Always October (18 page)

Syreena was the first to speak. “The thing is, it vould be best if Dum Pling vere not allowed to transform for the next few years.”

“Why?” I asked. “It's cooler than the Wolfman's new hairdo when he does!”

Syreena looked at me sharply. “For vun thing, it vill frighten the poor child more and more until he is old enough to understand vat is happenink!”

I nodded. “I see what you mean.”

“That is not the main reason,” said Teelamun, impatiently. “The
main
reason is that the energy given off by his transformation would enable the enemy to open a portal to your world. That is how Mazrak came through tonight. Unless you want another visit from him or one of his friends, you
must
prevent Dum Pling from reverting to his Octobrish self.”

“And how are we supposed to do that?” asked Jacob.

Again the monsters glanced at one another, looking even more uncomfortable than before. Finally Keegel Farzym said, “The
method
of preventing the transformation is simple. However, there is a side effect that … complicates things.”

“Oh, fer Pete's sake, git to the point,” snapped Grampa.

“There is a … bracelet. If brought into contact with the baby on a daily basis, it will collect the Octobrish energy building in his body. With that energy absorbed and the bracelet removed, the rise of the full moon will have no effect on him.”

“And what happens to that stored-up energy?” asked Mrs. McSweeney, giving me the sense that she knew certain rules about how these things work.

Keegel Farzym took a deep breath, then said, “There are two possible outcomes. The first is simple: If the bracelet is not being worn, moonrise will activate the accumulated energy and the bracelet will explode. This will be fairly damaging to anything within ten feet of the bracelet. It will also mean there is no way to prevent the baby's transformation in the month that follows. Ergo, the bracelet must be worn.”

“Well, that ain't gonna work,” said Gramps. “It can't fit the baby and then fit someone else!”

Keegel Farzym smiled. “You assume a nonmagical item, Mr. Carker, in which case what you say would be true. Fortunately, this bracelet has the quality of adjusting its size to fit whoever wears it. Thus it will fit Dum Pling when placed on his wrist, and also any human who chooses to wear it, no matter how big or small.”

“Very clever, Poet,” said Mrs. McSweeney. “And I'm quite sure I can convince Jacob's mother to keep the band upon the babe if I tell her it's a good-luck gift from his unofficial grandmama.”

Jacob spoke up. “You said there are two possible outcomes. One is that the bracelet explodes. What's the second?”

“It's that the bracelet is being worn, and the energy is transferred to whoever is wearing it.”

“And what will happen to that person?” persisted Jake.

“He will discover his inner monster,” said Teelamun grimly.

“Only it won't be inner any longer,” added Invisible Ed. “At least, not on those nights.”

Jacob nodded. “I had a feeling you were going to say that.”

“You mean the person wearing it will turn into a monster?” I asked eagerly.

“Precisely,” said Keegel Farzym.

“That's slicker than the Creature from the Black Lagoon,” I muttered.

“What difference will it make?” asked Mrs. McSweeney. “Won't the same energy still be released?”

The High Poet shook his head. “No, Eloise. Instead of
radiating
energy, as would Dum Pling if he were to make the transformation, the human who wears the bracelet will
absorb
the energy.”

“In other verds, the energy goes in, rather than out,” said Syreena. “Thus it vill be undetectable.”

“You'll need to keep a careful eye on the bracelet,” put in Iris. “The timing must be exact, as the window of opportunity will be small.”

“And just how are we supposed to know when the time is right?” asked Jacob, who was now ghost pale. I knew what he was thinking—that since he was the one who actually lived with Little Dumpling, he was the obvious candidate.

Bloodbone shrugged. “When the bracelet glows, the time is right.”

“Well, that's a relief,” muttered Jacob.

Little Dumpling reached up and patted him on the cheek.

Grampa, Mrs. McSweeney, and I moved closer to Jake's side. As we did, I thought I saw a movement in the wall to the left of the table. I blinked and started to point, but whatever I had seen was gone.

“I never wanted a little brother, you know,” said Jacob gruffly.

“Who does?” asked Iris, winking that single enormous eye. Though it was clearly meant to be a friendly gesture, it made me shiver.

“Little brothers can be a terrible annoyance,” agreed Bloodbone, nodding his shaggy head.

“True,” said Teelamun from beneath her hood. “But then, so can first children. And what would happen if parents never had
them
?”

I heard Jacob draw a deep breath. “All right,” he said. “I'll do it. Give me the bracelet.”

I was so proud of him, I thought my heart was going to burst. To my surprise, for the third time an uncomfortable looked passed among the monsters.

“We do not have the bracelet,” said Teelamun at last.

“Well then where in tarnation is it?” asked my grandfather.

“It rests in the care of Flenzbort,” said Bloodbone. “You will have to go to her home in Dark Valley to retrieve it.”

He tipped back his head and unleashed a mournful howl.

“This will not be an easy journey,” said Keegel Farzym. “However, Teelamun and I will accompany you.”

Jacob's reply was interrupted by a hideous squalling from the wall to the left of the tapestry. Turning toward the sound, I saw a small, furry creature emerging from a hole about four feet above the cavern floor. It hissed and snarled furiously, as if it were being born against its will.

Once free of the opening, it floated across the room, twisting and writhing as it came.

“Hold still or I'll squeeze harder,” said the gloomy voice of Invisible Ed … which was when I realized he must have been the one who extracted the creature from the wall to begin with.

A moment later he deposited the newcomer on the table in front of Keegel Farzym, who reached out and grabbed the creature with both hands. “Hold still!” thundered the High Poet.

The furry thing ceased its struggles.

“Well done, Ed,” said Keegel Farzym.

“Half the credit goes to Lily,” replied Ed. “I noticed her catch sight of something behind me. That's how I realized Squeak the Sneak was there.”

“Spleeblebort!” spat the creature on the table.

I had the feeling this was meant to be a great insult, though whether it was directed at Ed, me, or the room in general I couldn't tell.

Now that Keegel Farzym was firmly holding the creature, it was no longer a blur of thrashing, squirming limbs and fur and I was able to get a good look. A male, clearly. About a foot and a half tall. Dressed in a blue jacket and brown trousers. The parts not hidden by clothes were covered with orange fur. Though he stood like a tiny man, his face was surprisingly catlike.

“What are you doing here, Squeak?” asked Keegel Farzym.

“What I always do,” replied the catman with a hiss. He was busy straightening his clothes and barely glanced at the High Poet.

“You mean spying?” asked Bloodbone sharply.

“I was
listening
. I am curious. I like to know things.”

“And what do you do with the things you know?” asked Teelamun. “Sell them to the enemy?”

“Can't a creature be curious for curiosity's sake? I watch and I listen because things are there to see and hear.” Turning to Keegel Farzym, he added, “Will you
please
take your hands off me? You are offending my dignity.”

“I will offend more than your dignity if you do not answer our questions,” said the High Poet gruffly. “However, I will let you go. I would make you promise not to flee, but I know what your promises are worth. Instead I will remind you of how fast Bloodbone can move, and how little you would like to be in his clutches instead of mine.”

As if to reinforce the point, Bloodbone growled and showed his fangs.

“I take your meaning,” said Squeak.

Keegel Farzym opened his enormous blue hands.

The little catman shook himself as if trying to remove the feeling of the High Poet's grip. “I hate being grabbed,” he muttered.

“And ve hate being ssssspied on,” hissed Syreena.

“It's too bad you're all being so nasty,” said Squeak. “I came to bring you some information I got by looking and listening elsewhere.”

The table grew quiet.

“What is it?” asked Keegel Farzym at last.

“I don't think I should tell you,” said Squeak, running a hand—well, it was sort of half hand, half paw—over his head.

Keegel Farzym's fingers twitched, as if he were longing to squeeze the information out of the creature.

At that point Luna leaped onto the table and stood next to Squeak. Whisking her enormous plume of a tail, she said coyly, “Not even for me, big boy?”

Squeak blinked and looked flustered.

“I'd consider it a personal favor,” said Luna, coiling around him.

“R-r-r-really?”

“Uh-huh.”

“All right. I wanted to tell you anyway,” he said, looking at Keegel Farzym.

“Why?” asked the High Poet.

“Because I'm scared.”

“And what could possibly scare the fearless Squeak?” asked Teelamun.

“The end of the world,” he said, his voice soft.

“What do you mean?” asked Keegel Farzym.

“I know what the Unravelers plan to do. I've seen their machine.”

Jacob, Grampa, Mrs. McSweeney, and I all stepped closer.

“Their machine?” Jacob asked.

Squeak nodded. “They call it the Silver Slicer. They plan to use it to sunder the Great Tapestry so that Humana and Always October will be forever divided. Poets, I fear as you do that this would mean the end of us all. That is why I came to tell you of it … and would have done so sooner had I not been treated so rudely!”

“Thank you,” said Keegel Farzym gravely. “I regret your rough reception. Had you revealed yourself at once, rather than spying while we spoke, your greeting would have been somewhat more gentle.”

“I am what I am,” said Squeak, scratching behind his somewhat pointy ear with his right paw-hand. “Now listen, there is more you must know. The reason the Unravelers are so anxious to get Dum Pling is not simply because his presence in Humana will help bind the worlds.”

“What other reason could there be?” asked Teelamun.

Squeak looked uncomfortable. Taking a deep breath, he said, “They plan to use him to help power their machine.”

A gasp rose from the Poets. I heard Jacob cry out beside me.

“So it is even more urgent than you thought that Dum Pling be returned to Humana,” continued Squeak. “And it must be done quickly. They plan to act at the dark of the moon and will do everything they can to obtain the baby before that time.”

“But that is only two nights away!” gasped Iris.

“Why do you think I risked my life to come tell you?”

Keegel Farzym nodded. “You have our thanks, Squeak.” Turning to us, he said, “We must move quickly. The baby is in even greater danger than we imagined. Therefore, I now ask: Jacob Doolittle, will you accept this burden, to obtain the bracelet and shield the child?”

Jacob looked at Keegel Farzym, then at each of the other monsters (except Invisible Ed, of course).

They stared back at him with intent, worried eyes.

He looked down at Little Dumpling. I couldn't tell what he was thinking, but at last he looked up and said, “I accept it willingly.”

I felt a little thrill of pride in my friend.

The monsters stood, placed their hands on their foreheads, and bent forward. “The Council of Poets salutes you!” they said in unison.

They resumed their seats, save Keegel Farzym, who said solemnly, “This burden will be heavy for Jacob to bear. Therefore we now ask of you, his traveling companions: Will you help this boy as he guards the Woven Worlds? Will you vow to care for and protect this baby and to find ways for Jacob, his Prime Protector, to remain safe on the nights of transformation?”

“Now just a ding-danged minute!” said Grampa. “Why don't you tell us what the boy is gonna turn into first?”

“Alas, Mr. Carker, that is a mystery that will only be resolved on the night of his first transformation,” said Keegel Farzym.

“Each man has an inner monster all his own,” burbled Bu-Blasian.