Chapter 16

chapter sixteen No, no, no, no. Skaelka's scream is a high-pitched, horrifying howl of agony! She throws up her arms, hiding her face, like she's physically shielding herself from the figure in the projection. "Who is that?" Dirk asks, shivering. The idea that there's a monster out there that could instill this sort

of fear in Skaelka, the greatest warrior he's ever known, turns his blood to ice. Suddenly, the cane wobbles and sways in Quint's hands—toward Skaelka, then back toward Kimmy, like a pendulum. The fear and terror flooding through Skaelka is destabilizing the fragile balance of energy. "Kimmy!" he shouts. "I can't maintain the connection any longer!" Skaelka's jaw clamps shut and her mind seems to burst open! Projected memories are hurtled forth in a frenzied stream of indecipherable images. When the brain-poking began, Dirk was nervous. Now he's fully petrified. "It's gonna be OK, Drooler. I think..." Dirk whispers, turning, putting his body between Drooler and the telepathic action unfolding before them. Quint's fingers are a blur as he desperately tries to steady the energy flow. But too much is happening too quickly—he doesn't know where to direct his attention. Dials begin to spin on their own and the cane emits a piercing, pentrating wail that builds and builds until— "No!" Quint gasps, as the cane is violently wrenched free of his grasp. The projection of Skaelka's mind erupts, ballooning outward, one final image flashing before them...

SKLUTCH And then the image evaporates in a cloud of nothing. Gone. Like a TV that's been snapped off by someone's angry dad after lights-out. The air is thick and damp. Almost smoky. "What happened?" Dirk whispers softly. Kimmy's eyes return to normal. "The connection was severed." "I'm sorry!" Quint says, scrambling to retrieve his cane. "I couldn't hold it... I'm not ready for—"

"Galamelon!" Dirk roars, turning. "Why didn't you try to help? Try to do something?" "Say what now?" Galamelon says, sitting up, rubbing his eyes. "Dozed off for a second there. Did I miss anything important at the end?" Dirk looks away from Galamelon—it takes every ounce of restraint he has not to scream. He's angry— angrier than he has been in a long, long time. His mind races— This isn't right! We're demanding too much of Quint. No one could do what we're asking him to do —what we've been asking him to do from the start of this. He's a kid, like me. A kid who's good with science. He's not a sorcerer or a wizard, and he can't do the impossible! "Meepity!" Drooler squeaks—and that cools Dirk off, brings him back to the moment. But the moment is only getting worse... A teeth-rattling, earthquake-strength tremor rips through the maze. "Uh, guys," Dirk says, realizing giant-size trouble is approaching. "Feels like a tank battalion is barrelin' toward us..." "The Squanchers must have heard Skaelka's scream," Kimmy says. "And now they're coming." The whole maze feels like it's moving now. The cornstalks sway wildly as the earth roils.

It's at that moment that Skaelka's eyes snap open. She raps her knuckles hard against her head, like she's knocking loose old brain dust. She grabs her axe, jams it into the quaking ground, and springs to her feet. "Quint, I thank you," she says. "You did what any ally-in-arms would do: you tried to help." "I tried," Quint says, shaking his head. "And I failed." "NO. You succeeded, friend," Skaelka says, and her ever-present scowl turns to a smile. Quint gasps as he realizes— Way kilka you remember me? You remember us? Yes, there are pieces missing still, but I remember much. I remember Wicker Joe's pizza June. I remember Jack, the blog Slayer. Oh, come'n.

Suddenly, the earth begins to split. Everyone huddles, eyes up for incoming Squanchers. "Dispense with any fear, fellow war dogs!" Skaelka says. "Many of Skaelka's memories are restored, including the correct path through this maze. I will lead us out!" "I knew you had this, Quint!" Dirk says, slapping his friend on the back. "No sweat!" Quint grins slightly. "Quite a bit of sweat, in fact," he says, wiping his brow. "My mentoring lifts all!" Galamelon says. And in that moment—despite the roar of approaching monsters—Quint thinks, They're right. With Galamelon's help, I can become the conjurer I need to be. The conjurer who can slay the Drakkor. The conjurer who will help turn the tide when we battle Thrull again. "The route is fresh in my mind. This way!" Skaelka shouts, as she sprints ahead. "Skaelka, it's great havin' you back!" Dirk shouts, racing after her. They all follow Skaelka, speeding down one long pathway, turning corner after corner. But one problem remains— Skaelka's memory is working, their route is correct —but the path isn't free of danger. Squanchers are barreling in from the left and right while still more close in from behind. And ahead of