8 Neal and Company

CHAPTER Eight Neal and Company Clomp! Clomp! The Ninns tramped through the halls and out of the palace. Sparr went with them. "Eric!" Keeah ran back into the tower. "I was so scared when you didn't follow me." Eric nodded slowly. "I couldn't move," he said. "Sparr saw me, but… he let me go." Keeah's eyes widened. "Eric, we need to get back to the Guardians. Ro will disappear soon, and we'll disappear with it."

They rushed back to the Guardians' room. The Ninns had gone. Vasa and Bodo were free. "Neal and Julie have gone to see where Sparr is taking the diamonds," Vasa said quickly. "What did you find in the Tower?" Trembling, Keeah handed her paper to them. "Ah, the secrets of Droon's past," Bodo said. Vasa peered over his shoulder and began to translate what Keeah had written. "At the city of Plud, Lord Sparr nearly killed Queen Relna." "But, you see," Bodo went on, "the witch Demither put a curse on Relna. Instead of suffering death, the queen assumed an animal form." Keeah gasped. "An animal? Is it…" "Yes," Bodo said, squinting at the words. "A white bird. A falcon." "I knew it!" Keeah cried, jumping for joy. "That's why the falcon is always there! It's my mother following me, watching over us!" "But Demither told us the queen was in prison," Eric said. "True," Vasa went on. "Such a curse is a kind of prison. But now the queen needs your help if she is ever to be human again. Hers is a dangerous journey, filled with many trials."

Keeah wiped away a tear. "I will help her." "So will we," said Eric, smiling at the princess. Vasa turned to Eric, "And what did you discover?" Eric gulped as he handed the paper to Vasa. "Sparr saw me, but he just… walked away." Bodo glanced at Vasa, then peered through his spectacles at Eric. "And you have a question." Eric nodded. "Does what Quill writes have to happen? I mean, can the future be changed?" "We won't know that until the future becomes the present," said Bodo. Eric frowned. "But…" Suddenly, Julie and Neal rushed into the chamber. "The diamonds are being loaded into Sparr's airship!" Julie said breathlessly. "He looks like he's leaving the city." "And look at me," Neal said. "I'm getting way worse!" He held up his hands. They were both claws now. "Quickly, Neal, stand here," said Vasa, holding Eric's writing up to the light. Together with Keeah, the Guardians began to mumble strange words. "Timbo… limbo… kookimbo!" Poomff! A huge ball of smoke appeared in the chamber. A moment later, Neal walked out. He looked normal. He held up two normal hands. His sneakers were still ripped, but human toes were sticking out.

He broke into a smile. "Yes!" he cried. "I am back!" "Me, too!" cried another voice. Everyone turned to see a second Neal emerge from the smoke. "Uh-oh," said Keeah. Two Neals walked around the room. Twins! "Ah, yes," Vasa said. "This is a normal side effect of the spell. Only temporary. Don't worry." The first Neal smiled. "I always thought two Neals were better than one!" "Slap me five, brother!" said the second. Rrrrr! The walls began to shake. "Ro is turning invisible again," Bodo said. "Go. This way is quickest!" He pointed to a secret door in the chamber. "It leads to the square outside," Vasa added. "Good luck to you all! May you find your mother, Princess. And farewell to you, Neal." "Thanks!" said Neal. "Same here!" said the other. Eric, Keeah, Julie, and the two Neals rushed through the door and outside the palace. Clomp! Clomp! The square was crawling with Ninns. They were loading the diamonds into the cargo area of

Sparr's silver ship. "We've got to get those back!" Keeah said. "And I've got to find out why Sparr let me go," Eric whispered. "Does anybody have a plan?" Julie asked. "I've got a plan!" boomed a strange, loud voice from the shadows nearby. "How about we form a human wall and blast our way in!" "Wh-wh-who is that?" Keeah whispered. The shadows stirred and out stepped a large man with bright green armor. He had a helmet with horns on it. He carried two wooden clubs. "Whoa!" one Neal mumbled. "A Viking!" said the other. "No, that's my daddy!" Keeah exclaimed, running to the man and giving him a hug. She twirled around. "Meet my father—King Zello!"

该页暂无翻译