Chapter 6

chapter six Hello kids The moment I see Evie, my body starts to tremble. I take slow breaths, trying to calm myself—but the calm isn't coming. Watching her power-mad, mock-generous loot monologue was bad. This is worse. Evie says, "I'm trying to remember... when did we last see each other? Oh, right! The ice cream shop. If I

recall, Jack, you were sitting on your butt while your old wizard friend died." Her words hit me right in the gut. I move so instinctively that it takes me a moment to even realize what I'm doing: reaching over my shoulder for the Slicer. The blade is within my grasp, and I feel the Cosmic Hand tug, like a magnet held close to the fridge. My fingers spread wide, about to grab the handle, when— "We're here for Drooler," Dirk says. His voice is steady, but the demand is clear. "Give him." "Ehhh, sorry, not gonna happen," Evie says with a mocking little smile. "But I can show you your little friend." Evie punches a button and a Sbarro security gate lifts open. And there he is: Drooler, inside a cage. A strange cage. It looks like an otherworldly, monster version of some case where museums keep million-dollar diamonds. "DROOLER!" Dirk says. "You OK, buddy?" Drooler squeaks happily, totally oblivious to the high-stakes happenings around him. That's a relief, and it allows Dirk to calm down a tiny bit.

Did you think I would not know the value of the creature you call der-And of this substance? This grosbois spit. Ghazt reaches down and scoops a pawful of Ultra- Slime from a puddle beneath Drooler's cage. Ghazt gestures with the slime, like some supervillain trying to show off his cool new toy. But he's clumsy and accidentally smears a bunch on his fur. His paw sticks to his fur. He tugs. Still stuck. We all watch as this great, powerful, Cosmic Warlord struggles to separate paw from fur. When he finally

does, there's a Velcro-type ripping sound and a tuft of hair comes with it, leaving a not-great-looking bald spot. Ghazt collects himself and goes on. "This Ghruzghut Spit—or Ultra-Slime, as you call it— is the substance best able to destroy the vines spreading across your ugly little dimension." Evie grins. "That's why we are watching over 'Drooler.' Or, I mean, Ghazt is, rather. He's the Grand Protector. So he is protecting Drooler."

"You're trying to tell me that weird cage is for Drooler's protection?!" Dirk says. "Exactly!" Evie says. "You get it. It's a classic protection cage. So, nope, you can't have him back. Grand Protector privileges. The Grand Protector gets first dibs on everything brought on board the Mallusk. That's just how it is." I lean toward Quint and quietly whisper, "Why are they so into the Ultra-Slime? What do they care about destroying Thrull's vines? I mean—that's sort of our thing." Apparently my quiet whisper wasn't quiet enough, because Ghazt roars, "Thrull STOLE MY POWER! He stole my tail, and with it, my ability to command the undead. That's why I must FIND Thrull and DEFEAT him! I will GET MY POWER BACK. I will show him NO MERCY and he will feel SO MUCH PAIN. SO MUCH!" My face pales. Because, of course, that's not true. Ghazt only thinks Thrull has his power. The person who actually has Ghazt's power? It's me. The power is right here, in the Slicer, just a few Food Court tables away from Ghazt. Quint is looking at me hard—shooting me the type of eye-beam stare that can only be exchanged between two best friends that have been through serious stuff. The

eye-beam stare says a ton without saying anything at all... *QUINT'S EYE BEAM: They have no idea that all of Ghazt's power resides in the Midnight Blade. They've only seen you do one minor zombie-controlling trick at the bowling alley. We mustn't let them know. No matter what, you cannot use the blade in their presence. "Um, uh, well then," I say, trying hard to avoid looking at or even thinking about the Slicer. "It sure is a good thing that no one on this mall has your tail powers, Ghazt. Sure is." I stuff one hand in my pocket and try to casually look away, hoping Ghazt hasn't caught on. And that's when I