Chapter 3

Chapter 3 WHEN ADVENTURE CALLS, ANSWER! ADVENTURE WON'T LEAVE YOU A WOICE MAIL. After school, Jodi donned her headset and immediately found herself in the game. She stretched her cube-y arms and then walked a short distance from the castle she and her friends had built. While they waited for Po to finish practice and join them, Jodi had time to start on a new sculpture.

It had been about a week since they'd completed the castle. It was an impressive build, and Jodi was proud of it. They all were. But Minecraft wasn't about sitting still. Once the castle was done, they had started new projects. For Jodi, that meant a sculpture park. So far she'd created an obelisk out of cobblestone, an Easter Island–style head out of cobblestone, and a big floating cube…out of cobblestone.

Cobblestone and dirt were the two materials they had in large supply. And she was iffy on using the dirt. Her next project would be a huge staircase that went higher than the castle. But it would be a floating staircase. There would be no way for a person to get on it. They would have to admire it from a distance. She started with a base of dirt, which she would clear away later. She had only just begun placing the cobblestone when Morgan and the others approached. "I'VE GOT AN IDEA," her brother said. "I think we should go looking for the Evoker King." Jodi turned her cube head in surprise. "You do?" she asked. "I thought we were supposed to beware him." "'BEWARE' DOESN'T TRADITIONALLY MEAN 'GO LOOK FOR,' "Harper agreed. "I know what it means," Morgan said. "If he's

so dangerous…and he's out there…is waiting for him to find us a good idea?" "But that's why we built the castle," said Harper. "It's meant to protect us." "The castle can keep mobs out," said Morgan. "I'm worried this EVOKER KING might be something else." Ash narrowed her eyes. "You think the Evoker King is another player, don't you?" "It makes sense," Morgan said. "Someone at our school took the sixth headset. They must be using it to enter the game, right?" Jodi wasn't sure. "SO YOU THINK THE GOGGLE THIEF, THE OBSIDIAN THIEF, AND THE EVOKER

KING ARE ALL THE SAME PERSON? But why warn us about the Evoker King if they are the Evoker King?" "Maybe to mess with us," Morgan answered. "Or to keep us from wandering into their territory. There's only one way to find out." "I want to see more of this world, anyway," said Ash. "AND WE DID PROMISE DOC WE'D GATHER MORE INFORMATION," said Harper. "We can't really do that if we stay in one place." Jodi looked wistfully at the castle and its sculpture park. "BUT I ONLY JUST STARTED MY MASTERPIECE," she complained, gesturing at the base she'd built for her floating staircase. She added dramatically, "I was going to call it Don't Stair into the Sun." Ash smiled. "We'll set up camp again eventually," she said. "I'm sure you'll have a chance to build it." Jodi sighed. "Yeah. The truth is that I could really use some new materials. I HAVEN'T SEEN ANY SANDSTONE. And as for wood, it's all oak here. I'd love to find new stuff." "So it's agreed?" Morgan said. "We should wait for Po to make it unanimous," said Ash. "But I'm sure he'll be up for

an adventure." Just then, as if summoned, Po came around the corner. Today he looked like a shepherd. "Hey, there you are!" he said. "Basketball practice was canceled because Doc herded all the bats into the gym! They're sleeping in the rafters. I got here a few minutes ago and couldn't find anybody." "Don't get too comfortable," Harper said. "We've taken a vote. We all think we should leave the castle to see what else is out there." "Aw, man," Po said. "BUT I JUST DYED THE