The Gravity Keeper (9 page)

This was the strangest Chronicle I'd ever narrated. I mean, Outsider children performing stunts in Dunkerhook Woods? I wasn't used to this type of work.

To be honest, my job had many drawbacks. For one thing, I had to remain cooped up in my apartment, focused on the unfolding history, for hours on end. And let's face it, observing the Order of Physics could get rather boring.

A colleague of mine assigned to the Math League told me they're an exciting lot. Granted, they all wear funny hats and thick-framed glasses and either speak in garbled English or Latin. But the League deals with theories and postulations that control the very fabric of existence. Their Keeper, Skyrena McSteiner, guides them in controlling these at least once a month, if not more. Just imagine…one slip and they can unravel the entire universe!

As for Physics, Ralfagon was an affable chap to be sure, but he made everyone in his Order live close by in Lawnville, and he imposed strict regulations against them toying with reality. There were occasional field trips into space when they worked with the Order of Astronomy, but they mostly stayed in town.

To be fair, I found most Physics members colorful, likable folks, but I often longed for something new and interesting in my viewing. Distinction. Drama. Danger. Derring-do. And other things, whether they started with a
d
or not.

It looked like Simon and his friends were granting my wish.

It was dark inside Ralfagon Wintrofline's office at Milnes University. The only illumination came from the lamp on his desk, where he sat. He wore his overcoat indoors (he always wore it, rain or shine) and absently rubbed the metallic handle of his wooden cane. The door was again closed and sealed by powerful formulas.

I noticed that Ralfagon appeared even more distracted than he normally did. He gazed around his office and closed his eyes before speaking. “Looks good, doesn't it? Eldonna straightened up again. But a neat office doesn't change anything.”

It was so dark I couldn't see who Ralfagon was speaking to, if anyone at all.

“There's no way around it now,” he continued. “I have been careful, but I know something's going to happen. And soon. I can feel it.”

He paused, listening. “Yes, I know,” he said. “Mermon is a threat. Remember, it wasn't even my choice to let him into the Order. Just because a man gets struck by lightning twelve times and lives, those fool Board members think he might be valuable.” He sighed. “But I'm not worried about Mermon; he couldn't be masterminding this. He doesn't have the intelligence.”

He paused and quietly mumbled a few nonsensical words. Then he shrugged. “Who knows who's helping him? Perhaps others in the Order. That's why I can't trust anyone now. I
know
there was someone else in Dunkerhook Woods during our last meeting. I
felt
a presence. Surely, it disrupted Robertitus's formula and caused that crevice. I just don't know what or how, and without the Council's help, I can't find out.”

He absently gestured with his hands and frowned. “Yes, there's that, too. An odd disturbance in the laws. Someone is using formulas in ways they shouldn't. There's a great amount of physics energy somewhere nearby that I can't explain. I know you've sensed it, too. I believe you know more about this than you're telling me…but it's often that way, isn't it? I understand; you have your secrets. As for me, I'm feeling old, my friend. Old and scared. My own Order may be filled with traitors, and even those who are loyal probably think I'm insane.”

He listened again and then chuckled. “No, you're right; conversations like this don't help my case. Nor does my memory. That's what I get for filling my head with so many laws of physics. At least I don't dabble in theoretical physics like you! That's where the real trouble comes from.” He sighed again. “But that's not important right now. What matters is
you
.”

He closed his eyes and wiggled his fingers. “I want you to be ready. If something happens to me, I want you to go somewhere safe. Even if it means going far away. Or to another time. Find a place where the enemy, whoever they may be, can't get at you. Don't worry about me; this is bigger than me, old friend. This is about the universe. If something happens, don't try to be a hero. Just go. Promise me.”

Ralfagon listened intently and then nodded. “Good. You'll do fine, if it comes to that.” He clicked on his lamp, illuminating the whole office.

Looking around, he laughed humorlessly. “So much for a neat office, hmm? That's my worst habit of all.” While he'd been talking, Ralfagon had unthinkingly mumbled a formula of motion; his casual gestures accidentally turned his clean office into an unholy mess once again.

Ralfagon stood up. “That's as good a sign as any: time to go home.”

He opened his overcoat and stroked…the Book! There it was, dark blue cover, thick binding, the words
Teacher's Edition of Physics
printed in white.

But how? I had seen Simon using it not ten minutes earlier! Could the book be in two places at once? I wondered.

Ralfagon shuffled to his door. “Just don't forget your promise,” he whispered. “Someplace safe. Or somewhen, if you must.”

Ralfagon limped to the parking lot, leaning heavily on his cane. Oddly enough, he was barefoot.

“Professor Winter! Professor!” The quiet afternoon was disrupted by Eldonna's insistent shout as she waved a pair of tan construction boots: his. Ralfagon didn't even slow down. Finally, Eldonna cupped her hands around her mouth and whispered her own formula. Her voice went straight to Ralfagon's ear, boldly ignoring the fact that they were hundreds of feet apart. “Ralfagon!”

Ralfagon jerked up his head and focused on Eldonna. He whispered the same formula she had, saying, “Ah, yes. Hello, Eldonna.” His reply went straight to the stout woman's ears.

She spoke back in the same fashion. “You've forgotten your shoes in your office again. I won't even mention the mess you left, too.”

Ralfagon looked at his feet. “Indeed.” He chuckled and started toward her.

Suddenly, he glanced around; he sensed something unusual. His eyes passed right over a pickup truck illegally parked up the sloping street; there was nobody inside. He didn't notice as the truck's stick shift started wiggling and popped into gear. The tires turned so that the truck veered into the middle of the street on a collision course with Ralfagon. The motor was off, but still the truck sped up.

“Ralfagon, look out!” Eldonna screamed, repeating her voice-throwing trick.

Ralfagon turned toward the truck and opened his mouth to say a formula; with his knowledge, he could have easily stopped the truck or turned it into a can of tomato soup. But instead, he abruptly bent over and clutched at his stomach.

“LOOK OUT!” Eldonna shouted again. This time, she didn't bother to direct her voice to him: her words split the air like a giant's roar. Every man, woman, and child on campus grabbed their ears, but that was no help to Ralfagon.

He bent over farther, grabbing at his stomach with one hand and his throat with the other. He gagged and choked, unable to move or to speak.

Eldonna sprinted across the grassy field, but she was too late. The truck smacked into Ralfagon, hurling him back several feet to slam into the pavement.

Just as the truck was about to run him over, the steering wheel turned and the truck swerved away. It bounced over the far curb and into the parking lot, smashing noisily into a parked car. Eldonna ran over to where a small crowd was gathered around Ralfagon.

As Eldonna bent over to check on her boss and Keeper, a flash of light burst out from his overcoat. The gathered people jumped back in fear, especially when they heard a bizarre ripping sound. One man sniffed and looked around. “Did someone tear open a vacuum cleaner bag?” he asked.

People shouted and a few dialed 911 on their cell phones. Eldonna knelt over Ralfagon with tears dripping from her eyes. He didn't react at all to the salty drops that splashed onto his face.

Only I noticed Mermon Veenie in the crowd around Ralfagon: he was wearing a hat, a false beard, and glasses to hide his face. He also wore a very smug smile.

An ambulance screeched to the scene. As paramedics rushed to aid Ralfagon, the equipment inside the open ambulance was pushed aside, as if some invisible being had climbed in. A slight suspicion crept into my head. As soon as it did, the hooded figure appeared, crouched in a corner of the ambulance. No one else seemed to notice him; Ralfagon was loaded into the vehicle, defenseless against that mysterious hooded menace.

The intruder poked delicately at Ralfagon's coat, being careful not to alert the others to his presence. That wasn't hard; they were preoccupied with keeping Ralfagon alive as they rushed to the hospital. I guessed what the hooded figure was up to: he wanted the
Teacher's Edition
. But he couldn't seem to find it! He slumped back, clearly frustrated.

Poor Simon, Alysha, and Owen had no idea what danger had befallen the Book's previous owner, and worse, they didn't know what threat might await them. I had never felt so useless, so pointless, as then. There I was, narrating with no way of aiding poor Ralfagon. Even if I broke my Society's rules forbidding interference in a Chronicle, what could I do?

I was stuck, sitting miserably in my chair, awaiting history's next chapter.

That evening, Simon barely managed to stay awake through dinner. He went to sleep as soon as he was finished eating and woke up over twelve hours later. After eating a huge brunch, he waited for his two guests to arrive.

As planned, Alysha and Owen showed up at Simon's house at noon. Simon had insisted they meet there; he wasn't sure if either would be able to find the woods without him. Sure enough, Alysha and Owen remembered having gone into the woods but had no idea where it was.

“Guys, just trust me,” Simon said.

Alysha and Owen exchanged a look as they followed Simon down Van Silas Way. “I think I'd remember if the forest was
here
, Simon,” Alysha said. “I mean, those trees were huge! We'd be able to see them from school, wouldn't we?”

Owen nodded sadly. “I hate to say it, but she's right: there's nothing here.” They reached the end of the street. “Just a dead end.”

Simon smiled. “Uh-huh. Right.” Then he grabbed their arms and tugged them forward. Before Alysha or Owen could protest, they'd stumbled up the curb and across the threshold.

Once again, they experienced the miraculous: the world around them was suddenly filled with towering trees, wild and vibrant foliage, and air that tasted better than ice cream sundaes.

“Ah, it's good to be back,” Alysha said.

“Sure is,” Owen agreed, as if they'd known the woods were there all along.

Simon stared at Alysha and Owen. “Whatever's scrambling their brains
can't
be healthy,” he mumbled. Then the Breeze washed over his friends and him, and he sighed. “But that wind makes it all worthwhile.”

On the way to the clearing, Simon stopped short as he spotted the bird again. There it was, on a tree branch above him. That pesky sparrow had stalked him most of the week. This time, it was with a cluster of sparrows, all chattering away in that piercing way sparrows had. Simon wondered if the spy sparrow had brought the other birds along so it could try to blend in.

Its white stripe still set it apart, though. Simon noticed it stealing glances at him from time to time. Then it froze, cocked its head to the side, and chirped loudly. It must have been some bird command because all the other birds fell silent.

Simon gaped, and Alysha and Owen took notice.

“That was weird,” Alysha said. “Look at those birds flying off!”

Simon frowned.
All but one,
he thought.
All but the spy.
Just then, the sound of angry voices broke out farther down the path.

“I hear something growly, like a lion speaking English!” Owen said.

Alysha frowned. “Yeah, it sounds pretty creepy.”

Simon shuddered at the mean-sounding voice. “Who talks like that?”

“Why don't we guess
after
we hide for a bit?” Owen asked. “Just to be sure.”

Simon glanced at the bird, which clearly nodded, like it was agreeing with Owen. “Okay. Let's go behind those bushes, just in case.”

The trio stepped out of the clearing. Owen winced at every crumpling leaf or crackling branch until they crouched down behind a row of thick bushes. They peeked through the branches and watched the clearing.

 

I focused my attention closer to the entrance to the woods. Mermon Veenie was walking along, neatly dressed in a tailored blue suit. The fact that he wasn't wearing a raincoat meant he must not have come through the Gateway.

Oddly, he seemed to be talking to himself. He was gesturing, too, but I could see nobody around him. Then I thought of the hooded figure, and once again, as if my thoughts had conjured him up, he appeared in that long, black hooded coat, walking alongside Veenie.

“I watched carefully at the crash site, Sir,” Mermon said in his gruff, gravelly voice. “Eldonna took nothing. I don't see how she could have the Book. You searched his coat and I checked his office. Nothing. It can only be here.”

The booming voice split the air in response to Veenie.
“Of course it must be here. It
was
my idea to come, wasn't it?”

Simon, Alysha, and Owen covered their mouths to keep from crying out. To them, the hooded figure had appeared out of nowhere when his voice rang out.

“Yes, Sir,” Mermon said. “Sorry, Sir. Since we're alone in Dunkerhook Woods, could you please take the hood off? It makes your voice so loud.”

The hooded figure shook his head.
“No. I prefer to remain hooded for now so I can avoid that Dunkerhook Breeze.”

Mermon frowned. “But, Sir…wouldn't the Breeze help with your pain?”

The hooded figure snaked gloved hands under his thick coat sleeves and scratched at his arms. I caught a glimpse of them: they were slender and coated in tattoos of varying colors.
“My pain is considerable, yes. But it is a burden I have chosen: a badge of pride. And I will be able to lessen it soon enough, once I have the Book.”

They arrived at the clearing.
“I shall begin looking by Ralfagon's stump,”
the hooded figure said.
“Perhaps he had some secret storage spot there.”

“You are probably right, Sir. Funny thing, though—I am certain I heard a man near the accident site say something about a vacuum cleaner bag. Was that from something you did, Sir?”

There was a long pause as the deep, dark hood opening was fixed upon Mermon.
“Veenie, you fool!”
the echoing voice boomed.
“You just now mention this to me?”

Mermon's harsh voice struggled to sound apologetic. “Sir, I didn't notice anything important about it!”

“The smell of a vacuum cleaner bag, where there was clearly no vacuum cleaner, could only be the stink of time and space bending! Ralfagon's last conscious act must have been to send the Book away through space and time. It could be anywhere. Worse, it could be any
when
!”

Mermon hung his head, quivering with fear. Whoever this hooded figure was, his power was enough to terrify the vicious Veenie. “I am so sorry, Sir, I had no idea. My formula has nothing to do with time or space. How could I know?”

The hooded figure nodded.
“Yes, yes. Your ignorance is astounding. Ralfagon kept the greatest powers hidden from his Order, which is why you are aiding me, isn't it?”

“Yes, Sir. I like power very much. But I also hate Ralfagon. I would gladly see that old fool dead.” He coughed. “On that note, Sir, I'm puzzled. Why didn't you want Ralfagon killed yesterday?”

The hooded figure swiveled his head to stare Mermon in the face.
“Are you questioning my judgment, Veenie?”

Mermon's tiny black dot eyes managed to widen into larger black dots. “No, no, no, Sir. I was just…curious.”

“Curiosity is a good thing, like onion soup. But too much onion soup makes your breath smell terrible. And too much curiosity can make your whole body smell terrible, if it causes you to be dead.”

Veenie nodded carefully; it was a strange threat, but a threat nonetheless. “Yes, Sir. Sorry, Sir.”

The hooded figure waved a hand in dismissal.
“I'm sure you are. Don't worry about my plans for Ralfagon. I have reasons, I assure you.”
The hooded figure continued to walk around Ralfagon's stump, poking at it with gloved hands.

Mermon roamed around the cluster of shorter stumps, soon passing near the kids' hiding spot. Suddenly he squinted, his eyes shrinking even smaller (impossible as that seemed) while he scratched his slicked-back hair. “Sir? I…ummm…”

The hooded figure uttered a loud, rude word.
“Veenie,”
he said,
“I told you to go before we left!”

“No, Sir, not that. There's something you should see.”

The hooded figure didn't bother to turn around.
“If it isn't the Book, I don't care.”

Mermon frowned; he scratched his head again. “Oh.” He paused. “But, Sir…”

A loud sigh echoed out from the hood.
“What, Veenie? What is so important that you would risk my wrath again?”

Mermon Veenie pointed in the direction of the shrubs where Simon, Owen, and Alysha were hiding. “One of those bushes is trembling.”