she was in Mr. Mullfort’s arms, dangling like a dead fish—a dead fish with a wooden leg. Archer, Oliver, and Kana froze. No one knew what to do.
“Well, isn’t this a surprise!” Mr. Mullfort hissed, his eyes sparkling with a sick delight as he swung Adélaïde back and forth. “Returned for more, have you? And did you enjoy your little party at the sweetshop? Good King Oliver, was it?”
Mr. Mullfort spotted Kana and smiled something nasty.
“So it’s true! I was convinced Digby was mistaken. My, how you’ve grown, Kana. Not half the mousy girl you once were!”
Archer and Oliver exchanged a glance.
“Do they not know about you, Kana?” Mr. Mullfort asked. “President Birthwhistle was certain you’d told them. And he thought you’d be just the person to scare some sense into them with our letter. But he wasn’t happy, Kana. President Birthwhistle does not like to repeat himself.”
“What’s he talking about?” Archer asked.
Kana shook her head. “Please don’t, Mr. Mullfort.”
Mr. Mullfort was overcome with laughter.
“Oh, come now, Kana. Were you ashamed? Ashamed to admit you stood a chance to stop the iceberg from happening, but instead, did nothing?”
Kana’s eyes were wide and filled with guilt.
“Yes, wunderkind. She knew. Before anything happened. The little eavesdropper. Listening to a private conversation in the garden next door? It was very sneaky of you, Kana. But I straightened you out, didn’t I?”
“I’m sorry, Archer,” Kana finally said. “I should have said something. I wanted to. But I was frightened. He said he’d come for me if I didn’t keep my mouth shut. I was nine years old.”
Archer wasn’t angry. Not even a little. He had been nine himself when his grandparents vanished. And nine-year-old Archer had thought penguins had eaten them. Mr. Mullfort had threatened Kana when she was only a nine-year-old? What kind of—
“You really are a crooked man,” he said, glaring at Mr. Mullfort.
“And you’re a sneaky boy who should know when he’s been beaten. Now where are you off to, all dressed up like Greenhorns? Do you know where the communications are?”
Adélaïde squirmed as Mr. Mullfort pressed his crooked ear to hers as if trying to he
ar her thoughts. Oliver leaned in to whisper to Archer and Kana.
“Kana, you’re coming with me. We’re going to straighten him out. Archer, you and Adélaïde keep searching. And I’m sorry for what I’m about to do to you.”
Archer didn’t have a chance to respond. A sharp pain shot through his stomach. Oliver had slugged him. Archer slumped over, his back to Mr. Mullfort. Oliver whispered loudly, “You’re wrong! I’m the fastest!” and shoved his hand up under Archer’s sweater. He yanked it out just as quickly and threw it behind his back.
“We have to go now, Mr. Mullfort,” Kana said. “I hope things don’t end as badly for you as I have a feeling they will.”
Oliver and Kana bolted. Mr. Mullfort threw Adélaïde at Archer and shot after them. Oliver and Kana vanished around a corner, Mr. Mullfort hot on their tail.
“That was brilliant,” Archer said, rubbing his stomach. “I know you don’t like this version of Oliver, but he’s impressive.”
“I just hope this version has enough caution to not get himself and Kana killed,” Adélaïde replied, following him into the elevator. They stared at each other, both thinking about Mr. Mullfort and Kana. “And I thought Amaury was a monster.”
“I have a feeling Mr. Mullfort’s the real reason for the silver streak in her hair,” Archer agreed, and pushed up on the lever.
♦ CHANGE OF PLANTS ♦
Archer and Adélaïde stood at the back of the central greenhouse, squinting through the glass. According to the map, Greenhouse Four was outside next to the canal wall, not even thirty feet away. The trouble was, they couldn’t see it. They couldn’t see anything. The blizzard was blinding.
“We have to get this right the first time,” Archer said. “If we miss Greenhouse Four, we might fall off the edge.”
“Let’s not do that,” Adélaïde agreed.
They joined hands and stepped out into the storm. It was like wandering into a dream. They couldn’t see a thing, only a snowy whiteness whirling all around them. Adélaïde’s hair swirled every which way as they inched forward with their free hands outstretched.
“Do you feel anything?” Archer asked.
“Nothing.”
Another step. Nothing. Another step.
“Do you think we missed it?” Adélaïde asked.
“Let’s go a little farther.”
Another step. Their hands were frozen. Another step. Cold metal.
“That’s it!” Archer said.
They moved faster now, feeling along the greenhouse wall. Adélaïde found the door, and they pushed through into utter darkness. Archer felt for the light switch and bumped it with the back of his hand. Greenhouse Four lit up.
“I’m glad Oliver’s not here,” Adélaïde said, her eyes wide.
The plants encircling them were sinister. Some resembled hands that would grab them if they got too close, while others lured them with beautiful colors. Even the air smelled toxic.
“Don’t let anything touch you,” Archer warned, grabbing a small shovel and handing a second one to Adélaïde. “I’m guessing that the communications must be buried inside a box. Push the shovel straight into the dirt and see if it hits something.”
“That’s going to take a while,” Adélaïde replied, staring at the long metal troughs encircling the greenhouse.
“Do you have a better idea?” Archer asked.
Adélaïde shook her head. “I’ll start on this side,” she said. “You start over there, and we’ll work our way back.”
The search commenced, but avoiding the plants wasn’t easy. It was as if they wanted Archer and Adélaïde to bump into them. Six pendant lights, hanging overhead, lit their paths, while outside the storm raged, beating and howling against the glass. They jabbed their shovels into the soil, pulled them out, and moved down the troughs.
Adélaïde stopped.
“Did you find something?” Archer asked, glancing over his shoulder.
“No. Keep moving.”
Archer was getting worried. They’d searched the troughs along the sides of the greenhouse and were now nearing each other, searching the troughs at the back. He jabbed with greater frequency, fearing he might miss something.
“Nothing?” he called.
“Not yet.”
But it had to be here. Archer jabbed his shovel into the dirt, pulled it out, and bumped into Adélaïde. They froze. Before them, in the dirt, was a hole. And in that hole, a dirty, empty, tin.
“I don’t understand,” Archer said, reaching in and pulling out the opened tin. “Why would they be gone? Why did he dig them up?”
He turned to Adélaïde, but she wasn’t there. She was on the ground.
“Adélaïde!” Archer crouched next to her. “What happened?”
“There was a potted plant beneath the trough. I didn’t see it. It pricked me. I can’t feel my leg.”
Archer leaned over her and carefully plucked a gigantic thorn from her leg. He stared at it, then searched the potted plants along the floor. There was a Paria glavra, just like the plant Benjamin had. Its long, spiraling stems were now covered in the biggest thorns Archer had ever seen.
“We have to hurry,” he said.
Archer wasn’t sure what to do, but he knew who would. He hooked his arms under Adélaïde’s and dragged her across the greenhouse floor.
“You’re heavier than you look,” he said, pushing through the door.
“Or maybe you’re only as strong as you look.”
Archer kept glancing over his shoulder as he dragged Adélaïde through the blizzard. But he wasn’t afraid of missing the main greenhouse. It was huge. And when he finally bumped it, he felt for the door. He left Adélaïde on a stool in the lab and went to find Benjamin.
♦ A CINDER BLOCK AND THORN ♦
Archer reached the Greenhorn Commons and opened the door only enough to get his head through, wary of being spotted by Mrs. Malmurna. Inside, most of the Greenhorns were seated along comfortable couches, speaking quietly to one another. Benjamin was alone in a window seat. Archer waved to get his attention, and he did. Unfortunately, he also got the attention of the cinder block named Fledger. Fledger opened his mouth, ready to shout, but Darby rushed up behind him. She cupped her hands over his mouth and wouldn’t let go. The two of them struggled as Benjamin crept to the door.
“What’s going on?” he whispered.
“I need your help. It’s Adélaïde. A Paria glavra pricked her.”
Benjamin glanced at the opposite side of the room. Mrs. Malmurna was seated at a desk, lost in a book. Benjamin slipped out. Archer waved to Darby and she smiled, hands still clamped around Fledger’s mouth.
“What were you doing in Greenhouse Four?” Benjamin asked as they hurried along.
“We were searching for proof.”
“Did you find it?”
“No.”
Adélaïde was still on the stool when they rushed in. Benjamin crouched before her leg and inspected the puncture wound. “You can’t feel your legs, can you?” he asked.
Adélaïde giggled, though it didn’t seem like the time for that. “It’s only half bad. I only have one leg to lose feeling in.”
“I don’t want you to panic,” Benjamin said calmly. “But if we’re not quick, you might lose your other leg too.”
Adélaïde remained calm. Archer didn’t. “Lose the other one! That’s impossible! How can I help?”
“You can’t,” Benjamin said, opening a cabinet. “It’ll be fine. I just need to mix a few things and suck out the poison.”
“Archer, you need to go,” Adélaïde whispered.
“I have no idea where to look now,” Archer whispered back. “I was sure they’d be in the greenhouse. Maybe Mr. Mullfort has them. Maybe that’s why he was in the elevator.”
“He wouldn’t have chased Oliver and Kana if he had them.”
Archer glanced at Benjamin, who was lining up bottles and jars on the counter. He paused, and the two locked eyes. Neither said a word. Then Benjamin
resumed his work, and Archer turned back to Adélaïde.
“I’ll find you as soon as this is over,” he promised, and left the Greenhouse.
Benjamin knelt before Adélaïde, suctioned out the thick, yellowish poison with a blunt syringe, and grabbed the mixture he’d made. “This might sting a bit. You’ll feel your leg soon.”
Adélaïde studied Benjamin as he bent and straightened her leg. “What will you do if Archer finds something that proves your father was responsible for the iceberg?”
Benjamin slowed. “Archer won’t find proof. It doesn’t exist. Now, try to stand up.”
♦ PRESIDENT BIRTHWHISTLE ♦
Archer walked down the hallway, feeling something like a yo-yo. Where was he going to look now? He turned a corner and wondered where Oliver and Kana might be.
Why was Mr. Mullfort searching for the communications? And why was Mr. Birthwhistle hiding them from him? Did they not trust each other? Was that why Mr. Birthwhistle had dug them up? Had Mr. Mullfort guessed that they were buried in the poisonous greenhouse? If that was the case, they now had to be somewhere Mr. Mullfort wouldn’t think to look.
Archer stared at the map. Would they be in a place Mr. Mullfort had already searched? A place he wouldn’t likely check again?
“How would you know they were in my office unless you were also in my office?”
Archer was off again and didn’t stop until he spotted the door to Mr. Birthwhistle’s office. He slipped inside, hurried past a dying fire and the mantel of piranhas, and threw open the top drawer of Mr. Birthwhistle’s desk. Inside was something wrapped in fabric. Archer set it atop the desk, his fingers shaking, and unwrapped the fabric, revealing a stack of telegrams.
TELEGRAM ONE: As you’ve requested, Captain Dorn has gotten sick. I spoke with Captain Lemurn. He’s on board, but he wants more money.
TELEGRAM TWO: The money was transferred. You don’t have to remind me of our terms. Lemurn knows nothing of your involvement. No one knows. I’ve just returned from Rosewood Port. The Helmsleys have departed.
TELEGRAM THREE: Everything went smoothly. The Helmsleys got onto an iceberg during the voyage south to observe penguins. Lemurn used that as his opportunity. Once they were on the iceberg, he reversed the engines.
The Doldrums and the Helmsley Curse Page 21