Fablehaven2-Rise of the Evening Star Page 3

  Cogitator? Kendra read dubiously.

  Errol glanced at the card and flipped it over.

  Wrong side, he apologized with a smile.

  The back side said:

  Errol Fisk

  StreetPerformer Extraordinaire

  Now, that I believe, Kendra said.

  He glanced at the card and, with a look of chagrin,

  flipped it over again.

  I already --- Kendra began, but she hadn't.

  Errol Fisk

  Heaven's Special Gift to Women

  Kendra laughed. What is this? Am I on a hidden camera

  show?

  Errol checked the card. My apologies, Kendra, I could

  have sworn I tossed that one out long ago.

  I haven't told you my name, Kendra said, suddenly on

  guard.

  You didn't have to. You were the only one of these

  youngsters who looked fairystruck.

  Fairystruck? Who was this guy?

  I take it you've noticed an unwanted visitor in your

  school recently?

  Now he had her full attention. You know about the

  goblin?

  The kobold, actually, though the two are often confused.

  He flipped the card again. It now read:

  Errol Fisk

  Kobold Exterminator

  You can help me get rid of him? Kendra asked. Did

  my grandpa send you?

  He did not. But a friend of his did.

  At that moment, Seth came up to them, his backpack

  slung over one shoulder. Who's the ringmaster? he said to

  Kendra.

  Errol held the card up for Seth to see. What's a

  kobold? Seth patted Kendra on the shoulder. Hey, you're

  going to miss the bus. Kendra could tell he was trying to

  give her an opening to get away from the stranger.

  I might be walking home today, Kendra said.

  Four miles? Seth said.

  Or I'll catch a ride with somebody. The goblin who

  kissed Alyssa and framed Mrs. Price is a kobold. She had

  told Seth about the disastrous incident at lunch. He was the

  one person who could understand the real story.

  Oh, Seth said, sizing up Errol anew. I get it. I thought

  you were a salesman. You're a magician.

  Errol fanned out a deck of playing cards that had

  appeared out of nowhere. Not a bad guess, he said. Pick a

  card.

  Seth pulled out a card.

  Show it to your sister.

  Seth showed Kendra the five of hearts.

  Put it back in the deck, Errol instructed.

  Seth replaced it so that Errol could not see the face of

  the card. Errol flipped all the cards around, so they faced the

  kids, still fanned out. They were all the five of hearts. And

  there's your card, Errol announced.

  That's the lamest trick ever! Seth protested. They're

  all the same. Of course you know what I picked.

  All the same? Errol said, reversing the cards and

  thumbing through them. No, I'm sure you're mistaken. He

  turned them back around, and it now looked like a normal

  deck of fifty-two different cards.

  Wow! Seth said.

  Errol held the cards face down and fanned them out

  again. Name a card, he said.

  Jack of clubs, Seth said.

  Errol held the cards up. They were all the jack of clubs.

  He flipped them over again. Kendra, name a card.

  Ace of hearts.

  Errol displayed an entire deck full of the ace of hearts.

  Then he tucked the deck away into an inner pocket.

  Whoa, you really are magic, Seth said.

  Errol shook his head. It's just legerdemain. ,

  Leger-what?

  Legerdemain. A word of French origin meaning sleight

  of hand.

  What, you've got a bunch of decks up your sleeve?

  Seth asked.

  Errol winked. Now you're on the right track.

  You're good, Seth said. I was watching close.

  Errol tweezed his business card between two fingers,

  folded it into his palm, and then immediately opened his

  hand. The card was gone. The hand is quicker than the

  eye.

  The buses started pulling out. They always left in a caravan

  of five. Oh no, Seth said. My bus!

  I can give you kids a ride, Errol offered. Or I suppose

  calling you a cab might be more appropriate. My treat.

  Either way, we need to talk about this kobold.

  How did you find out about this so fast? Kendra asked

  suspiciously. The kobold only showed up yesterday. I just

  mailed my letter to Grandpa Sorenson this morning.

  Cogent question, Errol said. Your grandfather has an

  old friend named Coulter Dixon who lives in the area. He

  asked Coulter to keep an eye on you two. When Coulter

  caught wind of the kobold, he called me. I'm a specialist.

  So you know our grandpa? Seth asked.

  Errol held up a finger. I know a friend of your grandpa's.

  I've never actually met Stan.

  Why do you wear that weird suit? Seth asked.

  Because I'm terribly fond of it.

  Why are you wearing gloves? Seth pursued. It's hot

  out.

  Errol glanced furtively over his shoulder, as if he was

  about to share a secret. Because my hands are made of pure

  gold and I'm worried somebody will steal them.

  Seth's eyes widened. Really?

  No. But remember the principle. Sometimes the most

  preposterous lies are the most believable. He tugged off a

  glove and flexed his fingers, revealing a normal hand with

  black hairs on the knuckles. A street magician needs places

  to hide things. Gloves serve that purpose. Same with a coat

  on a warm day. And a vest with lots of pockets. And a wristwatch

  or two. He pulled back his sleeve, revealing a pair of

  watches.

  You asked me for the time, Kendra said.

  Sorry, I needed an opener. I have three watches. A

  watch can be a great place to hide a coin. Errol squeezed his

  wrist and then held up a silver dollar. He put his glove back

  on, and the coin vanished in the process.

  So you do have a pocket watch, Kendra said.

  Errol held up the empty chain. Sadly, no, that was true. I

  Pawn shop. I needed to buy combs for my girlfriend.

  Kendra smiled, getting the reference. Errol did not

  explain it to Seth. So, do I pass inspection? he asked.

  Kendra and Seth looked at each other. If you get rid of

  the kobold, Kendra said, I'll believe anything you say.

  Errol looked a little concerned. Well, see, the thing is,

  I'm going to need your help to do it, so we're going to need

  to trust one another. You could call your grandpa, and he

  could tell you about Coulter, at least. And then he could get

  in touch with Coulter, who would tell him about me. Or

  maybe Coulter has already contacted him. For now, consider

  this-your grandfather has hardly told a soul that you were

  fairystruck, and I am certain he urged you to keep that information

  private as well. Yet I am privy to that knowledge.

  What do you mean by fairystruck? Kendra asked.

  That the fairies shared their magic with you. That you

  can see whimsical creatures without assistance.

  You can see them too? Seth asked.

  Sure, if I use my eyedrops. But your sis
ter can see them

  all the time. I got that information directly from Coulter.

  Okay, Kendra said. We'll check with our grandpa, but

  until we hear back, we'll trust that you're here to help.

  Fabulous. Errol tapped his temple. I'm already hatching

  a plan. What are the chances of you two sneaking out

  tomorrow night?

  Kendra winced. That's going to be tough. I have finals

  the next day.

  Whatever, Seth said, rolling his eyes. We'll pretend

  to go to bed early and slip out the window. Would it work to

  meet around nine?

  Nine would be nearly perfect, Errol said. Where

  should we rendezvous?

  You know the service station on the corner of Culross

  and Oakley? Seth suggested.

  I'll find it, Errol said.

  What if Mom and Dad notice we're missing? Kendra

  said.

  Which would you rather do: risk getting grounded, or

  keep putting up with your ugly friend? Seth asked.

  Seth was right. It was a no-brainer.

  Extermination Procedures

  The sky was nearly dark when Kendra and Seth entered

  the service station's convenience store. Inside, one of

  the fluorescent bulbs was flickering, interrupting the harsh,

  even glow. Seth fingered a candy bar. Kendra turned around

  in a circle. Where is he? We're almost ten minutes late.

  Play it cool, Seth said. He'll be here.

  You're not in a spy movie, Kendra reminded him.

  Seth picked up the candy bar, closed his eyes, and

  smelled it from end to end. Nope. This is the real thing.

  Kendra noticed the headlights of a battered Volkswagen

  van flashing in the parking lot. Maybe you're right, she

  said, approaching the window. The lights flashed again.

  Squinting, she saw Errol behind the wheel. He motioned her

  over.

  Kendra and Seth crossed the parking lot to the van.

  Are we really going to drive away with him in that thing?

  Kendra mumbled.

  Depends on how badly you want to get rid of the

  kobold, Seth replied.

  The creature had not caused any new commotion that

  day at school, although he had taunted Kendra with several

  knowing looks. The horrid imposter was reveling in his victory.

  He kept hanging around with her friends, and there was

  nothing she could do about it. Who knew what his next act

  of sabotage might be?

  Kendra had continued to try to reach Grandpa Sorenson,

  and had repeatedly gotten the recorded message that the call

  could not be completed as dialed. Had he stopped paying his

  phone bill? Maybe he had switched telephone numbers?

  Whatever the cause, she had still not been able to speak with

  him to confirm whether Errol could be trusted.

  Errol leaned across the van and pushed the door open.

  Once again he was wearing his rumpled, antiquated suit.

  Kendra and Seth climbed inside. Seth shut the door behind

  them. The motor was already running.

  Here we are, Kendra said. If you're going to kidnap us,

  tell me now. I can't handle the suspense.

  Errol put the van into gear and pulled out of the service

  station onto Culross Drive. I'm really here to help you,

  Errol said. Although, if I had kids, I'm not sure I would want

  them climbing into a vehicle late at night with a man they'd

  just met, no matter what story he told them. But do not fret,

  I'll deliver you safe and sound to your home before long.

  Errol turned onto a different street. Where are we

  going? Seth asked.

  Nasty vermin, kobolds, very tenacious, Errol said. We

  need to get something that will enable us to drive the interloper

  away permanently. We are going to steal a rare item

  from a wicked and dangerous man.

  Seth leaned forward on the edge of his seat. Kendra

  leaned back with her arms folded. I thought you said you

  were a kobold exterminator, Kendra said. Don't you have

  your own gear?

  I have expertise, Errol said, turning onto a new street.

  Exterminating a kobold is a trifle more complicated than

  spraying your yard with chemicals. Each situation is unique

  and demands improvisation. Be glad that I know where to

  get what we need.

  They rode in silence for a few miles. Then Errol pulled

  off to the side of the road and switched off his lights. We're

  already here? Seth asked.

  Fortunately, what we need is close by, Errol said. He

  indicated a stately building half a block down the road. A

  sign out front read:

  MANGUM

  FUNERAL HOME

  SINCE

  We're going to break into a mortuary? Kendra asked.

  Are we going to steal a body? Seth said, sounding too

  eager for Kendra's liking.

  Nothing so morbid, Errol assured them. The owner of

  the mortuary, Archibald Mangum, lives on the premises. He

  owns a stylized figurine in the likeness of a toad. We can use

  the figurine to drive away the kobold.

  He wouldn't just lend it to us? Kendra asked.

  Errol smiled. Archibald Mangum is not a kind man. In

  fact, he is not a man at all. He is a vampiric abomination.

  He's a vampire? Seth asked.

  Errol cocked his head. Strictly speaking, I have never

  encountered an actual vampire. Not like you see in the

  movies, turning into bats and hiding from the sun. But certain

  orders of beings are vampiric in nature. These beings are

  probably where the notion of vampires originated.

  So what exactly is Archibald? Kendra pressed.

  Hard to say for certain. Most likely a member of the

  blix family. He might be a lectoblix, a species that ages

  swiftly and must drain the youth of others to survive. Or a

  narcoblix, a fiend capable of exerting control over victims

  while they are asleep. But given his residence, my best guess

  would be that he's a viviblix, a being with the power to temporarily

  reanimate the dead. Like the vampires of legend,

  blixes connect with their victims through a bite. All varieties

  of blixes are highly uncommon, and here you are, with

  one just a few miles from your home!

  And you want us to break into his mortuary! Kendra

  said.

  My dear, Errol said. Archibald is away. I wouldn't

  dream of sending you anywhere near his funeral home if it

  were otherwise. It would be far too perilous.

  Will he have zombie guards? Seth asked.

  Errol spread his gloved hands. If he is a viviblix, there

  may be a few reanimated corpses about. Nothing we can't

  handle.

  There has to be some other way to deal with the

  kobold, Kendra muttered nervously.

  None that I know of, Errol said. Archibald will return

  tomorrow. After that, we can forget about procuring the figurine.

  The three of them sat in silence, looking down the street

  at the gloomy windows of the funeral home. It was an old style

  mansion with a covered porch, a circular driveway, and

  a large garage. The lighted sign out front provided the only

  illumination besides the moonlight.

  At last Kendra b
roke the silence. I don't feel good

  about this.

  Oh, toughen up, Seth said. It won't be so bad.

  I'm glad to hear you say that, Seth, Errol said. Because

  you will have to go into the house alone.

  Seth swallowed. You're not coming with us?

  Nor Kendra, Errol said. You're not yet fourteen, correct?

  Right, Seth said.

  Protective spells guarding the home will prevent anybody

  over the age of thirteen from entering, Errol

  explained. But they neglected to make it childproof.

  Why not protect it from everybody? Kendra asked.

  The young enjoy an innate immunity to many such

  spells, Errol said. Creating enchantments to divert children

  requires greater skill than erecting barriers to foil adults.

  Almost no magic works on children under the age of eight.

  The natural immunity diminishes as they age.

  For the first time since entering the van, Kendra was

  amused. Seth looked as sober as she had ever seen him. No

  matter what the circumstances, it was always a pleasure to

  see him have to eat his words. He shifted in his seat and

  glanced at her.

  Okay, well, what do I do? he said. The bravado had

  faded.

  Seth, don't- Kendra began.

  No, he said, holding up his hand. Leave the dirty

  work to me. Just tell me what to do.

  Errol unscrewed the cap of a small bottle. An eyedropper

  was attached to the cap. First, we need to sharpen your

  vision. These drops will work like the milk you drank at

  Fablehaven. Tilt your head back.

  Seth obeyed. Errol leaned forward, placed a finger under

  Seth's right eyelid to pull it down, and squeezed out a drop.

  Blinking wildly, Seth recoiled. Whoa! Seth complained.

  What is that, hot sauce?

  It tingles a little, Errol said.

  It burns like acid! Seth wiped tears from the afflicted

  eye.

  Other eye, Errol said.

  Don't you have any milk?

  Sorry, fresh out. Hold still, it will only take a second.

  So would branding my tongue!

  Isn't the first eye already feeling better? Errol inquired.

  I guess so. Maybe I can just look out of one eye.

  I can't send you in there blind to the dangers you might

  face, Errol said.

  Here, let me do it. Seth accepted the eyedropper from

  Errol. With his untreated eye squinted almost shut, Seth put

  a drop on the eyelashes. Blinking, he grimaced and growled.

  Of course, the one person who doesn't need these is too old

  to help out.

  Kendra shrugged.

  I use the drops every morning, Errol said. You get