The Candy Shop War, Vol. 2: Arcade Catastrophe Page 21

  “Mr. Stott and Lindy are on the case as well, along with the Battiato brothers.”

  “Victor and Ziggy,” Mozag said with a grin. “Not my most subtle operatives, but they can be quite effective.”

  “Do they know you’re here?” John asked.

  “I’m not sure,” Pigeon said, pulling out his button. “They gave me this.”

  Mozag took it from him and held it up, examining it closely. “A very talented magician made this tracking beacon. Me. My sanctum is completely and unavoidably blocking the signal. The wards Jonas put in place would probably interfere with it as well. But I expect we could find a way to boost the transmission.” Mozag closed his hand around the button. “Well done hanging on to this, Pigeon. It gives us hope.”

  “I’m glad,” Pigeon said.

  “Are you positive you don’t want popcorn?” Mozag asked. “I have some real butter in the fridge.”

  Now that he was settling down, Pigeon already felt hungrier than he had before. “Sure, why not?”

  Chapter Seventeen

  Lighthouse

  Hovering in an upper corner of the room, Nate reflected that the training facility seemed much less busy when occupied by only two clubs. He kept catching the other Jets glancing nervously at the Tanks. It was one thing to watch the rival club sling around heavy weights and abuse punching bags, and another to see them perform the same workouts in fast-forward. The Jets knew they were in trouble. How were they supposed to match up against opponents who were both drastically stronger and considerably faster?

  Nate hoped the next assignment would involve water. If not, their second stamp would be worthless. If so, by staying in the water and the sky, hopefully the Jets could partially negate the rival club’s advantages.

  “Nate!” Chris called. “Wake up!”

  They were running a drill in which they practiced going from air to water and back to air again while retrieving rings. Nate stretched a fist ahead of himself and flew forward, curving near the wall to snatch a ring, then diving toward the pool. He broke the surface of the water, slowing only slightly as he skimmed the bottom to nab three more rings, then angled back up into the air, accelerating as he rose. His hair, skin, and clothes dried instantly, and he snagged a ring from the ceiling before joining the other Jets floating in the center of the room.

  “Well done,” Chris applauded. “You’re getting the hang of this.”

  “I hope so,” Nate said. “I don’t envy those punching bags.”

  Derek currently thundered away at a heavy bag, his blurred fists attacking like machine-gun bullets. The bag jerked and jolted under the fierce onslaught.

  “They can’t fly,” Risa reminded everyone. “And they can’t torpedo through water.”

  “Hopefully that will matter,” Nate said. “I don’t want to be part of the next club that disappears.”

  “You guys still haven’t seen Pigeon?” Chris asked.

  “Not since his club lost,” Nate said gloomily. He had started sharing some information about Pigeon’s disappearance with Chris and Risa in hopes that they might eventually turn into true allies against Jonas. “His parents have no idea he’s been gone. They’ve been eating Arcadeland tacos and nachos.”

  “I was paying more attention to my parents,” Risa said. “You’re right that they seem really distracted. I told them I was going to drive Dad’s car to the mall and they told me to be careful. Mom even handed me the keys. It was like they had no idea how many years it’ll be before I’m old enough to get a license.”

  “My parents are out of it too,” Chris said. “Way more than usual.”

  “I tried to find the Racers this morning,” Lindy said. “It was early, before dawn, and nobody was home.”

  “We need to keep our guard up on all sides,” Nate said. “We know the Tanks will be gunning for us. But I’m not sure how much we can trust Jonas, either.”

  “You’ve worked with magicians like him before?” Risa asked.

  Nate had only dropped some hints. He didn’t want to risk telling them too much and having it get back to Jonas. “I have. Some are good, but I’ve met one who wanted to take over the world. To me, Jonas seems more like the scary kind.”

  “I definitely didn’t like those wax statues,” Risa admitted. “Truth? I almost bailed when I saw mine. I mean, how creepy is that?”

  Cleon and Todd entered the building. The Jets gazed down at them, and the Tanks stopped exercising.

  “Today?” Chris asked. “Already? These guys aren’t messing around.”

  “Jonas wants his treasure,” Nate murmured. “Let’s go hear what they have to tell us.”

  Using their speed, the Tanks reached Cleon and Todd before the Jets, but not too far ahead. “What’s up?” Roman asked.

  “Mr. White wants to talk with both clubs,” Cleon said. The whole area around his nose looked bruised.

  “What happened to your face?” Chris asked.

  Cleon tenderly rubbed his upper lip. “Basketball. I didn’t see it coming until the last second.”

  “We shouldn’t keep Mr. White waiting,” Todd suggested.

  They all followed Todd and Cleon out of the training facility and back to Arcadeland. They entered through a side door, and Todd led them to a conference room where Jonas White awaited, seated at the head of a long table. Katie Sung flanked him on one side, a muscular man with black spiky hair on the other.

  Jonas gestured at the table. “Please, take a seat.”

  The Jets and Tanks sat on opposite sides of the table. The chairs were comfy and swiveled. Cleon and Todd remained in the room, standing near the door.

  “Our competition is getting exciting,” Jonas commented with a slow smile. “Two teams, both powered up more than ever. And the toughest mission yet lies ahead.”

  Jonas held up a smooth stone marble. “This is the guidestone the Tanks brought to me. Was it only yesterday? How can something so small change so much in such a short time? I have yearned to know the location of the Protector for ages, and now I do, thanks to this remarkable little wayfinder.”

  He placed the ball on the table, and it immediately rolled diagonally toward Katie Sung, who caught it as it fell off the edge. She handed it back to Jonas.

  “Whenever we set the guidestone on a relatively flat surface,” Jonas went on, “it rolls toward the Protector. Simple, elegant, and effective.”

  “Do we have to share it?” Roman asked, looking across the table at Chris.

  “No,” Jonas said. “The guidestone will go to the Jets.”

  “What?” Roman exclaimed, hopping to his feet. “How is that fair?” Derek had risen as well.

  “I appreciate your competitive spirit,” Jonas soothed. “However, I also appreciate order and decorum. Perhaps in the future you could allow me to offer a full explanation before issuing an objection.”

  Although Jonas remained calm and polite, Katie and the spiky-haired guy glared at Roman with naked disapproval. After glancing at Derek, Roman sat.

  Jonas softly cleared his throat. “We have already used the guidestone to trace a path to the Protector’s hiding place. As I have long suspected, the location was not far from here. I have avidly studied these matters since well before your grandparents were born. Decades ago, I learned that the Protector resided within an ancient structure dubbed the Lodestar of the West, or the Great Western Pharos—a magnificent lighthouse somewhere on the western coast of North America. An ancient structure that had no business standing here, given all we know of the region’s history.”

  “It’s nearby?” Lindy asked.

  “At first I was looking for ruins,” Jonas said. “I found nothing. But then I realized a truth that the guidestone confirmed—the lighthouse is submerged.”

  Roman huffed, folding his arms, clearly frustrated. But he kept his mouth shut.

  Jonas nodded at Roman. “As the Tanks recognize, this provides a certain advantage to the Jets, who now also share the attributes of the Subs. Please hold all com
plaints until after the full briefing. As you will see, the Tanks are not yet out of the running.” Pushing against the arms of his chair, Jonas attempted to rise. He paused halfway up, trembling, and then managed to straighten. “Until now, your trials have been preparatory. I knew retrieving the Gate would provide a challenge, but I doubted that it would prove fatal. Same with the retrieval of the guidestone. That all changes with this assignment.”

  Nate leaned forward in his seat. All around him listened raptly.

  “The Gate has changed hands many times over the centuries,” Jonas related. “The Protector remains where it was first hidden, cleverly guarded. Learning that the Graywater family held the secret to its location was the most difficult part of this entire puzzle. Through my research, I know some of the dangers that await. Having come this far, given the risk you will take, you ought to know some of what I have learned. But only if you mean to continue. Only if you are fully committed. This next assignment will be life-threatening. I do not make a habit of wasting my time. I believe you can succeed. But I will not compel any to proceed. If you wish to abandon the treasure hunt at this point, please let me know immediately.”

  Nate looked at Summer and Lindy. Many of the kids around the table exchanged wary glances. Nobody backed out.

  “Very well,” Jonas continued. “Once we have both the Gate and the Protector, we will be in position to go after Uweya itself. Claiming the Protector will be no easy matter. The Lodestar of the West is submerged off the coast of Yerba Buena Island in the San Francisco Bay. This is the island motorists encounter while traversing the Bay Bridge. It adjoins a man-made islet dubbed Treasure Island. Much of the area has been owned by the U.S. Navy, although naval operations there have decreased in recent years.”

  “How deep is the lighthouse?” Roman asked.

  “The San Francisco Bay is not particularly deep,” Jonas said. “At the same time, our lost monument must be fairly deep to have avoided discovery. The particulars are for the Jets to discover. They will let the guidestone lead them. Much about the guidestone remains a mystery to me. I know that the Graywater family has watched over it for generations. In my studies, I most often found it referenced as a map, but also as a key, a compass, a lodestone, and a simulacrum. Before this mission is over, the Jets will know more about the subject than I do.”

  “The first club to bring the Protector back to Arcadeland wins?” Nate checked.

  “Correct,” Jonas said. “But there is a catch. The Protector resides within an ancient chest. The chest is not light, and it will not open in close quarters. The Protector will be difficult to extract from the chest. I do not want the chest. I want the Protector.”

  “They won’t be able to open the chest underwater?” Roman inquired.

  “Very doubtful,” Jonas said. “The chest is temperamental and dangerous. It was designed by Iwa Iza himself. According to legend, wherever it opens is where it will remain. I do not want it opened within ten miles of Arcadeland. I will provide a map to dispel any ignorance regarding that boundary. Failure to open the chest far enough away will result in disqualification. In addition, I want the chest opened in a remote area. The map also identifies areas I consider too close to civilization for opening the chest. Again, failure to comply will result in disqualification. Do we understand one another so far?”

  Nobody dissented.

  “The Jets begin with a decided advantage,” Jonas said. “They get the guidestone, and they will enjoy a lack of competition retrieving the chest. To balance out this advantage, I have fashioned bracelets for the Jets to wear. Though

  unobtrusive, the bracelets will enable the Tanks to track their opponents.”

  “What?” Chris exclaimed.

  “As if you get to whine,” Roman snapped.

  “Save it, Roman,” Chris said. “The guidestone isn’t an advantage. It just means the Jets have to do all the heavy lifting. How is it fair that after we salvage the chest from the lighthouse, you get to know where you can come to steal it?”

  “Sounds about right to me,” Derek said.

  “How heavy is this chest?” Nate wondered. “Will we be able to move it far?”

  “It will probably be heavy,” Jonas said. “I don’t know how far you’ll be able to transport it.”

  “This is ridiculous,” Chris muttered.

  Roman shook his head. “You’ll still have the advantage.”

  “Give me a break,” Chris huffed. “Rested and ready, you get to swoop in and take something you couldn’t have gotten yourselves.”

  “Enough debate,” Jonas said. “These are the rules for this mission. There is no room for negotiation. Either participate or quit.”

  Silence followed the ultimatum.

  “When do we start?” Nate finally asked.

  “At nightfall,” Jonas said. “Both clubs will set out from here tonight. The Tanks will have the same driver who took them to Devil’s Shadow. He will go wherever they direct. They are free to abandon him at their discretion. The Jets will take to the sky. I’ll wait for a winner to return with the prize.”

  “And if some of us die?” Summer asked.

  “That’s the risk,” Jonas said. “Dismissed.”

  *****

  Around sunset, Summer cornered Roman outside of Arcadeland. Ruth and Derek had gone ahead to get dinner. She and Roman were supposed to catch up and eat with them, but Summer had failed to get him alone all afternoon and wasn’t about to let the opportunity slip away. The Tanks looked to Roman for leadership, so she had to know where he stood regarding Jonas White.

  “Roman, can we talk for a minute?” Summer asked.

  “Can we do it over hamburgers?” he asked. “We’re running out of time.”

  “Not really,” she said. “It won’t take long.”

  Roman leaned against the wall. “What’s up?”

  “How much do you trust Jonas White?” Summer asked bluntly.

  Roman seemed at a loss for a moment. “Enough, I guess. He’s held true to everything he’s told us.”

  “You realize the Subs and the Racers didn’t just lose,” she said. “They disappeared.”

  “I asked about that,” Roman said. “They’re on special assignments. Prep work for those of us still in the game.”

  “Do you believe that?”

  “Don’t you?”

  Summer realized that she was on dangerous ground. If she seemed too rebellious, and he doubted her loyalty, Roman might report her to Jonas. She could get left behind on the upcoming mission, unable to help anyone.

  “I’m just worried,” she said. “The Graywaters seemed sincere to me. I’m afraid that Jonas getting Uweya may not be a good thing.”

  “It’s just some old treasure,” Roman said.

  “You know that isn’t true,” Summer countered. “You know magic is real. The things guarding Uweya are magical. Whatever Uweya is, it’s powerful, and I’m not sure Jonas White has given us any reason to believe he’s a very good person.”

  “You think he’s the bad guy?” Roman said. “You think we’re the evil henchmen?”

  “I think we could accidentally end up helping the bad guys if we’re not careful,” Summer said. “Did you feel like one of the good guys back at the trailer park?”

  “How do you know the Graywaters were so good?” Roman said. “What if Uweya could do a lot of good but they’re keeping it hidden?”

  “Well, I know they didn’t send anybody to break down our doors and steal our stuff. And they didn’t try to hurt us when they could have. They didn’t make creepy statues that can control us, or send kids on life-threatening missions.”

  “Do you want out?” Roman asked with some heat in his tone. “Is that what this is about? Nobody is making you go, Summer. The three of us will be just fine.”

  “It isn’t that,” Summer said. “I’m just not sure we should deliver Uweya to Jonas.”

  “You think we should keep it?”

  “Maybe nobody should have it,” Summer sai
d.

  “Look,” Roman said, “we wouldn’t even know about Uweya if it weren’t for Mr. White. If we don’t get it for him, somebody else will. Which means somebody else will be Tank Racers, or maybe flying Tank Racers, and we’ll be back to normal. I agreed to this treasure hunt, and I’m going to fulfill my agreement. Whatever else I think about Mr. White, one thing seems certain to me—he’s not the kind of guy you double-cross.”

  “I guess you’re right,” Summer said, feeling nothing of the sort. “I’d hate to lose my stamps.”

  “I’m sure this will be intense,” Roman said, “but what can happen to us? We’re super fast and almost impossible to hurt. If we work together, we’ll be fine.”

  “I hope so,” Summer said. “Thanks for talking me through it. Part of my problem is that I’m nervous.”

  “No sweat, I get it. Should we grab those burgers before it gets too late?”

  “Sure.”

  Summer had talked to Nate earlier. He felt confident that Chris and Risa were beginning to distrust Jonas. Plus he had a sure ally in Lindy. As she walked toward dinner with Roman, Summer determined that whatever else happened tonight, she needed to make sure the Tanks didn’t win.

  *****

  Nate flew beside Lindy above SR-24, gaining altitude over the hills where the freeway disappeared into the Caldecott Tunnel. He could hardly believe they were about to plunge into the San Francisco Bay in search of hidden treasure. He wondered if the Tanks were behind them on the road, heading toward Yerba Buena Island, or if they had some other strategy.

  The Jets had consulted the map and decided that if the chest was too heavy to fly far, they would transport it to Angel Island. The Tanks had a driver, but getting to the island would surely prove problematic. Of course, if the chest was light enough, they would simply fly it an absurd distance into the wilderness.

  Having studied the map, the Jets had no trouble following SR-24 until it met up with I-580, and then continuing to I-80 and the Bay Bridge. The Jets flew high over the water, staying well away from the bridge. Dressed in dark clothes, gliding far from any lights, Nate felt invisible. From his lofty vantage above the bay, the gleaming spires of the San Francisco skyline looked beautiful. A cool breeze filled his nostrils with the humid smell of the sea.