to his bedroom. Joanna led Irena to the ladies barracks, and
helped her get settled in.
Leo’s eyes were just
closing when he heard a tapping on the glass window. He sat up and looked.
He saw Calypso’s
tearstained face pressed against the glass.
“Please, we need help,” she sobbed. Leo looked past her and
saw Hamilton
carrying Evan’s limp body. He rushed to open the door.
The Entertainers had prepared for a
sudden emergency like this. There was an infirmary down the hall from Carlo’s
room that was stocked with medical supplies. Leo began to lay out tools, while
Hamilton and Jonah laid Evan out on the operating table on his stomach. While
Joanna ran to wake the nurse, Leo used one of the many skills he had perfected
during his life of crime; removal of bullets. He used a scalpel to cut the
projectile out of Evan’s back where it had lodged.
“Is he going to be okay?” Calypso sniffled from the doorway. Joanna got back just then.
“I’m sure he’ll recover,” Joanna told her comfortingly. “Why don’t you come sit down on the couch?” She led Calypso into the lobby.
The nurse sucked in her breath when she saw Evan’s wound. “This looks very dangerous. I think the bullet passed through his lung, and it’s filling with blood.”
“What are we supposed to do?” Hamilton asked nervously. The nurse consulted her medical guide, then read aloud,
‘The patient should be immediately placed upon oxygen and a heart monitor. A pulse oximeter should be used, which measures the saturation of hemoglobin with the oxygen molecule. Oxygen can be delivered via face mask or possibly nasal cannula. A heart monitor should be in place due to the risk of cardiac arrest secondary to respiratory failure. Ventolin and other bronchodilator drugs will be administered, often by ultrasonic mist to dilate the alveoli (air sacs) within the lungs. Respiratory therapists and a pulmonologist must be at close hand. Iv antibiotics are standard for this patient to prevent a deadly bacterial or viral pneumonia.
If the penetrating injury leaves a foreign object (bullet) surgery will be required after stabilizing the patient.
Four days should result in stabilization, four weeks for most of the healing.
The patient should be encouraged to do deep breathing exercises as they recover in order to re-establish correct lung capacity and volume.’
“Okay, even though we don’t have a respiratory therapist or pulmonologist on hand, I'm going to follow these directions and hopefully they didn't leave anything out.”
“Seriously?” Jonah asked. “Like, don’t we have to sew him up or something like that?”
“The best thing to do is let him rest for four weeks,” the nurse replied. “If we can get him stabilized, of course.
The Entertainers worked long into the night, helping get Evan’s breathing and heart rate back to normal.
Dawn was just lighting up the sky when he relaxed into a normal sleep.
“Is he going to be okay?” Calypso sniffled from the doorway. Joanna got back just then.
“I’m sure he’ll recover,” Joanna told her comfortingly. “Why don’t you come sit down on the couch?” She led Calypso into the lobby.
The nurse sucked in her breath when she saw Evan’s wound. “This looks very dangerous. I think the bullet passed through his lung, and it’s filling with blood.”
“What are we supposed to do?” Hamilton asked nervously. The nurse consulted her medical guide, then read aloud,
‘The patient should be immediately placed upon oxygen and a heart monitor. A pulse oximeter should be used, which measures the saturation of hemoglobin with the oxygen molecule. Oxygen can be delivered via face mask or possibly nasal cannula. A heart monitor should be in place due to the risk of cardiac arrest secondary to respiratory failure. Ventolin and other bronchodilator drugs will be administered, often by ultrasonic mist to dilate the alveoli (air sacs) within the lungs. Respiratory therapists and a pulmonologist must be at close hand. Iv antibiotics are standard for this patient to prevent a deadly bacterial or viral pneumonia.
If the penetrating injury leaves a foreign object (bullet) surgery will be required after stabilizing the patient.
Four days should result in stabilization, four weeks for most of the healing.
The patient should be encouraged to do deep breathing exercises as they recover in order to re-establish correct lung capacity and volume.’
“Okay, even though we don’t have a respiratory therapist or pulmonologist on hand, I'm going to follow these directions and hopefully they didn't leave anything out.”
“Seriously?” Jonah asked. “Like, don’t we have to sew him up or something like that?”
“The best thing to do is let him rest for four weeks,” the nurse replied. “If we can get him stabilized, of course.
The Entertainers worked long into the night, helping get Evan’s breathing and heart rate back to normal.
Dawn was just lighting up the sky when he relaxed into a normal sleep.
Ben:
A week later, the
postcard reached Ben at noon in Attleboro.
Evan Tolliver, Amy’s
boyfriend and the newest member of the team, was doing the mail run, handing
out letters to all the Cahills in the Command Center.
Ben was sitting next to Sinead, hoping to see something incriminating on her
computer screen. When Evan gave him the card, he swiveled around in his chair.
“Where did you get
this?” he asked hoarsely.
“From the mailbox,”
Evan sighed tiredly. Like all the Cahills at the CCC, he was sick of Ben’s grumpy
attitude. “That’s normally where letters come from.”
Without a word, Ben
left the room and walked to his bedroom. He sat down on his bed and began
reading.
Dear
Ben,
I
hope this letter finds you well.
I
had a brush with the Vespers, but thanks to our old friend Leo, I’m doing fine
now. I will be able to write to you sometimes, but right now I’m in hiding, so
it might not be very frequent.
According
to Leo, you are investigating at the CCC. I’m sure you are having a great time.
Love,
Aunt Irena
Ben sighed. Irena was safe.
It was as if a shroud of frustration and anger rose from his heart. Then
he realized that he had some apologizing to do. As he was walking upstairs, he
decided to start with Ian. He met him coming up the stairs. He was about to
open his mouth to say he was sorry for being so nasty, but Ian spoke first.
“Amy and Dan returned the Medusa painting.”
Ben smiled widely. “That’s great!
Are the hostages…?”
Ian’s face looked grave. “That’s the problem. Vesper One won’t let them
leave until we deliver him another artifact.”
Ben swore angrily. Just when things were looking up, too.
Amy and Dan:
Amy and Dan Cahill stepped off of the train platform and took a moment to admire the lovely Swiss Alps in the background. Amy found herself thinking of their last escapade in the Alps, and touched her watch protectively to make sure it was there. She wasn't about to let something like that happen again.
The wind from Enderberg gusted into the back of their heads, causing them to pull their coats tighter against them.
There had been a little trouble on the train, but they had easily shaken the Interpol agent, Milos Vanek, and their friend Erasmus had taken care of Cheyenne Wyoming, who had been posing as a lost musician and trying to gain their trust so she could watch them.
Dan looked at the tall Madrigal who was walking silently beside him and Amy. Erasmus was very mysterious, and the sibling’s admiration for him had grown since he had tossed Cheyenne out the window of their train. They had just been pulling out of Florence then, so the impact had probably not hurt the Vesper spy much.
Amy opened her mouth, but hesitated before she spoke, finding the perfect words to express her gratitude. “Erasmus, you really helped us out back there. I have no idea what we would have done if you’d not been there. Probably we would have come up with something dangerous and difficult if we were on our own. Thank you so much.”
“It’s my job,” Erasmus replied. “But I really need to get back to Florence soon. Jonah is still in danger, and until we can figure out who is sending the hitmen for him, he will need to be watched closely.”
“It’s all right,” Dan told him. “We will be okay on our own… probably.”
Erasmus cracked a rare smile. “You guys are very valuable also. I thought I would supply you with some help.”
He motioned to a nearby shop, and someone familiar stepped out. “Why, it’s Calypso!” Amy exclaimed.
Calypso smiled shyly. It was obvious that Evan’s injury had taken a toll of worry on her, because her skin was paler than its usual olive brown, and she didn’t walk as confidently as before.
“Hi,” she said quietly.
“I’m so glad we’ll be working with you!” Amy gasped excitedly. She gave Calypso a hug. Dan smiled and nodded at her.
When Amy released Calypso,
she turned around to thank Erasmus, but he had disappeared.
He had left the little group and was headed back to the station, hoping to catch a train back to Firenze.
I’m glad Calypso will be able to get out of Florence, he thought. She was worrying herself too much over Evan’s recovery.
He was just in time to jump on a citybound train.
He had left the little group and was headed back to the station, hoping to catch a train back to Firenze.
I’m glad Calypso will be able to get out of Florence, he thought. She was worrying herself too much over Evan’s recovery.
He was just in time to jump on a citybound train.
Amy, Dan and Calypso:
“Okay,”
Amy explained to Calypso, “what we are trying to do now is find out who bid on
the De Vigra map before it disappeared from the Lucerne Auction House. If we
find out the bidder’s names, we might be able to follow them to a lead.”
“So we’re going to sneak into the auction house and steal the files!” Dan broke in excitedly.
Calypso looked dubious. “Isn’t there and easier way to get to the information? Breaking in seems a little bit extreme.”
Dan rolled his eyes. “I thought as a Cahill, you would know by now that you often have to go to extremes to get what you want.”
Calypso nodded in agreement.
Ian called Amy and informed her that she could not possibly wear her normal clothes into the exclusive auction house, so they entered one of the many formal clothing shops to buy apparel.
Calypso enjoyed the shopping spree, but Amy and Dan seemed ill at ease in the expensive store.
“I didn’t know you liked shopping,” Amy remarked when she noticed Calypso’s wide smile.
“Well, I am a millionaire,” Calypso answered. “I just usually dress practically.”
Amy laughed. “Same here.”
“If you girls are done talking, I think we should get to the auction,” Dan told them. “It starts in twenty minutes!”
The Cahills hurried off with their new clothes.
Soon, they were walking into the entrance of the Lucerne auction house. Thanks to Calypso’s fashion tips, they blended in well with the exclusive customers.
“What’s the plan?” Calypso asked casually.
“Amy and I are going to search for the files. If we take a while, your job is to heat up the bidding and make it impossible for it to shut down,” Dan told her. Calypso nodded and the siblings faded into the crowd.
She looked about herself, taking in the surroundings. Rich people examined the paintings that interested them. There were Van Goughs, Rembrandts, and… is that a painting by James Baudry? Calypso caught her breath as she recognized the Charlotte Corday - in reality, a very skillful forgery by her friend Joanna.
Then the bidding began. It seemed like most other art auctions she had been in. It went agonizingly slowly, and Calypso felt herself begin to nod off from time to time.
Then a crash sounded from the back of the auction house. Heads turned, and the bidding ground to a halt.
Calypso knew that something must have happened to Amy and Dan. And she knew that unless she did something quickly, they were about to get caught!
“So we’re going to sneak into the auction house and steal the files!” Dan broke in excitedly.
Calypso looked dubious. “Isn’t there and easier way to get to the information? Breaking in seems a little bit extreme.”
Dan rolled his eyes. “I thought as a Cahill, you would know by now that you often have to go to extremes to get what you want.”
Calypso nodded in agreement.
Ian called Amy and informed her that she could not possibly wear her normal clothes into the exclusive auction house, so they entered one of the many formal clothing shops to buy apparel.
Calypso enjoyed the shopping spree, but Amy and Dan seemed ill at ease in the expensive store.
“I didn’t know you liked shopping,” Amy remarked when she noticed Calypso’s wide smile.
“Well, I am a millionaire,” Calypso answered. “I just usually dress practically.”
Amy laughed. “Same here.”
“If you girls are done talking, I think we should get to the auction,” Dan told them. “It starts in twenty minutes!”
The Cahills hurried off with their new clothes.
Soon, they were walking into the entrance of the Lucerne auction house. Thanks to Calypso’s fashion tips, they blended in well with the exclusive customers.
“What’s the plan?” Calypso asked casually.
“Amy and I are going to search for the files. If we take a while, your job is to heat up the bidding and make it impossible for it to shut down,” Dan told her. Calypso nodded and the siblings faded into the crowd.
She looked about herself, taking in the surroundings. Rich people examined the paintings that interested them. There were Van Goughs, Rembrandts, and… is that a painting by James Baudry? Calypso caught her breath as she recognized the Charlotte Corday - in reality, a very skillful forgery by her friend Joanna.
Then the bidding began. It seemed like most other art auctions she had been in. It went agonizingly slowly, and Calypso felt herself begin to nod off from time to time.
Then a crash sounded from the back of the auction house. Heads turned, and the bidding ground to a halt.
Calypso knew that something must have happened to Amy and Dan. And she knew that unless she did something quickly, they were about to get caught!
Calypso thought quickly on
her feet. There weren’t many options.
“Everyone stay where you are!” she shouted gruffly, while taking
the Tazer from her pocket and waving it threateningly. “This is a holdup!” She
cringed inwardly when she thought of how this was going to look on the news. I could have done this with more class, she
thought sadly. No stopping now though, I
suppose.
Now people were staring at
her. “I’m serious! Everyone sit on their hands!”
The clients began looking around nervously. The auctioneer
protested angrily. “We have never had a robbery at this auction house!”
“But this is one!” Calypso
insisted. She noticed security guards forming a careful circle around the room.
I can’t keep this up much longer! Then she glimpsed Amy and Dan walking silently
behind the diverted guards’ backs. Dan flashed her a thumbs-up.
“Now everyone, walk
outside,” she commanded after her team had slipped out. Calypso could not
believe that she was holding such a large group at bay with just a Tazer. She
knew it couldn’t last long. When people started leaving, she walked resignedly
to the police that had gathered. With her Cahill connections and her
intelligent lawyers, she would be out of jail quickly, but she felt distressed
that there would be an arrest on her record.
Amy waved to her across
the crowd. “Thank you!” she called.
Several
days later…
“You’re saying Amy, Dan, and C-girl headed up to a crazy guy’s castle,” Jonah asked Erasmus, “and you think they need our help. So we need to drive up there and check it out? You know they are two of those invincible Madrigal people, right?”
Erasmus smiled on the other end of the line. He never thought the young pop star would win his friendship, but Jonah was surprisingly down to earth. “There is one other thing,” he told Jonah. “The Entertainers are trying to catch Big Hair, but until then, it’s too dangerous for you to be unprotected.”
“I’ve got the Ham Man!” Jonah said incredulously.
“I know, but I’m sending a little extra backup,” Erasmus told him. Just then, the back door of their car opened and Joanna, Carlo’s secretary, hopped in. “Hi,” she grinned at the startled boys.
Jonah sighed and hung up. “Yo,” he replied.
“You’re saying Amy, Dan, and C-girl headed up to a crazy guy’s castle,” Jonah asked Erasmus, “and you think they need our help. So we need to drive up there and check it out? You know they are two of those invincible Madrigal people, right?”
Erasmus smiled on the other end of the line. He never thought the young pop star would win his friendship, but Jonah was surprisingly down to earth. “There is one other thing,” he told Jonah. “The Entertainers are trying to catch Big Hair, but until then, it’s too dangerous for you to be unprotected.”
“I’ve got the Ham Man!” Jonah said incredulously.
“I know, but I’m sending a little extra backup,” Erasmus told him. Just then, the back door of their car opened and Joanna, Carlo’s secretary, hopped in. “Hi,” she grinned at the startled boys.
Jonah sighed and hung up. “Yo,” he replied.
Amy, Dan and Calypso:
Meanwhile, Calypso sat on the floor as Amy poked in a drain in the Neuschwanstein Castle. “Are you certain it’s in there?” she asked.
“Yes,” Amy replied. *“There’s something here,” she said, her heart beating. “A string… wrapped around something…”
Meanwhile, Calypso sat on the floor as Amy poked in a drain in the Neuschwanstein Castle. “Are you certain it’s in there?” she asked.
“Yes,” Amy replied. *“There’s something here,” she said, her heart beating. “A string… wrapped around something…”
“Can you get it?”
“I think so…” slowly, painstakingly, Amy drew up a small, flat package wrapped in yellow plastic. Her hands shook as she carefully unwrapped it.
A small black leather note book was revealed. Not the De Vigra map. Disappointed, Amy carefully opened the flap of the notebook with a fingertip.
“Wow,” Amy gasped. While she and Dan examined the book, Calypso stood up. She had a sudden uneasy feeling. Walking to the door, she looked outside of the room - right into the cunning eyes of Casper Wyoming.
“Going so fast? But wait, you forgot something.” Amy and Dan jerked up from where they had been kneeling as a figure blocked the doorway.
“Me.”
“I think so…” slowly, painstakingly, Amy drew up a small, flat package wrapped in yellow plastic. Her hands shook as she carefully unwrapped it.
A small black leather note book was revealed. Not the De Vigra map. Disappointed, Amy carefully opened the flap of the notebook with a fingertip.
“Wow,” Amy gasped. While she and Dan examined the book, Calypso stood up. She had a sudden uneasy feeling. Walking to the door, she looked outside of the room - right into the cunning eyes of Casper Wyoming.
“Going so fast? But wait, you forgot something.” Amy and Dan jerked up from where they had been kneeling as a figure blocked the doorway.
“Me.”
*Actual text in A King’s Ransom, by Jude Watson
Joanna, Ham and Jonah:
Joanna had tried to call Calypso’s phone for ten minutes. “I think something bad has happened!” She called up front to Jonah and Hamilton.
“Well, we’re here now,” Jonah replied. They hurried up the steps to the castle.
Joanna had tried to call Calypso’s phone for ten minutes. “I think something bad has happened!” She called up front to Jonah and Hamilton.
“Well, we’re here now,” Jonah replied. They hurried up the steps to the castle.
Amy, Dan, Calypso and Casper:
Casper,
as we all know, is a sadist in the extreme. So it was no surprise to Calypso
when he took a long knife from his boot and began slowly peeling an apple with
it. The young Ekat knew it was a tactic to scare them, as he almost certainly
had orders not to kill them. So she was not alarmed as he whispered sinister
threats and dire consequences that would befall them if he was not given their
last lead. Somewhere in her head, it didn't feel right that he wanted the lead
- Aren't
we working for him anyways? - but she brushed her uneasiness away.
It was time to act.
"Casper," she broke in. "What do you think you're doing? We are working well for your organization, so you can leave us alone. You are actually making this harder for the Vespers!"
Casper seemed startled by this accusation. Then a slow smile snaked up his face. "You are mistaken," he told Calypso. "I may work for the Vespers, but that doesn't mean I can't have my own interests, too."
Calypso felt herself grow cold. The Wyomings were even more dangerous than they Entertainers had known. If they didn't obey Vesper One, all sorts of bad things could happen...
Suddenly, the conversation was interrupted. Someone singing could be heard, and they were coming closer and closer.
Casper seemed disappointed, then he realized who was singing. It was Jonah Wizard!
"Hey, you can't threaten us now," Amy remarked. "Jonah's sure to have a bunch of people with him."
Casper sighed in exasperation. "You are wrong yet again," he told her. "You're forgetting that the Wizard boy has a price on his head." He pulled a baklava from his coat and put it on.
Seconds later, Jonah walked calmly into the room. He smiled assuredly at the Vesper, knowing that there were tons of witnesses at his back.
The man in the mask smiled back, and suddenly Jonah felt a lot less sure of himself. Especially when he saw that the man's arm was raised to throw a long knife.
"Duck!" Joanna screamed from behind him. He quickly complied, which unfortunately put Joanna directly in the path of the knife. It had already sailed from Casper's hand.
When the Vesper saw that he had not hit his intended target, he simply cursed, and realizing that he had lost his chance, jumped from the window to the walkway below. It was a long drop, but Vespers are good at that sort of thing.
"Casper," she broke in. "What do you think you're doing? We are working well for your organization, so you can leave us alone. You are actually making this harder for the Vespers!"
Casper seemed startled by this accusation. Then a slow smile snaked up his face. "You are mistaken," he told Calypso. "I may work for the Vespers, but that doesn't mean I can't have my own interests, too."
Calypso felt herself grow cold. The Wyomings were even more dangerous than they Entertainers had known. If they didn't obey Vesper One, all sorts of bad things could happen...
Suddenly, the conversation was interrupted. Someone singing could be heard, and they were coming closer and closer.
Casper seemed disappointed, then he realized who was singing. It was Jonah Wizard!
"Hey, you can't threaten us now," Amy remarked. "Jonah's sure to have a bunch of people with him."
Casper sighed in exasperation. "You are wrong yet again," he told her. "You're forgetting that the Wizard boy has a price on his head." He pulled a baklava from his coat and put it on.
Seconds later, Jonah walked calmly into the room. He smiled assuredly at the Vesper, knowing that there were tons of witnesses at his back.
The man in the mask smiled back, and suddenly Jonah felt a lot less sure of himself. Especially when he saw that the man's arm was raised to throw a long knife.
"Duck!" Joanna screamed from behind him. He quickly complied, which unfortunately put Joanna directly in the path of the knife. It had already sailed from Casper's hand.
When the Vesper saw that he had not hit his intended target, he simply cursed, and realizing that he had lost his chance, jumped from the window to the walkway below. It was a long drop, but Vespers are good at that sort of thing.
Leo:
At the Entertainer base in Firenze, Leo read worriedly about the attempt on Jonah's life. This was highly unusual. Nobody had considered that a Vesper would go rouge. And since Casper was disobeying orders, probably Cheyenne was too. Somebody could get hurt...
He stopped reading near the end of the email. It felt like his heart had stopped.
Oh no, he thought, not Joanna!
At the Entertainer base in Firenze, Leo read worriedly about the attempt on Jonah's life. This was highly unusual. Nobody had considered that a Vesper would go rouge. And since Casper was disobeying orders, probably Cheyenne was too. Somebody could get hurt...
He stopped reading near the end of the email. It felt like his heart had stopped.
Oh no, he thought, not Joanna!
The Cahills:
Though Joanna was a strong girl, the force of Casper's knife hitting her was so great that
she was thrown to the ground. Oh, no! She thought helplessly,
as she felt blood start to pool up around her. Unfortunately, the people still
standing were too worried about themselves to think of helping her up, or even
glancing down to see how badly she was hurt. Actually, they were backing up,
and there was a high chance that she could be squished.
"Did you see that guy with the knife?" someone asked. "I wonder if he died in the fall?"
"Maybe he's just hanging on with his fingertips," another tourist suggested. This triggered an even tighter squeeze for the door.
Seeing that nobody was going to assist her, Joanna shakily got to her feet. "Hey guys, I need some help!" Jonah heard her cry and pushed his way to her. "Are you okay?" He asked when he saw the blood oozing down her arm.
Of course, Joanna's first instinct was to scream, 'Of course I'm not okay! Can't you see I'm bleeding?', but that is considered rude, no matter how many people ask you that senseless question. So she replied, "Yeah, I'll be fine. But do you think we can leave now?"
"Sure thing," Jonah agreed.
"Did you see that guy with the knife?" someone asked. "I wonder if he died in the fall?"
"Maybe he's just hanging on with his fingertips," another tourist suggested. This triggered an even tighter squeeze for the door.
Seeing that nobody was going to assist her, Joanna shakily got to her feet. "Hey guys, I need some help!" Jonah heard her cry and pushed his way to her. "Are you okay?" He asked when he saw the blood oozing down her arm.
Of course, Joanna's first instinct was to scream, 'Of course I'm not okay! Can't you see I'm bleeding?', but that is considered rude, no matter how many people ask you that senseless question. So she replied, "Yeah, I'll be fine. But do you think we can leave now?"
"Sure thing," Jonah agreed.
Casper:
Outside the lovely castle, Casper cursed at not aiming better. Sometimes he felt like there was something wrong with all of his weapons. Like, since he was a bad guy, they only hit feet or shoulders. But he pushed the thought aside.
Outside the lovely castle, Casper cursed at not aiming better. Sometimes he felt like there was something wrong with all of his weapons. Like, since he was a bad guy, they only hit feet or shoulders. But he pushed the thought aside.
Leo and Carlo:
In the Entertainers HQ, Leo was listening to report after report about the events at the castle. Then Carlo walked into his office.
"We need to stop this manhunt for Jonah very soon," he said urgently. "It seems like everyone in Europe is trying to kill him."
"Yeah, I thought of that too," Leo answered. "But there is something I've thought of. If Casper is working outside of the Vespers, it means there must be other dissenters also. We could use that to our advantage."
"Okay, great," Carlo replied, "But Jonah is more important than that right now. What are we going to do?"
"Oh, don't worry," Leo said dismissively. He picked up his coat and bag and headed out the door, towards the lobby. "I'll take care of it."
In the Entertainers HQ, Leo was listening to report after report about the events at the castle. Then Carlo walked into his office.
"We need to stop this manhunt for Jonah very soon," he said urgently. "It seems like everyone in Europe is trying to kill him."
"Yeah, I thought of that too," Leo answered. "But there is something I've thought of. If Casper is working outside of the Vespers, it means there must be other dissenters also. We could use that to our advantage."
"Okay, great," Carlo replied, "But Jonah is more important than that right now. What are we going to do?"
"Oh, don't worry," Leo said dismissively. He picked up his coat and bag and headed out the door, towards the lobby. "I'll take care of it."
Amy, Dan and
Calypso:
"It's HALON!" Calypso screamed from inside the air
locked chamber.
Several days had passed since the episode in the castle, and she couldn't believe the amount of trouble these kids got into. Once again, Casper and Cheyenne were trying to kill them. Calypso was sure that Vesper One didn't know about it.
Jake was rushing for the exit, dragging Atticus with him. Calypso was not a fan of the superficially attractive boy, and wasn't surprised that he was leaving in a time of danger.
Inside the oxygen-depleted room, Dan called Attleboro on his cell.
Several days had passed since the episode in the castle, and she couldn't believe the amount of trouble these kids got into. Once again, Casper and Cheyenne were trying to kill them. Calypso was sure that Vesper One didn't know about it.
Jake was rushing for the exit, dragging Atticus with him. Calypso was not a fan of the superficially attractive boy, and wasn't surprised that he was leaving in a time of danger.
Inside the oxygen-depleted room, Dan called Attleboro on his cell.
Cahill Command:
"Hello?" Evan DeLuca answered the phone.*
"We're dying from lack of oxygen!" Dan gasped. "You need to hack into the computer and shut off the HALON!"
Deluca could tell that lack of air was hampering Dan's ability to communicate. He asked where they were, and what HALON was. When he learned that they were in the high-tech Library of Philosophy, he put the phone on speaker so Everyone in the CCC could hear.
"I'm putting mine on speaker too," Dan whispered. "Holding the phone is too hard."
"I'm trying to hack them right now," Evan Tolliver told the others. "Is Amy okay?" He was very worried for his beautiful girlfriend.
"She passed out," was Dan's reply.
"How about Calypso?" DeLuca asked. He knew Dan was weak, but he had to know how his fellow Entertainer was faring.
Dan didn't answer. DeLuca surmised he must have passed out. In the background, he could hear Amy murmuring in a soft, heartbreaking tone.
"Jake... oh Jake..."
"What?" Evan sat up, and his fingers stopped tapping the keyboard. "What is she saying?"
"DON'T STOP TYPING!" Sinead cried.
"There." Evan relaxed in his chair. "The airlocks should be open now."
The three Cahills listened intently to the phone. In a few minutes, they heard someone stirring, and Calypso's voice.
"Is this calling someone?" she asked the phone.
"Yes," DeLuca told her. "Are you okay?"
"I think we'll all be fine," she answered.
Evan had been sitting in quietly while Calypso had been talking. Now, he lurched up, grabbed the phone, and left the CCC.
"Wow," said Sinead. "I wonder what his problem is."
"Hello?" Evan DeLuca answered the phone.*
"We're dying from lack of oxygen!" Dan gasped. "You need to hack into the computer and shut off the HALON!"
Deluca could tell that lack of air was hampering Dan's ability to communicate. He asked where they were, and what HALON was. When he learned that they were in the high-tech Library of Philosophy, he put the phone on speaker so Everyone in the CCC could hear.
"I'm putting mine on speaker too," Dan whispered. "Holding the phone is too hard."
"I'm trying to hack them right now," Evan Tolliver told the others. "Is Amy okay?" He was very worried for his beautiful girlfriend.
"She passed out," was Dan's reply.
"How about Calypso?" DeLuca asked. He knew Dan was weak, but he had to know how his fellow Entertainer was faring.
Dan didn't answer. DeLuca surmised he must have passed out. In the background, he could hear Amy murmuring in a soft, heartbreaking tone.
"Jake... oh Jake..."
"What?" Evan sat up, and his fingers stopped tapping the keyboard. "What is she saying?"
"DON'T STOP TYPING!" Sinead cried.
"There." Evan relaxed in his chair. "The airlocks should be open now."
The three Cahills listened intently to the phone. In a few minutes, they heard someone stirring, and Calypso's voice.
"Is this calling someone?" she asked the phone.
"Yes," DeLuca told her. "Are you okay?"
"I think we'll all be fine," she answered.
Evan had been sitting in quietly while Calypso had been talking. Now, he lurched up, grabbed the phone, and left the CCC.
"Wow," said Sinead. "I wonder what his problem is."
*Since there are two Evan’s, the Cahills have been calling one DeLuca to
avoid confusion, much to his delight.
Evan and Calypso:
When he got to his room, Evan flopped down on his bed. "I have some questions for you," he told Calypso. "First off, what is going on with Amy?"
There was silence on the other end of the line.
"She's fallen for this Jake guy, hasn't she?"
"Possibly," was Calypso's reply.
Evan swore angrily. He was sick of the unanswered questions, the ignored calls... Now he knew the reason behind them.
"One other question," he said. "Why do you and DeLuca call Florence every day?"
More silence. Then, "How do you know that?"
"Sinead's been tracking everyone's phone calls, and I saw her list," Evan replied.
Calypso gasped. This was a very bad sign.
"And I checked into the location you've been calling. There's some interesting stuff..."
Calypso was quiet for a moment. Then she spoke slowly. "Well, a few months ago, this organization got started. It's called the Entertainers..."
When he got to his room, Evan flopped down on his bed. "I have some questions for you," he told Calypso. "First off, what is going on with Amy?"
There was silence on the other end of the line.
"She's fallen for this Jake guy, hasn't she?"
"Possibly," was Calypso's reply.
Evan swore angrily. He was sick of the unanswered questions, the ignored calls... Now he knew the reason behind them.
"One other question," he said. "Why do you and DeLuca call Florence every day?"
More silence. Then, "How do you know that?"
"Sinead's been tracking everyone's phone calls, and I saw her list," Evan replied.
Calypso gasped. This was a very bad sign.
"And I checked into the location you've been calling. There's some interesting stuff..."
Calypso was quiet for a moment. Then she spoke slowly. "Well, a few months ago, this organization got started. It's called the Entertainers..."
"What?" Evan sounded more and more incredulous as
Calypso recounted the story of the Entertainers. "How could we not have
heard about this here in Attleboro?"
"It is amazing we've been kept secret for so long," Calypso agreed. "Even the Authors don't seem to know about us." Evan could hear her walking, apparently out of hearing from the Cahills and Rosenblooms. "If Sinead knows, we could be in danger. She's a Vesper, and-"
"Wait!" Evan realized. "Sinead's a Vesper? No way! She loves Amy!"
"But she loves her brothers more, and the Vespers have them." Calypso paused. "But that's not relevant. The real question, Evan, is what are you going to do, now that you have this information?"
"It is amazing we've been kept secret for so long," Calypso agreed. "Even the Authors don't seem to know about us." Evan could hear her walking, apparently out of hearing from the Cahills and Rosenblooms. "If Sinead knows, we could be in danger. She's a Vesper, and-"
"Wait!" Evan realized. "Sinead's a Vesper? No way! She loves Amy!"
"But she loves her brothers more, and the Vespers have them." Calypso paused. "But that's not relevant. The real question, Evan, is what are you going to do, now that you have this information?"
Leo and Joanna:
Meanwhile, Leo was enjoying his mission. He sat at a table in the spacious Florence airport.
It had been a while since he had taken a legitimate passenger plane, and the idea was relaxing to him. His phone buzzed.
As was his custom, he picked up the phone but said nothing. If the caller knew him, they would know to speak first.
"Hello, Leo!" Joanna's voice came over the line.
"Hello. How are your charges?"
"We're all great. Jonah and I are at a museum right now, soaking up some Florence culture."
"It's risky for you to be out alone."
"We're fine! Erasmus is babysitting us anyways."
Leo relaxed. He knew he could trust the hardened spy to protect Jonah.
"How are Amy and Dan?"
"They headed to Samarkand. Everything went totally fine. Too fine, in fact. The Authors need something to spice up the book. Ian suggested that they should have Atticus kidnapped, since he is a cute little kid, and then escape using only his great mind and a few gadgets to pull off a MacGyver* style escape."
Leo laughed. "It sounds quite exciting. I'll have to read the book." He heard the number of his plane being called over the loudspeaker. "I need to go now."
"Okay! Good luck with Big Hair. Oh, and don't worry about us. We're fine!"
Leo hung up. As he carried his single bag into the jet, he thought about what Joanna had told him.
Things are running smoothly now, he thought, but my intuition tells me it can't go this well for very long.
*MacGyver: a popular 80's TV show secret agent who uses his great knowledge of chemistry, along with his considerable muscle, to foil villain’s plans.
Meanwhile, Leo was enjoying his mission. He sat at a table in the spacious Florence airport.
It had been a while since he had taken a legitimate passenger plane, and the idea was relaxing to him. His phone buzzed.
As was his custom, he picked up the phone but said nothing. If the caller knew him, they would know to speak first.
"Hello, Leo!" Joanna's voice came over the line.
"Hello. How are your charges?"
"We're all great. Jonah and I are at a museum right now, soaking up some Florence culture."
"It's risky for you to be out alone."
"We're fine! Erasmus is babysitting us anyways."
Leo relaxed. He knew he could trust the hardened spy to protect Jonah.
"How are Amy and Dan?"
"They headed to Samarkand. Everything went totally fine. Too fine, in fact. The Authors need something to spice up the book. Ian suggested that they should have Atticus kidnapped, since he is a cute little kid, and then escape using only his great mind and a few gadgets to pull off a MacGyver* style escape."
Leo laughed. "It sounds quite exciting. I'll have to read the book." He heard the number of his plane being called over the loudspeaker. "I need to go now."
"Okay! Good luck with Big Hair. Oh, and don't worry about us. We're fine!"
Leo hung up. As he carried his single bag into the jet, he thought about what Joanna had told him.
Things are running smoothly now, he thought, but my intuition tells me it can't go this well for very long.
*MacGyver: a popular 80's TV show secret agent who uses his great knowledge of chemistry, along with his considerable muscle, to foil villain’s plans.
Evan - and Ian:
Evan Tolliver sat on his bed, digesting the
information from Calypso, and the huge amount of intelligence she'd given him
on the war between Cahills and Vespers. Amy's cheating on me, Sinead's a Vesper, and Jonah
could be killed at any moment... it sounds terrible! He thought.
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