The Binkle and the Catawampus Compass (Binkles and Magic) (15 page)

“Cerberus! What are you doing here?”

“Adah sent me with an important message. That’s a binkle. I was feeling pretty sad. How’d you find me?”

“Puh-leese! That’s what I do! Deliver the mail.”

MeToo wanted to know, “If you can talk to dogs, why don’t you talk to me?”

“I never even thought of it. We’ve always gotten along just fine without words.”

MeToo’s hurt feelings weren’t not so easily forgiven. “Yea, sure, but you’ll talk to him.”

“I’m sorry—forgive me. I’ll talk to you, too—promise. Meet Cerberus. And Cerberus, this is MeToo.”

They sniffed each other in the way dogs do. Then they waited for Jeep to take Adah’s message from Cerberus’ pack and read it.

________________________________________________

My dear Jeep,

I told you our hearts are connected, and I can feel your deep sadness. Your mother

is in great danger. You have the ability to rescue her—as long as you do not doubt the strength of your love and the power of your krindle.

Dry your tears, my sweet. For her sake, you must be strong and move soon. Use the special mirror I’ve sent with Cerberus to look into the faces of those who surround her. It will reveal whether the person is true or serves Uuglash.

Binkles,

Adah, A Priestess of a Different Sort

_____________________________________________________

Jeep studied the front and back of the small round mirror that Cerberus brought with the note. It wasn’t remarkable in any way that he could tell.

When he held it up to his tear-streaked face, he looked the same as usual. Holding it before MeToo, no difference. Cerberus, no difference.

Maybe that’s how it works
.
Probably only Uuglash’s followers looked any different in it. But what am I looking for? How could I tell?

Jeep scribbled a note for Cerberus to deliver to Adah. That done, Cerberus set out for places far away and was gone in a twinkle.

Adah’s note knocked Jeep out of his misery quick enough.
She’s far away, but knows I’m suffering. She told me what I need to know. My mom needs me!

Jeep announced to MeToo, “Enough moping! I’ve got a rescue to arrange.”

He set to thinking.
With all the locks and guards at Elkhorn, getting her away wouldn’t be easy. I must analyze every fact to devise the wisest course of action. Already, I feel like Sherlock Holmes. Jeep the Detective is on the case.

After school the sisters came by to check on how Jeep was doing. Were they ever surprised at the change! Jeep’s suffering was gone—he’d switched into a determined detective. He told them about Cerberus coming and showed them Adah’s warning and mirror. They couldn’t figure out how the mirror worked either.

The sisters wanted to help. They came up with a three-part strategy. First, Jeep would spend time at Elkhorn so he could use the magic mirror to size up the staff and how things worked there. Second, they’d use the information he gathered to devise an escape plan. Third, they’d get his mother away from there somehow.

Jeep recalled a spy story where a person was seen so often that everyone stopped noticing him. After a while, he became the “invisible man.” Jeep thought he could do the same thing at Elkhorn. By going to see his mother almost every day, he figured the staff would get so used to him being around they’d ignore him.

Jeep told him, “If there’s one thing I’ve learned from organizing all that truffle data I collected, it’s how to arrange facts. I’ll gather information about the place, and we’ll figure out what to do with it together.”

Whatever he could learn about the staff, or schedules, or building layout was bound to help their planning. The three of them needed to make sense of the facts about his mother’s care so they could decide on the best plan of escape.

Chris was relieved to see Jeep in a happier frame of mind. Jeep had already decided not to tell Chris about the warning—at least not yet. Instead, Jeep said, “I guess I really had a hard time accepting the truth. I know you tried to warn me, but I had to see her for myself.”

“The way she is now is hard to deal with, I know. It’s heartbreaking to see Helen like that. Now you know why I wanted to keep you away. It was for the best.”

“Yea, what you did makes more sense now. I won’t be so upset the next time I go.”

 “You mean you want to go back? You can’t be serious!”

 “I think I should. I don’t want to run away from this and I’ll get used to the idea much sooner if I spend more time with her.”

“But Jeep, there’s nothing you can do for her.”

 “I know. That’s why I have to go back, don’t you see? Just to be near her. Is it OK with you if I go see her every few days?”

“Of course not! There’s sure to be more misery for you.” Chris cared about the boy, even though he wasn’t good at showing it.

“It’s just for a little while after school,” Jeep pleaded.

“I can’t take you out there,” said Chris, as though that put the kibosh on Jeep’s request.

“I know and don’t expect you to be along. I’ve already got that part figured out,” said Jeep, being careful not to sound too eager. “It’s not too far for me to bicycle—when the weather’s O.K.”

Though uneasy about it, Chris figured that Jeep would soon tire of going. “I guess it’s worth a try. I’ll give permission—as long as the chores don’t suffer.”

Already, the first part of The Plan was ready to roll.

Chapter 13—

HIGH-STAKES NEGOTIATIONS

Jeep didn’t want to do Grikkl’s assignment—not even a little bit. As far as he was concerned, the whole idea about getting the zoo property was a big mistake. So over the next few days he worked out one excuse after another so he wouldn’t have to do it. In the end, he had to admit to himself that he was scared. He doubted himself, he doubted he could succeed.

What made Jeep go ahead anyway was his certainty,
I’d rather face Mr. Slade than have to face Grikkl with the knowledge that I didn’t even try. At the very least, I must give it my best shot since Grikkl trusts me. Besides, it’s a quest.

Jeep called to make an appointment. The secretary who answered could tell she was speaking to a child and refused to take him seriously. She told him, “Mr. Slade is not available.” Jeep got the same treatment the next five times he called, even though he disguised his voice.

Part of him wanted to say, “Well, at least I tried,” and be done with it. But the part of him with spunk knew there has to be another way.

He cleaned himself up as though going to church and headed to Market Street. Jeep tried his best to look businesslike, knowing that he fooled no one. The sign near the elevator said: Slade Investments - 1037. He got off the elevator on the 10
^th
floor. The door at 1037 opened into a fancy waiting room with dark paneling and little lights over each of the framed paintings. Even he knew that meant they were expensive.

A middle-aged secretary sat by the door. “I’m here to see Mr. Slade,” he said, trying to sound businesslike.

She was no more pleasant in person than on the telephone. Her eyes inspected him up and down without approval. “Do you have an appointment?”

       “Is Mr. Slade in today? Does he have time to see me?”

Jeep was no dummy.
Answer a question with another question. Make her do the talking.
Too bad—she wasn’t a dummy either. Cementing her sour expression, she sent a question right back.

“Young man, what are you up to? Mr. Slade is very busy man...”

She was interrupted by the buzzer. “Miss Kublic, please come in here.”

She gave Jeep a warning look and hissed as she left. “Don’t touch anything.”

When Miss Kublic returned, Jeep was sitting in the chair next to her desk with a happy smile.
Still no dummy,
I know a smile’s my most persuasive move—besides, it keeps people guessing.

“You still here? What do you want?”

“An appointment with Mr. Slade, please.”

She shook her head no, then did her best to ignore him while she stared rigidly at her computer screen and typed away. Every so often she glanced in his direction and frowned.

For the next hour Jeep sat with the I-want-you-to-like-me expression on his face, like he had nothing else in the world to do (which was true).

“I want you to leave, now,” she finally snapped.

“Of course, happy to—as soon as I get an appointment.”   

“I can’t do that.”

“Maybe I don’t need an appointment—if you’ll let me see Mr. Slade without one.”
She’s one step away from
being polite to me
.

“You’re not going to make this easy for me, are you?” Her face relaxed a trifle.

 “I’d like to go away right this minute, honest. But I
have to
see him. I doubt either one of us wants me back here tomorrow to start all over again.”

That did it. Worn down by his positive persistence, she folded. “You win. I’ll let you in, but only for five minutes. Then you promise to leave without a fuss, right?”

“That’s all I want.”
First round for me, but that’s just the warm-up. I’ve got to do better with the boss
.

Miss Kublic ushered him in, with a comment to her boss that the boy would only stay a few minutes. The inner office was deluxe, with dark, heavy polished furniture and shiny brass accents. Mr. Slade was a slender, silver-haired man spoke and moved with clipped efficiency. Never a wasted movement. His clothes fit him like they were made for him, and everything in his office screamed “expensive.” Not surprisingly, he was on guard and impatient to get rid of Jeep.

Jeep wasted no time. “Mr. Slade, I’m here to speak for the animals. I understand you own the property next to the zoo. I want you to donate it to the zoo. The animals need it.”

“Young man, that land is not available. We’re getting ready to build there.”

“I know, that’s why it’s so important that you act right away—
before
building starts.”

“It’s out of the question, there’s a lot of money involved.”

“Can’t you at least think about it?”

“Absolutely not. Nothing to discuss. Why’d I even consider what you’re asking for?”

“I’ll give you two reasons.” Jeep counted on his fingers: “One, it’s hard to build along a ravine, so you’d be smarter to put that factory on flatter land somewhere else. Two, that loud construction noise will frighten the animals for a long time. Then operating the factory will make a racket once it’s built. No question, they’ll suffer from all those sounds.

They’re already having a hard time being so crowded up as far as possible from where your factory will be.

Besides, I guess this must be three, wouldn’t that gully make a nice animal enclosure without cages?”

He finished on a pleading note. Mr. Slade didn’t even take time to think about Jeep’s arguments. “Young man, I’d have to be crazy to take your suggestion seriously. You don’t know the first thing about business.”

“That’s true, sir. But I do know the first thing about animals.”

Mr. Slade thought for a moment. “Really? Perhaps you do¼ Then maybe you can tell me what’s wrong with my parrot. His feathers keep falling out and he doesn’t talk anymore.” He gestured across the room.

A large parrot slumped on its stand in the corner of the office. It sat so still Jeep didn’t notice it was there until Mr. Slade mentioned it. At one time the bird must have been covered with bright, beautiful feathers. But there weren’t many of them left. Instead, pimply, pinkish skin showed through what few feathers remained. Its head drooped on its scrawny neck. It only took Jeep a glance to see that the bird was going downhill fast.

Jeep approached the bird, still without a clue of what to do next.
I’ll fail, sure as shooting but at least Grikkl will know I tried
. Whoa¼
Now’s not the time for giving up
.
Something’s wrong—maybe I
can get the bird to tell me.

Jeep turned to Mr. Slade. “Sir, I think I know something about his problem. If you will please go and bring me a large magnifying glass, I’ll be able to give you an answer shortly. What’s his name?”

Jeep really didn’t need the magnifying glass, but he did need to get Mr. Slade out of the room for a minute. 

“Rubens,” said the man as he left.

 Jeep approached the bird. “Rubens, I want to help you if I can. Do you know why your feathers have fallen out?

“Sure, I pulled them out myself,” answered the bird, almost proudly.

“But why? What could possibly make you do that to yourself?”

“If you must know, Mr. Slade is driving me insane. I can’t stand it anymore.”

“But if you continue, you’ll get really sick or worse.... That’s not smart.”

“Whatever it takes,” Rubens answered with a shrug. “I’m prepared to kill myself—commit parrotcide—if I have to.”

“Surely not! That can’t be the answer!”

“I’ve run out of choices. Since he’s driving me crazy, why shouldn’t I act like a loony bird?” Rubens asked, in a way that didn’t sound like he was crazy at all.

“That’s pretty extreme. Isn’t there another answer?”

“Can’t think of one.”

“What’s he doing to you that’s so bad? He looks like a reasonable man.”

“Mr. Slade has a mighty fine music system in here—the best. Up until recently he played the classics—you know, Mozart, Handel, Beethoven. It was wonderful. That music fed my spirit—made me soar inside.

“Then about a month ago he started playing Country and Western songs all day long. Can you believe it? Country and Western—all that yammering about misery and heartbreak! It’s terrible, I tell you—it’s more than a bird can bear!”

Jeep was dumbfounded. “That’s it? You don’t like the music? You’d commit parrotcide over music?”

“Now you’re getting it.”

“Can’t you learn to like Country and Western?” The bird’s horrified expression made Jeep drop that idea. “OK then. What if I could get the music back like it was? Would you stop this foolishness and let your feathers grow back?”