Redeemed by Margaret Peterson Haddix Page B

on? What did you do with Mom and Dad? What are you trying to manipulate Jonahand Katherine and me into doing? Why are you being so mean?”
    Second held up his hand.
    â€œI assure you, there is a point to everything I’m doing,” he said. “I worry about you, little Jordan.”
    Jordan thought about telling him that absolutely no thirteen-year-old in the universe liked being called “little.” But he held himself back.
    â€œYou see,” Second went on, “you’re so callow . Oh dear, have I maybe used a word that you don’t even know?”
    Of course Jordan was not going to admit that he’d never heard of the word “callow.”
    â€œThat means inexperienced,” Second said. “Immature. Naturally, you are just thirteen, but you’ve also led such a sheltered life. Those parents of yours—”
    â€œDon’t you say anything bad about my parents!” Jordan muttered.
    â€œAh, yes, loyalty—what a good trait!” Second cooed. “I’m just saying that they’ve made the choice that many of their time and place do: In their attempts to raise you wisely and well, they’ve perhaps kept you too ignorant of what we might call the seamier side of human existence.”
    Jordan had no desire to discuss how his parents had raised him.
    â€œThat has nothing to do with time travel or your lies or anything that matters right now!” he complained.
    If he slid forward so gradually that Second didn’t notice, could he perhaps grab a real, working Elucidator from Second and make Second freeze and then force the man to tell Jordan where his parents were and how Jordan could rescue them?
    No—that would require Jordan actually being able to recognize a real, working Elucidator.
    â€œTell me the truth!” Jordan demanded.
    Second sighed. “This is not all an elaborate setup,” he said. “Just . . . partially. I did place that button in your cubicle. For your benefit, I might add. But Markiel Katun, Doreen Smith, and Liam Gonzalez really do work for Interchronological Rescue, the, shall we say, erstwhile employer of your unreasonably detested Gary and Hodge. I mean, contemptible as they are, those two really did save you and your twin from starving to death during the depths of the Great Depression—”
    â€œStop trying to change the subject!” Jordan said. “I don’t care about ancient history—just tell me about what affects now.”
    â€œAh, but is any history really all that ancient?” Second asked. “Doesn’t every moment from the past affect the present?”
    This man was more annoying than any history teacher Jordan had ever had.
    â€œI just want my parents back,” Jordan said. “I just want my family back, and my regular life. . . . And okay, if there’s some danger that all of time is going to end, I’d like to help stop it, if I can. . . .”
    â€œNaiveté,” Second said. “Such a combination of blessing and curse.”
    Did this man do anything but speak in riddles? And mess with people’s minds?
    Second smiled, almost as if he knew what Jordan was thinking.
    â€œLucky for you,” Second said, “I’m going to let you have one other family member help you achieve the tasks ahead of you. Which would you choose?”
    â€œDad,” Jordan said instantly. Then he reconsidered. “Though, I guess if it’s their kid versions, maybe it should be Mom. Or really, even Katherine would be all right.”
    He wasn’t going to admit that Katherine might be more useful than either of his parents right now.
    â€œEnnnhhh,” Second said, making a sound like a buzzer signaling a mistake. “You’re missing the obvious choice. Look over there.”
    Second pointed across the room, toward the corner cubicle farthest from Jordan. The walls of the cubiclebegan to glow slightly. Then