The Gravity Keeper by Michael Reisman

those birds flying off!”
    Simon frowned. All but one, he thought. All but the spy. Just then, the sound of angry voices broke out farther down the path.
    â€œI hear something growly, like a lion speaking English!” Owen said.
    Alysha frowned. “Yeah, it sounds pretty creepy.”
    Simon shuddered at the mean-sounding voice. “Who talks like that?”
    â€œWhy don’t we guess after we hide for a bit?” Owen asked. “Just to be sure.”
    Simon glanced at the bird, which clearly nodded, like it was agreeing with Owen. “Okay. Let’s go behind those bushes, just in case.”
    The trio stepped out of the clearing. Owen winced at every crumpling leaf or crackling branch until they crouched down behind a row of thick bushes. They peeked through the branches and watched the clearing.
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    I focused my attention closer to the entrance to the woods. Mermon Veenie was walking along, neatly dressed in a tailored blue suit. The fact that he wasn’t wearing a raincoat meant he must not have come through the Gateway.
    Oddly, he seemed to be talking to himself. He was gesturing, too, but I could see nobody around him. Then I thought of the hooded figure, and once again, as if my thoughts had conjured him up, he appeared in that long, black hooded coat, walking alongside Veenie.
    â€œI watched carefully at the crash site, Sir,” Mermon said in his gruff, gravelly voice. “Eldonna took nothing. I don’t see how she could have the Book. You searched his coat and I checked his office. Nothing. It can only be here.”
    The booming voice split the air in response to Veenie. “Of course it must be here. It was my idea to come, wasn’t it?”
    Simon, Alysha, and Owen covered their mouths to keep from crying out. To them, the hooded figure had appeared out of nowhere when his voice rang out.
    â€œYes, Sir,” Mermon said. “Sorry, Sir. Since we’re alone in Dunkerhook Woods, could you please take the hood off? It makes your voice so loud.”
    The hooded figure shook his head. “No. I prefer to remain hooded for now so I can avoid that Dunkerhook Breeze.”
    Mermon frowned. “But, Sir…wouldn’t the Breeze help with your pain?”
    The hooded figure snaked gloved hands under his thick coat sleeves and scratched at his arms. I caught a glimpse of them: they were slender and coated in tattoos of varying colors. “My pain is considerable, yes. But it is a burden I have chosen: a badge of pride. And I will be able to lessen it soon enough, once I have the Book.”
    They arrived at the clearing. “I shall begin looking by Ralfagon’s stump,” the hooded figure said. “Perhaps he had some secret storage spot there.”
    â€œYou are probably right, Sir. Funny thing, though—I am certain I heard a man near the accident site say something about a vacuum cleaner bag. Was that from something you did, Sir?”
    There was a long pause as the deep, dark hood opening was fixed upon Mermon. “Veenie, you fool!” the echoing voice boomed. “You just now mention this to me?”
    Mermon’s harsh voice struggled to sound apologetic. “Sir, I didn’t notice anything important about it!”
    â€œThe smell of a vacuum cleaner bag, where there was clearly no vacuum cleaner, could only be the stink of time and space bending! Ralfagon’s last conscious act must have been to send the Book away through space and time. It could be anywhere. Worse, it could be any when !”
    Mermon hung his head, quivering with fear. Whoever this hooded figure was, his power was enough to terrify the vicious Veenie. “I am so sorry, Sir, I had no idea. My formula has nothing to do with time or space. How could I know?”
    The hooded figure nodded. “Yes, yes. Your ignorance is astounding. Ralfagon kept the greatest powers hidden from his Order, which is why you are aiding me, isn’t