She really is a terrible mime, Andy thought.
He blushed furiously. They must be confused about what actually happened at the Enchanted Tiki Room. They think I saved the Tiki Key. They don’t know that I lost the key to Abigail Awol.
With a sinking feeling, Andy realized he had to tell them the truth.
He held up his hands for silence. The applause died down, and everyone looked at him expectantly.
“I’m really sorry to disappoint you,” Andy said awkwardly. “I don’t deserve your praise. The truth is, Abigail Awol stole the Tiki Key from me. I couldn’t stop it from happening.”
Andy stared at the ground, shamefaced. But the moment was quickly interrupted by Sanders, who placed his hand on Andy’s shoulder. “But that’s exactly what was supposed to happen, lad!”
Andy looked up at Sanders, completely lost. “It was?”
Sanders grinned. “Of course!” He reached into the pouch on his belt and withdrew an exact replica of the Tiki Key. Andy stared at it, dumbfounded.
“There’s another one?” Andy asked.
“This is the real Tiki Key,” Sanders explained. “The one Abigail stole is a fake. It’s equipped with a tracking device that will allow us to follow Professor Phink.” He flashed Andy a conspiratorial smirk and gestured around the room at the various surveillance stations.
“We’ve known the location of the Tiki Key for years. Well, how could we not? Ned was the one who hid it. What we don’t know is the location of the locked chamber that holds the Pailina Pendant.”
“Grandfather mentioned the pendant,” Andy said. “He said we must keep it out of Phink’s hands, but he didn’t say why. What is it?”
Rusty cleared his throat. “The Pailina Pendant is a legendary artifact. It is said to keep an evil Hawaiian god named Kapu prisoner. Kapu was imprisoned by his brother, Kane, over a thousand years ago. If the legends are true, he is a monster, capable of terrible destruction.”
Andy’s pulse quickened. He’d seen real magic and had little doubt that what he was being told was actually possible. A real Hawaiian god? he thought. Like a living version of the statues protecting the Tiki Room? Andy shuddered at the memory of the tikis he’d knocked over. Those had terrified him, and they hadn’t even been real. How horrible would an actual god be? Especially after having been imprisoned for a thousand years!
“The pendant can only be removed with a special key called the Kapu Key,” Rusty continued. “We tried for years to find that key, but Phink got to it first. Then, a few weeks ago, we received intelligence that Phink had found the entrance to Kapu’s hiding place. But knowing where the entrance is isn’t enough. The doorway is magically protected. It can only be opened with the Tiki Key. We knew Phink would be searching for the key so that he could get inside, so we came up with a plan to lure him to the Tiki Room. If he thought he had the key, we knew we could follow him to the entrance. It’s the only way to get our hands on the key that unlocks the pendant.”
Andy felt a surge of anger. “Wait a minute. So what you’re saying is that my grandfather arranged for me to be the bait? All of this was just so that Professor Phink would follow me to the Tiki Room and steal the fake key from me?”
The entire group nodded enthusiastically.
“It’s a race to get to the pendant before Phink can take it and loose the evil god upon the world,” Rusty said. “And you’ve helped us gain an advantage. Now that Phink knows the location of the pendant, the Society must take that dangerous artifact under our protection.”
The others in the group nodded.
“But won’t the Pailina Pendant be safe if Phink isn’t able to open the door to the chamber? We could just hang on to the real key and not let him get inside,” Andy said.
The others exchanged worried glances. “We thought about that already,” said Rusty. “But we can’t take a chance that Phink won’t find some other way in.”
“The ancient Hawaiians did what they could to protect the pendant,” chimed in Betty. “But with modern explosives and machinery, there’s no guarantee their spells will hold. And there’s no telling to what lengths the professor will go to get inside once he learns that his Tiki Key is a fake.”
Dotty nodded agreement with her sister and added, “That’s why time is of the essence. Phink will try the Tiki Key first. But he won’t wait long to try something else. Once we know where the door is, we have to move fast. It’s imperative that we get our hands on the Kapu Key before he can make other plans to get inside.”
Andy nodded. He understood the gravity of the situation, but he couldn’t help feeling betrayed. He’d believed that he and Madame Wiki were in terrible danger, and the entire time it had just been one big joke?
“Why didn’t you just tell me what you had planned?” he asked, trying to hold in his fury. “Why did you have to lie and manipulate me? And why should I believe anything you say now, if everything that has happened so far has all been one big lie?”
Why couldn’t Ned have told him what was going on? He had said Andy was the only one he could trust, but it seemed he had trusted everyone but Andy.
From the back of the room, Albert appeared with Hoku on his shoulder. Like the others, he was smiling at Andy.
“I’m sorry to have kept you in the dark, son,” Albert said. “But we were under strict orders from your grandfather not to tell you anything. He knew the only way for you to find your courage was to truly believe that the fate of the world rested on your shoulders. And in a way, it did. We needed you to make sure the fake key landed in Phink’s possession. Abigail is perceptive. She would have seen through you had you known it was all an act.”
Albert tousled Andy’s hair. “When you stood up to Sanders and his ‘poachers’ instead of taking the escape route, you nearly threw the whole plan into jeopardy. We assumed you would run out the back of the Tiki Room to safety. We were planning to do our fake ambush there. We’ve spent a long time infiltrating Phink’s organization so that Abigail would believe we were on her side. We knew once she had the key, the rest of the details wouldn’t matter to her, but we had to make it look real.”
“But you stood by my side even when you were afraid,” a voice said. Andy turned and saw Madame Wiki. The medicine woman gave him a gentle smile. “I don’t know many boys your age who would have acted so bravely.”
Andy blushed a deep shade of crimson. Brave? Me?
The praise from Madame Wiki helped ease his feelings of betrayal somewhat.
“You have been invaluable to the mission, and we don’t want you to think that your actions have gone unappreciated,” Albert said. “In fact, as a token of our gratitude…”
Andy watched as Albert removed a small medal from his pocket. He handed it to Madame Wiki, who pinned it to Andy’s shirt, right over his chest pocket.
Albert gestured to the medal pinned on Andy’s chest. “Andy Stanley, for showing such backbone in the face of extreme danger—perceived or otherwise—we award you the Silver Sacroiliac.”
Andy looked at the medal. It resembled a strange series of bones. It was, in fact, the shape of a backbone, with every vertebra represented in perfect detail.
Albert cleared his throat and held up both hands above his head. “Ladies and gentlemen, members of the Jungle Explorers’ Society, it is my pleasure to announce that phase one of our plan to retrieve the Pailina Pendant is complete thanks to Andy Stanley, the grandson of our fearless leader, Ned Lostmore.”
Everyone in the room clapped.
I guess I really did help! Andy thought. Maybe if I can keep proving myself, the Society will actually make me a member!
The mere thought of it gave him a thrill. Andy’s mind raced, trying unsuccessfully to formulate a response. “Thank you…I…I don’t know what to say,” he said finally.
And he really didn’t.
Sanders relieved him of his awkwardness. “Thank you is more than good enough! We expect great things from you, my lad!”
Sanders handed Andy
the real Tiki Key. It was noticeably heavier than the fake one.
“As our Keymaster, this is yours to protect. Guard it well, son.”
Andy nodded and beamed at his new friends. Never in a million years would he have expected to feel proud at being part of a group with the strange people he’d seen at his grandfather’s “funeral.” Never. But things had changed, and Andy was surprised to find that he felt quite good about his current company.
“Now I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’m starving,” Sanders continued in a loud, happy shout. “And I would guess that a boy of Andy’s age is twice as hungry as I am. So, without further ado, let the feast begin!”
Andy watched in awe as people began setting up tables and bringing in huge trays of delicious-looking food from a room hidden somewhere in the back of the hut.
For the first time since his adventure had begun, Andy felt extraordinarily content. In spite of all the danger he’d experienced so far, he knew he would go through it all again just to be there at that very moment.
I’m actually having dinner with the Jungle Explorers’ Society! he thought. And then, gazing around at all the happy faces and the generous feast, he whispered quietly under his breath, “I wish this night would go on forever.”
The next morning, Andy found himself aboard Albert Awol’s boat, surrounded by the uniquely gifted members of the Jungle Explorers’ Society.
“We should arrive near the base of the Nanea volcano in about ten minutes,” Albert said. “Let’s go over the plan one more time.”
Andy glanced at the scruffy sea captain and suppressed an inward groan. We’ve already been over this a dozen times.
Rusty spoke first. “Aye, aye, cap’n!” he said, offering Albert a crisp salute. He turned to address the group assembled in the boat.
“All right, you all remember the drill. Betty and Dotty?”
The twins, who had been whispering quietly to each other, suddenly sat up straight. “We’ll cover the entrance and signal when we have the all clear,” they recited in unison.
“And we’ve got our usual defenses should there be any trouble,” added Betty, the twin on the left.
Andy watched as the women reached into the silk sashes in their belly-dancing costumes and removed handfuls of sharply pointed metal stars. Andy recognized them as shuriken, deadly throwing stars often used by assassins.
“I’ll be guarding the left flank,” said Cedric, who was wearing a set of elegant jade robes and his tribal mask. “Of course, I’ve come prepared with my usual choice of weapon as well.”
Andy had assumed that because Cedric wore a traditional mask, he would be carrying a spear or some other old-fashioned weapon. Instead, the doctor held up a small object that looked to Andy like a festive blue robin’s egg covered with purple polka dots.
“Righto, Cedric!” Rusty shouted happily.
The other members of the Society seemed to know what the object was, and the entire group burst into a fit of nervous laughter. Albert leaned away from the captain’s wheel so that Andy could hear him above the roar of the boat engines and let Andy in on the joke.
“Cedric is not only a gifted witch doctor, but also an explosives expert. He was decorated by the king for his bravery during the Great War.”
Albert nodded toward the small egg. “Quite the amateur artist, too. He can’t help decorating his bombs with a little…creative flair.”
Cedric put the egg-shaped bomb in his robe pocket and nodded to Molly the mime.
Andy saw that Molly had applied a fresh coat of white face paint and a jaunty black beret for the occasion.
He studied her skeptically. He felt fairly confident that the others knew what they were doing, but he wasn’t so sure about her. After all, who could possibly be afraid of a mime? Still, she is a member of the Jungle Explorers’ Society. They must see something in her, he mused.
“Okay, I’m prepared for this. I practiced all last night and I can say without a doubt that I am ready for this. Totally ready. Can’t wait. Did I say I was ready? I’m ready…” Molly chattered.
Andy tried not to laugh when she produced a set of juggling balls and began tossing them into the air. The others on the boat nodded appreciatively, never cracking a smile.
As Andy shook his head in bewilderment at the others’ reaction to Molly, Hoku flew down from Albert’s shoulder and landed on Andy’s knee.
“What’s your job, Andy? What’s Andy Stanley’s job?” she squawked.
All eyes turned to look at him.
Andy recited the mission briefing he’d been given after the feast the previous night.
“My job is to signal the group when Phink reveals the location of the door. I’m to avoid Phink’s soldiers and keep my pen at the ready.” For emphasis, he removed his pen from his pocket.
Everyone, including Hoku, nodded. Andy grinned and replaced the weapon in his pocket. His part seemed easy enough, but what if Phink saw him? What then?
The thought made him shudder. He’d heard so much about the ruthless villain. He wasn’t sure he was prepared to face him one-on-one.
Stay calm, he reminded himself. You can do this. It’s your job to watch for Phink, not confront him. Simple.
Albert spoke up. “Remember, we don’t know anything about where the pendant is actually kept. But if Madame Wiki is right about the legend—”
Andy perked up. “Wait, what legend?” he asked. “No one mentioned a legend.”
Andy watched as the others in the group exchanged nervous glances. Not again. What aren’t they telling me this time? He hated being the last one to know important information.
“Will someone please tell me what’s going on?” he begged. “It seems like ever since I started on this adventure, people have been keeping secrets from me. I nearly died to get you this far. I think I’ve earned the truth.”
Andy sat up straighter, looking from one face to the next. It felt good to stand up for himself for once.
An awkward silence fell over the group. No one seemed willing to speak. After a few moments, Rusty piped up.
“Kapu is said to wear the pendant around his neck. Legend has it that the holder of the pendant can control Kapu, but removing it will awaken the god, who is sure to be hungry after such a long sleep. And, well…”
“Well, what?” Andy asked.
“He eats humans,” Rusty finished. Then he gave Andy a level stare. “This mission cannot fail. Getting our hands on both the Kapu Key and the Tiki Key is the only way to make sure they’re kept safe. Phink is part of a dark organization that will stop at nothing to gain power. If they have an evil god on their side willing to obey their every order, the world is doomed.”
Andy thought he had understood the full importance of the mission before, but this new information weighed heavily on him. Trying to get those keys under his protection was likely to be difficult and violent. Phink didn’t sound like the type of person to go down without a fight.
Why me, Grandfather? Andy wondered. Did you really believe that I could do this? He tried to gather his courage, but he felt shaky and nervous. The bravado he’d shown before had faded away as the true purpose of their mission had come to light. I’m only a kid. Can I really be the Keymaster?
Rusty interrupted his anxious thoughts.
“No matter what happens when we confront Phink—if something, somehow, goes wrong and the fight takes us to the inside of the volcano—make sure you stay clear of Kapu. Understood? And whatever happens, don’t let Phink use that key.”
“What if Phink tries to take the key by force…if he uses a g-gun or something?” Andy stuttered.
Rusty laid a meaty hand on his shoulder. “You’re the Keymaster. We’ll do our best to protect you. But keep that pen of yours at the ready. You might need it.”
Andy gulped and nodded. He fingered the real Tiki Key on the ring at his belt. As Keymaster, he was supposed to protect it with his life, though he hoped it wouldn’t come to that.
The moo
d had grown somber. Nobody spoke for the next few minutes as Albert’s boat approached a hidden cove. Behind the trees, towering over them, was the gigantic volcano Nanea.
Maybe the legend isn’t true, Andy thought. What if Phink is just crazy, and there is no evil god imprisoned inside a volcano? After all, the whole thing does sound pretty far-fetched.
Andy didn’t want to believe a word of the legend. Everything in him that trusted in science and logic balked at the idea of superstition. But ever since he’d met his grandfather and seen Madame Wiki’s magic, his mind had been in a state of confused panic. It was like finding out that all the fears of his childhood—like the monster under the bed and the bogeyman—were real, not just stories told to frighten young children.
The boat pulled up to the shore, and Albert used the bowline to tie it fast to a fallen tree trunk. Andy felt a surge of anxiety. Only one thought kept repeating itself over and over in his mind, and it was the only one that mattered. It was the only way he would ever get safely home again.
The only way out is to go forward, Andy thought.
Gathering what little courage he had, Andy stepped from the boat.
The group silently climbed the slope that led to the base of Nanea, careful not to call attention to themselves. The Hodges Zoomwriter sat safely in Andy’s pocket. He wanted to hold it—to draw comfort from knowing the device was ready to protect him—but he feared that he would grip it too tightly and snap the barrel in two.
Maybe Phink won’t be there, he thought. And then we can just forget this whole thing. We can all go back to the base and have a good laugh.
But even as he told himself these things, there was a part of him that knew it wouldn’t be the case. All the way up the tree-laden slope, Andy kept telling himself to calm down, to push aside the anxiety he was feeling. The truth was, he didn’t know what would be waiting for him when they got to the top of the hill. Would Professor Phink and Abigail be there? Would there be an army of henchmen? What if Phink had enlisted the help of the witch doctor who had shrunk his grandfather’s head? Worse still, what if Andy ended up the same way? Just about anything would be better than that. The thought of being shipped home to his horrified parents as a talking shrunken head like Ned was almost more than he could bear.
The Perilous Polynesian Pendant Page 9