The Trap by Michael Grant Page B

bricks and chunks of tower and mismatched bits of crenellation.
    She hit the next tower, smashed through it, hit the top of the wall beyond, rolled along the crenellations, came loose, flew some more, hit the top of a mountain, took the top of the mountain with her, and disappeared from view.
    The hurricane ended as suddenly as it had begun.
    Shen Long’s stomach was still big. But not as big.
    Xiao swept down from the sky and landed on his shoulder. “Uncle! Thanks!”
    â€œAnything for my favorite niece,” Shen Long said in a more subdued voice. “Besides, I can’t stand that princess. She’s as rotten as her mother.”
    â€œIs she dead?” Mack asked.
    Xiao jumped in to do quick introductions.
    â€œNo, Mack, she’s not dead. Not even killed,” Shen Long said regretfully. “But it will take her a while to put herself back together. You’d better get going. She won’t fall for the same thing twice.”
    â€œActually, Uncle, I was wondering if you could give us a ride.”
    â€œA ride?” Shen Long scratched his chin with one five-clawed foot. “Where to?”
    â€œGermany,” Mack said. “Some place called the Egge Rocks or Externsteine.”
    â€œExternsteine?” Shen Long looked troubled.
    â€œOr the nearest airport,” Mack said. “I know it’s a long way.”
    Xiao, human once again, gave Mack a significant look. In a whisper she said, “The problem is not the distance. It’s the memories.”
    Shen Long looked stricken. His jovial face was sad and creased with worry. He seemed to have decided what direction Germany was in and was staring that way, but with eyes that saw something else entirely.
    â€œShe wouldn’t even remember me,” Shen Long said softly.
    â€œNo one could ever forget you, Uncle. But it was a long time ago.”
    â€œI will take you,” Shen Long said reluctantly. “But I am not hanging around. Otherwise she’ll think I came to see her.”
    â€œAs you wish, Uncle,” Xiao said.
    The dragon lay as flat as he could, and Xiao, followed by Mack, Jarrah, and Stefan, climbed up his side and onto his back. Like all Chinese dragons, he rose effortlessly, and headed away from the sun.
    â€œWhat was all that about?” Mack asked. He was trying not to think about what would happen if he fell off. Shen Long was gaining altitude pretty quickly. Soon they were brushing the undersides of the clouds.
    â€œAn old love of my uncle’s. Her name was Nott.”
    â€œNot what?”
    â€œNott. Just Nott.”
    Mack waited as long as he could before asking, “Not what?”
    â€œNott. That was her name. Nott.”
    â€œIs that a joke?” Mack asked. “Like one of those ‘not’ jokes? Like if I said, ‘I like your dress . . . not.’”
    â€œWhat’s the matter with my dress?” Xiao asked, a little irritated.
    Leaning forward, Jarrah asked, “Not what?”
    â€œNot a what, a who,” Mack explained to Jarrah. “Nothing!” he answered Xiao’s question.
    â€œOkay, then,” Jarrah said. “Not who?”
    â€œAre we there yet?” Stefan asked.
    â€œI think Nott was Shen Long’s girlfriend,” Mack yelled back to Jarrah. The wind was fierce and cold now that Shen Long was picking up speed.
    â€œThen what’s this about nothing?” Jarrah asked.
    â€œIt’s not about nothing,” Mack said. “It’s about Nott.”
    There was a moment or two of silence. Then Jarrah said, “You know, I could push you right off this dragon’s back.”
    Mack thought that over for a second or two then said, “I’d prefer you not. Heh.”
    And so the first three of the Magnificent Twelve flew aboard a pot-bellied dragon into the west. And Stefan was there, too.
    Mack leaned close to Stefan, not wanting the others to hear him. “Dude, we’re