فصل هفدهم

chapter-17

The eight teams stood bunched in front of the reviewing stand.

Dr. Zinchenko called out names one by one.

Kyle and his friends would be last to receive their new, Olympic-edition library cards. It was like baseball. The home team always batted last.

Miguel nudged Kyle. “You think there’s going to be another secret, coded clue on the back of the cards?” When Kyle and his teammates had played the escape game, one of their biggest clues came from writing down the first letters of all the books printed on the backs of their library cards. The letters spelled out a sentence that pointed them toward the library’s secret exit.

“I hope so,” said Akimi. “Because none of the other teams will know how to play Mr. Lemoncello’s First Letters game.” “Maybe we should tell them,” suggested Sierra.

“Why?” asked Akimi. “I thought we wanted to win.” “We do,” said Sierra. “But we don’t want to cheat.” “Yo,” said Miguel. “It’s not cheating just because we know something the other teams don’t.” Sierra sighed. “But it’s an unfair advantage.” “True,” said Akimi. “But, sometimes, those are my favorite kind.” “But remember Mr. Lemoncello’s motto?” said Sierra. “ ’Knowledge not shared remains unknown.’ ” “Which,” said Akimi, “is exactly how I want this particular piece of knowledge to remain: unknown to everybody except us!” “You guys?” said Kyle as the line worked its way forward. “Let’s wait and see. I’d be surprised if Mr. Lemoncello gave us the same kind of clue twice. He never does it in his board games.” Finally, Team Kyle’s names were called.

Dr. Zinchenko handed them four cards.

“Your library cards will grant you access to all the rooms and areas where we will be playing our twelve games,” she explained. “The winner of each game will receive a very special medal. The team with the most medals at the end of the week will be declared the winner, if not the champion.” “Huh?” said Miguel. “Isn’t the winner automatically the champion?” “Perhaps,” Dr. Zinchenko said mysteriously. “Perhaps not. It all depends, don’t you agree?” Miguel shrugged. “I guess.”

Kyle wasn’t paying attention to Dr. Zinchenko. He was too focused on the fact that the library cards were, once again, numbered.

“Now, if you children will excuse me…,” said Dr. Zinchenko, touching her Bluetooth earpiece. “It seems Mr. Lemoncello needs me inside. He has glued his mouth shut on a caramel apple.” Dr. Zinchenko hurried into the motel.

The players on the seven other teams had already headed into the dining area off the lobby, where waiters were serving hamburgers, hot dogs, potato chips, s’mores, ice cream, cake, candy bars, cookies, caramel apples, and coconut cream pie. “There is also fruit,” Mr. Lemoncello had announced, “for those who do not wish to be bouncing off the walls all night, as I will be.” Team Kyle’s chaperones, Mrs. Yunghans and Mr. Sharp, came over to join them.

“Good job on the parade, you guys,” said Mrs. Yunghans. “We’re going inside to grab one of those burgers.” “We’re right behind you,” said Kyle.

“Totally,” added Miguel.

The four teammates waited.

As soon as the adults were gone, they flipped over their library cards.

There were images of book covers printed on the back.

“Awesome,” said Akimi. “Just like last time. You guys know the drill. We need to write down the first letters of every title.” “I’ve got a pen and some paper,” said Sierra, digging into the hip pocket of her tracksuit.

The team laid down their cards in order. Two cards had three illustrated book covers on their backs; two cards had four: CARD 1

The Candymakers by Wendy Mass

Holes by Louis Sachar

Inside Out and Back Again by Thanhha Lai CARD 2

Splendors and Glooms by Laura Amy Schlitz Incident at Hawk’s Hill by Allan W. Eckert Shabanu: Daughter of the Wind by Suzanne Fisher Staples Nothing but the Truth: A Documentary Novel by Avi CARD 3

One Came Home by Amy Timberlake

The Year of Billy Miller by Kevin Henkes A Long Way from Chicago by Richard Peck Criss Cross by Lynne Rae Perkins

CARD 4

Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy by Gary D. Schmidt Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe Elijah of Buxton by Christopher Paul Curtis “Okay,” said Kyle. “That’s T-H-I, S-I-S-N, O-T-A-C, L-U-E.” Miguel gave it a quick shot. “Thigh, sis, ‘n’ taco, Lou!” “Whuh?” said Akimi.

“It’s like you’re at KFC and you’re ordering some Original Recipe dark meat plus a taco for your sister, Louise. Or maybe you know the guy behind the counter and his name is Lou.” Akimi rolled her eyes. “Seriously, Miguel? They don’t serve tacos at KFC.” “Yes, they do if it’s a KFC–Taco Bell combo store, which sometimes they are.” “I don’t think the First Letters game is going to work for us this time,” said Sierra.

She showed them what she had written down on her slip of paper: “This is not a clue.”

“Oh,” said Miguel. “Did not see that coming.” Kyle, on the other hand, sort of had.

He knew nothing about winning these Olympic Games would be easy.