Chapter 8

Chapter 8 SPIDERS: DON'T CALL THEM INSECTS! DON'T CALL THEM FRIENDS! Harper wondered if the VR goggles would work a second time. She still couldn't wrap her mind around the science of how they worked. What if the whole adventure had been some strange dream? She met the others in the computer lab on Monday afternoon. Ms. Minerva was there, reading a book—the kids knew she loved science fiction and fantasy novels—in a little office off to the side. The teacher waved hello to Harper through the glass. Doc Culpepper was nowhere to be seen.

Harper thought their science teacher had probably already moved on to her next project. Most geniuses were like that—they didn't stand still for long. But Harper could never leave a puzzle unsolved. And right now, these goggles were the biggest mystery around. She held her breath and put on the goggles. There was a flash of light. And then she and her friends were back in the burrow. The bed, the torch, the crafting table, and the furnace were just where they'd left them. "COOL." harper SAID. "Way cooler than that tree house," Morgan said. "MORGAN. I'M TRYING TO STICK MY TONGUE OUT AT YOU." said Jodi. "BUT I'M NOT SURE I HAVE A TONGUE HERE."

Harper dug a hole in the dirt wall. Daylight poured into the burrow. "The sun's out," Po said. "WE SHOULD GO EXPLORING." "I agree," Harper said. "I want to see as much as possible. I want to figure this place out!" "I ALREADY KNOW HOW THIS PLACE WORKS." Po said. "IT'S MAGIC." Harper turned toward him. She was going to tell him she didn't believe in magic. But Po was gone. He had been replaced—with a wizard!

"WHO ARE YOU?" Harper asked. "WHAT DID YOU DO WITH Po?" The wizard laughed—with Po's voice. "IT'S ME." he said. "I JUST CHANGED MY SKIN. TA-DA! Want me to show you how?" "NO. THANKS." Harper said. She looked down at her arms and hands. "This whole thing is strange enough. I'd like to stay…me." "SUIT YOURSELF." said Po. Harper stepped through the narrow opening, and the others followed her outside. They climbed to the top of the hill. They couldn't see very far; the hill was surrounded by trees. "WHICH WAY SHOULD WE GO?" asked Morgan. "I SUPPOSE IT DOESN'T MATTER." Harper said. Po stroked his wizard's beard. "AYE. FORSOOTH. THOU ART WISE. MAGIC IS IN THE JOURNEY. NOT THE DESTINATION." Jodi giggled. "Po, why are you talking like that?" "I'M GETTING INTO CHARACTER!" he said.

"I'd give you a thumbs-up," Jodi said, "but, well, you know…" "NO THUMBS." said Po. "I WISH I COULD MAKE A COMPASS." Harper said. "That way we could find our way back here. But I don't have the materials." "WE CAN JUST PACK UP THE BED AND TABLE AND FURNACE AND GO." Morgan said. "If we have the bed, we can exit and come back whenever we want." "LET'S TAKE THE TORCH. TOO." Harper said. "Just in case." "GOODBYE. BURROW." said Jodi. "THANK YOU FOR KEEPING US SAFE FROM ALL THOSE ZOMBIES." "FORSOOTH!" said Po. As they walked, Harper picked up everything she could: Dirt. Flowers. Apples. She knew that anything might prove useful later.

"WHY ARE YOU DOING THAT?" Jodi asked when Harper picked up a sapling. "THIS IS HOW I ALWAYS START A NEW GAME." Harper said. "I GATHER AS MANY RESOURCES AS POSSIBLE." "I'VE NEVER PLAYED SURVIVAL MODE." Jodi admitted. "In Creative, you start with everything you need. And you also don't spend half your time hiding from monsters." Harper said, "EVENTUALLY WE'LL BE ABLE TO CRAFT WEAPONS. AND ARMOR. We won't have to hide forever." "BUT FOR NOW. LET'S BE CAREFUL." said Morgan. "Most hostile mobs spawn at night. But you never know…." "AND WE CAN'T BE SURE THAT THIS PLACE WORKS EXACTLY LIKE A NORMAL GAME OF MINECRAFT." Harper added. "DOC