The Octopus Effect (6 page)

“It's as easy as it looks,” he said. “Step through, and you'll be at our destination.”

Simon glanced over at Alysha and Owen; Alysha's eyes were wide, but she was poised, ready to follow Ralfagon. Owen, on the other hand, was frowning. Now that he was so close to the Gateway, he probably wanted something more secure than a seat belt. A full-body air bag, at least.

“Where is your leg now?” Simon asked.

Ralfagon pointed to the leg on the street. “It's right here. Oh, this leg?” By the movement of his thigh, it was clear that he was shaking that other leg. Wherever it was. “At our destination. Outside the Board of Administration's headquarters.”

“You mean you're here,” Owen asked, “but one leg is miles and miles away?”

Ralfagon pulled that leg out and shook it in the air for them. “See? It's fine.”

“What if the Gateway shuts off while we were still going through it?” Owen asked.

“Hmm. Interesting question,” Ralfagon said. “Let's not find out. Come along, now, the Board likes to keep things on schedule.” And with that, he stepped through completely, causing not even a ripple in the blueness.

Alysha and Simon looked at each other. “Me first, or you?” Alysha asked.

Simon noticed how Owen was eyeing the Gateway. “Better idea—all three at once.” He took one of Owen's arms and tilted his head to Alysha.

She nodded and took the other arm. Working together, they heaved Owen forward as they passed through the blue wall. Linked as I was to their thoughts, I was able to experience the exact sensation of traveling by Gateway. Words fail to describe it.

That's not to say that the journey went beyond my abilities to narrate; there simply wasn't anything to tell. Their Gateway travel from rain-stricken Van Silas Way was effortless, like stepping out from under a waterfall.

“Okay, that was a letdown,” Alysha said.

Simon and his friends were now in a large field of finely ground gravel, facing a group of men and women: the Council of Sciences. The Keepers of some of the most powerful Books in existence. The respected leaders of the various Science Orders. Who were currently pointing at the kids and snickering.

Simon nervously checked to see if something was hanging out of his nose while Alysha ran her hands through her hair, which was matted down under her raincoat hood.

Gilio Skidowsa, Keeper of the Order of Biology, removed his wire spectacles to rub his eyes. “It's nice to see you young science warriors again.” He gestured to the ground. “But you've got a man down.”

Simon and Alysha looked to the ground in front of them and saw Owen sprawled in the gravel. As they helped him up, he blushed. “I expected a rougher reentry!”

A lanky man stood next to Gilio; he wore glasses with thick lenses that magnified his eyes to look the size of half dollars. “Don't be so hard on him,” he said with a smile. “I was nervous the first time I went through a Gateway.”

Owen nodded in thanks, and the man grinned. “I'm Olvero Lombaro, hello! I'm the Keeper of the Order of Chemistry.” He paused, looking concerned. “You
do
like chemistry, don't you? Why, it's the most fascinating science of all! It's closely related to physics, you know. We get to use beakers and pipettes and we wear goggles . . .”

Allobero Foreedaman, Keeper of the Order of Astronomy, came up next to Olvero and clapped him on the shoulder. “Calm down there, Ollie,” he said in a scratchy voice. “I don't think she really cares about that right now. Maybe we should just focus on why we're all here.” He gestured to Simon. “That one.”

Ralfagon clapped his hands. “Wonderful! Let's make it official for young Simon so we can get on to the best part. I believe we have ice-cream cake!” Ralfagon gestured past the Gateway, which sank into the ground and vanished at that moment.

The Gateway's disappearance revealed a huge structure with angles and curves of various styles that didn't fit well together. It looked as if a bunch of architects had designed separate buildings and merged them into a single one in order to give people the worst possible headache. At the top, hundreds of feet aboveground and arguably the worst fitting in style, was an arch. While most of the building was made of an extremely shiny metallic substance, the arch was so dull it seemed to absorb light rather than reflect it.

Above the metallic entry doors hung a wide placard with various symbols, each of different colors, etched into it. Simon recognized the blue squiggle for the Order of Physics and guessed the other shapes and symbols represented the other groups within the Knowledge Union. Surely this was the Board of Administration's headquarters.

“I think that archway is new,” Ralfagon said. “Something odd about it. In any event, once a Board member makes it official, our Council will have another member!”

“It is more complicated than that, Ralfagon,” a slow, firm voice said from behind.

Simon and his friends turned to see a very thin man; his crisply pressed slacks, dress shirt, and tie hung loosely off his body. His gaunt face seemed almost impossibly smooth, and his mouth, eyes, and eyebrows looked to be manually attached in a Mr. Potato Head sort of way (without the mus tache or glasses) rather than naturally grown.

Something about him made Simon feel like backing away, but he knew that would be rude. This man was clearly someone important.

“Young friends,” Ralfagon said, “this is Janathus Misht, an official from the Board of Administration. He oversees the Science Orders and is here to witness Simon's induction into the Council as co-Keeper of the Order of Physics.”

“That is incorrect,” Janathus said. “This boy will not be a Keeper with you.”

Janathus's expression did not change as he spoke. To be more accurate, he hadn't been showing an expression before and gave no indication of starting one up now.

“In fact,” he continued, “this boy might not remain a Keeper at all.”

Janathus's statement drew gasps, grunts, grumbles, groans, and a lot of grousing among the Council members, which just goes to show how versatile the letter
g
is for describing unhappiness.

Alysha made the first coherent comment. “Oh yeah? Try and stop him!”

Janathus stared at her; I noticed that he wasn't blinking, nor had he yet during his entire time in this Chronicle.

Ralfagon cleared his throat and held up a hand. “Forgive the young lady's brashness. I think she simply wants to know why Simon can't be a Keeper with me. I know he's young, but the Book chose him, and he's certainly proven himself.”

There was the barest hint of an upturn at the corners of Janathus's mouth. “Two points. One: the Board has decided that two Keepers cannot coexist with the same Book. We want no additional complications brought to this already messy system.”

Janathus paused for a moment and then continued. “Two: I did not mean to say that
Simon Bloom
would definitely have to step down as Keeper. You, Ralfagon Wintrofline, may be told to resign from your post. Or perhaps you both might be removed and a new Keeper appointed.”

If there had been an outcry before, there was an out-scream now.

Ralfagon waited for his fellow Council members to quiet down. “What's this about?” he asked in a polite but firm voice.

“You are respected throughout the Union, Ralfagon, but you've been at your post for a long time. Perhaps too long. Would a capable Keeper be so easily ambushed and lose possession of his
Teacher's Edition
? Can you still be deemed competent, or despite your ample service and legendary power, are you now unsuitable for the task?”

“I think I—” Ralfagon began.

“We at the Board of Administration intend to determine that,” Janathus continued, cutting Ralfagon off. “Right now.”

“In two point five minutes, to be precise,” said a strong, cold voice. Another man walked from the building toward Janathus. He wore a crisp white dress shirt with thin blue stripes, a red paisley tie, and pressed navy blue slacks held up by navy suspenders. Unlike Janathus, he did have an expression; with lips tightly pressed, eyebrows bent, and nose slightly wrinkled, it was a look of distaste.

“Welcome to the Board of Administration,” the man said. “For those who do not know me”—he directed his cold gaze toward Simon, Owen, and Alysha—“I am Standrus Presst, Lead Examiner and Chief Executive of the Board. I will oversee your case today. For your information, Ralfagon, that arch was installed last Saturday. Janathus and Madda requisitioned it four months, three weeks, and two days earlier.”

“What's a Madda?” Owen whispered.

“
I
am Madda,” a deep, female voice said. “Madda Roobet.” A curly-haired woman of medium height and more than medium girth appeared next to Standrus. She was wearing a well-pressed outfit that reminded Simon of his mother's business suits, only more severe-looking.

“It's getting hard to keep track of all these people,” Alysha whispered to Owen. “And the weird names aren't helping.”

“As Chief Analyst of Keeper Affairs, I will be conducting your evaluation,” Madda continued, fixing Alysha with a frosty look. “I assume the Keepers have brought their respective Books with them?”

The Keepers nodded sourly. I could tell they did not like the way the Board members talked down to them,

Simon was bursting with questions but was far too nervous under the Board members' joyless, pitiless gazes to say or do anything. Alysha had no such reservations. “And just how are you planning on
evaluating
Simon and Ralfagon?”

“Young lady,” Standrus said, “you are speaking out of turn. We have a procedure for non-Keeper interrogatives, and you are clearly not following it.”

Gilio chuckled. “That's kids for you, Standrus. Minds of their own and everything. It's what makes them humans, instead of dull robots!”

Olvero held up his hands in a calming gesture. “Whoa there! No need to get excited, everyone. Standrus, members of the Board, I think what Gilio is
trying
to say is that Alysha has a valid question. These kids don't know your procedures.”

Standrus frowned deeply. “Janathus, you are liaison to the Council. Handle this.”

Janathus nodded. “We on the Board are charged with doing our best to maintain the order of things. To keep the universe from getting disturbed, perhaps destroyed, by anyone unworthy of their place in the Union. Keepers face the strictest judgment, since they have the most potential to cause disasters.”

Alysha rolled her eyes. “That's great, but you didn't really answer my question.”

“There are schedules and procedures, child, and we must keep to them.”

“Why?” Alysha asked. “Is asking a question without filling out a form going to destroy the universe?”

Standrus checked a shiny metal pocket watch. “We have wasted enough time,” he said with a scowl. “Keepers, follow us.” He flicked his eyes over to Alysha. “Non-Keepers must remain outside. Which includes Narrators.” He looked up in the sky, somehow gazing into my eyes from the Viewing Screen. “All observing Narrators will put their Chronicles on hold for the duration of our meeting.”

Simon's, Owen's, and Alysha's jaws dropped open, as did mine. No Narrator? Outrageous! You cannot put History on hold!

Ralfagon cleared his throat and raised his cane into the air. “Might I have a moment? I am, as Janathus says, elderly. I would love to catch my breath.”

Janathus turned to Madda, who frowned. Standrus didn't look up from his watch as he said, “You have exactly fifty-seven seconds before you disrupt our schedule.”

Simon turned away from his friends and the Council members. He closed his eyes, feeling as if he'd been dropped into a nightmare. He had to know something.

Book,
he thought, contacting the
Teacher's Edition of Physics
through their mental link.
If they make Ralfagon the only Physics Keeper or if they fire both of us, will I have to give up some of my formulas?

It responded quickly.
Yes.

Simon frowned.
Will I still be able to talk to you like this?

There was a slight pause.
No, you would lose that ability, as would Ralfagon if he is removed from his post
.

That hit Simon hard. He hated the idea of being separated from the Book, but he also worried about Ralfagon. The old Keeper was a bit nutty, but he was a good person and a good friend. If the Book was taken from him, what would he have left?

Simon braced himself and asked one last question.
Will the new Keeper at least let my friends and me stay in the Order? Or could we be kicked out?