فصل 46

CHAPTER 46

SOON

THEY STOOD IN A LITTLE GROUP by the entrance to Peter Pan’s Flight—Peter, J.D., and the Coopers. Peter wore a backpack, which contained the device that J.D. and Mac had made—a sleek black metal football, devoid of buttons or lights, which they called “the pod.” The backpack also contained Tink, who was not thrilled to be in there with the pod.

J.D. looked at his watch, then the line for the ride.

“If you get in line in ten minutes, you should be just about perfect,” he said. “You’ll be at Skull Rock at 9:07. The pod will activate itself, so you don’t have to do anything except hold on.”

Peter nodded.

J.D. removed his watch and handed it to Peter. “Take this, so you can time it exactly right,” he said. “When you get to the island, keep the watch safe. It’s got a new battery, so it will last for years.”

“Thank you,” said Peter, “but we don’t pay attention to time on the island.”

“You will if you want to know when it’s 9:07 p.m. here,” said J.D.

Peter frowned. “Why would I want to know that?”

“So you can come back,” said J.D.

“What?” said Peter.

“Really?” said Sarah.

“We think so,” said J.D. “The pod should work at both ends.”

“Wow,” said Aidan. “So you can come back.”

“And forth,” said J.D.

“Will you come back, Peter?” said Sarah.

From the backpack came the sound of bells; it went on for some time, longer than Tink’s usual terse pronouncements. Peter listened intently, his face solemn.

“What did she say?” asked Aidan.

“She says…she will miss you all,” said Peter.

That was not, in fact, what Tink had said. What she’d said was that there was something bad nearby. She had felt it as they’d walked through the Magic Kingdom; at one point felt it quite strongly. What Tink was telling Peter—what she was warning Peter—was that if he returned to this place, he would be in danger.

“So,” said Sarah. “You’ll come back?”

From Tink, an ominous warning chime.

“Yes,” said Peter. “I’ll come back.”

Sarah hugged him; he reddened.

“When?” Sarah said. “Soon?”

“Yes,” he said, ignoring the now-noisy backpack. “Quite soon.”

Sarah hugged him still tighter; his face grew still redder.

“I hate to break this up,” said J.D. “But you need to get in line.”

He stuck out his hand; Peter shook it, then Aidan’s, then Tom’s. Natalie gave him a hug that left tears on his shoulder. Sarah paused, looking at him. She seemed about to say something, then she stepped forward and gave him one last hug, even wetter than her mom’s.

“Thank you,” she whispered.

Then it was time. Peter got into the line. He attracted no notice from the other riders—just another child among the millions who’d shuffled through this fanciful arcade on their way to enjoy a magical make-believe flight. J.D. and the Coopers watched him as he moved slowly forward, glancing back at them often, each glance drawing a sob from Sarah.

They watched as he reached the boarding area. Just ahead of him, a dad with two young daughters boarded a little ship. Peter got on the next ship alone. As it carried him forward his eyes searched the crowd until he found his friends. He gave them a little smile, and a little wave. Then the ship was gone.

They all stared at the tunnel where the ships exited from the ride. Nobody said a word. A minute went by, then two…

They held their breath as the dad and his two daughters came into view. Then they saw Peter’s ship.

Empty.

“It worked,” J.D. said softly.

Sarah buried her face in her hands, her body racked by sobs. Natalie put her arm around her daughter, squeezed her tight.

“He’s home, honey,” she said. “It’s where he belongs.”

Sarah nodded, still sobbing.

“He said he’ll come back,” said Tom.

“Soon,” said Aidan.

Sarah raised her head, and, through her tears, managed a weak smile.

“Soon,” she said.