Chapter 19

chapter nineteen "June's right, friend," says Quint. "We may not have a choice. This is the only path through without losing days, maybe weeks." But I'm still not sure about this. It can't be a coincidence that, like, the entire world has been carved and arranged to lead us straight here. "We could turn back. Find back roads that lead around," I say. "Or maybe, like, underroads?" "Tunnels," June says. "Those are called tunnels." Softly, Quint says, "Jack, if you really think it's the wrong idea, we can turn back." I know the importance of what awaits, but that doesn't mean I wanna go. I can't let fear guide this decision, though. I swallow. "It's OK. I'm in. Dirk, drive." He hits the gas, and Big Mama jerks forward. We rumble down the long, strange path. Soon,

we can see a building up ahead: dark and ominous. "Wait! I know this place!" Dirk shouts. "It's the Museum of Histories and Ancient Antiquities! This was on my dad's road trip list. Which is weird—he was not a museum guy." "He was more of a gift shop guy, right?" I ask. "Huh?" Dirk says. "Sorry, nevermind, carry on," I murmur. "I just can't think of a reason why he'd want to come here," Dirk says quietly. I snort. "You don't say...." Big Mama rumbles forward. The vines crowd around the museum on both sides, and the path stops at the entrance. The closer we get, the more uneasy I feel—until a sense of dread nearly consumes me.

Big Mama thuds up the massive steps toward the main entrance, flanked by huge columns. My stomach is in ropes. Dirk shifts gears and steers us forward. The truck nudges open the huge doors. And just like that, we're pushing through, into the museum. Inside, the place is enormous, with high ceilings and marble floors. We pass a ticket booth by the entrance, and I can just make out a coat check behind the far wall.

Dirk eases us forward slowly, but then... KA-SLAM! Something explodes behind us. I thrust my head out the window, just in time to see a huge sculpture of a pale dude toppling over. It smashes—and blocks the front entrance. "Well, I guess there's no turning back now," Dirk says with a sigh. "Only way out," June says, "is through...." "If this didn't feel like a trap before..." I mutter. This is usually the moment where Quint would get all excited about having an entire museum to himself—but still wouldn't let me touch the stuff that says no touching. But Quint is quiet. We all are. Big Mama rumbles forward. We're passing the gift shop—it looks like a good gift shop, but I don't even consider going in. Though I do lean down to grab a Space Ice Cream display, using the Cosmic Hand's sticky suckers to easily snag it, Wet Bandit style. I lift it into Big Mama and packs spill across the floor.

We all tear open wrappers as Dirk turns a corner. The food seems to calm us some.... It isn't nearly as good as real ice cream, but in a world where real ice cream is basically extinct, it tastes like the best triple fudge brownie sundae you ever had. You know, I think it's better, better than real ice cream. Don't be absurd. I prefer Dippin dots. That calmness fizzles out as we come to a large hallway. Darkness stretches in both directions. "There's something about this place that doesn't feel right," Quint says softly. "Something, buddy?" I say. "How about everything."

"No," he responds. "I mean something that I've overlooked...." Dirk goes left. "We need a directory," June says. "To find the quickest way through the museum. Quickest way to the exit." Leaving the entrance hall, I suddenly think I hear something behind us. But it's hard to tell over the sound of my own chewing. It's like eating popcorn at the movies—you wanna hear what's going on, but your brain just keeps hearing your own dumb chomping teeth. I stop chewing, mouth open—listening. And the sound is gone. Or maybe it was never there.... So, I continue again. Then stop again. And that time, for sure, I hear it. "Drive faster, Dirk," I say. "Please." "Can't go any faster," Dirk says. "We're driving through a building. And most of these, uh, whaddya call 'em... rooms?" "Galleries," June says.