The Golden Wasp Read online

  Keeah nodded. “Yes. Thank you, Portentia.”

  The stone seemed to smile. “No, dear, thank you. I don’t get many visitors. And now, for a big finish. GO! PORTENTIA HAS SPOKEN!”

  Kla-bamm! Thunder clapped overhead, and one last rain of tiny pebbles splattered the kids.

  They turned and made their way to the path.

  “I like Portentia,” Neal said as they neared the edge of the forest. “She talks like my grandma.”

  “I wonder what she meant,” said Keeah. “ ‘The future of Droon is found in a tune’?”

  “Maybe we should all whistle,” Neal said.

  Eric was quiet. His father was in Plud. Sparr’s fortress. Sparr’s terrible, horrible home.

  Keeah glanced at him, then hurried quickly along the path. “Come on,” she said. “Plud is in the dark lands. We’ll hurry —”

  Suddenly, she stopped. She turned.

  “What’s wrong?” Julie asked, looking around.

  “Lions?” Neal said. “Tigers? Bears? Sparr?”

  Keeah stared into the thick trees. “The door to the past!” she said. “I … I … oh, my gosh!”

  Without another word, Keeah raced deep into the forest. The three friends looked at one another.

  “I guess we follow her,” said Eric.

  A chill wind blew swiftly through the trees.

  “I guess we follow her fast!” cried Neal.

  Eric, Julie, and Neal gasped when they saw it.

  A cottage.

  It was small and overgrown and nestled between two giant pine trees. A third tree twisted up out of the roof. A small room was built into its limbs, almost like a tree house.

  “Where’s Goldilocks?” Neal joked.

  Julie chuckled. “If you mean Keeah, she just went inside. Maybe we should follow her. Who knows what’s in there?”

  When they entered the house, Keeah was flitting around, touching everything in sight. It seemed as if she had found something that had been lost for a long time.

  “What is this place?” asked Neal.

  But Eric guessed. “Keeah grew up here.”

  “Yes!” Keeah exclaimed. “This was my home when I was small. My mother and father and I lived here for a while. I had nearly forgotten it.”

  Inside was a single room, neatly swept but deserted. It looked as if no one had been there for ages. A table sat in the middle, with three chairs around it. In one corner, a set of narrow stairs curved its way to the upper room in the tree.

  “Oh, I had such fun here,” said Keeah.

  “Wow,” said Neal. “Talk about a door to the past. I guess Portentia was right about that.”

  “I hope she’s right about my dad being safe,” Eric said. “He probably won’t be for long —”

  “My room! My room!” Keeah said, spying the staircase in the corner and rushing to it.

  She flew up the steps as if she had wings.

  “I love to see her like this,” Julie said.

  Eric nodded. But he couldn’t get his dad out of his mind. His father was in danger. And Sparr was up to something. Something big and bad.

  The wind rustled noisily through the trees.

  Eric went to the window. “Those Ninns are still out there. I know they are.”

  At home, at night, he would hear noises in the backyard. His father always took a look. It was never anything bad, just cats or something.

  “We should go,” he said. “Portentia told us —”

  Suddenly — plong! bling! thrum! — strange music sounded in the upper room.

  Then — thomp! thomp! — the ceiling quaked.

  Then — “Help!”

  “It’s Keeah!” cried Neal, dashing up the stairs.

  Keeah was backed against the bed in the tiny room. She was clutching a small, bow-shaped musical instrument. Her eyes were wide with fear. “I just touched this harp and … look!”

  Thomp! Thomp! A metal candlestick marched heavily across the floor toward her.

  Cloppety! Cloppety! A small stool had stretched its legs and was coming at her, too.

  Finally, the little rug on the floor began to wrap itself tightly around Keeah’s feet.

  “It was my mother’s harp,” Keeah said. “I don’t know how to play it! And I don’t know what it’s doing!”

  Neal grabbed the rug, but it twisted away, yanking him off his feet. It jumped on him.

  “Hey!” he protested. “I stand on rugs, they don’t stand on me!”

  The candlestick began stomping on Eric’s feet.

  “Ouch!” he howled. “Keeah, play something!”

  “I’ll try!” she said. She touched the strings.

  The harp played what almost sounded like a tune. Thrum! Bling! Pong! Bwang!

  The candlestick jerked to a halt. The stool stopped dancing. The rug fell limp on Neal.

  “Whoa!” said Neal. “Good choice of tunes.”

  Everyone stared at the harp.

  Keeah touched it again lightly. “It’s called a bowharp. I had no idea it had powers.”

  “Maybe this is what you were supposed to find,” Julie said. “ ‘The future of Droon is found in a tune.’ That’s what Portentia said.”

  “Well, I hope dancing furniture isn’t the future of Droon!” said Keeah.

  “Maybe it’ll help us when we get to Plud,” said Neal.

  Keeah smiled. “If I ever learn to play it.”

  “And if we ever get there,” said Eric. “Can we please get going soon?”

  The princess jumped to her feet. “You’re right. We’ve stayed here long enough. Let’s go.”

  She slung the harp over her shoulder, and they all piled out of the small cottage.

  Keeah patted the door as she closed it. “I’ll be back,” she said. Then she turned. “Plud is in the dark lands. We have a lot of ground to cover.”

  “Plud,” said Neal with a snort. “Take a left at No Good and head straight for Evil.”

  “Sounds inviting … not,” said Julie.

  Eric breathed deeply. “Let’s get moving.”

  Without another word, the four friends headed down the path and out of the forest.

  Two hours later, they started up a jagged range of steep hills. As they climbed, the ground turned darker and darker. Scattered trees stood like bony hands scratching at the sky.

  The air grew smoky and foggy and foul.

  “Let me guess, the dark lands?” asked Julie.

  “I knew I smelled something bad,” said Neal.

  They crossed over a sharp ridge and stopped.

  Below them stood a vast frozen lake. Next to it, a black castle. Lightning crackled overhead. Cold rain began to pelt down from the sky.

  “Sparr’s evil fortress,” Keeah said. “Once you go in, it’s hard to leave.”

  Eric shivered when he thought of Sparr’s latest prisoner.

  The dark turrets and twisted towers of Lord Sparr’s giant castle jutted to the sky. Troops of red-faced Ninn soldiers marched back and forth across the walls.

  “Real cozy,” said Julie. “Come on. Let’s sneak in and out before Sparr even knows —”

  Crack! A twig broke behind them.

  “Ninns!” Neal gasped. In a blur of speed, he shot up a tree. Julie jetted up right behind him.

  Keeah and Eric hustled up, too. They all huddled quietly in the branches, waiting for Ninns.

  But Ninns didn’t come.

  Hrrr! A shaggy pilka tramped over the hills toward them. On its back was a large man with a horned helmet. Behind him rode a purple, pillow-shaped creature. Next came a fox-eared king wearing a green crown.

  “I can’t believe it!” Keeah whispered. “It’s my father. And Khan. And Batamogi! What in the world are they doing here?”

  The entire procession of Droon’s majesties trotted slowly up the hill.

  “Maybe they’re on their way to Zorfendorf?” said Julie.

  Eric gaped at the procession. “But isn’t Zorfendorf hundreds of miles away?”

>   “Yes!” Keeah said. “Father! Father! Up here!”

  King Zello rode on.

  “Hey, Khan!” yelled Neal. “How’s it going?”

  None of the majesties looked up.

  “Why won’t they answer?” Julie asked.

  “They don’t hear us,” Eric said. “Or see us.”

  Suddenly, Batamogi burst into loud laughter.

  “Shhh!” said Julie. “Plud is just over the hill!”

  Then the kings broke into song.

  “In Zorfendorf’s bright summer sun,

  We’ll have our feast of joy and fun!”

  “Bright summer sun?” Neal squinted at the rainy sky overhead. “Am I missing something?”

  “No,” said Keeah sharply. “They’re imagining sunlight. They’re under a spell. They’ve been tricked into coming here! They think that Plud … is Zorfendorf!”

  Julia gasped. “That creepy no-face guy! Sparr sent him to shoot sparks at everyone in Jaffa City. He’s the one who put the spell on them.”

  “If only I knew how to play this harp!” said Keeah.

  Thomp! Thomp! A troop of Sparr’s heavy-footed, red-faced Ninns marched after the procession, grunting to one another as they went.

  The kings and queens kept singing, as if they didn’t even see the Ninns.

  “Why does Sparr want them?” Eric asked.

  Keeah shook her head, then she began to tremble. “Oh, no! He wants to … to … set the Wasp on them! To control their minds!”

  The kids watched as the procession traveled over the hill to the fortress. Lightning flashed, and the rain came down even harder.

  “We need to get down there,” said Eric. “We’ve got a bunch of people to rescue now.”

  Making sure they stayed out of sight, the kids jogged quickly between the trees and down to the shore of the frozen lake.

  Soon they were at Plud’s rear gate. Julie crept over with Neal and pulled it open.

  Inside, the thomping of Ninn feet mixed with the eerie echoes of the kings’ song.

  “They’re going to the main court,” Keeah whispered as they entered a dimly lit passage.

  “Great,” said Eric. “Sparr’s living room.”

  They edged up two narrow flights of damp stairs, then along a dark hall to an open balcony.

  They crouched behind the balcony railing. Below them stood a large, empty room. It was dark and cold and dreary. The walls were black.

  “Okay, now what?” said Julie peering down.

  “A spell spell,” said Keeah, giving the kids a little smile. “I’ve always wanted to try one. It allows you to see what a spell is like but not be under it. Hold my hands.” They did.

  Then Keeah whispered, “Empa — tempa —roo!”

  A cool, tingling sensation passed from Keeah to the others. A moment later —

  Der-der! A trumpet blast announced the guests, and a brilliant flash of light illuminated the great hall.

  “Holy crow!” Eric gasped softly.

  A fire blazed suddenly in the hearth. Wall torches and candles shed golden light everywhere, making the giant room bright and cheery.

  “Sparr is making the place beautiful!” said Julie.

  Each high wall was hung with a rich tapestry showing one of the great castles of Droon.

  In between, the stones bloomed with festive holly boughs, their red berries dotting the spiky leaves like rubies.

  The center of the room was filled by a long wooden table. On it were platters heaped with food and goblets brimming with drinks.

  “This is exactly what Zorfendorf looks like,” Keeah said. “Down to the last detail. This must be what my father and the others are seeing.”

  “And here they come!” Neal announced.

  Garlands of red and gold ribbons fluttered over the doors, and the majesties entered. King Zello strode in at the head of the line. Beside him walked a tall, slender, green-furred creature.

  “That’s Ortha, queen of the Bangledorn monkeys,” Keeah whispered. “And following her is Mashta, flying empress of the sand children.”

  Soon the leaders of every clan and tribe in Droon were assembled in the great room.

  Following them was a small army of young serving people. They carried even more platters overflowing with fruits and meats.

  “I wonder if that food’s real,” Neal whispered.

  “Ah, Zorfendorf Castle!” boomed King Zello, taking his seat near the head of the table. “My home away from home! And where is our splendid young host, Prince Zorfendorf?”

  All the guests raised their silver goblets, clanked them together, and called for their host.

  “Prince Zorfendorf!” the crowd cheered.

  The trumpets sounded again. Everyone turned to the door. The hall rang out with louder cheers as a handsome young man entered.

  “It’s him!” Keeah gasped, trembling.

  “How can you tell?” said Julie.

  “I can tell,” Neal sneered. “It’s yucko himself. Lord Sparr!”

  It was Sparr. But he didn’t look like himself.

  He appeared young and handsome. He was dressed in a bright green tunic, a red sash, and black boots. Even the weird fins that normally grew behind his ears were missing.

  He grinned as he entered the hall.

  “He looks like a TV star!” Julie whispered.

  “Yeah,” said Eric. “The star of The Evil Show!”

  Sparr greeted his guests happily. “Kings and queens of Droon! You have come to welcome Droon’s glorious summer!”

  Cheers rose from the crowd. “Here! Here!”

  “But first, let us welcome someone else,” the sorcerer went on. “I want you to put your hands together for … Lord Sparr!”

  The crowd went silent. Then Khan laughed. “Surely you’re joking! Welcome that evil man?”

  Sparr said nothing.

  King Zello put down his goblet. “We will never welcome Sparr! Besides, the fiend is in Plud!”

  The sorcerer grinned. “And so, my dear king, are you!” He waved his hands over the room.

  Before anyone could move —

  Blam! Blam! The doors slammed shut.

  Sparr’s own handsome face fell away to reveal his usual ugly features. His ear fins flared from purple to rich, deep red.

  The bright candles and torch flames flashed, then went out. The colorful tapestries ripped into tattered black cloth, drooping on the walls.

  “What is happening?” Queen Ortha cried out.

  Sparr laughed as the bright green holly shriveled into weeds. The platters vanished, and in their place appeared a gold cage covered by a black cloth.

  Finally, the troop of young serving people spun around and became an army of Ninn guards.

  “The spell is broken,” Keeah said, letting go of everyone’s hands. “Everyone sees the truth.”

  “Free us this instant!” demanded King Zello. He reached for his sword.

  Two Ninns seized the king tightly.

  “Him go to dungeon? With wizard and troll and man in strange clothes?” one Ninn asked.

  “Strange clothes?” Eric whispered. “My dad!”

  “No, no,” the sorcerer replied, smiling coldly. “I have a gift for King Zello! Wraith, come here!”

  As if it took shape from the shadows themselves, the faceless wraith suddenly appeared.

  “Oooh, I don’t like that guy,” Julie whispered.

  The wraith pulled the cloth from the cage on the table. Inside was a large gold insect, humming loudly. Its sleek wings flicked rapidly on the cage walls.

  “The Golden Wasp!” Keeah hissed.

  “We have to get down there,” Julie said.

  “Not yet,” the princess replied. “We’re outnumbered. We need to free these prisoners first. We need all the help we can get.”

  “Evil creature!” King Zello shouted. “You shall not harm us!” But before he could free himself, Sparr opened the cage.

  “Wasp … strike!” Sparr commanded.

&nb
sp; The insect fluttered its wings and shot over to the king. Zello struggled to escape, but the Wasp struck like lightning. Its tail curled and flicked the king sharply on the forehead.

  Keeah winced as her father staggered back.

  “What about the harp?” asked Eric. “Can’t we use its magic now?”

  “I don’t know what powers it has,” Keeah said. “What if I make things worse?”

  Suddenly, King Zello straightened up. He broke into a big smile. “Lord Sparr!” he boomed. “How may I serve my wonderful new master?”

  “This is outrageous!” Batamogi cried. He and Khan ran at Sparr. The Wasp stung them on the way. Ortha, queen of the monkeys, bounded for the door. She was stung before she reached it.

  Again and again, the Wasp attacked, until all the royalty of Droon had been stung.

  Together, they stared at Lord Sparr.

  Together, they bowed before him.

  Together, they spoke in one voice.

  “What would make you happy, Lord Sparr?”

  The sorcerer cast his fiery eyes over the crowd. “In a room far below, I have some gifts for you. You will take them back to your own countries.”

  “Gifts, huh?” whispered Neal. “Something tells me they won’t be fun.”

  “But there is more, my slaves!” Sparr went on. “In my dungeon down below is a man from the Upper World. As long as he is here, I can ascend the stairs. With your help, I shall conquer Droon. With his help, I shall conquer the Upper World! Yes, my slaves! I … shall take his place!”

  Eric nearly choked. “What? What? That … that can’t happen! Take … his … place?”

  The majesties of Droon cheered over and over.

  “Eric …” Keeah’s hand was on his shoulder. Her eyes were moist, but she managed a smile. “It won’t happen, I promise. Let’s go find him. And Max. And Galen.”

  “And my bracelet,” said Julie. “It’s up to us to get things back to normal.”

  “Yeah,” said Neal. “Before Sparr starts moving his stuff into your basement!”

  But as Keeah pulled them along, Eric feared that nothing would ever be normal again.

  Quietly, they hurried down the stairs.

  To the dungeon.

  They entered a dark tunnel under the fortress.