�This is my old trombone, �JR�,� she said, unwrapping the package. �It glows blue and makes a horrible noise when janitors are near. Here, take it.�
�It�s very light,� Chris said respectfully, hefting the trombone with one hand.
�Yes . . .made by some Japanese company, you know,� Susan said helpfully. �Here�s a pretty thing,� she added, pulling something else out of the package. �It�s Kevlar, light as an anvil and strong enough to stop a bullet. Here, let me see you put it on.�
Chris unbuttoned and took off his coat so that he could put it on. In the process, the Disk peeped out of his pocket. A strange gleam shone in Susan�s eye.
�Why, my old Disk,� she said softly. �I should very much like to . . .hold it again before you go.� Chris realized his error and tucked the Disk further into his pocket. Susan, realizing her rejection, cried out and lunged at him crazily. Chris jerked, stumbling back. �I�m sorry,� she said sadly. �I don�t know what came over me. I�m sorry I brought this on you; sorry that you have to bear this. I�m sorry for everything.� She sat down on the bed and wept, pressing her hands to her face.
�It�s all right,� said Chris, patting her on the shoulder.
* * *
Later that day, as Chris was wandering through the library, he heard muted whispering.
Rounding one of the book racks, he found that it was Zullo and Arwatkins.
�You�re so pretty,� said Zullo.
�Not as pretty as you,� said Arwatkins.
�Yes,� said Zullo, �but your skin is as soft as a peach, your head shaped like a perfectly round tomato, and your kissable lips as red as ripe cherries.�
�And you, my little grape, you are as sweet as a zucchini.� Chris gagged loudly, and they jumped guiltily apart, looking at him.
�What is this, Days of Our Lives?� Chris asked disgustedly. �We�re about to go march off and get ourselves killed, and you two are as close as peas in a pod. . .Now you�ve got me doing it. Now let�s go.�
* * *
The Fellowship left Readerdell at noon, headed for the Smoker Path. They camped for dinner in the parking lot. Nokuma and Ryan got dinner going, while Kevin taught Brad and Becky the finer points of making napalm out of common household ingredients. Dan watched intently. Zullo offered advice. While Nokuma stirred the stew, Ryan paced anxiously around the perimeter.
�What is that?� he asked, pointing at an approaching cloud.
�Nothing,� said Nokuma quickly. �Just a wisp of cloud, moving with the wind.�
�And that�s why it�s moving in the opposite direction from the way the wind is blowing?� Zullo asked sarcastically.
�Spies of Merrill!� Papa Resek shouted. Everyone quickly scattered the fire and their belongings and rolled under cars, completely invisible. Moments later, a huge swarm of mosquitos came buzzing through. Brad slapped at one.
�Ow!� he said. �One bit my -� Kevin clapped a hand over his mouth.
After a couple of minutes, the swarm departed.
�Well, the path is being watched,� said Papa Resek self-evidently. �We must take the road over the bleachers.�
After a slight detour, they were past the gatehouse and moving up the steps toward the bleachers. Chris stumbled and fell, rolling down several flights of steps. He got up groggily and patted himself down, realizing that the Disk was no longer with him. He looked frantically around for it, and saw that Kevin, a short way off, was holding it.
�It is a strange fate that we should suffer so much fear and doubt over so small a thing,� he murmured. �Such a little thing,� he repeated, stroking it lovingly.
�Kevin!� Zullo said sharply, breaking him out of his trance. �Give the Disk to Chris.�
�Yeah, whatever,� said Kevin. �I don�t want it at all.� He stalked off, and everyone knew he was lying.
Later that night, they fell victim to a great snowstorm, which blinded them to the point that they could barely see the people in front of them. They tied themselves together with a rope and attempted to continue. To those with sharper ears, it seemed they heard a voice saying
Double, Double, toil and trouble
Fire burns and cauldron bubble
You think to go over
Till the drifts fall so deep you can�t even walk!
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Onward to Book II, Part I !