Ralfagon swung his feet off the bed and paused. “Has anyone seen my cane?”
Allobero snorted. “How many times have you lost that thing, Ralfagon? I swear, it’s the last time I give you anything special.” He snapped his fingers and another portal opened, dropping Ralfagon’s cane beside him on the bed. “Next gift will be an apple; if it was good enough for Newton, it’s good enough for you.”
Ralfagon climbed off the bed, leaning heavily on his cane. He looked closely at Simon, Alysha, and Owen. “You three are a mess. Gilio, would you mind?”
Gilio tended to their injuries. His formula made them tingle all over, but it healed them painlessly. Gilio then licked a finger and held it up in the air, as if testing the wind. “Do I detect one of my own flock?” He peered around until he spotted Flangelo’s prone form. “Oh, Flangelo, this is no time for a nap.”
Flangelo glowed green and sat up quickly. “Gilio! You’ve come for me!”
Gilio patted him on the shoulder. “Yes, m’boy. Apparently, you’ve learned to be heroic. Well done.” He gently healed the fallen sparrows, too.
In the meantime, the members of the Order of Physics warmly greeted their restored Keeper. Wanderby bowed his head. “I guess I was wrong about the lads and the lass.” He looked at the kids. “My apologies.” He didn’t sound sorry at all.
Ralfagon cleared his throat and spoke a few formulas that encased Mermon Veenie and Sirabetta in a glowing blue sphere. “There. They are contained now.”
Simon exhaled in relief. Then he looked Ralfagon in the eyes. “Um, Mr. Wintrofline? You know, Sirabetta was kind of psycho, but she did have a point. It doesn’t sound like she was treated too fairly before.”
Ralfagon glanced at Solomonder, then at the other Council members. “Perhaps the matter is in need of review. Perhaps many things are.” He looked Simon in the eyes. “I don’t know if you realize just how serious all this is, young man. You and your friends have broken almost every rule of the Knowledge Union. We will be dealing with the repercussions for a long time.”
Alysha crossed her arms. “We also saved all your butts from those two!”
Ralfagon made sure his hospital gown was closed in the back. “Oh, that, too. And you have my sincere thanks. Now, I believe the Council and I have much to discuss. And according to my Book, we have a new Keeper to deal with.”
Simon gulped. “You mean me?”
Ralfagon nodded. “The Book chose you. It saw something special in you—vast imagination, great courage. A good heart. Even Dunkerhook Woods saw fit to invite you in, despite centuries of keeping Outsiders out. Plus, you live around the corner: location is everything.” He coughed. “The Council and I believe that the Books’ higher understanding of the laws of reality give them great wisdom, so who am I to argue with the Teacher’s Edition? Simon Bloom, you have now joined the Knowledge Union. Welcome, Keeper.”
The Order and Council members all gasped.
“There’s also a short ceremony and a special cake, but we can arrange that later,” Ralfagon added.
Before Simon could react, Flangelo said, “Thank goodness, now can we do something about his name? I mean, Simon? Bloom? Hardly Union material, wouldn’t you say?”
Gilio shook his head. “Not now, Flangelo.”
Simon was stunned, but after a moment, he grinned widely. “You know, I was too busy trying to stay alive to think about what would happen if we actually made it. I mean, how great is that, guys? We get to keep our powers!”
Ralfagon cleared his throat. “Ah, right. About that. I’m afraid your brave friends won’t be able to keep theirs.”
“Bright side, at least you can keep your names,” Flangelo chirped. Gilio glared at him and Flangelo whistled sadly. “Right. Sorry.”
“My apologies, Owen and Alysha,” Ralfagon continued, “but we can’t let you into the Order without following Union protocol. There are procedures and tests.”
Simon looked at his friends, who were clearly devastated by this news. “What if they promise to be careful?”
“I’m sorry; it’s forbidden,” Ralfagon said. “There are rules we must follow. Don’t worry; you two should have no trouble with the tests. If Mermon Veenie passed, anything’s possible.” He turned to Simon. “I humbly ask that you yield control of the Teacher’s Edition to me,” he said.
Simon turned to Alysha and Owen. “Guys, I’m so sorry.”
Alysha and Owen nodded sadly.
Simon looked at the Book, now trembling in midair between Ralfagon and him. “Go on,” he whispered.
The Teacher’s Edition flashed blue, and for the first time, Simon heard its message in his mind instead of having to read from a page. Thank you, Simon. We’ll be together again soon, it said in a gentle, soothing voice.
Then the Book flew to Ralfagon’s outstretched hand and the clasp popped open. Ralfagon gestured and a burst of blue and white sparks leapt from Alysha; the last drop of electrical energy she’d stored was released harmlessly.
“I respectfully remove your formulas, though I still call you friends of the Order,” Ralfagon said. Alysha and Owen glowed blue for a moment, then sagged where they stood.
Ralfagon turned back to Simon. “We have much more to discuss later. For example, out of all those laws, you chose space-time?”
Flangelo nodded. “That’s what I said, too!” Then he caught Gilio’s look and chirped nervously.
Ralfagon sighed. “Terrible things could have happened using space-time; even I don’t know all it can do. For now, Simon, be careful. Your powers can cause problems for all of us. Please keep all this secret, even from your father. My work with his research must move at a slow pace, with the greatest care…as with all the Union’s activities among Outsiders. We have a grand purpose that requires the utmost precision.” He paused. “What was I saying?”
Eldonna stepped forward. “Ralfagon, why don’t I pull young Simon aside and arrange a meeting during your office hours?”
Ralfagon rubbed his chin. “Office? Oh, right, at that university. Of course.”
Gilio cleared his throat. “There’s one more important matter, Ralfagon.” He pointed at Mermon and Sirabetta. “Those two almost certainly have fellow conspirators in the Union. That means you three may become targets for revenge. Children, you must be on your guard.”
Willoughby, standing to the side, was glaring at Simon. On hearing this, he smoothed out his expression to appear unbothered.
Ralfagon rubbed the head of his cane. “I think that’s it for now, Simon. The Council and my Order have some business to discuss. But we’ll soon figure out what’s to come next for you and your friends.”
Eldonna gently tapped Simon and handed him a note. “For later.”
Flangelo walked over to Simon, Alysha, and Owen. “Looks like you three did okay.” He whistle-laughed. “And I managed to avoid getting flame-broiled.”
“Hey, thanks for helping out back there,” Simon said.
Flangelo sighed. “What can I say? Sometimes even a chicken has to become an eagle.” He looked right at Owen, who nodded to him.
Simon, Alysha, and Owen waved good-bye and walked along the trail. “Guys, it could be worse, right?” Simon asked of his friends.
“Worse?” Alysha smiled. “I’ve been on the adventure of a lifetime. So what if I’m back to using batteries and plugs.” Her smile slipped a tiny bit, and she sighed. “Okay, it does suck a little.”
Owen nodded. “It would be great if we could keep our formulas or at least be able to play with yours, Simon. I don’t know if I’m ready for everything to be so normal and quiet all the time.”
“Who are you and what’ve you done with the real Owen?” Alysha asked.
All three laughed as they stepped onto Van Silas Way in the twilight.
“Anyone for Nezzo’s?” Simon asked.
“Then maybe we can go back to Narrator Geryson’s place later and watch the fights in replay mode.” Owen smiled. “I’d like to see myself in action.”
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Simon opened Eldonna’s note. “Speaking of action, Eldonna says your tests won’t be for a while. But she said the woods are pretty much empty every day except Sundays. So if anyone wanted to go there to have fun with, say, gravity and friction…”
Alysha cheered. “All right!”
Owen started to cheer, too, but he paused. “This time can you please not make me slide on my stomach? If she gets to slide on her butt, I get to slide on my butt!”
”I have a better idea,” Simon said. “What if we try sliding, friction free, while standing on our heads?”
“No!” Alysha and Owen shouted together.
“Okay, okay, then what about this…” Simon said as the trio walked off together.
FORTUNATELY, I LOVE ANCHOVIES AND BLACK OLIVES
I switched off the Viewing Screen and stretched. Another piece of history concluded and with a happy ending: the children, the Order, and the universe were all safe.
Still, the Knowledge Union was shaken to its core. They would have to come up with new plans to deal with danger to Keepers and threats to the Orders. The Council of Sciences needed to find a way to handle Sirabetta as well as to find her unknown allies and the source of her mysterious tattoos.
There would be damage control throughout Lawnville; there had been more public uses of formulas than ever before. Outsiders might become suspicious, if they weren’t already.
Plus, the Union now had two Keepers in one Order for the first time ever. Simon’s link to the Teacher’s Edition of Physics changed everything. The future of the Order (and my work) would be very interesting.
I stretched and brought my empty teacup to the sink, reflecting on how my advice had aided the children. I hoped my punishment wouldn’t be too harsh.
There was a knock at my door. Could the kids be back already? I glanced at the Viewing Screen. Still off. My Chronicle was over.
I opened the door. To my shock, Miss Fanstrom stood there, holding a Nezzo’s pizza box in one hand and her briefcase in the other. She ducked her head under the door frame, and her hair twisted to shut the door behind her.
She marched into the apartment. “Hello, Mr. Geryson, nice to make your acquaintance at long last. Good show overall, and you demonstrated excellent discretion with Simon and his friends.” She placed the pizza box on my kitchen counter. “Don’t worry; you’re in no trouble. There are just a few matters I’d like to go over with you before you next Chronicle a piece of Simon’s history. And things I’d like to show you from my Book.” She tapped the notebook computer inside her briefcase.
I stared numbly, unsure of how to react.
She looked around. “It’s a bit cramped in your flat. Why don’t you get dressed so we can go to the park around the corner and eat? Get ourselves a breath of fresh air. I can’t have such a skilled Narrator feeling miserable, can I?”
The top of her hair swiveled to point toward the fridge. “Come, now…I brought the pizza, you get the soda. I think you’ve had enough tea today.” She gestured with the pizza box. “I just hope you like anchovies and black olives.”
At last I regained control of my mouth, but all I could manage to say was, “Miss Fanstrom! What are you talking about? What are you doing here?”
She smiled and pinched my cheek gently. “Tut, tut. My students call me Miss Fanstrom. You can call me boss. Or Keeper, if you prefer.”
The Gravity Keeper Page 20