Chapter 26

chapter twenty-six Bardle moves like an old man as he slips down from Rover and waddles toward us. He looks the cage up and down, then wraps his hand around the lock. His eyes close and he focuses. A moment later, the lock drops. The door swings open. "Magic," Dirk grunts. "Neat." In a flash, I'm out, whipping the Louisville Slicer over my shoulder. June screams at me to stop, but I can't. Quint's terrified face flashes across the inside of my eyelids. "No," Bardle says flatly. I look at him for a long moment. I have to believe him—no other choice. I slowly lower the Louisville Slicer. "Do you know what Thrull is up to? And why he stole my best bud?" He nods.

"Then why did you deny it?!" I ask. "We told you about the zombies with their brains sucked out, but you said you knew nothing!" "Because I had only just begun to suspect that Thrull was a servant of .e...c.. You must understand—even though we all came here from the same world, we know each other no better than you

might know a stranger whom you encounter. I was the first to come to Joe's Pizza after Thrull. I stumbled upon him. He welcomed me. I did not yet realize who he was or what he would do. "When you mentioned undead humans with their brains removed, my suspicions were raised. I suspected a Tree of Entry. I began to investigate. But I did not know for certain until this very moment." I'm steaming. "Jack, would you like to continue arguing or would you like to save your friend?" Bardle asks. "And your world?" "Save his friend and save the world," June says, jumping in. "That's his answer: save the friend, save the world. Trust me." Dirk is downing a huge bottle of water and the color is returning to his face. "So what now?" he asks after he swallows. "We can get the other monsters from Joe's," Bardle says. "They will all take up the fight. Only the insane worship .e...c.."

I shake my head. There's no time for that. I take quick strides toward Rover. "Jack, what are you doing?" June asks. "I'm getting back Quint. I'm stopping Thrull." "Well, we're coming!" June exclaims. "Thrull took Big Mama. We can't all go." "Rover can carry the four of us." I'm going alone. I've done enough harm. I've doomed my best friend. I've doomed the WORLD! I'm not dooming you, too, "You cannot stop him alone," Bardle says. "Watch me." Dirk plants his feet in a wide stance, blocking my way. "We're coming, bro."

I tug on Rover's reins and he trots around Dirk and toward the gate. I turn back and give my friends a final look, and then, "Rover, HEE-YA!" Rover gallops forward, but suddenly— The ground trembles. The grass beneath the tree house splits and giant chunks of earth slide and crack. All around the base of the tree, the yard swells and the water in our moat pool splashes. "What's happening?" Dirk shouts. Tossed to the ground, I quickly sprint back to my friends, tugging on Rover's collar. We huddle together as the grass explodes— "The Wormungulous! What's he doing here?!" June asks. She staggers back.

Rover dashes past me and darts over to the Wormungulous. They sort of wrestle, Rover hopping all around the other monster. Rover's neck turns, like he's trying to show the worm where to go. Bardle smiles as he sees the creature. "It is an ūň§...oe.." The worm makes a sound like a cow. Like an underground cow. Remind me—Underground Cow: great name for a rock band. The worm dives beneath the surface again. "Hey, where's he going?" June asks. "You're messing up my garden, worm!" Dirk hollers. The Wormungulous appears again. The tree tilts to the side and lifts up, out of the ground. Worm tentacles grab hold of the tree roots like they're interlocking fingers, connecting with them, joining, so that soon I can barely see where the worm ends and the tree begins. Dirt erupts, filling the air with brown bits that throw me into a coughing fit. The Wormungulous's