Shelby and Shauna Kitt and the Dimensional Holes. P. H. C. Marchesi

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СКАЧАТЬ asked Shelby, disappointed at her lack of enthusiasm for his brilliant idea.

      “Oh, come on,” she protested. “Can’t we do that some other time?”

      “We won’t get another chance,” he urged. “Look!”

      Shauna saw that, as Dale received his ticket, he suddenly became still as a statue. Several whispers ran through the dining hall as Jeannie Falconbridge and her husband traded worried glances.

      “He is perfectly safe,” said Lendox. “His mind is sight-seeing. He will be back once the tour is over.”

      “See?” Shelby told his sister. “It’s perfect!”

      “What if someone catches us?” Shauna asked. “The general already hates us, in case you haven’t noticed.”

      “Dale’s the spy, Shauna!” protested Shelby, as quietly as he could. “I know it! I just need to get some proof.”

      “Fine,” snapped Shauna, thinking that her brother could be really annoying. “Let’s get it over with.”

      They sneaked out, and wandered for a few moments in the corridor before they walked past the infirmary, and then past another door that unceremoniously said “Dale Falconbridge: Keep Out.”

      “Wow - even his door’s unfriendly,” observed Shelby.

      “This was a stupid idea,” said Shauna. “I bet it’s locked, anyway.”

      The thought that Dale might have locked his door had not occurred to Shelby, and he worriedly turned the handle. The door was open, however, and he triumphantly looked at Shauna. She rolled her eyes, and then went in after him, closing the door behind her.

      Dale’s bedroom was large and plain, with plaid drapes, a blue comforter, and a desk with a computer.

      “I guess he likes science,” Shelby said, seeing that there was a poster of the periodic table on the wall.

      “Check out all this stuff,” said Shauna, walking towards a wall that had several diplomas displayed. She stopped in front of the first one, and read it aloud:

       Dale Falconbridge

       First Prize

       2009 National Science Competition

       Washington, D.C.

      “He’s won a ton of competitions,” exclaimed Shelby, scanning all of the other certificates that were hanging on the wall.

      “I guess it’s true that he’s a genius,” said Shauna.

      “If it’s true,” said Shelby, “then he’s definitely smart enough to be the spy.”

      Shauna shrugged unenthusiastically, wishing she were on a virtual tour of Miriax. They looked through several picture frames that were scattered through the room. Shauna stopped in front of one that caught her attention more than the others did: it showed a younger Jeannie Falconbridge against an undefined background, holding the newborn Dale. She was smiling, but there was something unsettling – a kind of dread – in her eyes.

      Shelby quickly left the picture frames behind, and went on to search Dale’s desk. Shauna, however, stood stubbornly in front of the pictures. Why were there not pictures of Dale’s birthday parties, or other family gatherings? Dale always seemed to be in front of some unidentifiable background, either alone or with his mother. Even the general – who was clearly so proud of his son – was oddly absent from the pictures.

      “Shauna, look at this!” Shelby cried, pointing to the screen of Dale’s computer. On the desktop, off to one side, were two folders. One was called “Dale’s stuff,” and the other was ominously called “Klodian stuff.”

      “Click on them!” cried Shauna, impatiently nudging him.

      Shelby did, and immediately yanked his hand away.

      “Ow!” he moaned. “It gave me some kind of shock!”

      “Those files must be really secret,” she said. “You better not try again.”

      Shelby, ignoring his sister’s advice, tried again and staggered backwards as a more painful shock pierced his hand.

      “That was really smart,” said Shauna, crossing her arms in disapproval. “Keep trying, and eventually you’ll lose that hand.”

      Shelby smirked at his sister, and decided to look through Dale’s science books. Shauna began to wander aimlessly through the room. She thought she heard something – was someone calling her? She stood perfectly still, and finally made out what the sound was: it was the word “help,” echoing persistently in her mind by a faint chorus of tiny voices.

      “Oh, no,” she muttered. “Not again!”

      “Did you find something?” asked Shelby, putting aside a physics book full of diagrams he couldn’t begin to decipher.

      “I’m hearing voices calling for help,” she said. “They started right after I walked past the closet curtain.”

      “Maybe it’s not a closet,” said Shelby, pulling the curtain aside.

      To Shauna’s horror, Shelby was right. Instead of clothes, the nook behind the curtain had a small desk with a microscope, and the shelves had all types of animals imprisoned in glass containers. Most of them were insects, although there were some glass containers with frogs and mice.

      “Ugh,” mumbled a disgusted Shelby. “He’s a total sicko!”

      “I’m getting all these guys out of here,” said Shauna, grabbing the nearest glass container and marching to the window. Shelby tried to open it for her, but the thick, metal screen would not budge.

      “What’s up with these windows?” complained Shelby, trying to open the other one with no success. “It’s like a prison in here!”

      “We need to figure something else out,” said Shauna, seeing that the spider inside the jar was hardly moving. “Some of these guys won’t make it if they stay here much longer. We need someone else to help us with these windows.”

      “Looks like I got here just in time, then,” said a flirtatious voice. “I can get in through any window.”

      Shelby’s whole face melted into a smile as he saw Loola.

      “I thought Lendox sent you back to Miriax!” he cried.

      “He did, S,” said Loola, with a provocative smile. “I decided not to, though. Hanging out with you seemed more interesting.”

      “We need to get these guys out of here,” said Shauna, showing Loola the closet. “Can you fly them out, and drop them someplace safe?”

      “That’s it?” asked Loola, disappointed. “It’s not exciting enough!”

      “It is for them,” said Shauna, shoving the jar she was holding towards Loola. To Shauna’s СКАЧАТЬ