فصل پنجاه و یک

chapter-51

Even though he was lifting a lid on a fly factory, Kyle was feeling pretty pumped.

This new team of super library geeks seemed invincible. They were Mr. Lemoncello’s Champion Crusaders, standing up for what was right in a world gone wrong. Sharing knowledge to boldly conquer the unknown.

Or something like that.

Kyle watched a lot of movie trailers.

A warm blast of sour-milk-rotten-lettuce-dirty-diaper air made Kyle’s eyes water as he raised the rubbery lid on the Dumpster.

Fortunately, a plastic-wrapped envelope labeled “Clue,” with something rectangular in it, was attached to the lid’s underside. There would be no need for Dumpster diving.

Kyle tugged the envelope free and heard the unmistakable sound of Velcro strips separating. He tossed the package, which felt like a wrapped-up book, to Andrew. Kyle let go of the lid and the Dumpster’s rubber cover slammed.

“Can we go somewhere a little less rank to open it?” asked Akimi, trying to breathe only through her mouth.

“Definitely,” said Kyle.

The whole team scurried away from the loading dock and back to the parking lot outside the motel lobby.

“Where’s your boss?” Akimi asked Andrew.

“He must be running errands. His truck is gone.” “Open it,” Kyle said to Andrew.

Andrew tore at the tape and plastic bag protecting the thick yellow envelope with “Clue” inked on the front. Inside, he found a book.

He read the title out loud: “ ’Louie the Locksmith’s Big Book of Padlocks, Dead Bolts, and Tumblers’?” Pranav Pillai smiled at the book. “And so, old friend, we meet again.” “What do you mean?” asked Akimi.

“To earn my place on the Pacific team,” said Pranav, “I had to use the Dewey decimal code on this very book.” He flipped the book sideways and read its spine.

“Oh, my. This is incorrect.”

“I’ll say,” said Abia Sulayman. “It should be in the six hundreds with books about technology, not the nine hundreds with history and geography.” “What’s the call number?” asked Andrew.

Pranav read it off: “Nine-four-three-point-seven.” “That is soooo wrong,” said Andrew.

“True,” said Pranav. “But it could be wrong on purpose. You see, when I played the escape game in Silicon Valley, the Dewey decimal number for the locksmith book was also the combination for the lock on the library door.” “So whatever lock we’re looking for,” said Sierra, “couldn’t have the same combination as that one.” Andrew slapped his hand to his forehead, nearly smashing his goggle-sized glasses.

“The storage locker! I’m sorry, you guys. I should’ve thought of this sooner.” “That’s okay, Andrew,” said Sierra. “You thought of it now. Go on.” “Well, my uncle Woody has this humongous safe. The vault door is the size of a motel room door. It’s hidden behind a sliding panel in the front office.” “Then this is most likely the combination,” said Pranav.

“The office looks empty,” reported Nicole Wisniewski, peering through the windows. “We should go check it out.” “All of us?” asked Elliott Schilpp.

“Yep,” said Kyle. “There’s strength in numbers.” “Kyle’s right,” said Akimi. “If Andrew’s creepy uncle…No offense, Andrew….” Andrew held up his hand. “None taken.” Akimi continued: “If the birdman of Alexandriaville comes back, a dozen kids should be able to hold him at bay.” “We could tell him we just spotted an ivory-billed woodpecker or a blue-throated hummingbird,” said Abia Sulayman.

“Huh?” said Akimi.

“Both species are very high on every birdwatcher’s ‘must see’ list. I am something of a birder myself.” “Come on,” said Kyle. “Let’s go crack open that safe.” The twelve treasure hunters made their way through the lobby and into the motel office.

“That’s the wall,” said Andrew, pointing to the sheet of paneling sporting a framed portrait of two bluebirds.

“Which way does it slide?” asked Kyle.

“To the right,” said Andrew.

He and Kyle put their hands on the wall and shoved it sideways.

The panel rolled away and revealed a tall steel door with a combination lock right above a thick metal handle.

“Okay, Pranav,” said Kyle, “you’re on.” Pranav Pillai stepped forward and spun the dial three times to clear it. Then he worked the combination.

“Right to nine. Left to four. Right to three. Left to seven.” He pressed down on the handle.

It didn’t budge.

“Try it again,” suggested Kyle. “But reverse it.” “Ah, yes,” said Pranav. “An excellent suggestion.” He spun the dial to clear it, then worked the new combination.

“Left to nine. Right to four. Left to three. Right to seven.” Something clicked.

Pranav pressed down on the handle.

The door to the vault swung open.