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I wish I had a watch, Erec said. How will we know when it s midnight?
The answer came when a clock tower banged out twelve gonglike tones. They were at the crossroads of
two small streets, where they were completely surrounded by trees, except for one small house far from
the road.
Do we put it together in the middle of the road? Bethany asked.
It couldn t hurt, Erec said. He had never seen cars in Alypium, only occasional buses, winged horses,
and doors that appeared from nowhere. They put the wide-mouthed glass jar in the middle of the
crossroads. Erec pulled out his list.
Four handfuls of wolfsbane. He grabbed four clumps of the fibrous roots, tore them up a bit, and
stuffed them in the jar. Two cups of gunpowder. He dumped two heaping handfuls onto the wolfsbane.
Three cups of grain alcohol. Bethany poured three times to fill Erec s cupped hands.
Erec found a stick and stirred the gunpowder and leaves into the clear liquid until it was thick and black.
Five drops of warthog essence. Erec carefully poured in the five drops he had measured in the
storeroom. When it hit the liquid, there was a loud cracking sound and then a hiss. The liquid started to
swirl in the jar.
One eagle feather. Erec dropped the feather in, and it disappeared into the swirling mixture. Three lion
hairs. He carefully opened the vial and dropped in the three spiky brown hairs. A loud growl erupted as
they churned in. One used horseshoe. The dragon horse s shoe barely fit through the top and fell in
with a splash. Foam and bubbles erupted through the formula. Hot steam shot from the opening.
Erec carefully picked up the nitrowisherine. After this goes in, I m supposed to wish for this to blast my
mother free. Maybe you should wish too. Each drop that fell in sounded like a distant explosion as it hit
the bubbling, swirling liquid. Erec closed his eyes and said, I wish this formula will blast my mother free
from her force field. Bethany repeated his words, saying, his mother.
Erec stirred the bubbling brew and read from his paper. Bubwa, bubwa toiwet twubwa. Codewon
boon ad codewon bubwa.
A loud, hot blast pushed Erec and Bethany back. The jar flew into the air, landing on its bottom without
spilling.
Lights switched on in the small house on the hill. Erec put a lid on the jar, picked it up carefully, and
walked fast with Bethany back to the dormitories.
Erec slid the jar under his bed. If it got knocked over the whole dormitory would explode. He woke
Wolfboy. Look, boy. Nobody can touch this, okay? Guard it. It could blow us all up.
Wolfboy panted, tongue out. He turned in circles, dropped to the floor by Erec s bed, and fell asleep.
Erec didn t want to risk talking to his mother with Oscar and Jack in his room, even if they were asleep.
He went to the bathroom, knowing it would be empty this late at night. He stood against the door, ready
to take his glasses off if he felt it move.
Mom, wake up, Erec whispered. June murmured in her sleep and turned over. Wake up!
She lifted her head. Erec?
Sorry. I just wanted to tell you I made the blasting formula.
June smiled. Great! Oh, I can t wait to get out of here. I think the easiest way here is through a
Port-O-Door. I just wish King Piter could take care of things and get me out of here. Did you ever get
an idea where his scepter is?
No, said Erec. It could be anywhere.
Did you look in the throne room? June asked.
I did. What s that big rock by the throne?
June smiled. That s the Lia Fail. Legend says the stone will shriek at the crowning of a rightful king. Of
course, I was too young to remember Piter, Posey, and Pluto s ceremony, but my parents say it
screamed three times that day. You d better get to sleep. Good luck with the contest tomorrow.
Erec took the glasses off and fell asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
The Sea Search
SMALL GROUP GATHERED behind the maze for the fourth contest. Kilroy looked
A
disappointed by the turnout. Only thirty-four today? Where are the other six?
They had decided to go home after the swamp gas incident. A lot of spectators had left as well.
Ugry stood to the side. He looked paler than usual, the crease down his forehead seemed deeper, and he
wore a particularly sour expression. Bethany whispered, Remember, Rayson said they couldn t cheat at
this one.
Kilroy cleared his throat. These last three contests are special. A king or queen planned each one. This
is Queen Posey s, the Sea Search. The next contest was planned by King Pluto, and the final one by
King Piter.
Erec had the feeling that King Piter wasn t up to planning the final contest. He wondered if Kilroy had
done it himself. Kids had brought magical items, as the queen allowed, many brandishing remote controls.
Sneakers and Magiclights didn t seem like a help underwater, but Erec and Bethany had vanishing caps
in their pockets. Hopefully Ugry wouldn t notice if they used them.
Queen Posey drew a circle of water around the competitors, herself, and Kilroy. In a flash, everybody
was standing on a deserted beach. Cliffs overhung the water. Ugry followed a moment later.
Kilroy s good humor seemed to be back. This will be great. You ll get to see ocean life up close! No
masks or fins. Queen Posey will let you all breathe underwater. Your job is to find a hidden treasure
chest. The fish and water sprites know where it is, as well as a few merfolk, if you happen to see one.
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