Brass Monkeys (30 page)

Our sailboat nudged the sandy bottom, and Ray yelled out, “Watch out, Aunt Petunia!” and tossed the bow anchor into the water. I patted the book, making sure it was safe and, holding the trumpet up, slipped into the shallow water. I could hear Harriet and the others splashing in behind me.

Everybody on the beach let out a roar of welcome and came surging toward us. In seconds, we were surrounded by kids. They were all whooping it up and slapping us on the back. Then they started introducing themselves, and I must have shaken hands with dozens of them. They were all talking at once, and I was nodding my head like a big dummo, trying to follow everything.

It turns out that some of the kids were renegades—students Ming couldn’t deal with who had been flushed down the drainage pipe and survived. Others belonged to Master Teacher families. It was amazing how friendly they all were and how terrific they made me feel. And their faces … I can’t describe them all, but I wish I could, because every kid looked, well,
special
, like someone I had known for years. I can’t explain it.

While this was going on, I noticed the same thing was happening with Harriet and Ray. They too had groups of smiling kids clustered around them, and they were getting the same royal treatment.

I looked around for Jack, Lilah, and Teddy and I finally spotted them. They were being dragged toward the Master Teachers, and I watched as they were introduced. Lilah and Teddy were smiling and laughing, but Jack looked moody. Suddenly something dawned on me.
Where was Adjana?

It seemed to me that right after her canoe had come ashore I’d seen her standing alone, just a few yards down the shoreline. I excused myself from my group of kids, saying I had to get something from the boat, and then I started off, heading down the beach. I had a feeling she wouldn’t be far away, and I was right.

I didn’t go twenty yards before someone tapped me on the back. When I turned, I found myself looking right at her.

“Billy Bumpus?” she said. Her voice was clear and bell-like, with a musical lilt to it that made me think of wind chimes.

“That’s right, I’m Billy,” I replied. I cleared my throat and added, “Bumpus.”

For a moment I was so overawed I simply stood and stared. Adjana was tall, very slender, and her hair was more silver than white. I know her eyes were greenish-blue because I was staring right at them. But for some crazy reason her eyebrows made the biggest impression on me. I know it sounds dumb, but she had these terrific eyebrows that seemed thicker than you might expect.

She smiled. “Is something wrong?”

“I think I’ve met you before, haven’t I?” I began. “No, wait, I didn’t mean that. I know I’ve never met you before. How could I have? That’s totally impossible.”

Luckily she replied then, or I might have gone blathering on.

“I don’t think I’ve ever met you, but I’m glad it’s happened now. I’m Adjana.”

She held out her hand, and I grabbed it and shook it probably way too hard.

“Right, I know,” I said. “I saw you in the canoe. I came down here to find McGinty because I’ve got his book and need his help to get my friends out of Ming’s School.” The words were tumbling out and I couldn’t seem to help myself. I even held up the book in the plastic sack. A lot of people would have smiled at this banana-headed ramble, but Adjana didn’t.

She nodded and gave me a serious look. “It’s wonderful that you brought his book, and I know all about your brave struggle.”

I stared at her. “Really? You do? How did you know—? Oh my gosh, I’m sorry!” Like a giant fool I realized I was still holding her hand. I dropped it quickly.

She only smiled in a really nice way and went on. “I heard about your brave exploits because I have some renegade friends up in Monkeyopolis who send me messages by carrier pigeon. They learned that Webster had found one of the old tunnels to the upper world and had sent you back with McGinty’s book and a map. They told me how you escaped from the Big Monkey, and then about your capture later. At first they referred to you as Eugene, but just lately they thought your real name might be Billy Bumpus.”

“Oh, yeah,” I said, laughing in embarrassment. “That’s just my Mom’s nickname for me, but it turns out that McGinty knew about it. He knows me as B.B. And he actually chose me for this job.” I flushed hotly. “So I’ve been using the name.” Why was I blundering on like this?

“It’s a fabulous name,” said Adjana, “and I think it fits you perfectly. There’s a ring to it—you know, a certain dash and determination.”

It might have been corny to hear someone else say that, but with her—that voice!—it made me feel great.

“I knew McGinty was looking for someone brave,” she went on, “someone with a strong imagination and the will to take on this dangerous mission. I heard him talk about the mysterious B.B., so now I get to meet you myself.”

“So you didn’t have anything to do with choosing me?” I ventured shyly. I recalled the fib I’d told Ming back in her stinky torture room.

“I wish I had,” said Adjana, “but it was all McGinty’s idea.” She was eyeing my trumpet. “And I see that you’re a musician, too.”

“Yeah, I am. Except this trumpet isn’t mine. I just sort of carry it for inspiration.”

“Really? That’s marvelous and so … unique.” She had been studying me intently, but now her eyes grew grave. “Everything about our meeting is so perfect, Billy, that I hate to ruin it with anything disturbing, but I’m afraid I have some bad news.”

“Bad news?” I felt the first pinpricks of misgiving. “What bad news?”

Adjana sighed and looked up the beach. “Perhaps we should wait for your friends. Then I can explain everything to all of you.”

I followed her gaze and saw Jack and the others headed our way. I felt sick in the pit of my stomach because I could see how hopeful they all looked. Well, all except for Jack, who looked plain irritable.

“So, Bumpus,” he called out in a sour voice, “where’s the great man?”

Before I could speak, Adjana stepped toward him and extended her hand. Jack, looking startled, took it.

“I’m Adjana, Mr. Hastings. And I’m afraid McGinty’s not here.”

For a moment it didn’t register with me, but then I heard Harriet gasp softly.

“Holy Crow,” muttered Ray.

Jack stared at Adjana with a stunned look. “Not here?”

“But he’s got to be here,” cried Teddy. “We came all this way. We need him!”

“But he
was
here, right?” Harriet said, trying to sound upbeat.

Adjana nodded. “He was here briefly, but then left suddenly five days ago.”

“And what about his weapon?” Lilah spoke and signed eagerly.

“I never actually saw the weapon,” replied Adjana. Then she startled all of us, but especially Lilah, by speaking and signing the rest. “In any event, he took it with him.”

“So where did he go?” Jack snapped out. His voice had an angry edge.

“And can we catch up with him fast?” I burst out.

Adjana looked grim. “He’s gone to a place called the Book Mountains. That’s a remote area where Mingley has discarded books for years. He went there to put the final touches on his weapon. But the Mountains lie more than thirty miles to the west.” She sighed. “At present, there’s no way for you to follow him.”

“Why not?” I asked. “I mean, if he went there, what’s to stop—?”

Adjana held up her hand. “There’s no way, Billy, that you and your companions could follow his route out of here, because McGinty did the impossible. He knew the drainage pipe was out and the cliffs too, but there was one other way that no one had ever tried. And that’s the Blue Wall behind you, which rises up for three thousand vertical feet.”

“And he went up that?” I said. “Carrying the weapon?”

Adjana nodded. “McGinty is an expert mountain climber and he had the Tattaloonies make some equipment for him. He carried his weapon in a leather sack on his back.”

“Well, isn’t this peachy,” said Jack coldly. “Let’s see if I’ve got it straight. We almost drowned in Mingley’s sewer pipe, took a swim in her table scraps—”

“C’mon Jack,” I said, “take it easy.”

He stopped me with a chop of his hand. “I had to sail for hours with the Wild Bunch Choir only to get here and find there’s no McGinty, no weapon, and no way out. Have I got that about right?”

“I’m afraid that’s the case,” said Adjana. “However, if you’ll let me explain …”

But Jack turned angrily away from her and shot me a cold look. “Well, kid, you finally dragged us right to the bottom. I hope you’re happy.” He started off through the sand, walking in a jerky, awkward way.

“Jack, please,” Lilah called out desperately. “Don’t do this.”

Jack raised his hands and waved her off and kept going. Lilah’s eyes watered and she looked away.

“I’ll go after him,” said Teddy, “and pound some sense into him.”

“I wouldn’t,” Adjana said quietly. “He seems quite upset.”

“He’s not always like this,” said Harriet. “At Ming’s school he was fantastic.”

“He’s saved us more than once,” I added, but my voice had a husky sound to it. The truth was, I felt hollow and sick inside. Jack was right. I had finally led everyone right to the bottom of the underworld. With no way out.

Adjana was nodding as she watched Jack walk away. “I’m sure he’s a good man. I can see it in his eyes.”

Right at that moment I caught a strange look in
her
eyes—something deep and mysterious that flashed across them and disappeared.

A distant bell, which seemed to be coming from the blue building, began ringing in a bright, happy way, and Adjana turned to us. “Listen to me closely. I must know if you trust me, my judgment about your mission …
everything.”

Without hesitating, Harriet and Lilah nodded. Then Teddy and Ray. I still hadn’t moved. I felt depressed and disconnected from everything.

Adjana arched an eyebrow. “Billy?”

“Yeah, sure, whatever,” I said in a flat voice.

She studied me for a moment, then nodded briskly. “Good. Follow me, all of you. It’s time for the first hour class. I believe we’re going to have an interesting show and tell this morning.”

I stood there watching Adjana lead the group off. I couldn’t believe it. Jack had deserted us, Alvin and Weeser were stuck in Ming’s school with one day to go before losing their Amberlight, and here I was, getting ready for show and tell.

“Are you coming, Billy? We need to hurry,” Adjana called back to me.

I expelled my breath and rolled my eyes. “Right, I’m coming.” I walked on and caught up with them.

Harriet knew I was upset and she leaned over and whispered, “I know it all sounds silly, but I think it’s going to be okay.”

“Right,” I muttered. “I just wonder if we’ll get milk and cookies?”

Harriet’s eyebrows went up. She didn’t think my sarcasm was funny.

Adjana increased the pace, and a few minutes later our path intersected the main walkway to the school where we were joined by throngs of smiling, happy kids heading for the blue building.

“Man, I never saw anyone this happy about school,” said Ray.

“Maybe they’ve been hitting the Zorca,” I said. Nobody laughed at this, either.

As we drew closer to the blue temple, I could see the whole thing was really an open-air structure, simply a roof held up by columns of blue stone. Toward the far end of the building was a humongous swimming pool, which was where everyone seemed to be headed.

When we arrived, dozens of kids were already jumping in and the area was a beehive of activity. Bright blue water flowed out of the nearby rocky mountainside and cascaded into the pool.

“Welcome to our first hour class,” announced Adjana.

“You must be joking,” said Teddy.

“I don’t think she is,” replied Lilah.

Harriet whispered to me, “Something else is going on here.”

I wanted to say, “Like what? Teen Club meets at poolside?” But I stayed quiet.

“I know it seems a little odd,” Adjana went on, “but we’ve discovered the other classes go better after a little swim and show and tell.”

I let go with a sour laugh. “Oh man, that takes the cake.”

“Wait, Billy,” said Teddy, squinting wisely. “I can see some practical value here. I like a brisk morning dip myself.”

Ray scratched his chin. “And I always liked show and tell.”

“Anyway,” Harriet said to Adjana, “we want to cooperate.”

“We certainly do,” added Lilah.

“Wonderful,” replied Adjana, “because I’d like to have all of you join us. The dressing rooms are right over there and there are extra suits inside.”

Harriet and the others turned to head for the dressing rooms and I started to follow them, but Adjana quickly put her hand out and stopped me. “I’m sorry, Billy, but I’m afraid you’ll have to miss the swimming.”

I stared at her. “Why? You mean my attitude and stuff?”

Adjana looked troubled. “No, it’s not your attitude at all. I don’t have time to explain. Just please believe me, it’s necessary.”

She hurried off, leaving me standing there, nervously clutching my trumpet. What the heck was
this
all about? I already felt rotten and stupid and now she didn’t want me to go swimming in her dumb pool? I felt as if everything were spiraling out of control.

In a daze, I stood watching kids leap into the pool. Others skimmed down a slide, hooting like maniacs. Talk about fiddling while Rome burned. I wondered what was happening to Alvin and Weeser and the rest of the Grindsville kids while I stood around the freaking pool.

Harriet and the others came out of the dressing rooms and joined the rest of the kids. I had to admit that Harriet and Lilah looked terrific in their white bikinis, but I still felt uneasy and irritated.
How come

I couldn’t go in?

I glanced over at Adjana and found her talking with some of her teachers. They seemed so chatty and unconcerned. Suddenly, with an angry little snort, I made up my mind. I’d go and find Jack and plot some kind of escape from the Grotto. I turned and headed away from the pool, but I hadn’t taken three steps before someone grabbed me by the arm.

It was Eddie Alfonso. He had two Tattaloonie buddies with him—Latinos—and both sported the bullfighter tattoo on their cheeks. One of them, the shorter kid, made me think of Weeser. He had glasses and a wise look about him. The other guy was tall and thin and kept moving as if dancing to some hidden music.