فصل سی و هفتم

chapter 37

“Ever wonder if this could reek any worse?” said Akimi. “Because it couldn’t.” “Yo, none of us pulled a Clunker Card,” groused Miguel. “That means somebody on Charles’s team did it.” “Akimi and Miguel are right, Kyle,” said Sierra. “This really isn’t fair.” “I know,” was all Kyle could say. “But it’s like in Mr. Lemoncello’s Family Frenzy, where one player pulls the Orthodontist card and everybody has to move back seven spaces to buy their kids braces.” Kyle and his teammates were back in Community Meeting Room B. They’d been staring at the clue board, wondering what a wailing blackbird had to do with Willy Wonka and the Ten Commandments—not to mention that long list of books and all the statues—when the voice in the ceiling made its announcement about the Dewey decimal doors being locked for fourteen hours.

“Well, Mr. Lemoncello better have a good reason,” said Akimi.

“Oh, I do,” said Mr. Lemoncello.

His face appeared on one of the meeting room walls, which was really a giant plasma-screen video monitor.

“Team Kyle is not being penalized for Team Charles’s blunder,” he said. “Far from it. In fact, you are being rewarded.” Akimi arched her eyebrows in disbelief. “Really? How?” “The other team’s penalty gives you a wrinkle in time.” “A wrinkle in time?” said Kyle. “Is that a clue?” “No. It’s a book. And sometimes, Kyle, a book is just a book. But thanks to the Clunker Card, you have the gift of wrinkled time to seek clues outside the ten Dewey decimal rooms. Speaking of Time, a magazine available in our periodicals section, it’s dinnertime!” “So the game is basically suspended until ten o’clock tomorrow?” said Kyle.

“Well, Kyle, that’s up to you. You can use this time as a bonus, to think, read, and explore. Or you can run upstairs and play video games all night long. The choice is yours.” “We want to win this game,” said Kyle. His teammates nodded in agreement.

“Wondermous!” said Mr. Lemoncello. “Keep working the puzzle but try to avoid Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler’s files. They’re all mixed up. And before you turn in this evening, you might want to spend some time curled up with a good book.” “Um, they just said the book rooms are locked,” said Akimi.

“The nice lady in the ceiling was only talking about the ten Dewey decimal rooms. There is plenty of first-class fiction in the Rotunda Reading Room. Dr. Zinchenko has even selected seven books specifically for our seven remaining contestants. After dinner, you’ll find those books on her desk.” When he said that, Mr. Lemoncello started winking.

“I think you’ll find the books to be very enlightening. Inspirational, even.” And then he winked some more.

“And now, I must return to my side of the mountain. See you in the morning, children! I have great expectations for you all!” Mr. Lemoncello’s image disappeared from the wall.

“Okay,” said Akimi, “from the way Mr. Lemoncello was just winking, either somebody kicked a bucket of sand in his face or our recommended reading list is another clue.” On the other side of the rotunda, Charles huddled with Andrew in Meeting Room A.

“I don’t trust Haley,” he said.

“Why not?”

Charles placed his hand on Andrew’s shoulder. “Well, my friend, I’m not sure if I should tell you this, but Haley told me she didn’t think you were ‘handsome enough’ to appear in Mr. Lemoncello’s holiday commercials with us when we win.” “Because of my glasses?”

Charles bit his lip. Nodded. “Of course, I totally disagree.” “I see,” said Andrew, his ears burning bright red. “Then she doesn’t get to see what we found in that Anne of Green Gables book.” “Very well, Andrew. If that’s how you want to play it.” “You bet I do.”

“Fine. Let’s go see what’s for dinner. I’m starving.” When Charles and Andrew entered the café, the Keeley team was already inside, filling their trays.

“Hey, way to go, Charles!” joked Miguel Fernandez. “You guys pulled a Clunker Card?” “Indeed we did. However, not even that bit of bad luck can derail our juggernaut!” “Huh?” said Akimi.

“He means we’re still gonna win!” said Andrew.

Charles and Andrew crossed to the far side of the room to join Haley, who was sitting in a corner.

“You guys find any clues this afternoon?” she asked.

“Sadly, no,” said Charles.

“All we found was that door-locking penalty,” said Andrew, who could lie almost as well as Charles.

“How about you, Haley?” Charles asked. “Find anything interesting?” “Nope. Nada.” Then she yawned and finished her dinner. “I think I’ll head upstairs and sack out.” “Really? It’s only eight-forty-eight.”

“I know. But I’m totally pooped.” She yawned again. “Plus, I want to be up bright and early, before the Dewey decimal doors reopen. We have more clues to find. See you guys tomorrow. Unless we have more team business to discuss?” “No. Nothing.”

She walked out of the café.