"Child, for I assume you are a child, from what you have written and the tone therein - can you believe it? 'the tone therein'? - anyway, Child, I already said that, but, child, BEWARE (that's in caps). Take precautions that you do not meddle in secrets that are none of your affair. HE would not look kindly upon it"
"He?" Alex mumbled.
"Hold on", Sapphire said, "she gets to that. Where was I? Oh yeah, not look kindly upon it. It is a good thing you did not inquire about the magic, for then I would have had to tell you about The Witchcraft of Positive Thinking, and that would have led me to reveal even more terrible secrets that are not to be mentioned in public"
"I've heard of that", Alex said, "that's one of those self-help books. According to the author, in order to get what you really want, you have to be willing to pay the price."
"Funny", said Sapphire, that's exactly the words she uses here. HE is even now paying the price, and willingly, for the dream of HIS life to come true. HE gave me no choice, believe me, Child. For I have been illustrating bus maps for many, many years now, and never before have I entered upon such a dark and forbidding task as this one. To create the city. Ay. TO MAKE IT WHAT IT WILL BE, WHAT IT MUST BE, WHAT HE WILLS IT TO BECOME."
"All of that was in caps", Sapphire put in.
"I could tell", said Alex, now sitting straight up. "You were shouting".
"Oh, sorry", Sapphire said. "But anyway. It goes on. HE is in the dark dungeon now, but it is every bit a part of the plan. Did the factory close by itself? No. HE closed it. Did the homeowners abandon their homes? HE bought them out. All but one. And why? The answer lies in the DRAGONS"
"The dragons?" Argus was rubbing his eyes. "What dragons?"
"I think she means the football team", Sapphire said. "I've been putting some of the pieces together and, remember there was that vote about building a new stadium and everybody said no way, there's nowhere to put it?"
"Oh yeah, maybe", Alex shook his head.
"There's more than that", Sapphire said, "listen. Oh, HE knew what HE was doing when HE bought the rights, when HE paid the price, when HE bought them all."
"Do you see?" Sapphire asked, and Alex answered no.
"Daniel Fulsom", Sapphire continued, "the billionaire mobster. His plan is to build a giant shopping complex, AND a football stadium. Right there on Snapdragon Alley. That's going to be the name of the mall. Snapdragon Alley for the kiddies and moms, and Sea Dragons Stadium for the guys. It's all just a big redevelopment scheme, simple as that."
"But what about Mason Henry?", Alex asked.
"He's the last holdout", Sapphire said. "Without him, the plan can't go through, but he's old and he's got no heirs. Daniel Fulsom is going to get that land, sooner or later, one way or another."
"Oh no", said Alex. "But what'll happen to Charlie?"
"Charlie?" Sapphire was puzzled. "I thought ..."
"He's alive", Argus piped up from below.
"He came back", said Alex.
"And he's living with Mason Henry", added Argus.
"Then they're both in great danger", said Sapphire. "Listen to this. She goes on. HE is not patient. HE is almost done his time and when HE comes out, HE will strike, HE will act. HE has paid the price and now HE is going to get what is HIS. The Witchcraft of Positive Thinking will make it so."
"Beware, child. Forget about the map. Pretend you never saw it. Better yet, burn it. In two years time, then you will see it on the new map. Then it will be real, but far far better not to know, not to have known, not to have seen, not to have been. And whatever you do, Child, do not go to Snapdragon Alley. Do not go there. Do not go in. Stay away. Whatever you do. Stay away"
There was total silence for a few minutes after Sapphire read the last phrase and handed the paper to Alex, who looked it over for himself. There was no doubt in any of the children's minds. They were going back to Snapdragon Alley just as soon as they possibly could.
Chapter Eighteen - Mr. Quon
They had to wait until Sunday. For some reason, Alex and Argus' parents had decided that Saturday should be a "family activity" day. This was the first time all year and it drove the boys crazy. The last thing they wanted to do was visit the aquarium with mom and dad. The aquarium itself was fine - any opportunity to watch penguins was okay with them - but why now, why this day, and why with them? Mr. and Mrs. Kirkham clearly did not enjoy these little outings. Their dad spent most of the time muttering to himself and checking business e-mail on his cell phone, while their mom complained about the long lines at the ticket window, the long lines at the exhibit, the long lines to the restroom, the long lines at the cafeteria, and the horrible traffic back home. The day seemed endless, and by the time they did get home, it was only to find a voice message from Sapphire left every hour on the hour wondering where they were and when they could go "fishing", their pre-arranged code word for Snapdragon Alley.
Saturday finally petered out in front of the television with yet another nature special that their mother also thought would be "good for them", while she chatted on the phone with her friends and had a few of her special beverages. Alex and Argus waited until she'd gone to bed with a headache, and then they snuck into the kitchen to prepare a picnic for the Sunday adventure. They stayed up late, chatting about Uncle Charlie. Alex was worried about him, and Argus was merely anxious to see him.
Alex had good reason to be concerned. By the time the three kids arrived at Mason Henry's house the next morning, Charlie had been awake for more than seventy-two hours straight, according to the old man. Where previously he had paced throughout the house, now he stayed close to the front at all times, or stood outside on the steps, or ventured into the street, or wandered through the vacant lot itself. He carried a backpack filled with a variety of what he called "devices", but which looked like a random collection of ordinary things; a mirror, a magnifying glass, a telescope, binoculars, a blank book, a pencil, a compass, a flask, a fold-up umbrella, some toothpicks, a knife, assorted coins and paper clips, a toothbrush and a jar of Spanish olives.
Charlie certainly looked like someone who hadn't slept in days. His clothes were wrinkled and stinky. His hair was a mess, his beard unshaven. His eyes were bleary and he spoke in almost a whisper. Sapphire took one look at him as they bounded up the steps and said to Alex, in a low voice,
"He's gone nuts".
Alex did not reply. Argus was the first to reach the top of the stairs and ran into Charlie's legs, astonishing his uncle, who at first did not seem to notice the child at all. When he glanced down and saw the boy wrapped around his knees, he smiled and gave Argus a friendly pat on the head.
"My boy", he said, but looked back up immediately, scanning the horizon for any sign, anxious that he had missed something.
"Hi Charlie", Alex greeted him, and Charlie nodded in reply, but then suddenly took off down the steps and dashed across the street into the lot, leaving the children staring after him. Mason Henry appeared at the front door and offered to make them some hot chocolate. Sapphire accepted for the three of them, and after Mason had gone back inside she said to Alex,
"What do you think he's doing?"
"He's trying to get back in", Alex said. "It's all he wants to do. It's all he can think about anymore."
"Must be special", Argus murmured, but Sapphire snorted and said,
"Must be flipping insane". She had already made up her mind. The situation was pretty clear.
"The guy should be in a loony bin", she said. "Maybe he was. Maybe that's where he's really been the past two years. Not in some sort of time warp! A nut house!"
Alex had to agree it was a possibility. But he'd already checked. He'd called every asylum in the tri-state area asking that very question, but every one who would answer him said no, there was no record of a Charlie Kirkham, or even a John Doe meeting that physical description. He had checked the local hospitals too, and the prisons. There was simply no trace of Uncle Charlie in any of those places.
Mason Henry
returned with a mug of hot chocolate for Argus, and Sapphire went into the house to fetch the others for Alex and herself. When she came back she found that a strange man had appeared at the bottom of the steps. He was a short, dark-haired man wearing a snappy suit and a seriously unfashionable fedora. He carried a slim black leather briefcase and did not smile at all at the children when he said,
"Is Mr. Henry at home?"
"Right here", Mason answered, gently pushing Alex aside and taking a place between the two older children.
"My name is Mr. Quon", the man announced. "I would like a word with you, sir".
He glanced menacingly at the kids before adding, "alone, if you please".
"We're not going anywhere", Sapphire replied, and put a hand on Mason Henry's arm, as if to protect him from some threatening harm.
"Very well, then", Quon continued. "I believe you know who I represent."
"I can guess", Mason Henry replied.
"My employer has allowed you one more opportunity for a reply in the affirmative".
"That's very generous", said Henry, "considering I own this property and there's not a damn thing he can do about it."
"I would not be so certain of that", warned Mr. Quon darkly. "My employer has many means at his disposal".
"I know about your employer", Sapphire burst in. "You tell him from me. We don't believe in his witchcraft. He'll never get Snapdragon Alley. Never!"
Mr. Quon cracked a smile for the first time, and addressed her directly.
"Well, young lady. Let me guess. You also have come to believe in this nonsense, this Loch Ness Monster of the Rubble."
"I don't know about that", Sapphire replied, "but you leave my friend alone. He's a good man who's never done anything to you or your employer."
"This is not personal", replied Quon, "but business. Mr. Henry is in the way of progress. We have offered, no, we continue to offer a most generous settlement. Every one else has already agreed. Look around you. All of the former residents of this block are now doing quite well in their new, upgraded homes. The factory over there, now happily relocated. This lot, this patch of dirt, will be the new home of the Sea Dragons, as well as a nice, friendly neighborhood of shops and new homes. There is nothing to fear. If you want to help the old man, convince him to accept. That would be best for everyone, believe me. We await your answer, sir".
And with that, Mr. Quon sharply turned and walked away, leaving Mason Henry looking weaker and older than ever. Sapphire helped him back into the house and sat him down in the easy chair to recover his breath.
"Why not settle?" she asked him, once he seemed himself again.
"Not yet", he replied. "Not until I know for sure."
"Know what?" she asked, but he only smiled in return.
"Bad news", said Alex, following them inside, with Argus remaining out front, eyes fixed on his uncle who was still wandering through the lot, periodically rummaging through his bag and holding up some object or other, before putting it back again.
"What?" Sapphire asked.
"That Mr. Quon guy", said Alex. "Before you came out he mentioned something about one week"
"One week what?" Sapphire asked. Alex shook his head, he didn't know, but Mason Henry did.
"One week until Daniel Fulsom's time is up", he said.
"You mean his prison term?" Sapphire asked.
"I'm afraid so", said Mason. "And he told me that I only had until then."
"And then what?" Sapphire wanted to know.
"They told me he had other ways of getting me out of the way, and they wouldn't hesitate to use them."
Chapter Nineteen - The Bus
Argus sat on the top step and watched Uncle Charlie perform his mysterious dance around the empty field. He understood it as a game of make-believe, except he knew that grownups never played that game, and didn't really know how. Charlie sure looked like he didn't. The whole point of pretending is that you know you're pretending so it's okay if it isn't real because you know it isn't, really, but Charlie didn't seem to be okay with it. He kept stopping in the middle of the game and cursing very loudly, words that Argus only otherwise heard from his father when he didn't get everything his way. Argus knew about not getting things his way. He'd been told that the youngest child gets spoiled, but not when the parents didn't really want that child, not when that child was just a nuisance and a burden and extra work. They had thought they were pretty much done with all that baby stuff when Argus came around. With him it seemed they just went through the motions, but Argus understood. He saw Alex and Sapphire going their own way and wanted to be just like them, to go with them, and here he was, again, snuck out of the house and all the way across town to see this wilder version of his father acting like a hungry chicken, strutting around, stopping and starting, occasionally crying out in his frustration and his despair.
Charlie did not believe enough. The other times he'd gone inside he'd just gotten lucky, or that's how it seemed to him now. He didn't know the rules, didn't know the game. He'd explained that all to Henrietta the last time he got booted out and had to hang around like this and try pretty much anything he could think of. Maybe the trying was all in vain. Maybe it would come when it would and there was nothing he could do about it. Maybe it just sucked him in and spit him out according to some crazy methodology he could never begin to guess at. In there, in there, what was it really all about in there? Was it what he thought? A piece of space and time ripped apart from the normal everyday, where the universal laws of nature were no longer universal, where the very facts of life were only half-assed guesses at some unfathomable mystery? Even in his time "in there" he'd gotten nowhere near the truth of it, could barely even remember now the beauty and the fascination and the spell of it. All he had to go on was the partial sense of having been in the only place where he should ever be, and of not being in there anymore. It's a kind of a post-partum depression, he thought.
Now he scoured the field for clues, for items, for anything that might turn out to be a link, unconscious of the staring eyes of the little child across the street, unaware of his long-lost brother, of his former life, of his old career, the Charlie Kirkham he had been and known. He was an other now. He was an other that shouldn't even be here, but should be there instead. Growing more dejected by the moment, and vaguely aware of the intense fatigue bearing down on him from failing to sleep or eat or even to lie down, he staggered back across the street to Mason Henry's house, where he rested for a moment on the bottom step. Argus quietly got up and came down to sit directly behind his uncle. For a few minutes neither of them moved or said a word. Charlie continued to gaze intently at the field across the street.
Quietly, Argus pulled an aluminum soda can pop top from his pocket, and held it out in front of his face. Through the hole he could see ... nothing, just what was there, but then he thought he saw something. At first it was like a pale green light, and in the pale green light he thought he could see a shape trying to form itself, a wavering in the air, a trend of empty air becoming solid mass. He held it out further away from his face and now it was in front of Charlie's too. Charlie made a motion to wave it away with his hand but he happened to glance at it, and through it, and he too saw the shimmering and he froze. He leaned his head back, so it nearly rested on Argus' shoulder. Cheek to cheek, almost, the little boy and his uncle watched through the pop-top as a very small and meager mist formed in the air above the vacant lot. The mist grew and seemed to hiss a little as it expanded, up and down, left and right, and became the size of a man, then the size of a van, then the size of a bus, the very size and shape of a bus only not just green but silver and green, like a city transit bus, and Charlie clambered to his feet, and as calmly as he could began to cross the street, but he was wobbling and trembling, terrified that the vision would vanish before he could get inside, because the bus was parked in the middle of the lot and it sure looked solid now and the driver's side door was facing him and open, and it looked like h
e could see somebody inside gesturing, waving him over. Charlie walked a little faster, and then even faster, and then he was across the street, and then in the lot, then almost at the bus and he didn't even notice that Argus was following right behind him.
Somehow, Sapphire just happened to look out the front window at that moment, and saw the man and the boy walking into the empty field and for some reason she could never describe later, she just knew it was wrong and she shouted out,
"Argus! Stop!"
But Argus didn't stop, and Sapphire yelled at Alex to "come on" and she raced out the front door and leaped down the steps and rushed across Trent Boulevard as fast as she could and grabbed the little boy around the waist, just as he was about to put his right foot down onto the bottom step of the bus.
"Let me go!!" Argus shouted and he struggled in her arms but Sapphire was too big and too strong, and then Alex caught up and grabbed Argus' legs to keep him from kicking Sapphire, and Argus kept yelling and screaming for them to stop and leave him alone and let him go, let him go, let him go, and then he was sobbing as he watched the bus door close, and the bus pull away, and he saw Uncle Charlie making his way to the back of the bus with the biggest smile on his face, and Uncle Charlie never looked back, not even once, and then the bus was gone. Vanished. Argus stopped fighting and sagged in Sapphire's arms.
"What was that all about?" Alex asked, and Sapphire shrugged, out of breath.
"I don't know", she said. "I don't know. But I just knew that we had to stop him"
"Stop him?" Alex repeated. "From what?"
"I don't know. I just couldn't take the chance", she said, loosening her grip, but still holding on to Argus arm as she led him back to Mason Henry's house. Argus followed listlessly but did not resist. He seemed completely drained. Alex kept trying to get Argus to tell him what was going on but Argus wouldn't answer. Even when they pulled him up the stairs and lugged him into the kitchen and sat him down in front of a glass of milk and a chocolate chip cookie, he just stared at the wall and wouldn't say a word. Sapphire and Alex looked on mystified.